Connecticut western news., 1885-03-25

he remembered 8 boy who found pocketbook on the gangway, and the owner only gave him a shilling for it; and another who found telescope and got nothing. Sandy felt that fortune lay within his grasp, and that If he had to barter it away for one shilling, or even five, it would be paying too dearly | for principles.
 He had heard of rings being worth hundreds of pounds, and if this was worth but one-or even, to be safer still, fifty. The tide rippled in below his feet unheeded, the long line of gas- lamps twinkled like yellow stars in the black, restless river, the keen wind whistled through the rigging behind; Sandy saw and felt nothing, wrapped in blissful visions of that modest fifty. For two whole days he carried the secret alone, then his responsibility be- came too heavy, and tacitly ignoring past differences, he waited on the quay one dinner-hour for Sam Knox, binding him over to strict secrecy, though on that head he had little fear, for Sam, whatever his failings might be, had never been known to do 8 shabby thing to friend.
 "sam, I've got something to tell you; I've had fnd."
 "One bawbee or twa?" queried Sam, indiferently.
 ''Just wait till you get sight of it It's worth more bawbees than you ever saw all your days"
 "So you're not going to give it up to the authorities p Sam asked, curiousIy, when he had heard the story.
 "And maybe get nothing at all, like Jem McCullock," answered Sandy, shortly. "You'd no do that yourself, Sam Knox" ..-.
 "No, I'd not" agreed Sam, frankly; ''but you've always professed such a lot more." .s....
 A dull red flush crept up to Sandy's brow. He had not counted upon Sam being sharp enough to view the case in that light.
 "AnyhOw, let us have look at it." went on Sam, magnanimously pursuing that point no further.
 Behind the sugar-cask, after infinite precautions, the treasure was produced for inspection.
 "How much do you think I'll get for it ?" he asked, deferring to Sam's iudg- ment for once. He was much older, and might reasonably be expected to have some little experience in valuables other peoples, if not his own.
 1T mind of hearing 8 man say once, that he gave 920 for one not near ss big as that but you'll not get as much, for who's going to believe you didn't steal itP'
 "steal itP' echoed Sandy, in angry dismay.
 "Aye, but you've got to make folks believe your story, and who are you go- ing to get to buy it?" ..... .. - .s
 "I thought you might ken of some place." faltered Sandy, rather crest fallen.
 "Well, I ken of one or twa. I'll look out and tell ye in the morn."
 And then the conference broke up, and the two went back to their parcels.
 Sam pondered the matter over as he lounged about the docks that day. Steady work was not his strong point, and the diamond had taken powerful hold of his imagination. He did wish with all his heart it had been his luck instead of Sandy's to have found it; he felt he could have made far better use of it.
 "If there was any hope of his sharing it with fellow, it would be different, but he'll just keep every penny to him. sep. Serve him right if he went and lost it again."
 Over and over that reflection crept up. Sandy had already strayed from the right path for the sake of the diamond. Sam was the next to fall a victim to it's fascination.
 He thought of it hour after hour, till it seemed as if he must have it by fair means or foul, and he doubted fair means would avail little with lad like Sandy.
 Saturdays were busy days on the quays, and the next day both Sam and Sandy were hurrying backward and for ward till after dark. It was 8 gusty, stormy night, and as Sandy went down one of the gangways on his last journey the steamer gave a sudden lurch that sent him and his packages flying across the deck; worse still, out rolled the con- tents of his pockets, and before Sandy had recovered his feet and his scattered senses the scrap of paper shrouding the precious ring was lodged inside Sam'i waistcoat. He happened to have beer {. standing just under the gangway, and lost no time in availing himself of tht unlooked-for chance.
 It was all the work of a minute Sandy gathered up his property and went back on shore without observing his friend. Sam, fairly glowing witE satisfaction at the beautiful way things had arranged themselves, quietly re tired to the dock wall to congratulate himself at leisure. No more heavy packages to drag up and down thos, steep bridges, no more supperless night and breakfastless mornings. Sandy hat built no taller castles round that dia mond than he was building now.
 "Sam, Sam !" broke in pitiful voice "I've been looking everywhere for you I've lost my diamond" "You've what ?" cried Sam, with a incredulous stare that reflected credit ol his powers of dissimulation.
 "Lost it-in that boat, and she , l away now and T'l1 nevar nauar o,ak