The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-01-04
CHAPTER X.
III

-11-
The silence was short-lived; but
while 1t lasted power of scorn
played like lightning round the de-
voted head of the appraiser.
AS for Lydia and Peter (who had
tust Joined the group, they gaped In
open amazement; while the inspector
looked sorry for Charlie.
After lightning, thunder. remote.
maestoso, "Are-you-madT"
"Mel No, ma'aIn. not bit. It's
nothing to me. you know"
Don't bubble. If you please. 1
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 the receipt
with ostensible astonishment. Il don't
understand this, ma'am," he faltered.
"Nor IT.
"Cottier's don't deal in limitations,
I know" he pursued with greater con-
fidence "All the same. III stake my
Job that those are fish-skin pearls.
pdste DrllllHnts, huu-"eli, tHe SET
tings, I admit, are genuine"
Then your job Is as good as lost.
shall file u complaint and have you
discharged for Incompetence"
"If you'll pardon me, l don't be-
lieve you will, Mrs. MerrIlees" =
Easy, Betty Peter Trait inter-
posed. perhaps he's right, after ALL"
BE quiet, Peter. When want your
advice. I'll let you know. Certainly
I ought to know when l paid for that
collar"
"Then you have been shamefully
cheated, Mrs. Merrilees," the inspec-
tor put in.
quite impossible. l know real
gems from articles de Paris, and l ex-
amined this necklace with the great
est care before I purchased II. 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 I
know. If you're the judge you think
yourself, maam, l can only suggest
that you take this to the light and
here, I'll lend you my magnifying
glass"
THANK you. I sha'n't require It,"
With a gesture of rage, Mrs. Merri-
lees spatched the case from the ap-
praiser'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
Eacken pace and falter.
One short minute In that strong
glare sufficed. AS pale In mystitica-
ton as she had previously been with
wrath, Mrs. Merrilees returned.
II owe you an apology" she in
formed the appraiser in a shaking
voice. ITS a palpable imitation"
The box slipped from her grasp and
went to the floor with bump, spilling
Its trashy contents. and Mrs. Merrf-
lees Topped incontinently to a con-
venient trunk Lydia's ready arm
round her shoulders.
But. my dear!" Betty walled. ITS
perfectly preposterous
The appraiser looked at once bored
and dubious Peter Trait batted be-
wildered eyes. then with a helpful air
picked up the box and replaced Its
Coutcutb. luc luSpCSloA SN uhk chuA
ly round and made off. with every evil
dence OF inspired haste. toward dis
tant quarter of the pier.
Let me think y Mrs. Merrilees said
In stifled voice. Indenting her lower
lip with a knuckle. she fastened an
abstracted 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 II unintelligibly dis
tressed. Beneath her ready sympathy
stirred a qualm Of peculiar uneasiness.
Distracted By the rumble of mems
voices, she looked up. to find that
Quoin had added himself to the group
and was studiously attending to Pc
ter's account Of the counterfeit collar.
Their eyes met presently, and Lydia
was surprised By tAe look he bent upoo