Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-14

bottle and a fan or two-mere bijou-
terie. The cabinet was his first gift to
her Of value and his last Shall 1 tell
youf 1t Is indiscreet, perhaps, that /
gossip now, but II Is piquant little
histoire which might have come from
! the pages Of DE MaupasBant ~
He paused with a reminiscent smile
and McCarty, who gathered only that
he was on the trail Of some new dope
which would be of possible use In the
case, sat up straighter In his chair.
Lets have IL, Girard. He quit max
Inv presents to her, do you mean?
THAT Is the historic, Monsieur Nc
Carly. Madame Kip. she have no
knowledge Of the artistiquc, no love Of
beautiful things as have most women,
even of the people; 1t Is the price only
to her which matters! II thing Is Of
II is exquisite but of little value in
money, she has not eyes to scc!" There
was immeasurable scorn In his voice.
1T is a month after the gift Of the cab
met to her that madame comes to me
and brings back the two fans: she must
have money must sell them for her.
Eh. bien. that Is to me IN affair OF
business. but when tell her their value
she flies into rage! She had thought
them worth more and she accuses me Of
trying to cheat her. ! refuse then to
door. but she makes the apology and In
the end leaves them for what they may
bring:
mot two days later Monsieur Crcvc-
ling comes he desires to know II have
found for him vase to match one which
he has. and when my back IL turned he
secs the fans in the case! He asks me
how IL Is that they are there and me.
what can ] say? / cannot make of my
self in his eyes a receiver of stolen
goods. He buys them, giving me twice
what ! asked. twice what he paid be-
fore. and takes them away, but his
smile It Is not pleasant!
81 send the money to Madame Kip.
saying only that II is the price which
have received for her fans, but the next
day she Ia here once more and this time
her anger. 1t IL affreuse. She says thnt
l have sold her out but do not COM
prehcnd: It IL only her fans that I have
sold. Alors, Monsieur Crcveling sends
no more bijoutcrie to madame from my
shop! IL is droll. is It not?''
at is that - McCnrty laughed. but
his quick brain was piecing together
fact and theory which he had formed.
''Girard. YOU old devil. I'll bet you did
it on purpose but she's still a Gus
toner Of yours, isn't she? Didn't I
sec her In here nfter closing hours one
night not q month ago? She had on
an evening dress with a motoring cloak
thrown over It and she came in an open
car with man in fur coat"
Monsieur Girard nodded.
1T was she. Another friend Of hers
who is an occasional customer told her
OF a snuff box which had just reached
me from France. 1t was Of gold set
said to be of the time OF Louis the Just
and since there could be no doubt Of its
value, madame must have it! 1t was
purchased for her that night, monsieur.
bv the man In the fur coat
And who was he?" McCarty asked.
Didn't you know him, too? Didn't
you get his name?'
But, yes. He give me check and
II was under his name that recorded
the sale here In my book" He turned
again to the fat volume and ran through
yourself"
McCarty rose with alacrity and cross
ing to his host. bent over the ledger and
read the name written there In Monsieur
Girard's small. fine hand. The next
minute he started back in amaaemcnt.
"For the love Of the saints!" he
circulated. And twas not month
ngo. Think of your putting it down in
your little book. 80 neat and certain I.
Mnny's the time I've thought to my
self that it was tho poor business man
you were. with everything higsledy-
piggledy in your shop and dust that you
take it ali back! Keep that little book
safe, Girard, for it may be Of more use
than you know