The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-08-10

"What'll 1t cost-the whole thingf
Ten thousand for three months"
asked the man. his eyes boring in still
And Volpe figured out a good thing
on it-and told him what he'd do.
"But now it's understood" said the
man-"youll have to have IT all done
in day--when l bring Il mr.
"Why-what's the great hurry7"
asked Volpe, looking at him. starting
wondering little then.
Its my wife. She'll want to wear
them. You know how women are!"
Yolpe nodded. He knew some
things about the women--and their
freaks and whims. You do. handling
tewelry.
And don't call me 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 thingsl" he said again,
looking nervous-Yolpe noticed at the
time.
He noticed that You keep your
eyes open In that business and the
deal was queer on the face of II. But
It was no queerer than others he'd
had.
And Of course, II anything sus-
picious came up when he came In
again. that next week, Volpe 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, Volpe
WAS surer than ever of the thing-for
one reason from the way he acted
about the stones that were coming ont
to lie there as pledge for the ten
thousand
you'll have them all here--the
identical same ones--when 7 come
after them7' he asked-looking red
and anxious. There's no danger
they'll get mixed up any wayf"
mot danger" Volpe told him.
"For It would mean something to
me-if there was mix-up ON this"
he said. They're our luck"
Lucky stones. huh2" said yolpe,
and smiled to himself when he had
gone-surer than ever about the thing
though curious naturally on what II
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.
81 thought you said ten thousand
WIS all you'd need" said volpe study
ing him. thinking fast
II thought Il was myself And II
viii be this time. But you know how
the contracting business especially
now Up and down. Mostly down I
But It VIII be all right this time-I
can promise You that"
Il guess you can when you get It !"
said Volpe to himself getting under
way behind that soft, sweet jewelry
salesman's smile.
Have you got them with your he
asked him, smiling
NO" said the other man getting
red-and bringing In new idea now.
"And I've got to get you 70 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--when
j "a, I,T
What's ths2' said Volpe TO him
self. with sudden sinking spell
wondering what It was he had run
into
"Al right" he said aloud smiling
more swectly than ever. Bring them
+ in"
what nightly asked voipe more
and more polite.
I'm cali you up--this evening Just
/ before six o'clock and tell YOU" he
said, a might he able to getAI 10.
night. hope so"
How'd he strike your Volpe
asked his stenographer She was
about as wise as he was, seeing them
+ coming in and going out.
Hes Ike the rest of them all over
/ the lot like the dandellons. He's got
something on his mind all right But
he's straight enough, III say. He's toe
thick 10 he anything else.
"Wll he be back agaln2" volpe
asked her
"He sure Will. The battle fleet
couldn't chase him away. He's got TO
have that money, Right now
Yolpe thought the same. And the
man stlll looked honest TO him, some
how.
but why at night" he said TO him
self, when the girl was gone. "And
why this stall about the woman hay
ing TO have Them? Does she wear
them al breakfastf'
He sat and clipped away lot Of
cigarettes out the front window into
the avenue looking down. thinking,
as the lights came on---wating for six
o'clock.
And then he jumped up on his feet
with new idea
"Iere," he said, getting hot In the
head. Suppose this wife business
was all stall Suppose he was
somewhere In a museum, or store
where he could have this thing Just so
long And had 20 get It back at such
time That might be 1t I"
"Ile might just have time enough
TO have Just 50 many changes made in
the setting at night for instance, like
this and have It bnck when things
opened up IN the morning And then
later he'd take another bite of II r
his cigarette starting figuring the
chances Of getting any Of that ten
thousand dollars back II II was stolen