Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-30

bitter wit upon her ready lips, IN pitched COMBAT with
a graceess skeptic of an inspector.
Nearby three dock porters, two ship newsmen, half
a dozen asserted citizens, and brace of customs APP
praiscrs whose duties immediate and elsewhere,
hung breathess interest upon the issue of the fray,
one and all grinning broadly.
Lydia gathered an impression that the Dowager
Dragon had found a foeman worthy of her STEEL then
hurried on to Section NJ and Betty Merrilees.
GREETING Lydia serene1y, this last resumed her
conversation with her assigned inspector. You'll
find everything dutiable in the hat trunk and that big
dresser trunk. there-the two upper trays-the
receipted bills in the first trayall except-neckace.
have that here" she indicated the metal box in her
hands, @and the bill WE'LL
Thanks, Mrs Merrees' The Inspector looked up
from her declaration in futile attempt to maintain his
official imperturbablity; then his eyes twinked in
network of wrinkles His lips twtched, and he grinned
outright.
@That's all very well, said the lady impudently.
Laugh if you ike But please do your worst quickly
possible
Every well, Ma'am. I'll hurry you through as fast
as l can"
It became Immediately apparent that the wasn't
disposed to doubt the sincerity of her conversation
The luggage she had indicated innocent of dutiabe
goods he passed with the most perunctory examination
whe-the millinery and other declared purchases de-
tanned him only briefly.
Everything quite 0. K thanks to you, Ma am.
And if you will let me have look at that necklace.
I've sent for the appraiser. He'll be along in minute
The box already unlocked. Mrs. Merrilees
promptly removed the leather-bound jewel case and
handed it to the inspector.
Touching the spring. he let the lid fly up, exposing
the pearl collar As if dazzed he blnked furiously.
"She's daisy!' he announced with JUNCTION. 3Fnest
piece of the sort that's through this year, I'm
judge
Momentarily his interest shifted to the bill Of the
Partisan jeweler
aThree hundred thousand francs-sixty thousand
dollars" he unused aloud 3You got it cheap, Ma'am,
if I'm any judge"
aNonsense!' Mrs. Merrilees retorted Indignantly.
@As if an American got anything cheap in Paris
and from Cottiers, of all places By every right you
ought to the duty not than forty thou
sand dollars"
@Well,' the inspector suggested indulgenty, well
Just see what the appraiser says. There he is now.
Hey, Charlie, step over here minute, will you?'
In response to this hail. slender, bespectaced young
in Section nodded assent, picked his way through
the barrier of trunks, and, recognizing Mrs Merri-
lees touched the vizor of cap bearing the word
Appraiser.
3Mrs. Merrilees has declared her necklace Charlie
said the inspector, handing the 3And here's
the BILL but she wants you to take slant at it for
value"
Noddng again. the appraiser narrowed his eyes and
surveyed the necklace with expression Of ysti
fcaon. Then he pursed his lips in noiseess whistle,
looked bewilderment at Mrs. Merrilees, and stepped
aside with the jewel to a spot where sunlight,
through wide opening threw brilliant splash of gold
athwart the tempered gloom of the pershed Here he
subjected the necklace to minute inspection with
magnifying glass. Finally wearing illegibe
preston, he turned back.
Its corlling good thing he announced in odd
tone. ave don't get many like it. but the workman
ship this is immense! Call it three hundred at the
outside
WHAT Mrs Merriees bazed Indignantly. @Three
hundred thousand dollars Ridiculous! Look at the
bill
@No, Maam" the appraiser interrupted with
full decision mot three hundred thousand, but just
three hundred dollars; duty hundred and eighty