Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society Page 9

  CHAPTER IX

  THE VON TAER PEARLS

  Uncle John really had more fun out of the famous Kermess than anyoneelse. The preparations gave him something to do, and he enjoyeddoing--openly, as well as in secret ways. Having declared that he wouldstock the flower booth at his own expense, he confided to no one hisplans. The girls may have thought he would merely leave orders with aflorist; but that was not the Merrick way of doing things. Instead, hevisited the most famous greenhouses within a radius of many miles,contracting for all the floral blooms that art and skill could produce.The Kermess was to be a three days' affair, and each day the floraltreasures of the cast were delivered in reckless profusion at the flowerbooth, which thus became the center of attraction and the marvel of thepublic. The girls were delighted to be able to dispense such blooms, andtheir success as saleswomen was assured at once. Of course the fairvendors were ignorant of the value of their wares, for Uncle Johnrefused to tell them how extravagant he had been; so they were obligedto guess at the sums to be demanded and in consequence sold pricelessorchids and rare hothouse flora at such ridiculous rates that Mr.Merrick chuckled with amusement until he nearly choked.

  The public being "cordially invited" Uncle John was present on thatfirst important evening, and--wonder of wonders--was arrayed in animmaculate full-dress suit that fitted his chubby form like the skin ofa banana. Mayor Doyle, likewise disguised, locked arms with hisbrother-in-law and stalked gravely among the throng; but neither evergot to a point in the big room where the flower booth was not in plainsight. The Major's pride in "our Patsy" was something superb; Uncle Johnwas proud of all three of his nieces. As the sale of wares was for thebenefit of charity these old fellows purchased liberally--mostly flowersand had enough parcels sent home to fill a delivery wagon.

  One disagreeable incident, only, marred this otherwise successfulevening--successful especially for the three cousins, whose beauty andgrace won the hearts of all.

  Diana Von Taer was stationed in the "Hindoo Booth," and the orientalcostume she wore exactly fitted her sensuous style of beauty. To enhanceits effect she had worn around her neck the famous string of Von Taerpearls, a collection said to be unmatched in beauty and unequaled invalue in all New York.

  The "Hindoo Booth" was near enough to the "Flower Booth" for Diana towatch the cousins, and the triumph of her late _protegees_ was verybitter for her to endure. Especially annoying was it to find ArthurWeldon devoting himself assiduously to Louise, who looked charming inher rose gown and favored Arthur in a marked way, although CharlieMershone, refusing to be ignored, also leaned over the counter of thebooth and chatted continually, striving to draw Miss Merrick's attentionto himself.

  Forced to observe all this, Diana soon lost her accustomed coolness. Thesight of the happy faces of Arthur and Louise aroused all the rancorand subtile wit that she possessed, and she resolved upon an act thatshe would not before have believed herself capable of. Leaning down, shereleased the catch of the famous pearls and unobserved concealed them ina handkerchief. Then, leaving her booth, she sauntered slowly over tothe floral display, which was surrounded for the moment by a crowd ofeager customers. Many of the vases and pottery jars which had containedflowers now stood empty, and just before the station of Louise Merrickthe stock was sadly depleted. This was, of course, offset by the storeof money in the little drawer beside the fair sales-lady, and Louise,having greeted Diana with a smile and nod, turned to renew herconversation with the young men besieging her.

  Diana leaned gracefully over the counter, resting the hand containingthe handkerchief over the mouth of an empty Doulton vase--empty save forthe water which had nourished the flowers. At the same time she caughtLouise's eye and with a gesture brought the girl to her side. "Thoseyoung men are wealthy," she said, carelessly, her head close to that ofLouise. "Make them pay well for their purchases, my dear."

  "I can't rob them, Diana," was the laughing rejoinder.

  "But it is your duty to rob, at a Kermess, and in the interests ofcharity," persisted Diana, maintaining her voice at a whisper.

  Louise was annoyed.

  "Thank you," she said, and went back to the group awaiting her.

  The floral booth was triangular, Beth officiated at one of the threesides, Patsy at another, and Louise at the third. Diana now passedsoftly around the booth, interchanging a word with the other two girls,after which she returned to her own station.

  Presently, while chatting with a group of acquaintances, she suddenlyclasped her throat and assuming an expression of horror exclaimed:

  "My pearls!"

  "What, the Von Taer pearls?" cried one.

  "The Von Taer pearls," said Diana, as if dazed by her misfortune.

  "And you've lost them, dear?"

  "They're lost!" she echoed.

  Well, there was excitement then, you may be sure. One man hurried tonotify the door-keeper and the private detective employed oh all suchoccasions, while others hastily searched the booth--of course in vain.Diana seemed distracted and the news spread quickly through theassemblage.

  "Have you left this booth at all?" asked a quiet voice, that of theofficial whose business it was to investigate.

  "I--I merely walked over to the floral booth opposite, and exchanged aword with Miss Merrick, and the others there," she explained.

  The search was resumed, and Charlie Mershone sauntered over.

  "What's this, Di? Lost the big pearls, I hear," he said.

  She took him aside and whispered something to him. He nodded andreturned at once to the flower booth, around which a crowd of searchersnow gathered, much to the annoyance of Louise and her cousins.

  "It's all foolishness, you know," said Uncle John, to the Major,confidentially. "If the girl really dropped her pearls some one haspicked them up, long ago."

  Young Mershone seemed searching the floral booth as earnestly as theothers, and awkwardly knocked the Doulton vase from the shelf with hiselbow. It smashed to fragments and in the pool of water on the floorappeared the missing pearls.

  There was an awkward silence for a moment, while all eyes turnedcuriously upon Louise, who served this side of the triangle. The girlappeared turned to stone as she gazed down at the gems. Mershone laugheddisagreeably and picked up the recovered treasure, which Diana ranforward and seized.

  "H-m-m!" said the detective, with a shrug; "this is a strangeoccurrence--a very strange occurrence, indeed. Miss Von Taer, do youwish--"

  "No!" exclaimed Diana, haughtily. "I accuse no one. It is enough that anaccident has restored to me the heirloom."

  Stiffly she marched back to her own booth, and the crowd quietlydispersed, leaving only Arthur, Uncle John and the Major standing tosupport Louise and her astonished cousins.

  "Why, confound it!" cried the little millionaire, with a red face, "doesthe jade mean to insinuate--"

  "Not at all, sor," interrupted the Major, sternly; "her early educationhas been neglected, that's all."

  "Come dear," pleaded Arthur to Louise; "let us go home."

  "By no means!" announced Beth, positively; "let us stay where we belong.Why, we're not half sold out yet!"