The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-24

inglN frank that. instead Of thanking
him for his courtesy, Nan felt like
humbly a%pologizing for what must ap-
pear downright distrust. AS she hrsl.
tatcd. ccnfuscdly. MI. Simpson snap
ped his fingers in diSmay.
"EN Jove! l forgot-awfullN sorry.
Mrs. Rossi,cr. For II moment an cn.
Observation-Disclosures club my wife and l
belong to-cntirely escaped me. It's
too bad. Id like to examine the pearl.
with Your husband, of course. 1t Is
not as though the pearl is to he sold.
II will he here. l suppose. for some
time: 1t may be that on my return
some cNcning-"
oh. but it won't hc here IL time.
And il is to be sold" Mans tone was
openly luguhrious.
Mr.. Simpson eyed her c%uriouslN.
kecnly. before he said slowly: "iou
don't intend keeping the pcarl::"
NO: that is. Mr.. Rooster says not
But YOU would like 90"
Love to! It would make such Il
beautiful pendant. and"
I'D like to show Mr.. Rossiter some
of our necklaces" Mir. Simpson inter-
rupted, his yes fixed immovably on
her eager face. From what I've
heard of the pearl it should make up
eAquisitely."
II know it," Nan exclaimed, tri-
n a I'm Just srazS for a ~. law !.
beautiful stone. Perhaps She step
ped back into the hall and said. inn
pulsively: Come in and just take a
peep at 1t. won't you"
Mr.: Simpson. laughed. amuscdlN.
Well. just q peep. Well examine 1t
infinitely later"
At first Nan thought Mr.. Simpson
looked rather indifferent as he glanced
at the stone. but as no examined it
more carefully 4 look of unfeigncd
admiration crossed his face. lie turn
ed to her eagerly. Just then a bell at
the rear of the house rang.
Just Il moment" Nan said, and
hurried out of the room.
When she returned a few moments
later she paused in the doorway in
blank Amusement and looked wildly
around. Then with Il great cry she
dashed to the table where the box lay
that had held the pearl ever since Bob
had brought it home. 1t was empty.
With a little moaning cry. she started
back. and for one h%reathless moment
~ hammering at her brain-thc pearl
was gone! Bob's pearl that was to do
So much for him. AS the last thought
camo the spell which held her was
broken. Thoughts. plans. raced
through her mind. This Mr.. Simpson
was an impostcr. The agent who
had detained her at the rear was his
accomplish. She rushed to the tele.
phone: still there Was silence-a ST.
lence she now felt TO mean a cut wire.
Instantly she was nut of the house
me over Il neighbours telephone en-
cttedly informing the police. Then she
got Bob and broke down.
TO heavens sake. Man," he cried.
Tell me sensibly what you mean!
What's that? What. The pearl gone.
a jewel expert! You've notified the
police: Describe him? Then I'm of
to the central detail"
DtmlN h heard the receiver click
back Into the hook and she went home
to pace restlessly back and forth
through the long minutes of misery.
Strange to say. she was not thinking
SO much of the actual loss of the
pearl. the lavalliere she had complete.
~ forgotten, but of Bob's disappoint.
ment. Bob, who longed for that lit
tie cottage as a place to have always
for his own. where he might steal of
now n then and 4-for~a short time
be rid Of the fret and hustle Of the
city. 1t a not appealed to her in
that Way at all when the pearl was in
their possession, but now the enorm-
ity of her selfishness came to her. She
turned to the window, wringing her
hands helplessly, and saw Bob run
quickly up the steps. She was atethe