The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-04-08

"Ay, but you've got to make folk;
believe your story, and who are you
going to get to buy it 2"
Il thought you might ken ofsome
place. faltered Sandy, rather crest
fallen.
swell, 1 ken of one or twa; III
look out and tell yet the NOM"
i And then the conference broke up
and the two went back to their par
GELS.
Sam pondered the matter over as
he lounged about the decks that
day, Steady work was not his
strong point, and the diamond had
taken powerful hold Of his imagi-
nation. 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
lit. sIf there was any hope of his
sharing it with fellow, it would be
different, but he'll Just keep every
penny to himself. 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 its fascination.
He thought of it hour after hour,
till it seemed as if he must have it
by fair means or foul, and be doubt
ed fair means would avail with a lad
like Sandy.
Saturdays were busy days on the
quays, and that next day both Sam
and Sandy were hurryirg backward
and forward till long after dark. 1t
was gusty. stormy night, and as
Sandy went down one of the gang.
ways on his last journey the steam
er gave 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 pa
per shrouding the precious ring was
lodged inside Sans waistcoat. He
happened to have been standing just
under the gangway. and lost no time
in availing himself of the unlocked
for chance.
1t was all the work of a minute.
l gathered up my properties and
went back to shore without noticing
my friend. Sam, fairly glowing
with satisfaction at the beautiful
way things had arranged themselves
quietly retired to the deck wall to
congratulate himself at leisure. No
more heavy nackages to drag up and
down those steep bridges, no more
supperless nights and breakfastless
mornings. Sandy had built no
taller castle around that diamond
than he was building now.
San p broke in a pitiful voice,
i've been looking everywhere for
yoa. I've lost my diamond"
you've what ?" cried Sam, with
an incredulous stare that reflected
credit on his powers ofdissimulation.
'Lost tin that boat, and she's
away now, and I'll never get it back
It's hard"
Sandy put his head down on the
iron rail and groaned aloud in bitter
disappointment.
Sam looked on in silence: he was
naturally not a hard hearted lad, and
for a minute the impulse was strong
20 give the ring back; the feel of his
empty pockets brought back more
prudential considerations.
after all, it's only what he did
himself" he argued; "he found it
and kept it, and that's what I'm do
ing"
He made one or two Intellectual
attempts to console poor, miserable
Sandy. and got himself away as
speedily as practicable into a back
street, where dwelt a certain German,
who kept a kind of money-lending
and general exchange and barter es-
tablishment for the benefit of sailors |
and emigrants. Saturday night was
far advanced, and if he meant to
reap any immediate benefits from !
his possession, it was necessary to
lose no time.
He slipped softly in and address
ed himself to the proprietor.
- picked up something in the
dock to-day, and / wad like to ken
the worth of it gin / cared to part
with it.o
"What is it?" demanded the man,
briefly.
"It's ring-a diamond one" an
swered Sam, speaking under his !
breath.
"Where is it?"
Sam slowly unfolded the wrap
pers, and laid it, with a sort of gasp,
in the mans dingy palm. How it
gli:tered in the gaslightl Sam watch
ed it with eager eyes. "A nice thing
to have gone and given that away |
again." he said to himself.
The German looked at the treas
ure under the gas jet for moment.
and touched it with his tongue
then he threw it down on the cOun-
ter with a short laugh.
Diamonds. indeed bit of
glassl"
Its not!" CALCULATED Sam with
dry lips. you're cheatingw
The man knocked it smartly
against the iron scales. Alas the
unfortunate diamond vanished away
into dusty powder.
'sBut the ring-that's gold !" cried
Sam in despair. 1t was the one last
forlorn hope.