The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-05-05


oessssssssseeesessesssesss
The unset diamonds rippled through
Mr.. Freer's fingers in a stream of pur-
pie and fire. He gathered them into
little heap, scraped them up and
poured them into small ehamois
leather bag.
BE sure to declare these, Eleanor.
1t will be cheaper in the end. Tele-
phone me at the Office and l will send
check down to the customs immedi-
ately. You better let me take them
over tomorrow. You are rather care
less, my dear"
No, indeed. John Freer. l shall
carry them back to New York myself,
and / will show you that, although l
may sometimes be careless in little
things. when there is really something
worth while to be taken care of l
shall not fail. AS for declaring them,
the duty will be frightful. They are
worth $4,000, you said''
"All of that, and the duty will bring
up the cost, but l can afford to pay it.
The tariff afforded me protection when
was a manufacturer. Certainly |
would not dream of cheating in the
matter" said Freer gravely. "Tll take
care of the diamonds until l sail to-
morrow. Then you may take care of
them, but l warn you against trying
to smuggle them in. l shall meet you
at the boat on your arrival and settle
the matter at once"
VERY well. dear" said Mrs. Freer
meekly, yet with a sparkle in her eye
which did not escape her quiet, indul-
gent husband. Now, as this Is your
last night in Paris shall we not try the
opera?"
with pleasure. I'm going out now,
but I'll be in before dinner viii you
have Armand pack my things? must
catch that Cherbourg express without
fail if I'm to make my boat in the
morning." Mr. Freer kissed his wife
lightly and left the room and later
the hotel.
Mrs. Freer looked thoughtfully at
her rings as her husband left the room,
and a little smile curved her lips at
the daring thought that entered her
pretty head. After an unusually long
silence she tossed kiss toward the
silver framed photograph of her hus-
band and spoke aloud:
with all due respect to your judg-
ment, dear John! Ugh! Fancy paying
all that duty besides Biffan's bill for
setting the stones in my platinum
chain, No. sir" With which express
sive and mysterious remark she dane
ed out of the room.
The next morning found her alone
in Paris, while her husband was prob
ably homeward bound across the At
lantic He had been summoned TO
New York by important business mat
tiers, and Eleanor. with her shopping
half done, had decided to remain and
finish 1t, going home by the boat on
which they had engaged passage for
the return trip.
Now that she was alone she poured
the stones through her slender fingers,
delighting in their sparkle and bril-
liancy and the purity of their color
Then she hid them in her bosom and
went forth to attend TO her neglected
shopping.
Homeward bound on the Leonore,
Mrs. Freer wore proud and trium-
plant smile that would have aroused
her husbands suspicious had he seen
it. While little groups of the women
mourned over the duties that would
have to be paid on their purchases,
Eleanor Freer smiled contentedly and
said she intended to declare every
gown she had bought.
When the port of New York was
made at last Mrs. Freer was among
those who were first on deck, becom-
ingly gowned, with quite marvel
GUS little hat trimmed with green wax
grapes on her lovely hair
Her first disappointment came when
she did not discern her devoted hus-
band on the pier, and afterward she
was conscious of distinct feeling or
relief. 1t was quite as well, she cal
culated, if John should not appear for
an hour or so.
As Eleanor waited patiently for her
trunks to be examined a fellow voy-
ager approached her with worried
look
"Dear Mrs. Freer," she whispered,
"T'm so nervous l don't know what to
do. Did you ever smuggle anything
through"
Mrs. Freer looked properly shocked.
as it quite the right thing to do?" she
asked virtuously.
ooh, bother!" said Mrs. Foster i'm
patiently. The government Is rich
enough without taking toll of my poor
little purchases. I'm wondering-look
ut that's there anything unusual
about it," She held forth a silk UNI
brella with a knob handle of silver.
plain and practical looking.
mo. Why? You haven't-really?"
Mrs. Freer's eyebrows went up in sur
prise.
The other nodded emphatically. 81
had 1t made to order" she whispered.
1.-THE stick is larger than is ordinary
and hollow-a string of pearls for Dor
othy. The handle screws on. The
cleverest artisan in the Rue de Hill
laire made it for me. and bribed him
to secrecy. The whole thing. umbrei-
la, pearls and bribe, cost-guess how
many thousand francs"
az couldn't" declared Mrs. Freer
breathlessly.