Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1908 — Earning His Fee. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Earning His Fee.

By COLIN S. COLLINS.

Onpyright, UOS. by M. M. Cunningham.

•What are you doing here, Alma?” •sounded Blake as he ran across bis little hostess In the conservatory. lfrs. Thearle lifted a tear stained tßce to Blake’s. In spite of her three aahappy years as the wife of Osmund vTfcearle, who bad obligingly drunk tomaelf to death In the third year and toft her with her youth and a round Billion of dollars, Alma still was pathetically a child In many ways. -It’s perfectly horrid,” she said sobhlngly. ‘‘l had planned to have this dance a sensation, and now”— “It is perfect,” declared Blake warm4y. "Every one Is saying that the arrangements could not be improved npon.” "That’s Just It,” was the tearful response. “It was all going so nicely, «nd now that horrid Count Cazman has spoiled It all.” "He has been annoying you!” Blake’s thee grew stern, and bis hands clinched. Ever since they were children to.gather he had loved Alma. That this somewhat repulsive scion of nobility Mkould offer her affront was not to be borne. "He hasn’t said anything to me,” explained Mrs. Thearle, "but I don’t believe that he Is a count, for all of his gplendld letters of Introduction. He stole Bessie Vardon’s bracelet. You tnaow the one I mean, the one with all the diamonds. I saw him slip it from tier wrist She does not know yet. She thinks she lost it I have asked her to say nothing about it for the moment, and I came here to think what I could do.”

‘‘Send for a policeman,” suggested Blake grimly. v He was resentful of the count’s manaer toward Alma, and he would be glad t» see the public humiliation of his rival. •"Heavens, I can’t do thatl” gasped Mrs. Thearle. “Don’t you see, Paul,

that if I should even accuse the count he would make a scandal, and that Is the last thing I would wish for at my Brat entertainment since—since"— "Since freedom came,” Blake finished for her. Thearle's death had been a matter of congratulation to more than his widow. "It a sort of second debut," she fan «n. “The count is a sort of star feature, and to have him discovered as a thief would be to make the whole affair a failure."

"So It would,” agreed Blake, “and yet we cannot get that bracelet back with* eat Borne sort of a scene. Isa not fair to Bess to let him get away with the ■polls. It’s easily worth 120,000.” "Ml gladly pay Bess the cost," gasped Mrs. Thearle; “but, don’t you see, I can’t do so without explaining why I Should make good her loss.” "And that would never do,” agreed Blake. “The question Is, What shall be done?”

“That’s what I want you to tell,” was the trusting answer. “You have ■ever failed me yet, Paul, even when”— Blake nodded. No need to put Into words the memories of those troublous times when he bad intervened to save her from the drunken whims of the man her parents had forced her to marry. "I think I have an Idea,’’ be said after a moment of thought “I don’t suppose the count knows that you saw >him?” "I was on the other side of the room and with my back turned. I saw him In the mirror. He took It off Bessie’s wrist and slipped It Into the breast pocket of his coat” "We used to have a lot of fun over “It’s hardly the thing for a ballroom, hat you might ask me to do a few tacks.” "And borrow the bracelet of the 1 count?’ she asked hopefully. . “Something like that” was the laughIt on and lend it to me when I ask for It.” Mis. Thearle clapped her bands. "I knew that you would Brink out some j wag," she declared. “Shill I ask yoa

u jooq as we get back to'ffte'Bi® room?” J “In abbot a quarter of an explained. "Don’t let It look too cot and dried.” Blake slipped out of the conservatory by another door, and his surprise was well simulated when he was asked to performfew tricks. Mrs. Thearle bad only to make this suggestion, for the other guests eagerly took np the matter. Paul Blake had at one time thought of going upon the stage, for he was a more than ordinarily clever performer, and only the unexpected inheritance from a great-uncle bad beaded off a professional career. Of late he had refused all requests to perform in drawing rooms, as the demands upon his good nature bad become too frequent, so there was the promise of novelty In his performance after two seasons of retirement

He rapidly arranged his Improvised stage with a couple of tables and such simple properties as he could obtain from bis hostess, while the guests stopped dancing to crowd around and watch his really clever work. “Here’s a new one,” he announced after he bad performed a routine of familiar vanishments and appearances. “For this I want a piece of Jewelry—a watch, a ring, anything.” A dozen articles were offered, for a number of times be bad drawn upon the audience for handkerchiefs and other small loans. Without seeming to make any particular selection Blake took the bracelet tbat Mrs. Thearle offered and palmed It while be pretended to wrap It in a borrowed handkerchief, which he gave to Mrs. Thearle to bold.

“You are positive that you feel the bracelet In the handkerchief?” be asked, and Mrs. Thearle In answer to an almost imperceptible nod declared In the affirmative. Blake gave her closed hand a tap with the fan he used as a wand.

“Do you feel It now?” he asked. Mrs. Thearle gave a well simulated 07 of surprise and at Blake’s direction unrolled the handkerchief to show that it was empty. “If the count will oblige me by taking the bracelet from his pocket, Mrs. Thearle will Identify it aa her property,” announced Blake, stepping toward the surprised foreigner. Before the count could act he had thrust his band within the pocket and obtained possession of the stolen bracelet. A quick pass and the bracelet which be bad borrowed from Mrs. Thearle vfcs in Blake’s band and the other was In his pocket Later the stolen property was conveniently found by a servant and banded to its owner, and Blake’s trick was not thought of In connection with the find.

“It was beautifully done,” praised Mrs. Thearle as he lingered after the rest had gone. "No one suspected. I just knew that If I accused the count he would insist upon making a scene. He is that sort of man." "As it was, he found the trick a decided surprise," -said Blake, with a reminiscent laugh. “It was worth the trouble just to see his face.” "It was worth more than that,” was the warm response. ‘Tm glad you think so,” said Blake, taking possession of her hand, "for I am going to ask the highest fee I have ever demanded. I want nothing less than you, Alma." "I think you have earned your fee,” she said simply.

"I'D GLADLY PAY BBSS THE COST,” GASPED MRS. THEARLE.