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(Copyright IN by All -SOCIETY Company the Rati!y 4 Britton rights reserve By Edith V tasted Dyne Van SYNOPSIS the' k'ndly Uncle John Merrick it the of into future looking Ihita doubtful whether Beth would have his and joukye three nieces in exclusive evr made their formal debut prerno-niiionT "circles Clearly he had no of when lie what was to follow fleSrik Von friend prevailed upon hjf arfd of social position Taer a wealth man their giddy to girls upon start jthe his home round with a reception at of Diana Von keynote Jealousy is the undoing of the plottings for the Taer’s is a Memhone three cotjsing and Charlie her scheming unworthy second to not The attaint the society Kerrness leads ’Complications to interesting HD gift In CHAPTER Von The 4' W l&J ZZ id- IX Taer Pearls really had JOHN more the famous Kermcss fun out of The preparations than any one else him something to do gave well and he enjoyed doing —openly as as in secret ways Having declared that he booth at his would stock ‘the lloWt-r confided to no one own expense he his thought plains The girls may have orders with a ho would merely leave florist but that was not the Merrick way of doingwtliinga Instead he visited the most famous greenhouses within a radius of many miles contracting for all llor’al t'hc bloonm that art skill Kennefti could produce The was to be a three days’ affiair and each day the the cast floral treasures of were in the reckless profusion at which thus became the flower booth center of attraction and the marvel of the public The girls were delighted to b6 to blooms and able dispense such their saleswomen success as was assured at once Of course the fair vendors were ignorant of the of value their wares for ref used to tell them how Undo John extravagant he had been so they were obliged to guess the sums to be sold priceless and in consequecu4 orc'hida and hothouse floral at rare ridiculous that Mr Merrick such rates he chuckled with amusement until UNCLE teH ' y £ A' f X- YoH W- ' jS V-Tll r -and I Uli ! ' l ft IL Zl flM ’L 1 - 'rwd "cd-’ u(V' 4 - v -K AV VftA I d delivered X ‘ l ' T' a “’Z r' ' ' 'Ij- ''' - ' " demanded -at nearly choked The public “cordially being invited" Uncle John that first was present on of evening and— wonder important wonders was arrayed in an immaculate suit' full-dress dhubby form Major Doyle armjs that fitted his the sjkjn of a banana likewise disguised locked like his' with brother-in-law and stalked gravely among the throng but point in neither ever got to the big not room where the flower booth was in plain sigh The Major’s pride in “our Patsy" was something superb Uncle John was proud of all three of his nieces As the sale of wares was for tho benefit of charity those old purchased- liberally mostly parcels homo had enough sent to delivery wagon disagreeable incident only One marred this otherwise successful especially for the three cousins whose beauty and grace won tlie hearts of all Von Taer was stationed in the Diana “Hindoo Booth” and the oriental exactly fitted her sensuous she wore To enhance its style of beauty had around her neck effect s'he worn Von 'Taer pearls the famous string of to be In collection said unmatched a Veauty and unequaled in value in all York New enough The “Hindoo Booth” was fornearDiana to to the “lower Booth" of watteh tlie cousins and the triumph bitter for her late protegees wae very annoying tier to endure Especially was it to devoting himself find Arthur Waldon assiduously to Louise who looked in her and favored charming rose gown marked although Arthur in a wa refusing to be Charlie Mershone counter of the also leaned over striving the booth and chatted continually to djaw M1®S Merrick's attention to himself this Diana soon orced to observe-all accustomed coolness The sight lost her of happy faces of Arthur and Ixuise the aroused all the rancor and subtile wit possessed and ste resolved she that act would not before that she upon an Leaning have believed herself capable of down she released the catch of unobserved pearls and f&moys Thea them in a handkerchief Waving her booth she sauntered slowly floral display which was over to the surrounded for the moment by a crowd of Many of the vases eager customers which jhad contained and pottery jars flowe:s now stood empty and jqgt bea t fed-lows flowers-and till a evening-successful costume - Ignored -the concealed V‘lt fore smashed and fragments to 'Merrick This wan of money the di-pleled was stock is nourished tlie water whieh had flowens At tho same time she caught Louise’s eye and with a gesture brought herZide the girl to "Those young men are wealthy” sh® said carelessly her bead close to that well fur of loudsc "Make them pay their purchases my dear Diana" waa the "1 can't rob them laughing rejoinder is “But your duty to rob at charity" in and the interests of persisted Diana maintaining her volva at a whisper Louise was annoyed “Thank you" rfie said and went back to tho group awaiting her The floral booth was triangular Beth the officiated Patsy at Ker-mess a It at one another of three the and sides at Hie Louise -girls hdtror Taer cried iH-arls?" one “The Von Taer pearls" said Diana as dazed by her misfortune “And you’ve lost them lost!" she echoed Well there was excitement then you be sure One man hurried to may if dear?"They’re notify the-doorkeeper and returned a -awkward "H-m-m!