The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-24

inc green idWnst ponies, rioci s clubhouse and gaily dressed spec tators seemed to be suddenly jum- bled into whIrling mass. Oh, was she going to faint?
 With stupendous effort she sum- moned her forces and pulled herself together.
 What did you say? didn't ex- actly catch it."
 Her own voice sounded weak and faraway. But she'd got tho words out somehow.
 Her companion smiled--a slow unpleasant smile. The effect of his remark has been pronounced. He had surely hit the nall upon the head That sudden pallor must spell guilt
 'I merely suggested that the stolen necklace was not your uncie's original handsome gift. but clever fake"
 white-faced. she stared at him.
 Who told you that?"
 He laughed softly in amused fash ion. She wasn't good at subterfuge.
 "A little bird, my dear"
 She drew away from him. Her hands in the white gloves were trem- bling. Something that looked like fear glinted in her pretty, appealing eyes.
 "You--you're joking, aren't your"
 Indeed I'm not" He was going to follow up his chance now. I'm quite in earnest" W
 Ensued a painful pause. Silence was more embarrassing than speech.
 She tried to break 1t.
 "Why. Farrel, what an odd thing to say! Why on earth should 1 wear an imitation--?" She bit her lip.
 He shrugged his shoulders.
 Lots of women never wear their real pearls because they're much too valuable. They place the real article ceilent fake, so you couldn't tell the imitation" He laughed again. Don't look so perturbed as though you'd committed a solecism. assure you it's done in the highest circles"
 But I-I haven't put my pearls in the bank. You're wrong" This breath : lessly.
 He turned to look at her. She was wearing a well-cut white serge coat and skirt, white felt hat adorned by a single dropping ostrich feather, white gloves and shoes. The white ensemble" of her toilette seemed to increase the effect of pallor in her face.
 'sNo, not in the bank" he was slowly empatically, watching Nata- lies changing expression much as a cat watches mouse. There are other means of getting rid of too valuable gifts" He paused to let this cryptic utterance sink In.
 The girls chin went up. At heart she was no coward. Farrel had driven her into "a tight corner, but she would show him that he could not seriously frfghten her.
 T don't consder that your in- situations are in the best of taste. In fact they're downright ungentie- manly. Besides. my private concerns can't interest you"
 She reminded him of pretty deer at bay. Through her sensitive, finely chisselled nostrils. her breath came quickly. Anger had supplanted fear
 A sheer flickered at the corner Of
 
 brave the matter--.
 I'm sorry that I'm guilty of breach of etiquette. But it's better than being guilty of breach of law --isn't it?"
 She did not answer.
 He went on suaveiy:
 One could scarcely call the loss of the necklace a private concern could one? For there's an adver- tiscment about 1t in all the papers. He lowered his tones. Natalie. tell me, on the morning that I met voa near the Berkeley, hadn't you just been buying an Imitation necklace 7''
 She hesitated. Her heart thumped 70 loudly that she thought the man must hear It. Oh. what was she to
 He leaned confidentially toward hex.
 Come. isn't that the truth? And that f-ame night the necklace was stolen Ey' 2 thief. who mistook the fake for the Soriginal?" ss
 She forced ha<seif to meet his
 "You seem. to know..a lot about the thief! Maybe he was sA-a friend H yoursr Poor Natalie \tried to fks T leaf out of Farrers book
 For any pity that hssmight Ae feel 1hg for her faded. f sOh. Ao that's your tone! And I was only trying to help you out, of a tight poAition" He swung away from her and stared moodily across, 'hs verdant lawns.
 "A ionel painful pause.
 "Farrc4 Won't you explain to