Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-25
81 ~ : : s y. q
S& by NINA WILCOX PUTNAM ~ M
INSTAILMENT XIV.
by NINAWuC& PUTNAM

INSTALL4MENT XIV.
n RS. SAVERS birthday celebra-
M ton had lasted well into the
wv small hours Of the morning,
/ i but Alacia was up and about
next day in plenty of time to
keep her IL o'clock appointment at Car
tiers. There was no worry in her mind
about the joke she was playing on her
good old friend, except for a twinge OF
conscience at having let it go SO far.
After all, she thought, 1t was rather I'M
fair to get one of his precious dogs
away from him by such means, to say
nothing of proving him wrong in front
of an important confrere! But M. Piron,
meeting her at the door OF his famous
rivals esta blishment, seemed in cheer
full mood. and had not grown one whit
less stubborn about his opinion OF the
night before Immediately upon their
entrance they were shown into small
private room very like those at the
Piron establishment, and in another in
slant they were joined BY the manager,
who asked what he could do for them.
We want explained NJ. Piron, Ito
ask what this is?' Alacia took the neck
lace off and laid it in the manager S
hand. The man weighed it thoughful1y.
That is to say, you'd like to know its
value?' he asked slightly puzzled that q
man In Piron'S position should ask such
a question. Piron nodded.
Exactly" he replied. 1T is to settle
a dispute" The manager murmured a
polite excuse and disappeared for few
moments, taking the necklace with him.
When he reappeared he was accom-
panied by man whom he introduced
as the expert on pearls.
IN. Geroade will tell you his opin-
ion" he added, and Alacia waited
breathlessly for the laugh that was to
come. Then the newcomer spoke.
"I should say that fair valuation
on this necklace" said he, would be a
million and quarter francs"
For a moment following this an
nouncement Alacia sat thunderstruck
1t was with difficulty that she found
her voice.
But are you sure" she finally gasped
and would have said more except for
warning gesture from Piron.
"Mademoiselle came into possession
of these pearls under rather peculiar
circumstances he explained. and ]
merely wished to convince her beyond
all doubt as to their value. Thank
you very much: gentlemen. We are
There was a lot of ceremonious
assurances of mutual esteem while
Alacia slipped the necklace into her
bag. and few moments later she and
Piron found themselves bowed out into
the Rue de la PaiX. Her escort started
to cross in the direction of his shop, but
Alacia laid a OBTAINING hand on his
arm.
mo. wait!" she said. thinking rapid
ly. Il want to talk to you alone, but
not at the shop! I particularly don't
want to go there just now!"
THE Ritz will be deserted at this
hour he suggested.
Alacia nodded, but said nothing as
they turned into the Place Vendome
and entered the hotel 1t was still far
too early for the luncheon crowds and
the little waiting room on the garden
was deserted. Alacia led the way tC
sofa in the most secluded corner and
motioned her companion to sit beside
her Then she drew a long breath and
began.
IN. Piron," she said. when ]
tell you I paid only thousand francs
for that necklace, you believe me, don't
you?"
"Mais oui, of course, my dear child!
he protested, "but what I'd like to know
is where on earth you bought it'll"
II bought it." she said deliberately
Gin your own shop" He stared at mel
in utter amazement.
I'm my own shop?" he repeated
'Impossible!' 49,
mot a bit of it." she denied. II
bought it my myself, and it was tagged
correctly. I removed the price tag only
last night" -.
But, mon dieu, this is very serious!"
he replied uneasily. "A mistake Of that
kind cannot happen by accident. The
real pearls are kept in another part o.
the building, upstairs. The limitations
are sold on the ground floor; Did you
choose it in private room?"
mo I bought 1t out OF a tray con-
said. "at the counter on the groune
floor. Don't you remember the day:
You spoke to me as went out" He
seemed to think hard for moment
before replying.
Eyes, I remember now" he said, ode
Pas waited on you, and I told you abou
him, afterward." He lapsed into silence
for second and when he spoke agar
it was with effort. "You realize what
this means?" he asked. ut was plant
That necklace must have been deliber-
ately put there for somebody to take
away, and that somebody was obviously
not you But who did it, and how was
it done? There is nothing missing
from the safe am sure, for the inven-
tory Is checked night and morning BY
one Of the clerks, together with the mar
from the surete" Then he laughed
suddenly 1.-THE cleverness of it," hi
exclaimed. "You realize, of course, that
the necklace is legally yours?"
But how?"
ut was sold openly in the shop at
price which was plainly marked" hi
explained. 1.-THE law is not interested
in the price we ask unless we grossly
overcharge. If we are fools enough te
sell you a real necklace at q bargain
that does not make criminal OF you!
II see!" said Alacia. Then If the
customer for whom this was meant hae
got it, you could have done nothing?'
Exactly" he cried, 'but fortunate.
" we can arrest the man who delib-
erately tagged that necklace at thou
sand francs-always provided we can
identify him."
Armand didn't tag it," she sale
quickly. :.
ARMAND is above reproach," he sale
gravely, looking at her with sudden
kindly suspicion. But he'll probably
have to be brought into It,"
II wasn't worring about honesty!
she flared at him, her cheeks burning
y was thinking Of the unpleaSaul