Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-08-31


'eAre you, or are you not, wasting your
brilliant talents on my devoted trail?"
Quoin looked puzzled. Something
on your conscience?" he advanced ten
tatively. "You don't mean to try any
smuggling this trip, I hope
81 can't make up my mind. I'd love
to. Are you interested?'
"Only in your interests. Be adj
vised-don't!
"Why?" Mrs. Merrilees pouted.
''Why not, If, as Peter would say, ]
can get away with it?'
eff for no more moral reason" said
the detective seriously, because It
can't be done. The customs people are
laying for you.'
They'll be disappointed"
"Don't deceive yourself. Every man
on the force knows 1t was your agent
who secretly purchased that three-hun.
dred thousand franc pearl-and-dia.
mond collar at Cottier's in Paris"
'But I've quite made UP my mind
never to stoop to anything so truly
low as smuggling"
Over this virtuous protestation Mrs
Merrilees pursed prim lips belied by
dancing eyes; then broke down and
Joined in q general laugh as Craven
reappeared with a small dispatch box
Of black metal.
"Mayn't I g1ggle too?" he inquired
plaintiyely, looking from face to face
as he delivered the box to its owner.
"Not worth repeating" his fiancee
reported, fitting a key into the lock-
II was merely swearing meant to be
good-when every blessed drop Of
blood in me cries out against the sin.
full extravaganza Of paying duty on
this p
Opening the dispatch box, she re-
moved a handsome jewel case Of
grained morocco, unlocked this in turn
and disclosed that same necklace
which Quoin had just named, watch.
ing with smile of gratified vanity
the effect on her four friends; an eff
feet the same in no two instances.
Quoin eyed the necklace intently,
smiling at some secret thought his
quiet, studious, inscrutable smile.
Peter discovered no excitement
whatever; seemed bSred, If anything.
Craven sat back after one brief
look, features immobile but for eyes
that shot quick, Pickering, distrustful
glances right and left. To his patent
relief none Of the adjoining tables was
occupied.
And Lydia was thinking she had
never seen anything quite so beautiful
that wasn't alive. This may have been
because pearls had never found place
among her fathers presents-though
she had always desired them with a
great longing-to whom jewels had
distinct Municipalities, meaning and
q fascination incomprehensible to the
general run Of people. 1t was part OF
Lydia's inheritance to love and to long
to possess all manner Of beautiful
things.
At length, "Sixty thousand dollars?"
Quoin inquired listlessly.
"My dear man, I do believe you've
seen the bill!
Smiling, the detective shook his
head.
worth half as much again." Mrs.
Merrilees affirmed. "Cottier wanted
ninety"
"They seem perfectly matched"
Quoin pursued, knitting his brows;
'but I'd like to look at them In q
stronger light"
"Take them out into the sun, If you
like"
Craven sat forward in nervous i'm.
patience. "Do be reasonable!" he ex.
postulated. tits sheer idiocy to have
that thing UP here at all. with God
knows who spying! And there are
some queer fish aboard-eh, Quoin3"
"Ratherl'' the detective agreed
dryly.
"please be adusedp Craven urged.
"Lock that thing up again and let me
take 1t back to the purser."
'srad. you're tiresome!" Mrs. Merri-
lees began.
But QuO1n interrupted. craven IL
right"
ooh, we'll! If you will spoil every
thing. take oil the fun out of my sur.
prise"
"SurpriseT' Peter echoed
Mrs. Merrilees nodded emphatically.
look well at them, my friends; for
the minute / get them through the
customs, to safe deposit they go and
there remain" She paused deliberate
ly, with challenging smile.
"Why2' Peter demanded blanklE
Don't you ever mean to wear 'em,
BettyY'
She SHOOK her head. "They're not
for me. Peter. If dared snuggle
I should wear them. Just to be sassy
about 1t. But since don't dare.
mean to keep them for wedding pres
ent to my stepdaughter-if ever have
one" She closed the case with snap.
Lydia sat back with o little gasp,
her eyes blank with confusion. Quoin
laughed an odd, brief laugh, and
glanced aslxance at Craven. This last
turned to his betrothed with STAR
tied gesture and lips that gaped. Pc
80, rY,a o1opo hofrovod no I