The Washington herald., 1912-12-29
CHAPTER XII.
Madame Asserts Her DiEnit,

"Ahr said the baroness. "Sc
you have returned See, have
spilled some water. have been wash
ing dog. Fetch cloth to wipe it up
and you can take the ever away Nc
parcels have come for me, / suppose.
mo, Madame"
The old man went off with the ever
and returned in a moment with Z
cloth.
She took it from him, went down or
her knees and. mopped up the water
on the parquet.
my legs are younger than yours,
she said. Here, take the cloth.
am going out, and should any par
GELS arrive for me, tell Rosine to place
them in my bedroom"
"Yes, Madame"
Stay" said the baroness. What is
that?"
Voices sounded from below stairs
and in moment Rosine came running
up.
Monsieur Boehmer has called, Ma
dame"
'Boehmer, the ieweIeE?"
yes, Madame?"
"Ah, he has brought my necklace
Run down and show him up"
Rosine disappeared, and in a mo-
ment returned, ushering in Boehmer
Placide left the room, and madame
found herself alone with the jeweler
Boehmer was a Hebrew, German He
brew, very stout. soberly yet richly
dressed, with a blazing diamond or
the middle finger of his left hand, and
a most seductive smile presided over
BY a commanding nose He was we'll
TODD. Jeweler to the court, he held
good many secrets in his keeping
Losses at cards brought many of the
nobility to Monsieur Boehmer; he lent
money on good security and sometimes
even on bad. He was gracious tc
every one without pretense, for he had
a good heart; he was charitable out OF
business and had been known to give
money to those to whom he had re-
fused a loan. But in business he had
no heart at all.
Good day, Monsieur Boehmer."
Good day, Madame"
You have called about the dla-
monds?"
Madame" said Boehmer. taking a
parcel from his pocket, 81 have brought
them. The necklace is complete
He took from the parcel a velvet
covered box, opened it. and exposed
TO view a superb necklace of pure
white stones. each a fountain OF fire
"Oh, mon Dieu! how beautiful y
cried the baroness.
rs not it SWEET said Boehmer
moving the casket so that the gems
shone and flashed and leaped before
the fascinated eyes of the purchaser.
Quite Excellent workmanship!
must congratulate you, Monsieur
Boehmer"
Thank you. Madame"
She held out her hand TO take 1t.
And the bill, Madame" said
Boehmer, without relinquisling the
stones.
All. the bill Sixty thousand francs.
think you said the price would be?'
Yes, Madame
Well, ! will pay you before | leave
for Vienna You said it would not be
Necessary to pay on delivery"
Unfortunately. Madame. when
said that | spoke without the consent
of my partner, Monsieur Bostang, and
since then we have had some very
heavy liabilities to meet
oh" said the baroness: you have
had some very heavy liabilities to
meet?"
Before Boehmer could reply, knock
came at the door and Placide entered
Madame" said Placide, Monsieur
Behrens has called and wishes to see
YOU"
"Behrens, the haberdasher?'
Yes, Madame"
Show him up" Then, turning to
Boehmer. You mistrust me. Take
your jewels away and keep them until
you hear from me-"
"Oh. Madame, you arc
q am the Baroness Sophie Linden,
a woman Of her word. Good day, Mon
sieur Boehmer."
Madame, if you will but listen to
nc"
Good day, Monsieur Boehmer. All,
Monsieur Behrens. come in"
Behrens entered. bowling. while
Boehmer. aStonished. half angry. half
filled with admiration for the woman
who had treated him so cavalierly,
bowed himself out. A woman of the
court would have raved or wheedled,
promised, threatened As he descended
the stairs, his acute mind told him he