The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-03-04
The Ruby
Necklace
"she Paid the Price"
By cLARIssA MAcKIE

@**++****+s**s$s*****%*
On the night of Edith Palmer's birth
day ball her husband came home early
and sought his wife in her own rooms
His handsome face was aglow with
love and admiration as he took the
lovely form In his arms and kissed her
Eager, red lips.
Darling, you are more beautiful ev.
cry time see you" he murmured
And you grow more blind" she
chided him playfuily. 81 have been
waiting for You to come and tell me
what jewels shall wear tonight" She
turned to the dressing table and threw
back the lid Of a jewel box and remov.
ed the trays. Diamonds, sapphires and
emeralds blazed in the light.
Wear your rubies, Edith" said Dick
Palmer, with a mysterious smile.
"Rubies? Don't tease. Dick Those
are the only stones / really want anc
do not possess. Shall 1t be diamonds r.
"Rubies tonight insisted Dick, and
from an inner pocket Of his coat he
drew forth nat leather case and plac-
ed it In her hands
Dick Palmer, you darlingT cried
Edith, and she showered kisses upon
him before she opened the box When
she finally threw back the lid she was
awed by the beauty of the stones her
husband had selected for her birthday
gift
On bed of white velvet was coiled
a magnificent necklace Of fawless ru-
bles. perfect In color and each stone
the size Of a very large pea.
Dick lifted the necklace and clasped
1t around his wife's neck; then he stood
back to admire the rich red circle of
fire against the Wilderness of her skin.
"You dear, extravagant boyp' muir
INJURED Edith as she turned to the mir
ror to feast her eyes on the jewel 81
suppose you paid an enormous price
for it."
Il paid a pretty stir price, but l
guess it's worth it. / didn't buy 1t In
Buffam's. 1t isn't a brand new neck
lace; neither Is it reconstructed from
an old one. It's genuine antique said
to have belonged to an Asiat1c ruler"
where did you find It, Dickf'
'Tn Lenquiths on Fourth avenue.
I'VE had it a month now, and Buffam
has been cleaning 1t up for me. Well,
l must run away and Dress" Dick
kissed his wife again and left the
room.
Edith stood long before the mirror
watching the liquid fame Of the ruby
necklace as she slowly turned her neck.
At last she unclasped it and replaced
1t within its case
"Pll not wear it down to dinner 1t
will be a surprise for all of them when
the ball begins" she said to herself
and looked around for place in which
to secret the case. Hhe large jewel box
would just fit into the tiny steel safe
sunk In the wall near the chimney.
Before the inconspicuous door there
was hung heavily framed square
painting, which could be moved aside
side of the room.
Now Edith selected diamond brace
let-a dazzling serpent with ruby eyes
and slipped 1t on her arm. Then she
closed and locked the large jewel box,
pressed the knob that moved aside the
square picture and placed the box in
the little safe. There was room after
all for the new jewel case containing
the ruby necklace, and after another
glimpse of the beautiful jewel Edith
tucked that In the safe, closed the steel
clad door, replaced the picture and
went down to dinner just as the gong
sounded.
The rooms were bowers of lowell
ness. A separate color scheme had
been selected for each one, and the
whole harmonized in one glorious ar
rangement Of flowers and palms.
There were several people staying at
the Palmers', and most of them were
gathered In the drawing room when
Edith entered-the Maxfelds, husband
and wife; Eugenia Card, an old school
friend of Edith's, and Dicks father,
Henry Palmer. The fifth guest, Nine.
Geulot had not yet joined them.
Just as the last strokes Of the hall
clock died away there was q rustic Of
silk that hesitated outside the door
and then Nine. Geulot came swiftly
in, her bright coloring enhanced by
two vivid crimson poinsettias at her
breast Her rich blue black hair was
coiled In soft knot at the back of her
shapely head. and above her low,
thoughtful brow was placed a coronet
of diamonds. Nine. Geulot was a very
beautiful woman.
"a thousand pardons, cherie," she
cried penitently. "That 30 stupid Ma
RE Of mine has made what you call
a middle of my toilet" She threw out
her hands with graceful gesture of
despair, and her long dark eyes darted
from one smiling face to another.
Mrs. Palmer shook her charming
head and looked at the vision In amber
Satin and diamonds. Dear Nine Geu-
lot" she said sweetly. ''if you want to
part with Marie shall be delighted to
relieve you of your stupid treasurer
mo, nor And they all laughed at
madame's dismay.
In spite of the forthcoming ball the
dinner was as perfect as it always had
been since Pierre Caron had ruled in
the Palmer kitchen. When the meal
was concluded Edith went upstairs to
complete her toilet. leaving her guests
scattered about the flower decked
rooms.
AS she went up the stairway to the
next floor two faces peered at her from
q curtained alcove-two dark faces
with cunning eyes-but SO contrasting
were their conditions in life that had
you coupled their names the world
would have laughed at you.
After dismissing her maid Edith lock-
ed the door Of her room and FASTENED
to open the wall safe, where her jew
els were secreted. She started back
with a little cry Of dismay, for the box
containing the ruby necklace had dis
appeared
She recovered herself almost instant
ly. ''Of course Dick had taken it out
to show his father, but how did he
know 1t was there? He guessed 1t,
as l did not wear it at dinner" she
said as she closed the safe, picked up
her gloves and fan and went down to
the drawing room, outwardly composed
Her brain was a chaos of doubt and
perplexity. She dreaded to ask her
husband about the necklace. She was
afraid to hear his answer.
Dick met her at the door Of the
drawing room. where is the neck
LAGER" he asked quickly.
She paled to the lips. "Then you did
not take it from the safer she gasped