The Glenwood post., 1924-04-10

in q dayr
II might" said volpe, looking them
over, seeing they were a good stand
ard cut. ~. e
"Whatn 1t cost-the whole thing1
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-"you'n have to have it all done
In a day-when bring 1t inr
"Why-what's the great hurryr'
asked Volpe, looking at him. starting
wondering little then. :
'It's my wife. She'll want to wear
them. You know how women arsi"
volpe nodded. He knew some
things about the women-and their
freaks and whims. You do. handling
jewelry.
"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 don't want you calling up my
wife. You know how women are
about such thingsl' he said again,
looking nervous-volpe noticed at the
time.
He noticed that. You keep your
eyes open in that business and the
deal was queer on the face Of 1t. But
1t 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 out
to lie there as pledge for the ten
thousand.
you'll have them all here-the
identical same ones-when come
after them7" he asked-looking red
and anxious. There's no danger
they'll get mixed up any way2"
mot a danger" Volpe told him.
For 1t would mean something to
me-if there was a mix-up on this"
he said. They're our luck"
Lucky stones, huh7" said Volpe,
and smiled to himself when he had
gone-surer than ever about the thing
though curious naturally on what 1t
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 volpe study
ing him. thinking fast.
II thought 1t was myself. And 1t
will be this time. But you know how
the contracting business is-especlally
now. Up and down. Mostly down!
But 1t will be all right this time-I
can promise you that"
II guess you can when you get 1t |"
said volpe to himself-getting under
way behind that soft, sweet jewelry
salesman's smile.
"Have you got them with your" he
asked MIN, smiling.
"No," said the other man getting
red-and bringing in new idea now.
"And I've got to get you to 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 volpe after him.
YES" he said, getting redder still.
"You know how women are-when
they get an idea in their head"
"What's this?" said volpe to him
self, with sudden sinking spell
wondering what 1t was he had run
into.
"All right" he said aloud-smiling
more sweetly than ever. Bring them
In"
"What nightT asked volpe, more
and more polite.
"I1l 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 your volpe
asked his stenographer. She was
about as wise as he was. seeing them
coming In and going out.
"He's like the rest Of them-all over
the lot like the dandelions. Hes got
something on his mind all right. But
he's straight enough, I'll say. Hes too
thick to be anything else.
"Win he be back againf~ volpe
asked her.
"He sure win. The battle feet
couldn't chase him away. Hes got to
have that money. Right nowr
volpe thought the same. And the
man still looked honest to him, some
how.
But why at nightT he said to him
self. when the girl was gone. "And
why this stall about the woman-hav-
ing to have themf Does she wear
them at breakfastr'
He sat and hipped away q lot Of
ri Un rotto~ ouf tho 'front.' -anAnvv f,a<<,