Rock Island Argus., 1911-04-05
The Argus Daily Short Story
Green Grapes and Diamonds-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. Associated

The unset diamonds rippled through
Mr.. Freer's fingers in q stream Of pur-
pie and fire. He gathered them into
a little heap, scraped them up and
poured them into a small chamois
leather bag.
BE sure to declare these, Eleanor.
1t will be cheaper in the end. Tele-
phone me at the Office and / will send
a check down to the customs immedi-
ately. You better let me take them
over tomorrow. You are rather care
less, my dear"
mo, indeed, John Freer! I 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 be taken care of
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 1 can afford. to pay it.
The tariff afforded me protection when
1 was q manufacturer. Certainly /
would not dream of cheating in the
matter" said Freer Rravely. I'm take
care of the diamonds until I 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"
VERY well, dear" said Mrs. Freer
meekly. yet with 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? l 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 a 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
chainl No, sir.' With which express
siye 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
ters, and 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 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 q proud and trium- |
phant smile that would have aroused |
her husbands suspicious had he seen |
it. While little groups of the women |
over the duties that would |
have TO be paid on their purchases,
Eleanor Freer smiled contentedly and /
said she intended 10 declare every |
gown she had bought,
made at last Mrs. Freer was among