Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-09-04
CHAPTER x.

III
The silence was short-lived; but
while ii lasted power of scorn
played like lightning round the de-
yoted head of the appraiser.
AS for Lydia and Peter (who had
lust joined the group, they gaped in
,pen amazement; while the inspector
ooked sorry for Charlie.
After lightning, thunder. remote,
naestoso, "Are-you-mad"
"Mef No, ma'am, not bit. It's
,othing to me, you know"
Don't bubble. if you please.
want to know whether or not you're
Taft. You know perfectly well that
necklace is worth ninety-Sixty thou
iand dollars. Look at the bill. In
,pector, be good enough to show this
person Cottier's bill"
The appraiser examined the receipt
With ostensible establishment. II don't
understand this, ma'am," he faltered.
"Nor II"
"Cottier's don't deal in limitations,
. know" he pursued with greater con-
idence. "All the same. I'll stake my
OBJ that those are fish-skin pearls,
taste brilliants. and-well, the set
ings, 1 admit. are genuine"
"Then your job is as good as lost.
! shall file a complaint and have you
discharged for incompetence"
"If you'll pardon me, 1 don't be-
ieve you will, Mrs. Merrilees."
Easy, Bettyi" Peter Trait inter-
POSED. Perhaps he's right. after ALL"
BE quiet. Peter. When want your
ADVICE. I'll let you know. Certainly
ought to know when / paid for that
:ollar-"
"Then you have been shamefully
cheated, Mrs. Merrilees," the inspec-
or put in.
"Quite impossible. I know real
Eems from articles de Paris, and 1 ex-
lmined this necklace with the great
sst care before I purchased it. Since
hen it has never left this box, which
hasn't been out of my care an instant
except when in the purser's safe"
I'm sorry, but 1 know what
rnow. If you're the judge you think
Yourself, ma'am, 1 can only suggest
hat you take this TO the light and
here. I'll lend you my magnifying
glass"
THANK you, 1 sha'n't require it."
With a gesture OF rage. Mrs. Merri-
ees snatched the case from the ap-
,raiser's hands and moved toward the
patch of sunlight. Before she had
reached 1t. studying the collar atten-
lively on the way, Lydia saw her
nacken pace and falter.
One short minute In that strong
glare sufficed. AS pale in mystifica-
hon as she had previously been with
wrath, Mrs. Merrilees returned.
Il owe you an apology" she in
formed the appraiser In a shaking
Foice. Its a palpable Imitation"
The box slipped from her grasp and
vent to the floor with bump, spilling
rs trashy contents, and Mrs. Merri-
ees Topped incontinently to a con-
renient trunk - Lydia's ready arm
found her shoulders.
But, my dearl" Betty walled. "It's
perfectly preposterousr
The appraiser looked at once bored
md dubious. Peter Trait batted be-
Tildered eyes. then with a helpful air
picked up the box and replaced its
contents. The inspector swung sharp
" round and made on. with every evil
dence OF inspired haste. toward a dis
tant quarter of the pier.
Let me Think ~ Mrs. Merrilees said
In a stified voice. Indenting her lower
lip with a knuckle, she fastened an
distracted stare on the polished tips
Of her shoes.
Lydia. at a loss. found nothing to
say. She couldn't decently express
too great concern over the disappear
ance of something that had been dedi
Gated to her on her wedding day
however remote that event. Yet she
was gravely If unintelligibly dis
nessed. Beneath her ready sympath,
stirred a qualm of peculiar uneasiness
Distracted by the rumble of menl
voices. she looked up. to find tina
Quoin had added himself to the groul
and was studiously attending to Pc
ter's account of the counterfeit collar
Their eyes met presently, and Lydii
was surprised by the look he bent upol