“ - a " the private positively yet!’’'- detect1 CHAPTER this booth at all £ “ ’ It I accuse night" " I- fcejir’ he era Id she aeoufied?" inquired tlie “Was other bhlndly ‘1 hadn’t heard really” “You did yourself!” deliberately "Dear me!” said Mershone lighting cigarette or “You your precious cousin— you’re both alike" declared Arthur bitterly it a you sCiontx pearls’’ missing have We II -see given you us Men wisdom trick u® don t again" Tho young between stared at him man ptiffti of smoke Weldon that you’r® "It oertirs to me ft becoming insolent won't do nij buy Unless you guard your tongue—" ’Bah! lbw nt you dare you cowTard” “Coward innocent A attacks “Yes man who an gill is coward Ami you’ve been for a coward ail your life Mershone or another No one reason one in your pretended reform But want to warn you to keep away from Mist Meriwk hereafter or 1'11 take hand in your pmihshment myself" ta moment tho eyed or one another savagely They were equally matched m physique but Arthur was Mershone right there was no light in of he that knockdown order He would light in Ms own way doubtless and tins made him than Iris antagonist supposed “WhaL right have you sir to seak for Miss Merrick?” he demanded iu “The best right tho world" Arthur “She promised my wife” “Indeed! Since when?” is “That none of your affair As a matter of fact however excitement you created bust that little night resulted iu perfect understand ing between us" “I created!“ of “You Miss Merrick does course meet you again not care to Y'ou will do well to avoid her In the future” " don’t believe’you Weldon You're bluffing" I? to Then dare “Am annoy Mis® I’ll Merrick and soon convince' of my sincerity” you With this parting shot he walked leaving Mershone really' at away loss to know whether lie wag in earnest or not To solvo the question he called a taxicab and in a few gave hi® Merrick butler with card to the to Louise see NBAs The man returned with message that Miss Merrick was engaged Is “Please tell her important" Mershone Again the butler departed and soon returned “Any message for Miss Merrick must be convoyed in writing sir”- he said “She dolines to see you” Mershone went white with away anger We may credit film with loving bi® Ixjuise as intensely aw a ’IM41 Hia siddeq caliber can love any one it if a belu-ves 1 a a t is more-daugeruuis replied -is Mer-shune a -again ' a a met Mer-W at club next afternoon “You low scoundrel!" he exIt claimed was your trick to Miss Merrick x a theft last w'tfrd-wfth a the “But m-tnutes ’WELDON d RTHUK shone ’’ asked a quiet voice that of the official whose business was to investigate walked over to the floral “I— mereljbooth opposite and exchanged Miss Merrick and the others there” she explained The search was resumed and Charlie Mershone sauntered over this Di? Lost the big pearls “What’s X Misled distracted left appeared floor aride and whispered to him He nodded and to flowed Loot h the once him a employed on all such occasions while others hastily searched the booth of Diana seemed course in vain — the and now3 spread quickly through the assemblage you the on crowd of searchers around which now gathered nmcli to the annoyance of Ijoutse and her cousins said “It’s all foolishness you know" Uncle John tothe Major confidentially “If the girl really dropped her pearls lung has picked them up some one ago" Young seamed searcldng Mei shone tlie earnestly as the floral booth as knocked tlie others and awkwardly his Doullon vase from the shelf with elbow It smashed to fragments and In the pool of water on the floor appeared too missing pearls silence for£ There was- an moment while all eyes turned curiotikly Louise who served this side of upon appeared turned the triangle The girl to tho as ehe gazed down at stone laughed disagreeably gems Mershone and picked up the recovered treasury wbidh Diana ran forward and seized detective with a said tho shrug "this is strange occurrence— a very strange occurrence indeed Miss Von Taer do you wish“No!" exclaimed Diana haughtily “I It is enough that an accuse no one has restored to me the heirloom” Stiffly she marehed back to her own and the crowd quietly dispersed booth Arthur Uncle John and leaving only the Major standing to support Louise astonished cousins and her it!" confound cried the littlo “Why millionaire with red face "does tha jade mean to insinuate—” at all sir" interrupted the “Not Major sternly “her early education has neglected that’s all” been to pleaded Arthur dear" “Come LoujseK’let us go home" meane!" announced Beth "By no where we belong “let us stay we’re not half sold out Why ve "Have water a exclaimed: “My "pearls!” the Von “What at of accident third Diana now passed softly around word with booth interchanging a the after which she the other two returned to her own station Presently while chatting with a group of acquaintances she suddenly clasped expression her throat and assuming an of pool the too! sie something the of station Iu sadly in course offset by the store beside the fair saleslady the Tittle drawer Diana and Louise having greeted with a smile and upd turned to renew her conversation with the young men besieging her Diana leaned gracefully over the counter tlie containing the resting hand the mouth of an handkerchief over for emi'ty Doulton vase-empty save of in request a " it insisted |
