Evening star., 1932-12-24
81 r@ff$5 ! = :! =. q
&S& byNINA WILCOX PUTNAM u ~
by INAWuc& PUTNAM


about the affairs Of my business" he
said. "but I cannot help remarking
upon your beautiful necklace. my dear
child"
touching it with her finger. Are you
making fun Of me?"
But mol" he protested gallaAtly.
"On the contrary. am most sincere.
Rarely have I seen such a perfectly
matched string!"
"Yes." she said laughing. 1T seems
too good to be true, doesn't 1t? And
as a matter of fact, 1t isl"
Are you trying to say II is an imita-
tion?" he challenged her. But my
little friend, I don't believe 1t. know
pearls when I see them!"
That's your story!" Alacia retorted.
Come on, now M. Piron, don't
get in too deep. This necklace cost
only a thousand francs, but I must
admit it's a pretty good fake"
"A thousand francs!" he said in
credulously. "Tiens. If that is all you
paid, you certainly got bargain! May
I look more closely?" Abcia undid the
clasp and slipped the strand into his
hand. The old gentleman peered at
expert fingers. and clicking his tongue
against his teeth in a puzzled fashion.
I'll swear they are real!" he said at
length, handing them back to her.
Are you certain you have not put on
your good necklace by mistaken"
"Positive!" said she. knowing the
real necklace lay hidden behind the
impeccable white shirt front which
Armand presented to the table few
places away. But the old jeweler re-
manned unconvinced.
IF those are false pearls" he as
serted, Il have never seen their equal.
There is certainly nothing as good in
the imitation pearl department at my
shop!"
1t was on the tip Of Alacia's tongue
to tell him where she had got her bar
gain when the humor of the old mans
mistake led her into keeping quiet
about it.
"Iil bet you anything It's Just a
tlrst-class copy" she said. "And that
you do sell the same sort"
We'll. I'm not gambler-jewelers
cannot afford to bet," he said pleasant
ly. but this time will take you up.
What shall the bet be? One Of my
against WHAT"
Alacia's eyes cleaned. NJ Piron
was known to have the finest ken
mel Of black French poodles in the
country but could hardly ever be in
duced to part with one and Alacia
had often cast longing eyes on the big
runs out at the old mans country place
near Fontainebleau.
oh: IN take that bet" she cried
it? A new Europa?" He shook his
head
How about the necklace itself?" he
suggested. That will suit me-"
"Oh, but that's not fair" protested
Alacia, because I'm betting on a GER
tainty!"
so am Il" said he. Aacia laughed
excitedly.
Very well, have it your way" she
agreed. "Oh, can hardly wait to get
my darling dog! Gosh. if you knew
how I've wanted one! Who is to judge
this thing. anyhow" she added. mot
one Of your own experts, that's no go!"
He flung out his hands in deprecatory
gesture.
But certainly not" he protested.
Listen! I will meet you at Cartier's
tomorrow morning at IL o'clock. viii
That's understood" she told him.
"I'll be there promptly, and laugh as
you are being shown up. old dear"
The dinner party had come to an
end. Alacia found herself next to Ar
mand, and In the crush she slipped her
hand surreptitiouSly into his while she
whispered the joke she was playing on
his patron.
mot word to him tonight" she ad-
monished. But tomorrow afternoon
you might ask him for a few tips on
how to tell real pearls!"
II will he said. "This is a night
full Of Jokes. it seems. Have you no
ticed COL Bradley and your mother?
They are getting along like pair Of
cooling doves would be II doves ever
cooed Of business methods and world
politics!"
Eyes, I did notice!" she replied.
''They do seem to like each other, don't
they? And Santin1 doesn't appear to
relish it particularly. BY the way, did
you hear anything yet?" she added sig
nif1cantly. He shook his head
It telephoned, but it Is impossible to
get at the records before tomorrow
he replied. II am to go around and
see the preiet after hours, and I'll let
you know anything learn, immediate
ly. Meanwhile. what say we dance?"
(To be Continued.)
a