Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-25
THE EVENING STORY
Rossiter's Find.

He wants my valuation on this pearl he
| has found l told him l had business out
| this way; that l would run in and look at
] it. He said he would phone you. Evil
/ IDENTITY
| In flash it came to her-the expert
Jim Kemp had in view. Boo had evi.
IDENTIFY phoned him. Then their own dead
| line came to her. 1t was all right of
course; still she hesitated. Her words
! of the morning came to her: Il never
show it to any one" 1t m Sht be bet
Il don't suppose she suggested, you
| could possibly come in this evening when
| Mr.. RoSsiter is here?'
Mr. Simpson considered a moment. then
said. doubtfully: You are little out OF
| the way here for me. but still ! am going
out of the city tomorrow for several days
| and Mr.. Rossiter seems anxious-why,
| look here. Mrs. Rossiter." very brightly.
I'll do that for you. l quite understand
how you feel about it now. smiiinsiy.
you're a very sensible woman.
Mr.. Simpsons eyes were so charmin2iy
frank that. instead of thanking him for
his courtesy. Nan felt like humbly apollo
giving for what must appear downright
distrnst. AS she hesitated, confusedly.
Mr. Simpson snapped his fingers In dis
may.
i by Jove. forgot-awfully sorry. Mrs.
Rossiter. For a moment an engagement
bridge club my wife and ! belong to
/, entirely escaped me. It's too bad. Ia
| like to examine the pearl. with your nus
| band. but. of course. it is not as though
| the pearl is to be Sold 1t will be here. |
| suppose for some time? 1t may be that
on my return some evening
"Oh. but it won't be here any time.
| And it is to be Sold Mans tone was
/ openly lugubrious.
! Mr. Simpson eyed her curiously. heenly.
! before he said slowly: You don't intend
keeping the PEARL?
NO: that is, Mr.. Ross;ter says not"
But you would like to-?
.o, hog r.
| full pendant, and
I'D like to show Mr.. Rossiter some of
| our necklaces Mr.. mpson interrupted.
his eyes fixed immovably on her eager
/ face. From what I've heard OF the
pearl it should maze up exquisitely-
Il know it, Nan exclaimed, triumph
), antly. I'm just crazy for a lavalliere.
| Really Mr.. Simpson. it's beautiful
| stone. Perhaps She stepped back
| info the ha and said impulsiveiy: &c me
/ in and just take peep at it, won't YOU?
| Mr. Simpson laughed. amusediy. Well
| lust a peep. Well examine it infinitely
| later.
| At first Nan thought Mr. Simpson look
ed rather Indifferent as he glanced at the
| stone, but as he examined it more care
| fully a look of unfe.gned admiration
crossed his face. He turned to her eager
| ~ Just then a bell at the rear OF the
| house rang.
| Just a moment, Nan said, and hur-
ried out of the room.
| When she returned few moments
| later she paused in the doorway in
| blank amazement and looked wildly
around Then with great cry she DASH
| ed to tie table where the box lay that
had held the pearl ever since Bob had
brought it home 1t was empty. with
little moaning cry. she started back.
! and for one breathless moment stood
speechless. tense, one thought only ham,
!, nering at her brain-the pearl was gone.
Bob's pearl that was to do so much for
| him. AS the last thought came the spell
which held her was broken. Thoughts,
/ plans. raced through her mind. This Mr..
| Simpson was an imposter. The agent
who had detained her at the rear was
his accomplce. She rushed to the tele-
| phone: still there was silence-a silence
stantly she was out OF the house and over
+! a neighbours telephone excitedly inform
| ing the police. Then she got Bob and
broke down.
For heavens sake, Nan" he cried.
"tell me sens!bly what you mean. What's
| that? What! The pearl gone! \ jewel
expert, You've notified the police? De-
scribe him? Then I'm off to the central
/ detail.
] Dimly she heard the receiver click back
| into the hook and she went home to
| pace restlessly back and forth through
! long minutes of misery. Strange to say
she was not thinking SO much of tie
actual loss of the pearl. the lavalliere
4
disappointment. Bob. who longed for that
little cottage a place to have always
| for his own, where he might steal off to
now and then. and for short time be
rid of the fret and hustle of the city.
| 1t had not appealed to her in that way
a. all when the pearl was in their pos
session, but now the enormity of her
selfishness came to her. She turned to
! the window wrnging her hands help
| lessly, and saw Bob run quickly up the
steps. She was at the door. utter mis-
| cry in her eyes. when he entered.
| ''Oh. Bob she cried. I'm just crazy.
I'm SO sorry Her head went down on
his shoulder. Il told you this morning
| never showed it to any one, and |
| wouldn't have if it hadn't been for my
detestable vanity, for that's what it was
my extravagant idea of "a
But Man. at last Rossiter got in a
word in the storm of sobs and broken
statements, hold on a minute
whats the use?" she asked, wildly.
Its my fault! You don't understand. I
hated the idea of your cottage; / wanted
oh, Bob. was contemplate. And now
we won't have anything.
But we WILL he cried, IF you'll only
let me get word in. See here, your
expert is about Ave blocks from here, in
a police station. Get into your.duds as