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

ter cry she gave up her umbrella, and
with quick turn of his wrist the Of
hclal compelled that carefully manu-
featured article to disgOrge the pearls.
After the confusion surrounding this
incident had died away Mrs. Freer
found herself growing quite nervous,
rs the other passengers in the "F" Sec
ton quickly made their declarations
and were promptly released. At last
she alone was left, and she came re-
luctantly forward with her keys.
One by one the trunks were thrown
open and her dainty belongings tossed
about for inspection. Memorandum
was made of her dutiable articles and
the trunks closed. Then her hand
luggage was gone over carefully with
out result
At last the official Strengthened him.
self and looked her calmly in the eye.
THAT is all you have to declare,
madam" he asked.
Il have given you my keys-you see
what is there" returned Mrs. Freer
haughtily.
How about the diamonds ?" he ask
ed unpleasantly.
Diamonds gasped Mrs. Freer.
He nodded and consulted the same
notebook that had been the undoing
of little Mrs. Foster.
"Our agents report that you,purchas-
ed diamonds to the value OF $4,000
when you were in Paris" he announc-
ed. Where are they?"
This is an outrage" stammered
Eleanor tearfully.
1T is the law, madam" he corrected
sternly. and then. Il trust you will
not make personal search necessary"
Mrs. Freer hesitated. and then pride
came to her aid. To admit that she
had tried to smuggle diamonds through
the customs was too notifying to en-
dure. She would face it out They
would never guess where she had hid
den them-it was her own idea and
so clever.
You may make the personal search
IL you WISH" she said sweetly. And
then she was conducted to a small
room and placed in theShands of
sharp eyed woman, who consulted with
the official in low tones before she
turned to Mrs. Freer.
"Will you please remove your hat,
madam" she asked courteously.
Certainly" returned Eleanor. with
little hysterical laugh. Il suppose
you believe | have diamonds concealed
in my hair"
sfI have hoard Of Stronuar oocae - M
turned the woman grimly. mo,
madam, you needn't take down your
hair. think | can locate them with
out
She took the charming hat from
Eleanors shaking hands and held 1t
under a strong drop light. Then she
drew forth a pair of sharp scissors and
deliberately shipped one of the green
grapes from its stem, tore 1t open and
pulled out a stuffing of cotton wool,
from which dropped a glistening gem.
While Mrs. Freer suffered mild hys-
terics. the woman calmly denuded the
hat of its green grapes, and from each
one she produced stone, which she
laid in a tray. She counted them care
fully and then called in the official.
What do you make of themT' she
asked.
He smiled broadly and nodded ap-
prevail at Mrs. Freer Pretty clever
trick. madam" he said. and she felt
grain of comfort in the knowledge that
her dishonesty was Of high degree.
How did you guess" she faltered.
~
cheerfully. 1.-THE man who made your
grapes-to order, wasn't it?-happened
to be one of our spies; that's ALL"
He was examining the stones with a
strong glass. Then he turned to Flea
nor once more. why did you take
pains to smuggle through false stones,
MADAME" he demanded
"False?" she gasped. "Why, my
husband paid $4,000 for them"
"Then he was badly bitten. They're
not worth 500"
1t was at this moment that John
Freer chose to arrive, admitted by the
magic of his card and coin Of the re-
public.
His sharp eyes took in the situation
Mt a glance-his fearful wife, her de-
nuded hat and the heap of imitation
diamonds.
Eleanor" he chided gently, what
did l warn you? Tell me what sort
of trouble you're in that / may help
you out of it."
She told him unreservedly, and he
laughed when she had concluded
laughed heartlessly.
False, you say? Yes, my dear, they
are. The genuine diamonds came over
with me a fortnight ago and were
properly declared and the duty paid.
Those left with you were cheap imi-
tations ! ran out and purchased the
very night before sailed-after you
had expressed your ideas regarding
smuggling. Now you've had a taste
of it how do you like trying to
cheat your Uncle Sam? Improbable,
eh?"
tits perfectly horrid," sobbed Flea
nor against his shoulder. II feel so
mean don't know what to do, Johnw
"Just don't do 1t again. Cut your
morals on the straight" advised Freer
kindly.
81 will hereafter But"-sighing--
"the way Of the transgressor is hard
hard as diamonds, John"
"And as bitter as green grapes" add
ed her husband. i