The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-12-04

much-her willingness to excuse and |
to wait for final proofs of peoples de-
linquencies. She hadn't even men,
toned her suspicion TO Claire: at the
same time the incident decided her
that she could on no account keep the
child longer in the house. the worry
of looking after her was too great, and
she had told Claire this and that IL her
father didn't arrive by Monday Claire
would have to 60 TO a boarding school
for safekeeplng till he did. Monsieur
lie pere opportunely arrived next
morning and took Claire away. That
was Thursday--the day before she
called on me-and Claire had been
with Mrs. Delario just since Monday.
Very naturally. then. in all the story
I never once thought of the slipper and
that Mrs. Delario might be suspecting
Claire of taking II also. But having.
so to speak. settled Claire in saying
that she had left on Thursday after
noon, Mrs. Delario quickly switched
the conversation on the real subject of
my visit. She introduced II by saying
that Lila-who was still in boarding
school near Phlladelphia-was break
ing down and might have to be sent
abroad for treatment-she seemed to
be developing spinal trouble, though
the doctors here really didn't seem to
know what allied the child; and then
the sentence I clearly remember was,
I'm very greatly In need Of money"
fear must have drawn back sud
denly-I actually thought she was try
ing to borrow OF me-for she smiled
and answered my unspoken words: II
don't mean want to borrow anything.
have some property want to dis
pose Of. I want to sell some rubies."
"Why, Mrs. Delario, I'm not a
dealer" replied quickly.
T know you're not-that's why !
thought you could help me better than
anyone else. The stones were left me
by a great-uncle in France, and may
as well confess 1t now-they came In
duty free"
"Smuggledv ~ interjected.
"Well, friend brought them over
|
gage was examined. But don't you see
that was why I could sell them at a
bargainT
81 don't know anybody who deals in
smuggled gems"
"Of course-but you needn't tel
that-you don't actually know how
they got in-you are selling them fol
friend. It's because you don't know
that that you can sell them better
than can. At least you wouldn't mint
looking at the stones and telling mi
what they're worth so I'll have some
thing to so on? haven't an idea how
valuable they are"
"Take them to Tiffany's." I sug
gested.
'Tm afraid to take them anywhere
to tell you the truth. Eugene tool
them to place on Maiden lane yes
terday and the people acted so queerly
Eugene-he's very psychic-got tn
impression that they were going to &C
cuse him of smuggling them or some
thing of the kind-stealing the rubies
perhaps from them-and he put then
In his pocket and ran out. He think
he was followed, but he couldn't max
sure. Don't you see how easy
would be for anyone to accuse Ion
woman of theft"
"But how would they prove any
thingr l interrupted. eff the stone
are yours"
She stopped me with bitter laugi
"Can't you see that the mere publ
accusation that I'd stolen jewels woul
ruin me professionally? It would pu
me instantly under suspicion Of frau
in all my dealings. Oh. you don
know; you haven't conception Z
what this life Means" she went on
little wildly. "You don't know TIL
struggle Just to make ones dali
bread. A lawsuit would ruin me finaI
cially-I have no money to hire Law
yer to defend me-"
felt myself give in to her then, 0
friend. Yes, I'd help her in ever
reasonable way.
"You mustn't labor under any falls
impressions about me-" she went Of
~ have little property-not enoug
to support two people-and what
earn. live here rent free-they pa
the rent-the circle that meets hel
! twice week. / have the house muC
1 as a minister has his parsonage.
: there were ever any scandal-if the
turned me out from here-rd be pra
e tically penniless. couldn't make
r fresh start with that hanging over m
: And then my son"
: said, swell, get the stones and T
r look at them IL you care to have II
e do that"
She left me with q grateful smll
e but returned so quickly that l rath'
n guessed she had the stores on h,
= person. 1t was dingy little past
e board box she'd come back with, ia
d tened with q common little elasti
n She slipped the elastic and placed Il
n box in my hand.
o raised the lid. I gave one loo