Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-26

over, seeing they we're. a coed stand
ard cut. u !t-
"Whatn 1t eost-the whole thing?
Ten thousand for three months"
asked the man. his eyes boring in still.
And volpe figured out good thing
on it-and told him what he'd do.
"But now It's understood" said the
man-"you'l have TO have Il all done
In a day-when bring it in"
"Why-what's the great hurry
asked Volpe, looking at him, starting
wondering a little then.
Its my wife. Shell want TO wear
them. You know how women are"
Volpe nodded. He knew some
things about the wonderland their
freaks and whims. You do, handling
jewelry.
"And don't call NE up at the apart
ment, either. I'll bring them in some
day soon-I can't be sure just when.
But l don't want you calling up my
wife. You know how women are
about such things" he said again.
looking nery0us-YOlpe noticed ut the
time.
He noticed that. You keep your
eyes open in that business and the
deal was queer on the face of 1t. But
ii was no Queerer than others he d
had.
And Of course, II anything sus-
plclous came up when be came in
again, that next week. Nolpe would be
right there watching-before any
money passed.
But next week when the big man
showed up again with his big neck
lace in his pocket. to get his money
and have the substitution made. folpe
was Surer than ever of the thing-for
one reason from the way he acted
about the stones that were coming out
to lie there as pledge for the ten
thousand.
you'll have. them all here-the
identical same ones-when come
after them?" he asked-looking red
and anxious. There's no danger
they'll get mixed up any way?'
"Not a danger" NOlpe told him.
For it would mean something to
me-if there was miX-up on this"
he said. They're our luck"
Lucky stones. huh?' said Yolpe,
and smiled Ia himself when he had
gohe-surer than ever about the thing
though curious naturally on what it
was all about.
About two weeks afterward the man
showed up again and wanted another
ten thousand on another third Of the
stones.
That was different.
II thought you said ten thousand
was all you'd need said yOlpe study
ing him. thinking fast.
Il thought 1t was myself. And 1t
will be this time. But you know how
the contracting business Especially
now. Up and down. Mostly down
But It will be all right this time-I
can promise you that"
II GUESS YOU can when you get it :"
said Volpe to housekeeping under
way behind that soft. sweet jewelry
saleSman'S smile.
"Have you got them with you?" he
asked him. smiling.
NO" said the other man getting
red-and bringing in Il new idea now.
And I've got To get You 10 do some
thing else this time. I've got to have
you make that next substitution of
stones for me-SOme night"
"Some night" said Nolpe after him
"Yes." he said, getting redder still
"You know how women are-wher
they get an idea in their head"
whats this?" said Nolpe to him
self, with Il sudden sinking spell
wondering what it was he had run
into.
"All right" he said aloud-Smlllng
more Sweetly than ever. Bring them
in"
"What nisht?' asked volpe, more
and more polite.
"Ill call you up--this evening-just
before six o'clock. and tell YOU" he
said, II might be able TO get in TO
night. ] hope So"
How'd he strike youY" VolpC
asked his stenograpker. She wa:
about as wise as he was, seeing then
coming in and going out.
Hes like the rest of them-all over
the lot like the dandelions. He's got
something on his mind all right But
he's straight enough, I'll say. He's toe
thick to be anything else.
"Will he be back again?" Nolpe
asked her
He sure will. The battle fleet
couldn't chase him away. He's got tC
have that money. Right now"
Volpe thought the same. And the
man still looked honest TO him, some
how.
But why at night;" he said to him
self, when the girl was gone. "Anc
why this stall about the woman-hav.
ing 10 have them? Does she wear
them at breakfast?"
He sat and dipped away a lot OF
cigarettes ont the front window into
the demonstrating down. thinking
* tho 1icbte co,,, -, ,,.o;,s,c< a.. Q; -