The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-06-19
A Novel
A Week!
CHAPTER l.
A Pearl Necklace
SSVSSE sE "a

A Pearl Necklace
r ESS than an hour before tho
Mauritania reached Qusran-
- tine. Jamcs Duncan. whose
rank was that OF customs inspector
and present assignment the moro
important one OF ASSISTANT 10 psr
EEL Taylor. deputy surveyor.
threw away tho stub OF a cigar and
reached for tho telephone.
When, central had given him his
number. he called out:
Say. Ford. I've something
mighty important for you. Direct.
ly the Mauretsnia gets into Quar-
antina. GO thru the declarations
and phone me right away whether
a man named Steven Donby de-
ciares a pearl necklace valued a,
5000. 900. A big case. you sayf
should bet II Is big case. Never
yon mind who's handling IL. Ford.
~ may - r. J.. or II may not tie
your Job 10 phone me AS soon as
you get peek at those dsclara.
tions 1et~Hammstt work with
you. GOODBYE"
Ho hung up the receiver and
leaned back IN his chair He was a
spare. hatchet-faccd man. who held
his present position because he
knew enough 10 work IN tho dark
and never ask for explanations.
When a step IN the outside pass
age warned him that his chief
might possibly DO coming In. he set
tied down in an attitude OF work.
But there entered only Harry
Gibbs.
Hello. JIM he said vhsn he
entered.
Thought you w-rs searching
tourists on the Olympic this after
noon" Duncan replied.
Gibbs mopped HIS perspirinR
head. Il was" he answered Il
brought a dame along for Taylor 10
soc. Where Is her"
Down with Malone now: he'll
be back soon"
Gibbs turned about TO SEQ II the
steps he heard at the door were
those of the man he had come 10
SEQ. II was only Peter. tho door
keeper.
Mr.. Duncan said tho man,
MISS Ethel Cartwright has Just
phoned that she's on her way and
will be here I'm fifteen minutes"
Gibbs could zee that the news
OF which he could mako little had
excited Duncan. Directly the door
keeper had gone. Duncan called his
chief on the telephone.
Hello. Hello. Chief. Miss Ethel
Cartwright lust phoned she'd b
here in fifteen minutes.
Yes. SIR. I'll have hen
wait"
When he had rung off. Gibbs
could see bis interest was inoreas
Ing. What do You think Of hel
falling for bum stall like that
"Who7" Gibbs demanded
which? What Eall7"
why. Miss Cartwright" SAID
Duncan.
We'll, who IL sheY Gibbs cried
IT'S she a smugglerl"
mo. She's a swell society girl
said Duncan in a superior manner
The chief wants 10 use her In the
DENLY case, so he had me write
her a letter. saying we'd received q
package from Paris containing du
table goods, a diamond ring. and
would she kindly call this after
noon and Btraighten out the mat
ter" Duncan now assumed an air
OF triumph. And she fell for a
fake like that"
II get you" said Gibbs. "But
what does he want her forf"
Duncan lowered his voice and
grew very confidential
Last week the chief got a cable
from Harlow, n salesman in Car
tiers tewelry shop In Paris Har
lows our secret agent there. Ills
cable said that an American
named Steven DENLY had bought
"A pearl necklace there FOR
100000"
"Geew Gibbs cried, impressed
| by such a gum, but who's Steven
DENLY? Some new milllonaire2
never heard OF him"
Neither did l." Duncan told
him: "and we can't find out any
thing about him and that's whai
makes Us so suspicious. You oughi
10 be able to get some dope on Z
man who can fling 100000 away
on string OF pearls"
did he slip II by the customs
them"
He hasn't landed yet" Duncan