The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-13
} observation-disclosures
GREEN GRAPES;
:ANDDIAMONDS;
A Novel Plan, but Il Does
Not Work
BY CLARlSSA MACKlE
By CLARISSA MACKlE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
alton. 1911.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The unset diamonds rippled through
Mr.. Freer's fingers in stream OF pu:.
pie and fire. He gathered them into
Z little heap. scraped them up aud
poured them into a small chamois
leather bag.
BE sure to declare these. Eleanor.
1t will be cheaper In the end. Tele-
phone me ut the Office and | will send
q check down TO the customs inmedi
ately. You better let me take them
over tomorrow. You are rather care.
less. my dear"
mo, indeed. John Freer: ! shall
carry them back to New York myself.
and I will show you that. although |
may sometimes be careless In little
things. when there Is really something
worth while to he taken care Of |
shall not fail. As for declaring them.
the duty will be frightful. They are
worth $4,000. you said"
IAN Of that. aud the duty will bring
up the cost. but can afford to pay 1t.
The tariff afforded me protection when
was a manufacturer. Certainly |
would not dream Of cheating In the
natter" said Freer gravely. "i'll take
0re of the diamonds until l sail to-
morrow. Then you may take care Of
them. but I warn you against trying
to smuggle them in. ! shall meet you
At the boat on your arrival and settle
the matter at once"
every well. dear." said Mrs. Freer
meckly. yet with a sparkle In her eye
which did not escape her quiet. indul.
gent husband. Now. as this Ii your
last night In Paris shall We not try the
opcra?"
with pleasure. I'm going out now,
but III he IN before dinner. Will you
have Armand pack my things? must
catch that Cherbourg express without
fell II I'm to make my boat In the
morning." Mr.. Freer kissed his wife
lightly and left the room and later
the hotel.
Mrs. Treer 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 Ri6an's bill for
setting the stones In my platinum
chain: No. sirw With which expires.
sive aud mysterious remark she dane.
ed out Of the room.
The next Icrning found her alone
in Paris. while her husband was prob.
ably homeward bound across the At
lantic. lie had been summoned to
New York by important business mat.
tiers. aud Eleanor. with her shopping
half done. had decided to remain and
finish II. 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 aud the purity Of their color.
Then she bid them In her bosom aud
went forth TO attend to her neglected
shopping.
Homeward bound on the Ieonore.
MIS-. Freer wore a proud and trium.
plant smile that would have aroused
her husbands suspicious had he seen
1t. While little groups of the women
mourned over the duties that would
have 10 I've 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 ut last Mrs. Freer was among
those who were first on deck. becom.
ingly gowned. with quite a marvel.
Gus little hat trimmed with green wax
grapes on her lovely hair.
Her flrst disappointment came when
she did not discern her devoted hus.
band on the pier. and afterward she
was conscious Of a distinct feeling OF
relief. It was quite as well. she cal.
culated. il John should not appear for
an hour or So.
As Eleanor waited patiently for her
trunks to be examined . fellow voy-
ager approached her with worried
look.
Dear Mrs. Freer." she whispered
I'm so nervous I don't know what Il
do. Did you ever smuggle anything
through"
Mrs. rreer looked properly shocked
"ls II quite the right thing to do" sh'
asked virtuously.
"Oh. botherr' said Mrs. Foster i'm
patiently. The government y ricI
enough without taking toll OF NJ poo