The Winslow mail., 1916-03-31
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PEARLS or PRICE
BY lZOLA FORESTER.

How much were they worth?'
asked Hobart Gertrude stood near
the open fireplace. 1t was all so unbe-
hevable and stupid. There were only
five in the house besides herself and
Hobart-the Kincaids, whom they had
Tate, his sister, and Granger Freder-
icks, Hobart's best friend.
About ten thousand, I think, Barty.
Father never puts a price tag on any
thing, you know, but he bought them
for mother at Venice when they were
on their honeymoon. l wore them
only Friday night and-and | think |
put them in the little jewel drawer of
my dressing table,"
Without lock?"
tive never locked up anything here.
1t can't be any guest, and I know it
isn't the servants"
care 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?"
"He's seemed kind of moody, don't
you think so, Barty?"
Hobart shook his head, blowing out
smoke from his mouth in rings.
"Not 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 l 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 so Kin
caid's going today? He hadn't told ne.
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
tive never seen you serious before"
he said
"Am l serious?" she laughed and
sighed at the same time. ooh, Gran
ger, lifes pretty much of tangle after
all, isn't it?"
1t was a relief when the last had
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 par1or. She introduced the Wis
itor hesitatingly. And Granger stared
minute, stretched out his hand and
laughed heartily.
God bless your heart, Gertrude,
didn't think you'd take it so seriously.
Wait a minute, child" He dug into his
inner coat pocket and drew out some.
thing wrapped in a pocket handker-
chief. There are your pearls all safe
and sound. You see, Hobart didn't
mention them, and neither did you,
and l couldn't tell for the life of me
l could not possibly finish that third
act until you did do something def
nite"
Third act?" repeated Gertrude.
Granger, what have you done?"
"Just experimental" he answered
playfully Il knew neither you nor
Barty would mind a bit when you
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 of
a situation, only the girl steals neck
lace of diamonds. But your pearls
served quite as well. But there are
your pearls"
"Oh, Granger, Granger!" She
|Nleaned back against the glass door,
holding the pearls and laughing
The detective had stepped back into
the library. Fredericks took his favor
ite seat at the round willow table, and
waved his pencil at her happily.
I'm sorry they weren't diamonds"
he said. ''It might have worked out
better. Still, pearls have more char