The Coolidge examiner., 1931-02-06

Polly's Pearls Were
Really Genuine
By ELIZABETH BARTON

her own way about it, but Tommy
talked her into it.
81 have nothing to wear among
such swagger people," said Polly.
Make something out of that
soft pillow" advised Tommy, land
you'll look a thousand times bet
! ter than the average"
And as matter of fact, there
was not more beautiful girl in
the great hall than Polly in her
wisp of evening gown that she had
| fashioned, her gray slippers and
| stockings to match, and the whole
topped as Tommy put it by her car
roty riot of curls.
"That old string of beads could
be a priceless lot of pearls, for all
anyone here might know" he told
her as they danced.
And if they were real" retorted
Polly, 81 would not be here seek
ing patrons for my art shOp-I
could have such a gorgeous shop
| that people would come in spite
of themselves" She toyed grace
fully with the long string Of beads
in question. "Oh, dear! Isn't that
the limit-right in the middle of
the ballroom !" she exclaimed, and
a brilliant blush sprang swiftly to
her cheeks. The string had broken
and the beads were rolling every
where at once.
OF course, she was the center of
attraction, and all the dancers
stopped to help rescue what they
supposed to he pearls.
'Please don't bother" said Polly,
they're only beads"
Nevertheless they were nearly all
restored to her and she put them
carefully into her small vanity
bag.
A young man, however, sitting
watching the affair had picked up
a few of the beads and having
overheard POlly's remark about
their value, looked carefully at
them.
"Humph! | think I'll show these
to Caruthers-lOOk like the real
thing to me. Perhaps | can do
the young lady a good turn. Rath-
er fancy her, anyway" He man.
aged by much inquiry to find out
who Polly was and that she had
a wee shop where she sold lamp
shades. cushions and other such
trifles.
And as Polly and Tommy
stroIled up Park avenue to the tiny
place that was POlly's home,
Tommy wished with all his heart
that he was anything but an i'm
pecuniOus artist who dared not
tell the only girl how much he
loved her. He had been quite
ashamed to give her the old
string of beads on the occasion of
her birthday some few years back,
but it was all he had in his scant
| possessions.
When Polly said goodnight she
apOlOgiZed softly for having
caused such scene at the dance.
81 didn't want TO let the crowd
know how much | valued every one
of those beads, Tommy, but l think
we found most of them" She gave
his hand an extra warm squeeze
and slipped swiftly up the stairs.
"COme early Sunday afternoon, -
she called back to him.
Sunday was the happiest day of
| their week. for Polly, tired of her
own cooking, let Tommy get her
tea and supper Sunday night.
And on Sunday evening while
|
some music and Tommy was max
ing something delicious in the
| kitchen, some one knocked at the
front door. Polly haStened to see
who it might be and whether her
nice evening with Tommy was to be
shared with a third person.
That third person happened to be
the young man who had picked up
three of the beads from POlly's
string. After telling her his mis-
sion he was promptly invited in.
And when Polly told him that she
had string of them that would go
three times around her neck the
young man gasped.
"My dear young lady," he ex-
citedly told her, "if all those beads
are of the value of the three !
| picked up you have set of pearls
worth at least fifty thousand dol
lars"
Tommy, Tommy" she shouted,
"come quickly-I'm going to faint y
And when Tommy rushed from the
kitchen with a pan Of steaming pigs
in-blankets in his hand, she stood
up, braced her shoulders and de-
cided not to faint "No | won't" "
she said, and turned to the strange
young man. Tell Mr.. Wakefield
what you have just said"
Tommy had all he could do to
keep the steaming Sunday night
supper from gracing the studio
| floor
They've been in the Wakefield
family for ages-I don't think their
value was ever suspected" he said
calmly.
MY pal says that is only a rough
estimate-they may be worth double
that amount"
''In that case | shall most certain
ly faint" laughed Polly, and in
vited the strange young man to
stay for supper.
But something in the eyes of
these two artists prevented him
from accepting. The fire and hope
and love lying there were not to be
intruded upon. He left them to