Gilpin observer., 1916-04-06
PEARLS OF PRICE
BY izoLA FORESTER.


the open fireplace. It was all so unbe
lievable and stupid. There were onl,
five in the house besides herself ant
Hobart-the Kincaids, whom they ha(
known for years; Sewall Tate, Florrit
Tate, his sister. and Granger Freder
icks, Hobart's best friend.
About ten thousand, think, Barty
Father never puts a price tag on any
thing, you know, but he bought then
for mother at Venice when they were
on their honeymoon. I wore them
only Friday night and-and l think
put them in the little Jewel drawer Of
my dressing table,"
Without a lock?"
"I've never locked up anything here
1t can't be any guest, and l know il
isn't the servants"
"Are you sure you lost them after
you had taken them off-that they
didn't slip off your neck somewhere %
"But l only wore them that eve.
ming, dear, and we didn't go out OF
the house. If they had slipped off
we'd have found them somewhere. You
don't think"
His eyes met hers questioningly.
"Sewall?"
Hes seemed kind of moody, dom t
you think SO, Barty?"
Hobart shook his head, blowing out
smoke from his mouth in rings.
mot Sewall. He's a regular fellow,
Trudie. I'd rather consider even Kin
caid losing his head. He's been aw.
fully hard hit the last month. Dropped
fifty thousand in two days last week,
heard. That's why asked them out
hereto rest up and get his grip
back"
The sound Of chair scraping back
out in the sun parlor stopped him.
Fredericks came in with his customary
smile of splendid, genial good cheer
and satisfaction with life.
"Barty," he said, happily, I'm 60
ing to stay here longer than you've
asked me to. You can't get rid of me
yet awhile. It's the most perfect rest
spot I've found since left California.
Kincaid says he's called back to town
suddenly. but I'm going to plant my
standards"
Stay as long as you like, old man."
answered Hobart heartily. $50 Kin
caid's going today? He hadn't told me.
I'm mighty sorry"
Gertrude could not help looking at
him meaningly 1t seemed terrible even
to suspect in their thoughts quiet Kin
caid. Barty had left the room, and
she caught Granger eying her with
amusement.
I've never seen you serious before"
he said.
Am / serious?" she laughed and
sighed at the same time. "Oh, Gran
ger, life's pretty much of a tangle after
all, isn't it,"
gone. excepting Fredericks. He sat
out in the sun parlor nearly all day
long. working on his new play Hobart
had finally settled in his own mind it
must have been Kincaid. But Gertrude
suspected young Sewall. And, finally,
there came out to the beautiful shore
country home a detective.
Hobart was in town, and Gertrude
dreaded handling the affair by herself,
but she gave all information by de-
grees. and followed him around the
house until they came on Granger in
the sun parlor. She introduced the Wis
itor hesitatingly. And Granger stared
laughed heartily.
God bless your heart, Gertrude,
didn't think you'd take it so seriously
Wait minute. child" He dug into his
inner coat pocket and drew out some
thing wrapped in pocket handker
chief. There are your pearls all safe
and sound. You see. Hobart didn',
mention them. and neither did you
and l couldn't tell for the life of me
what you meant to do about them, and
could not possibly finish that third
act until you did do something def
mite"
Third act?" repeated Gertrude
Granger. what have you done?"
Just experimental" he answered
playfully. Il knew neither you mol
Barty would mind bit when yo,
found me out. I've had the very deuce
of time working out my third act
you see, and I've got just this sort o
situation. only the girl steals neck
lace of diamonds. But your pearls
served quite as well. But there ar,
your pearls"
"Oh, Granger. Granger!" Sh,
leaned back against the glass door
holding the pearls and laughing.
The detective had stepped back int,
the library. Fredericks took his favor
lite seat at the round willow table, an,
waved his pencil at her happily.
I'm sorry they weren't diamonds,
he said. 1T might have worked ou
better. Still, pearls have more char
acter."
Copyright 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa
| per Syndcate)