Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-30
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
CHAPTER XIV

power OF Scorn played like lightning round the de-
voted head of the appraiser.
AS for Lydia and Peter (who had just joined the
group) they gaped in open anazement; while the in
spector looked sorry for Charlie.
After lightning, thunder, remote, mcestcsa 4Are-you
-rnad?'
a say you mad?'
@Meo No, Maam, not bit. It's nothing to me,
you know
@Don't qubble if you please. l want to know
whether not you're daft. You know perfectly well
that necklace is worth nney-sixty thousand dollars.
Look the BILL Inspector be good enough to show this
person Cottiers bill"
The appraiser examined the receipt with ostensible
astonshment Il don't understand this, Maam he
faltered.
@Nor II
aCottier's don't deal in limitations know" he pur-
sued with greater confidence @A the same, I'll stake
my job that those sh-skin pearls paste brlants,
and-well, the settings, admit, are genuine
@Then your job is good as lost shall file COM
plant and have you discharged for Incompetence
"If you'll pardon me, don't believe you WILL Mrs.
Merrilees.'
Easy, Betty!' Peter Trait interposed. perhaps
he's right, after all:s
sBe quiet, Peter. When l want your advice I'll let
you know. Certainly ought to know when paid for
that collar
-aThen YOU have been shamefully cheated, Mrs Mer-
rees, the inspector put in.
quite impossible know real gems from articles
de Paris and examined this necklace with the greatest
care before purchased it. Since then it has never left
this box which hasn't been out of my an instant
except when in the pursers safe"
@Irn sorry but l know what l know. If you're the
judge you think yourself, Ma'am, only suggest
you take this to the light andhere. I'll lend you my
magnifyng glass.
THANK you, sha'nt require it,
With gesture of rage Mrs. Merrlees snatched the
from the appraisers hands and moved toward the
patch of sunlight Before she had reached it, studying
the collar attentvey the way, Lydia saw her sacken
pace and falter.
One short minute in that strong glare suffced. AS
pale in mystifcation she had previously been with
wrath, Mrs Merrilees returned.
Il owe you an apology she informed the appraiser
in a shaking voice. 4Its palpable imitation
The box slipped from her grasp and went to the floor
with bump, spillng its trashy contents, and Mrs.
Mernlees Topped incontinently to convenient trunk
Lydias ready arm round her shoulders.
"But, my dear!' Betty walled. Its perfectly pre-
posterous'
The appraiser looked at once bored and dubious
Peter Trait batted bewildered eyes, then with
helpful air picked up the box and replaced its contents
The inspector swung sharply round and made off with
every evidence of inspired haste, toward distant quar-
ter of the pier.
aLet me Think Mrs Merrilees said in stifed voice
Indenting her lower lip with knucke, she fastened
distracted stare the polished tips of her Shoes
Lydia, at loss, found nothing to say She couldn't
deceny express too great the disappear
ance OF something tnat mad Deen dedcated 10 neT on
her wedding day-however remote that event Yet she
gravely if uninteigbly distressed. Beneath her
ready sympathy stirred qualm of peculiar uneasiness
DISTRACTED by the rumble Of mems voices she
looked up to find that Quoin had added himself to
the group and studiously attending to Peters
count of the counterfeit collar Their eyes met pres
emily, and Lydia surprised by the look he bent
upon her, regard somehow family reminiscent of
their parting subsequent to her adventure of the night
before last.
She favored him with her shadowy, enigmatic SMILE
now vaguely tinted with solicitude