Evening star., 1928-11-25
By Octau1s Roy Cohen
Priceless Pearls Stolen! Big Reward.

have something here-if you'd like to
see it."
He opened one of his trunks, and re-
turned with a leather case of sizable
dimensions. They gathered near him
at the table. and he flung back the lid
The Vanduyn pearls smiled up at
them in pink perfection. Mrs. Morse
gasped with delight. "oh-oh! How
g,oriouS!"
The Morses were mesmerized by the
magnificence of the jewels. And, whils
they stared under the spell. Tommy
talked softly about pearls. He was
natural actor. and he held the manu-
facturer and his wife in the hollow Of
his hand. And then he snapped the
case shut and turned away.
The MorSeS we're dazed. It was Edgar
Morse who sounded the words that
brought a lilt of triumph to the heart
of Tommy Braden.
I'm rather sorry you showed us
those, Mr.. Braden."
"Sorry?"
eyes. want them"
Tommy Braden knew he had builded
we'll He deliberately shunted the con-
versation from the subject of jewelry,
knowing that the man and his wistful-
eyed wife would discuss the pearls, once
tlSy were dloIle. NOI was le WIoAS.
They were captivated by the sheer
beauty of the things.
Their mention OF the pearls the night
following excited no response from him,
but, on the night after that, he con-
sented to display again the magnificent
rope.
Morse essayed one valiant attempt:
Wed be awfully appreciative, Mr.
Braden, If you could help us get some
pearls exactly like those-er-a-tha
is, If there are any,
The other man shrugged. I'm afraid
there are not" he retorted briefly.
Tommy was making progress slowly.
And he might have continued in just
that way had not something occurred
on the ensuing day that caused him
considerable apprehension.
At first he did not see the bulky fig
ure at the desk, 1t was not until the
stranger turned and surveyed the lobby
that a premonition of danger smote
him.
When the stranger walked into an
elevator, Tommy Braden stared after
him. But, once the csge door closed,
Braden crossed the lobby and glanced
at the register.
Jim Harvey, New York.
He turned away and strolled out upon
the spacious veranda. where he lighted
cigar and puffed refiectively Eddie
Morse and his wife would not have
known their friend at that moment.
Tommy's face was hard and bitter, He
put his thoughts into unspoken words:
What is Jim Hanvey doing here? Why
should detective like him come to a
joint like this?"
Tommy Braden had been the despair
of detectives, and thus far had avoided
the inconveniences of jail-save in the
case Of single slip In the early days
of his career.
That single sentence ranked in Tom
my'S breast; 1t had inspired In him q
wholesome fear of State boarding
houses. But after all, Tommy Braden
feared only one man in the detective
world. which was why he was so viSibly
disturbed at finding himself fellow
guest of that one man.
THE following morning he played
golf with Edgar Morse. He unbent
more than ever and dazzled the man
so thoroughly that MorSe'S mind was
not on the game, and he lowered his
record seven strokes.
They walked in from the eighteenth
green together, then Tommy made his
way to the hotel, while Mr.. Morse Sc
lected his favorite putter and balls for
a session of utterly useless practice on
the clock course.
Tommy saw the detective too late to
avoid meeting.
There was no doubling the sincerity
of the surprise reflected upon Jim Han
vey's countenance. We'll, Tommy Bra
deni" Their hands met in a cordial
clasp. 1T is Braden now, amt it,
Tommy"
Tommy smiled. "Surest thing, Jim.
Thomas Matlock Braden"
What's it feel like to be maSquer-
adm under your right name?"
Pretty good, Jim. I've retired on
my income"
Quit the game?"
Entirely"
That's fine, Tommy-flne."
Jim blinked with approval. "Doggone
If you don't look like million dollars
ready money, son. Silk shirt, trick
pants an everything. Say, what is
there to golf that makes men dress
thataway?"
Ever played?"
"Naw!"
Better men than you have fallen
for it."
sure; know that"
Despite outward appearances, Tom
my Braden was uneasy. 1t wasn't that
he was in any way connected with Jim'S
visit to this particular resort, but rath-
er that Jim's proximity was unhealthy