The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-01-19

| 80 q i"'Si loue le uuueu, You re the
best little diplomat ever. III be crate
ful as long as live" And rising with
the sunniest of smiles, he drew up
chairs for Lydia and Quoin.
Yes, Mrs. Merrilees?" the detective
inquired, taking the place at her side.
Peter and l have been pickering
about YOU" the lady fbbed brazenly.
Are You, or are you not wasting your
brilliant talents on my devoted trail?"
Quoin looked puzzled. Something
on your conscience?' he advanced ten
tatlvely. you don't mean to try any
smuggling this trip, hope"
Il can't make up my mind. I'd love
TO. Are you interested?"
only in your interests. Be ad-
vised-don't"
"Why?" Mrs. Merrilees pouted.
why not, if, as Peter would say, l
can get away with it?'
III 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 it 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 q small dispatch box
of black metal.
"Mayn't l glggle too?" he inquired
plaintively, looking from face to face
as he delivered the box to its owner.
"Not worth repeating" his fiancee
reported, fitting q key into the lock.
Il was merely swearing l meant to be
good-when every blessed drop of
blood In me cries out against the sim
full extravaganza of paying duty on
this !"
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.
At length, "Sixty thousand dollars?"
Quoin inquired listlessly.
'My dear man, l 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 reasonablew he ex-
postulated. ITS sheer idiocy to have
that thing up here at all, with God
knows who spying! And there are
some queer fish aboard-eh, Quoin?"
"Rather!'' the detective agreed
dryly.
"please be advised!" Craven urged.
Lock that thing up again and let me
take it back to the purser."
Tad, you're tiresome" Mrs. Merri-
lees began.
But Quoin interrupted. Craven is
right"
"Oh, we'll! If you will spoil every
thing, take all the fun out Of my sur
prise"
"Surprise?" Peter echoed.
Mrs. Merrilees nodded emphaticaliy.
Look well at them, my friends; for
the minute l get them through the
customs, to safe deposit they go and
there remain" She paused deliberate
ly, with a challenging smile.
"Why?" Peter demanded blankly.
Don't you ever mean to wear 'em.
Betty?"
She shook her head. "They're not
for me, Peter. If l dared smuggle,
I should wear them, just to be sassy
about It. But since l don't dare,
mean to keep them for wedding pres
ent to my stepdaughter-lf ever have
one" She closed the case with snap.
Lydia sat back with little gasp,
her eyes blank with confusion. Quoin
laughed an odd, brief laugh, and