Rock Island Argus., 1911-04-05

Cur 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.
''It is the law, madam" he corrected
sternly, and then, 81 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 mortifying 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
If you wish" she said sweetly. And
then she was conducted to a small
room and placed in the hands 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
a little hysterical laugh. II suppose
you believe have diamonds concealed
In my hair
81 have heard of stranger cases." re-
turned the woman grimly. mo.
madam, you needn't take down your
hair. 1 think 1 can locate them with
out"
She took the charming hat from
Eleanor's shaking hands and held 1t
under a strong drop light. Then she
Ao- a -,
deliberately shipped one of the green
grapes from its stem, tore it open and
pulled out stufing 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 a stone, which she
laid in a tray. She counted them care
fully and then called in the official.
What do you make of them?' she
asked.
he smiled broadly and nodded ap-
proval at Mrs. Freer. Pretty clever
trick, madam" he said, and she felt a
grain of comfort in the knowledge that
her dishonesty was of high degree.
How did you guessP' she faltered.
mo guesswork about it," he said
cheerfully. THE man who made your
grapes-to order, wasn't it2-happened
to be one of our spies; that's all"
He was examining the stones with q
strong glass. Then he turned to Flea
nor once more. ''Why did you take
pains to smuggle through false stones,
madam" he demanded.
"False?" she gasped. "Why, my
ro;d c1A Onn Por 41,oy,,V,
''Then he was badly bitten. They're
not worth $780,"
It 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
at a glance-his fearful wife, her de-
nuded hat and the heap Of Imitation
diamonds.
Eleanor" he chided gently, what
did 1 warn you? Tell me what sort
of trouble you're in that I 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 fortnight ago and were
properly declared and the duty paid.
Those left with you were cheap imi-
tations I 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?"
"It's perfectly horrid," sobbed Flea
nor against his shoulder. 81 feel so
mean l don't know what to do, John"
"Just don't do it 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.