Emmons County record., 1917-09-06
AUTHOR f"THEl LONE
WOLF. THE BRASS
BOML,"ETC
COPYRIGHT bY LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE, q.

wholly due to the perniclous interfer-
ence of his political antagonists, even
as predicted.
She returned the least Of mods, In
dicating that the puzzle box was
safe--as it was. In her suede handbag,
which, dangling frcm her wrist by Its
leather strap, had quite escaped the
attention Of the inspector.
Then. remembering Craven's hint
that 1t would be we'll not to attract
too much attention to their relation.
ship until clear of the Gust ,ms, the girl
turned away to kill time until her
father should be free.
Over the way, in Section b, Lydia
found Mrs. Beggarstaff, surrounded
by an array Of luggage to do credit
to an army corps, kght Of battle in
her eyes, words Of bitter wit upon her
ready lips, In pitched combat with a
graceless skeptic Of m inspector.
Near by, three dock porters. two ship
newsmen, half dozen assorted citi.
zens. and brace Of customs arprals.
ers whose duties were immediate an
elsewhere, hung In GREATNESS interest
upon the issue of the frsy, one aud oil
srinning broadly.
Lydia gathered an impression :hat
the Dowager Dragon had found :t,.-
man worthy of her steel; then hurried
on to Section NJ aud Betty MerrileeA.
Greeting Lydia yerenely, this last
resumed her conversation with her Hs-
signed inspector. you'll find every
thing dutiable in the hat trunk and
that big dresser trunk over there
the two upper trays-the receipted
bills In the first tray-all except
necklace. I have that here" she IN.
dicated the metal box In her hands,
"and the bill as WELL"
''Thnnks, Mrs. Merrilees." The in
spector looked up from her declars-
tion In futile attempt to maintain his
official imperturbability; then his eyes
twinkled in network of wrinkles.
His lips twitched, and he grlnned out
right.
THAT'S all very WE'LL" said the lady
impudently. Laugh If you likel But
please do your worst as quickly as
possible"
Every well, ma'am. I'll hurry you
through MS fast as can"
It became Immediately apparent
that the man wasn't disposed to doubt
the sincerity Of her conversation. The
luggage she had indicated rs innocent
Of dutiable goods he passed with the
most perfunctory examination, while
the millinery and other declared pur-
chases detained him only briefly.
Everything is quite o. K. thanks
to you, ma'am. And now II you will
let me have a look at that necklace.
I've sent for the appraiser. He'll be
along in minute"
The box was already unlocked. Mrs.
Merrilees promptly removed the leath-
er-bound jewel case and handed it to
the inspector.
Touching the spring, he let the lid
fly up, exposing the pearl collar. As
II dazzled, he blinked furiously. "She's
daisy!" he announced with unction.
"Finest piece of the sort that's come
through this year, or I'm no Judge"
Momentarlly his interest shifted to
the bill of the Partisan jeweler.
"Three hundred thousand francs
sixty thousand dollars" he niused
aloud. "You got it cheap, ma'am, If
I'm any judge"
"Nonsense" Mrs. Merrilees retort.
ed Indignantly. "As If an American
ever got anything cheap in Paris
and from Cottier's, Of all places! BY
every right you ought to assess the
duty on not more than forty thousand
dollars"
"Well," the Inspector suggested in
diligently, "we'll just see what the ap'
praiser says. There he is now. Hey
Charlie, step over here minute, will
you?"
In response to this hail, slender
bespectacled young man In O section
nodded assent, picked his way through
the barrier Of trunks, and, recognizing
Mrs. Merrllees, touched the vizor Of &
!. cap bearing the word Appraiser"
"Mrs. Merrilees has declared hel
necklace, Charlie" said the inspector
handing over the case. "And here.
the bill; but she wants you to take .
slant at 1t for value"
Nodding again, the appraiser mar
rowed his eyes and surveyed the neck
lace with an expression of some mys
tif1cation. Then he pursed his lips II
a noiseless whistle, looked bewilder
ment at Mrs. Merrilees, and stepped
aside with the Jewel case to a spo
where sunlight, through wide open
ing, threw brilliant splash Of golt