Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-06

pearls, sne said. won't 1t be
tragedy If they take them away from
me?" ,sa
Il hope they do" Jack Maxon's
lips set In close line. He stood just
behind Lorraine, his hands folded,
his cap pulled we'll over his dark eyes,
and watched the arrival of the GUS
tom people and health officers.
Where are they?" asked Mrs. Ell
lison's voice behind them. She did
not look worried at all merely inter-
ested and alert.
Lorraine answered without looking
up from the dancing, churning waters
about the PROV.
Around my throat
Beneath your gown
Lorraine nodded and smiled, and
Mrs. Ellison said no more, but smiled
out at New York City's outline COM
placently
Jack, my dear, won't you fetch my
binoculars" she said tactfully.
marie will give them to you. No. II.
you know. outside to your left. So
sweet of you
AS Jack strobe haughtily away out
Of hearing she leaned over Lorraine.
Somebody has told. that you are
wearing the princes pearls. The
newspaper men, think. One tried
to talk to me just now
How would they know" Lor-
raines tone was curiously disinter-
ested She was thinking of all Jack
Maxon had dared to tell her since
they first sighted Sandy Hook that
morning The slender, corseted form
of the prince faded almost into OBJ
security beside Jacks stalwart Ameri-
canism, and Lorraine was thinking
of many other things besides the
pearls.
Yet she. had told the simple truth.
She wore them, the entire fve-strand
treasure, beneath her travelling gown
Of gray serge. And rumor over IN
Rome and Paris had more han limited
that the pearls were worth close to
half q million dollars. The center,
pear-shaped pendant alone had come
from the turban Of the Nadir OF
Afghanfstan once upon time, and
had cost the house of Ravenelli over
100000. Yet the prince who had
purchased 1t had hung tt on the fore
head Of his Tuscan bride and vowed
it too poor an ornament matched
against the spledor Of her flashing
eyes. The present prince had men
toned something of the same senti-
ment when he had sent the necklace
to the Ellisons' hotel the day before
they sailed for home. And there had
been trouble.
Il will never accept such gift
from a man whom I dislike" Lor-
raine had said passionately.
If you arc fool enough to refuse
them said Ms Ellison, thoughtfully
examining the strands. II shall &C
cept them for. you. You are not en-
gagged yet, dear, and under no obi
cation. These pearls might be q mere
philopena present.
Eyes, they might. mamma, they
might" Lorraines tone Of scorne had
been indescribable. But the pearls
had not been sent back. First, be-
cause the prince himself had left for
Hungary on q shooting expedition
with the crown prince Of some little
principality, and the pearls remained
around Lorraine's throat as the safest
place for such treasure
One mistake she had made. She had
worn them openly 1T the ships con-
cert. Not that any one on board had
known their history, but Jack Maxon
had seen them and noted them, and
he alone OF their fellow passengers
knew that the Ellisons did not have
cash or credit enough in the world to
buy the smallest pearl on the princes
necklace, not the smallest one, large
as hazel nut, and hawless, and worth
ten thousand In the market at Ceylon.
Jack had been her faithful adorer and
comrade ever since they had built
sand tunnels together at Atlantic City
years ago.
Sometimes, in spite of Mrs. ELI
sons careful training, Lorraine would
look at Jack and speculate on severa,
points not down in her mothers code
Of worldly welfare.
He was such a splendid pleader
All the way over he had begged and
scolded and made love to her and
stormed. and Lorraine. had kept
silent. And always while she lis.
tened to Jack Maxon's pleading she
felt the slender stands OF pearls press
like lead about her throat Some
times it seemed as II they would
choke her.
Mrs. Ellison kept close to ner a.
they landed and went to the custom
officers. She had declared every
thing, everything except the princes
pearls. Jack stood with Lorraine.
talking earnestly while the trunks
were gone through, and Mrs. Ellis 1n
answered questions for both in the
superbly disinterested, tactful way
she had. But all at once Lorraine.s
quick chances saw what was happen
ing. "A young chap had entered
quietly and caught her eye. He Wen.
to the official VINO was conducting
the appraisal and whispered to him,
and that worthy went past Mrs Eli
son straight to Lorraine's side.
you are wearing pearls unde-
clared. Miss" His tone reached Lor-
raine from far of. Her mother had
turned swiftly to the rescue, but al
ready Lorraine had smiled slightly
and nodded her pretty head.
"DO Won wish to See fham?'' sht,