Evening star., 1938-07-03

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Merrie clenched her hands and faced her
grandmother, eyes and cheeks blazing.
You leave Pete out of it!' she stormed.
"Eloping was my idea! He tried to talk me
out of it, as matter of fact Just to save your
feelings and preserve your musty old social
values He acted like stuffed shirt. Now" -
she was getting fearful with rage - ''I'm sorry
l ever left the note for you. wish I'd waited
until it was all over and sent you telegram.
/ should have let you worry four or five days.
Then perhaps you wouldn't have been in such
hurry to set the police on u.s.
"Mph" said Grandmother Griswold II
should have considered it my duty to bring you
back to your senses under any circumstances
- when found the emeralds were gone. Even
though did intend giving them to your
And what made you so sure we'd taken the
emeralds?" enquired Pete. How did you con-
meet the emeralds, and the studs, and the
Judges commission with Merle and me? Why
think of us right away when it might have been
the maid, the butler or the window washe.?
Personally, l think we've been framed"
The Judge jumped to his feet. ''See here,
young man, one more crack like that -"
"Sit down." said Grandmother Griswold
'Ill do the talking!' She turned to Pete
There couldn't be the least doubt it was you
and Merrie. Merrie left the note under the
edge of the bolster on my bed saw the corner
of it sticking out after my bed was made this
morning. read the note. Then l remembered
the emeralds. I'd intended giving them to
Merrie for wedding present. They were sewed
up in the end of the bolster along with Judge
Griswolds black pearls and his commission
We never used them. thought it was good
hiding place. She pointed an accusing finger at
Merrie. Il opened the bolster They were gone.
And the bolster had been sewed up just as care
fully and perfectly as though I'd done it myself
Nobody else could do that but Merrie" She
snorted. Certainly not the butler or the win
dow washer"
''Grandmother Griswold,' said Merrie,
you've gotten to be suspicious untrusting
old woman. Ever since that man down in Wall
Street stole your stocks last year. You don't
trust anybody anymore - even yourself Hid
ing things like that!'
Grandmother Griswold nodded with superior
ity. Its much the safest plan. Even though
you were smart enough to guess about the
bolster. I've hidden a lot of things in my time
and never lost anything before ~
Peter guffawed rather wildly interrupting
And l suppose Merrie comes by it naturally
She swiped your emeralds, and sewed up the
bolster. Then she hid the emeralds in the jar Of
cold cream where the state police found them
It's all too crazy to make sense!'
"Eh?" said Grandmother Griswold looking
startled. whats that about a jar of cold
cream?"
That's right" said the Judge. The State
Police up in Summerfeld searched these brats
and their luggage. They found the emeralds in
Merrie's cold cream"
"And by the way" said Pete, Il haven't had
chance to ask you, Merrie, where did you get
that cold cream?"
II got it out of the supply closet on the third
floor" said Merrie 1--WE keep lot of extra
things on hand there. Soap and bath salts and
powder and cold cream. When was packing up
Isaw my cold cream was low so got fresh JAR"
Grandmother Griswold's face was study.
She seemed to be talking to herself. Gold
cream?" she said. Gold cream? Now is it
possible -" She got quickly to her feet and
walked out of the room.
so that's your story and you're going to
stick to it, said the Judge to Pete and Merle
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