Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-09-21
AUTHOR THE LONE
WOLF" THE BRASS
BOWL,"ET
COPYRIGHT BY LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

the detective, she hailed him. "Quoin,
do come here at once!' and immedi-
ately, needless Of bystanders, began
to detail her perplexity in HIGH
querulous voice.
After a moment or two Lydia rose
and Joined Peter Trait. "Poor dear"
she said gently, with slight nod to
correct any possible misconception as
to the object of her sympathy. I'm
so sorry for her!"
"Well," said Peter, impressively
1udgmatical, "of course Betty can at
ford to lose these trinkets by the gross;
but, granted she isn't taking, it's a
pretty puzzle, isn't it?"
"Faking!" Lydia echoed resentfully.
"Now don't get huffy-pleasei
Betty's darling, and everything like
that; but she's got no conscientious
scruples about smuggling-nOne that
you'd notice-and I don't mind telling
you she isn't above turning trick like
this-acting up TO it too. She's one
wonderful young coincidence, If you
don't know it."
"'Turn trick like thisp What does
that mean" Lydia demanded stiff1y.
slave her dog collar duplicated in
paste and fish scales, substitute 1t for
the original article, and pretend she's
been jockied like one O'Clock. Mind
YOU, I don't say she has done that; but
the little devils got it in her." ]
II don't believe yea:"
"There!" Peter complained. snow
you're sore. Didn't tell you the other
day the foolishest thing a chap could
do was to take things seriously, es-
pecially out lOud?''
"YOu're-horrid u
The adjective was childish; but
Lydia wasn't in mood to search for
one more dignified. She turned frosty
shoulder to the young man; but the
seed of suspicion had been planted in
the mind of one who couldn't forget
how lightly Betty had confessed to
prior exploits in the gentlewomanly
art of smuggling, and her laughing con-
fession that nothing but sheer fright
would prevent her attempting again to
outwit the custom house.
And even while this memory was
troubling her the affair took a turn to
fix doubt of Betty firmly in Lydia's
mind.
1t began with the return of the In
spector, accompanied by the custom
house official IN charge Of the pier-a
middle-aged man, this one, with a
rather consequential manner, gold.
trimmed eyeglasses, and not unkindly
expression.
"Mrs. Merrilees, believer" he asked
with much urbanity.
Mrs. Merrilees interrupted herself
abruptly to turn and examine the
deputy with the eye Of disfavor. "Yesw
she asked brusQuely.
The deputy introduced himself. '"The
inspector has just Informed me of this
-er-unfortunate matter" he pursued.
Sand thought might possibly be able
to help straighten it out"
kind Of you, I'm sure" But the
tone of Mrs Merrilees completely be.
lied this statement. Have you any.
thing to propose"
''If / might have the privilege Of
word in private" the deputy suggest.
ed blandly.
Quoin made as If to withdraw.
"Wait, please. This is Mr.. Quoin.
You may have heard Of him."
"Who hasn't?" the deputy returned
pleasantly proud to meet you, sir"
"Mr. Quoin has kindly volunteered
to help me in this-outrage. Anything
you wish to say he may hear"
"As you please, madam, but" The
glance of the deputy veered significant.
ly to Peter and Lydia.
mol" Mrs. Merrilees insisted warm.
ly. "You can have nothing to say that
any Of my friends may not hear"
'Then, madam-permit me to advise
you, in all Difference"
"Well?"
ut will save you great deal OF
trouble to produce the original collar,
pay the duty on it. and"
"Quoin ~ Betty exclaimed in q tone
Of irritated perplexity. what can this
person mean"
QuOin was silent.
II don't mean," the deputy pursued,
unabashed, ito be offensive; but-the
inference is unavoidable. You are
known to have purchased valuable
pearl collar In Paris"
II believe l declared it'
"But upon examination you produce
only comparatively worthless imita-
ton, and assert that you have been
robbed Of the original"
II assert! I have asserted nothing"
Mrs. Merrilees drew a long breath,
closed her teeth with vindictive snap,
and reopened theM to observe with
whitening distinctness, "Go away! You
are insOlent! You presume-oh, you
annoy me! Do go-before forget my.
self"
"We can't assess an imitation at the
value of the real necklace, Of course,
and yet we know that the original is
coming into this country by this boat"
"Then permit me to recommend the
other passengers to your attention"
SWELL do orr host RI ovorheul thnyn