Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-07

rying, and there was always the re-
assuring shadow OF Mr.. Rayner's
financial solidity behind the young
pair.
AS Christmas approached Myrtle
confided to Dick that she wanted n
string of pearls. Not a large string.
dear, for l know we couldn't afford
1t. but l do want them. Nobody In
towns got string of real pearls. I've
always longed for one. and know
they're becoming to me-"
We'll" said Dick IIammill, thought
fully, Il know they would DO. don't
know how much pearls cost. but IN
look into 1t. l might manage a very
And we could add to 1t from year
to year" said Myrtle, joyfully, unit
1t was really worth while"
When Dick Hammill discovered tina
a very simple small string Of goo
pearls would cost minimum OF Ave
or six thousand he was surprised ant
disappointed. He explained it to
Myrtle.
Wen have to wait a few years
I'm afraid, much as would Hike to
give them to you, sweetheart.
wouldn't want to get pearls that
weren't good co'or and well matched. :"
Myrtle listened to him and then,
slowly. the tears began to brim her
blue eyes.
I'D set my heart on them" she
sobbed. I'D told some of the girls
you were going to get them for me-
Oh, dear-oh, dear-Oh. Dick, / do
l do want them So"
Dick Hammill was distressed beyond
words. He did what he could TO con
sole her and presently Myrtle. drying
forgive her for being 30 silly, but she
was so disappointed. She quite under
stood. And for a fortnight thereafter
she was sad and brave and obviously
trying to forget.
The result was foregone. A,
Christmas she got the pearls, q small
string. but fine.
DICK. you dear naughty" she said.
| You couldn't afford them"
! Il came into q little money unex.
pectedly." said Dick Hammili easily
And these pearls are the conse.
| quence."
Dick bought II from a legacy
Myr>Ae told her father and mother.
when she showed the string to them,
and Mr.. Rayner who had exhibited d
shade of uneasiness, breathed easier
he knew a"ltttle about pearls and h.
was reasonably certain that Myrtle's
string didn't cost less than eight thou.
SAND. On the salary the bank was
paying Dick. he couldn't afford II; but
a legacy-that was different.
.
ON Myrtle's birthday. which came in
April. she wanted-and got q
player. piano, because ITS SO much
more fun to dance to-" In the early
Summer she felt the overpowerinR
need OF a new car. an English car OF
the most expensive sort. The Crosbys
l ~ tyrh xt
| lts slim elegance made Myrtle's little
! old boat look rather like a beetle. The
car she wanted would make the
| CrosbyS acquisition pale
DICK Hammill protested: II Just
can't. Myrtle, not this Summer. Next
year. maybe All those bills for clothes
the last time you went to the city, and
the regular house bills. have got me
skinned to the bone. Wait q little,
love, and I'll surely get 1t for you"
Myrtle did not know the meaning OF
the word walt. But she offered an
alternative scheme. Let me tell
daddy-hell love to get it for us"
No" roared Dick Hammill. NO. I
won't have my father In law buying
things cant afford. It's bad enough
that he gave US this house, but I'VE
steered clear OF everything else: No.
| dont you do that. honey. Just be pa.
tent. and everythingll come our way.
We're young yet" He tried to finish
| his outburst as joke
Myrtle was weeping again. "Oh.
| DICK. l never heard you talk 3d. Oh,
| Dick-oh. Dick"
1t was an hour before he could quiet
her. and even then she was utterly un.
nerved. and lay on her chaise Tongue
like broken lily. Dick was unnerved,
! too. He went down to the bank with
a much graver look than he had ever
worn before In his energetic young
life.
The broken lily did not revive, and
every time those misty blue eyes
looked pathetically at Dick he felt an
| awful brute. The conclusion was again
foregone. Myrtle got her car, the
most magnificent on the market. 1t
| was a perfect tonic for q dropping
| flower and 1t did, as she had antici.
pated. make the Crosby splendor seem
nothing at all. Myrtle. in the depth
Of the giant thing. SO little, so frail. SO
| childlike, so lovely. was a sight worth
coming miles to see.
| Yet Mr.. Rayner, when he saw 1t.
secretly put a special accountant to
work on the banks books. He was re.
assured and a bit ashamed when no
slightest irregularity was reported.
| Well, maybe Dick had some money Of
his own, thought Mr.. Rayner. and
wasn't inclined to blab 1t around. He
rather admired him for being close
mouthed.
II was not always such huge and
costly articles that Myrtle desired.
| There were lesser ones, constant
drain; diamond slipper buckles;
| dangle of crystal and pearls; brushes
of Powered blue enamel for her dress
ing table: an old Spanish shawl. cream.
| white, heavy with embroidery. drip
| ping long fringe; a sable scarf: a
string of Egyptian beads: earrings o.
platinum and jade; no one OF them
I excessive in itself. but In the aggre-
gate enormous.
| 4 - \
| lust before their second married
Christmas Myrtle came back from
trip to the city with a tale of pend
ant OF sapphire and diamonds that
would exactly match her engagement
ring. She had seen 1t, and tried 1t on.
1t was the most precious thing! She
chartered about it all through dinner
they were having her father and
mother over on the evening after her
return. Dick didn't say much. and
Mr.. Rayner glanced at him once or
| twice.
You've got jewelry enough for a
while. baby" he said at last. shes
| oil eyes," he went on. to Dick. She
buy out the world II she could. Don't
take it too seriously"
| Why. dad, aren't you mean
giving me away to Dick like that
pouted Myrtle prettily. III make
YOU buy the pendant for me II you
ion't watch out"
II expected something like that
would come next" chuckled Mr..
Rayner. Come around to the store