The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-10-12

| lected on top of pile while Prudence
manipulated the knob Of small safe.
He stood beside her as the heavy door
swung open.
"What are those white things?" He
indicated the row of packets in one
of the compartments.
"Stones. Some precious, some SEMI
precious"
"You must have fortune there"
"Not fortune, but more money
than / can afford to have tied up In
them. I'm jelly-fish, / have no sales
resistance. When 1 see lovely gem,
l have an attack Of what the econ
omists call Buyers delirium.' These
are the most valuable, though have a
pigeon-blood ruby and cabochon sap
phire which couldn't be called grubby."
"That's corking emerald"
ut is choice, it's flawless. It was
my grandmother's."
whats that stuff in the bottles
which looks like hunks of colored
glass;"
"Enamels. Transparent and opaque.
They are ground in little water to
salt-like consistency in that mortar,
washed thoroughly before they are ap-
piled to metal, and heated until they
melt. When l want them especially
jewel-like / use them over gold leaf.
1 can't enamel here, worse luck. Cant
get enough heat. Have to use bel
lows and a big blow pipe"
"You sure know this job, don't you?
What are you looking for In those pa
pers?"
Here they are! Here's the design
for the collar. See those medallions
between the links?" She looked up.
you're not listening! You're not
looking!"
''Tm looking all right Never real
lied before how much red there is in
your hair. The sunlight brings 1t out.
It's gorgeous. girl"
my hair! thought you came here
for silver collar"
II did. Cross-my -throat-an' -hope-to-
die, did. You love this work, don't
you? Your eyes are like stars"
"Of course l love it, but l get ire
mendously thrilled over whatever in
terests me-"
you'll wear yourself out"
"Better to wear out than rust out"
Meaning me, suppose?"
IF the shoe fits, put it on. Do you
realize that you are wasting my pre-
cious time? thought you were about
to give me an honest-to-goodness or
der"
Gerard laid his hand on the sketch.
'Don't put 1t away. l do want the
collar. You were explaining about the
medallions between the links. Will
they be silver?"
"Yes. They are to be carved and
fooled with Micky Mouse episodes.
See these cat's-eyes glow and smolder?
I'll set them in silver to alternate
with the medallions. This pear
shaped piece of Korean amber-which
Is supposed to contain magic-will
hang from the buckle in front. Like
the idea?"
you're a fraud. You ask that as
anxiously as If you didn't know it was
Knockout. OF course like It," He
carefully lifted the paper on which
lay the emerald and some diamonds.
II like these, too. Any chance of your
making this ring up to order?"
Did he want it to give to a girl?
The thought flashed through Prue's
mind even as she shook her head.
mot a chance, even If had money
to invest In baguette diamonds, which
l haven't. 1t has been one Of the
dreams Of my life to wear that ring.
Unless Prosperity farm plunges so
deep into the red that we can't pull 1t
out, I'll hold on to the emerald"
She thoughtfully nibbled the point
of the engraving tool.
"The silver collar for the kitten is
likely to be rather expensive. can't
set a price because 1 have no idea
how much time it will take"
THAT'S all right I'll give It to
Jean for Christmas. Think you'll have
it done by them"
"Christmasl I hope so, but, of
course, If l have many morning in
terruptions-"
81 accept your delicate hint. I'm of.
1t won't interrupt your work, l hope,
If stop to collect Jean and the kitten
and speak to your brother, who Is
lying on the grass patch in the middle
of the garden?"
David on the groundl left him"
Prudence fairly flew through the
house. She heard Gerard behind her
as she raced into the garden. Dave
on the groundl
She dropped to her knees. beside
him.
"Davel Dayel Did you fallT'
With a murmur Of concern. he sat
up and put his arm about her.
"Pruel Prue. OF course I didn't
fall, dear. After while the chair
seemed hard and the grass inviting,