El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-19

excepting 0eI euBdB emelL ElNBs
| which she had lost last spring, Helen
/ had never had an expensive piece of
! JeWelry, and she always longed for a
! lavalliere. She turned from the mir
/ rOr, reluctantly unclasping the chain.
Well, you're foolish. 1 never hest
tate 20 ask for what I want-even If
/ don't get it
whats all this?" asked Mr.. Stevens,
as ne and Warren came in from the
dining room, where they had fingered
over their cigars.
7 was showing Mrs. Barclays laval
liere."
"Oh yes" Mr.. stevens took the or
nament and handed it to Warren.
What would you say it was WORTH"
Don't ask me. don't know any
thing about pearls But I should say"
holding it off critically, that cost a
lot of money"
Again Mrs. Stevens took the pendant
from its case and clasped it around
Up to Warren.
There" turning her, flushing,
toward Warren. why don't you
give it to her for a Christmas pres
ent? 1 already have one-that's the
only reason I hesitate"
The pause that followed was some
what awkward No man likes to be
put in the position of admitting that
he cannot afford CT dues not want
to give his wife iewelry.
ooh. dear, you know I don't want
you TO get me anything so expensive,
faltered Helen, wishing desperately
that Mrs. Stevens had not made such
a suggestion.
why not take it home and think
about it? I don't have to give Mrs.
Barclay decision until day after to
morrow. I'm satisfied that it's worth
more than that; but if you're not,
why not take it some Dlaee and have
it valued2"
be afraid I'd lose it or something
might happen to It"
In spite OF Warren's frowning dis
approval, Helen finally yielded to Mrs
Stevens's insistence and put the case
in her pocket
For the rest OF the evening Helen
could think of nothing but the pearl
lavalliere. It would be wonderful
wear il in the afternoon too Only
yesterday she had ridden down Fifth
avenue with an extensively dressed
woman, whose fur collar was open at
the neck to show just such a pearl
pendant
But would Warren be willing to
put that much money in a piece of (
jewelry7 And even If he were
should she let him?
Later, when they were leaving, Mrs. !
Stevens whispered:
Now, don't be a little goose. Let
him get IL for you If he wants to-"
Helen Is Sorry.
But outside Helen took Warren's |
arm with an anxious:
Dear, I'm so sorry Mrs. Stevens
suggested that You know I don't !
want anything so expensive. ! know 1
We can't afford it"
Haven't said we couldn't-have 4
=" gruffly- But she had nerve /
10 propose it You want to steer
clear OF business dealings with 4
friends anyhow. If you've got to have /
one of those gewgaws, it'd be a darn 4
sight better to go to jewelers. than /
to get mixed up in any monkey bust
ness like this"
But dear. she said it cost four
hundred; you couldn't buy anything |
like it for a hundred and fifty It's
nothing to Mrs. Stevens whether We
take il or MOTT was only kind OF
Ter TO give US the chance"
Blamed presumptuous-that's what
the thing valued, If you want to.
Wouldn't surprise me If the pearl was
a fake. I've my doubts about that
for anybody like that"
They were in the sub gay now, and
Hclea could not resis- taxing cut
the case.
''Oh, this pearl must be genuine
they couldn't initiate that lusteri'
Put that away" groWled Warren. !
This is no place to look at it.
As Helen closed the case Warren
took it from her and Lut l. n his
But when they reached home
suppressed. She flew into her
dressing room and hurriedly slipped on
an evening gown
The Pearl Gone.
Now, dear" running into the
library, where Warren was reading,
II looks with this"
Helen ran to the manteI mirror and
was ciasping the chain around her
neck, when she fell back with q
What's the matter now?' Warren
looked up with scowl
The PEARL lists gomez"
Throwing down his book, Warren |
strobe over and, catching h4- rough |
II by the shoulder, Whirled her around !
so the light would fall on the orna-
ment.
The large pink pearl which had
hung from the center of the pendant
was missing. There was a moments
grim silence.
We'll we're out hundred and fifty
"Oh, Warren. don't say that, Look
in your pocket. Oh, it may have
fallen on the floor when I took it
But. it was not in his pocket, and
helen's frantic search around the floor
was fruitless.
A FruitIess Search.
Warren maintained the grim silence
which to her was more terrifying than
any violent raging. She was still CROP
ing blindly around the floor in q |
-remUlOus, futile search.
"Oh, it couldn't have fallen in the
subway I know it couldn't" she kept
in a daZed way.
She was trembling with the sick
dizziness that always came with any
great and sudden distress Her very
knees were weak and shaky.
One hundred and fifty dollars, and !
nothing TO show for it, II only she !
could scrimp and starve to save the I
It was the thought of War
ren's having to pay for it that so ter
sffied her.
YES. and we've the pleasing knovI-
edge that we're probably paying for |
! fake pearl" His laugh was harsh and
nirthless
Helen, who was feeling blindly !
around the edge of the rug, now sat |
upon her knees and looked at him !
through wretched, tear blurred eyes
you can look here till vou're gray |