The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-07-26
CHAPTER X.

The silence was short-lived; but
while 1t lasted a power of scorn
played like lightning round the de-
voted head Of the appraiser.
As for Lydia and Peter (who had
just Joined the group, they gaped In
open amazement; while the inspector
looked sorry for Charlie.
After lightning. thunder. remote,
maestoso, "Are-you-madY"
"Mef No. ma'am, not a bit. It's
nothing to me, you know"
Don't bubble, If you please. I
want to know whether or not you're
daft. You know perfectly well that
necklace is worth ninety-sixty thou
sand dollars. Look at the bill. In
spector, be good enough to show this
person Cottier's BILL"
The appraiser examined tho receipt
with ostensible establishment. Il don't
understand this, ma'am," he faltered.
"Nor II"
"Cottier's don't deal in limitations,
I know" he pursued with greater n
fidence. "All the same, I'll stake my
Job that those are fish-skin pearls.
paste brilliants. and-well, the set
tings, I admit. are genuine"
"Then your job Is as good as lost.
I shall file a complaint and have you
discharged for Incompetence"
"If you'll pardon me, I don't be-
lieve you will, Mrs. Merrilees."
EASY. Betty" Peter Trait inter-
posed. Perhaps he's right, after ALL"
BE quiet, Peter. When l want your
advice. I'll let you know. Certainly
/ ought to know when l paid for that
collar"
"Then you have been shamefully
cheated, Mrs. Merrllees," the inspec.
tor put in.
quite impossible. I know real
gems from articles de Paris, and l ex'
amined this necklace with the great
est care before I purchased 1t. Since
then 1t 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 l know what ]
know. If you're the judge you think
yourself, ma'am. / can only suggest
that you take this to the light and
here. I'll lend you my magnifyine
glass"
THANK you, I sha'n't require It,"
With a gesture of rage, Mrs. Merri
lees snatched the case from the up
praiser's hands and moved toward thu
patch Of sunlight. Before she hat
reached it, studying the collar atten
lively on the way. Lydia saw hel
slacken pace and falter.
One short minute in that stroni
glare sufiiced. AS pale In mystlfica
ton as she had previously been will
wrath, Mrs. Merrilees returned.
II owe you an apology" she in
formed the appraiser In a shaking
voice. "It's a palpable imitation"
The box slipped from her grasp ant
went to the floor with a bump, spillini
its trashy contents, and Mrs. Merri
lees Topped incontinently to a con
venient trunk - Lydia's ready arm
round her shoulders.
"But, my dearv' Betty walled. 1T
perfectly preposterous"
The appraiser looked at once bore
and dubious. Peter Trait batted be
wildered eyes, then with a helpful al
picked up the box and replaced 1t
contents. The inspector swung sharp
ly round and made off. with every evl
dence of inspired haste. toward a dis
tant quarter Of the pier.
Let me think !" Mrs. Merrilees sal
in a stifled voice. %Indenting her lowe
lip with q knuckle. she fastened a
distracted stare on the polished tip
of her shoes.
Lydia. at a loss. found nothing I
say. She couldn't decently expires
too great concern over the disappear
ance of something that had been ded
Gated to her on her wedding day
however remote that event. Yet sh
was gravely IL unintelligibly dil
tressed. Beneath her ready sympath
stirred a qualm Of peculiar uneasines
Distracted by the rumble Of men
voices, she looked up. to find tn,
Quoin had added himself to he grou
and was studiously attending to p
ter's account of the counterfeit cola
Their eyes met presently, and LydI
wal surprised by the look he bent upC