The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-12-17

Hau nOb gone lar IL nau gone uO pieces.
There were the pieces lying where the
box had been. The puzzle had solved it
self. The box was open, open with a
vengeance, one might say. Like that un-
fortunate Humpty Dumpty, who, so the
chroniclers tell us, sat on wall, surely
''all the kings horses and all the king S
men" never could put Pughs puzzle to-
gether again
The marquetry had resolved itself into
its component parts. How those parts had
ever been Joined was mystery. They had
been laid upon no foundation, as is the case
with ordinary inlaid work The several
pieces Of wood were not only of different
shapes and sizes, but they were as thin as
the thinest veneer; yet the box had been
formed by simply joining them together
The man who made that box must have
been possessed of ingenuity worthy of a
better cause.
perceived how the puzzle had been
worked. The box had contained an ar
rangement of springs which, on being re-
leased, had expanded themselves in differ
ent directions until their mere expansion
had rent the box to pieces There were
sthe springs, lying amidst the ruin they had
caused.
There was something else amidst that
ruin besides those sprinSs-there was a
small piece of writing paper. took it up.
On the reverse side Of it was written, in a
minute, grabbed hand, "a Present For
You" What was present for me? [
looked, and not for the first time since |
had caught sight of Pugh's precious puz-
zles, could scarcely believe my eyes.
There, poised between two upright wires,
the bent ends of which held it aloft in the
air was either piece of glass. ora crys-
tai. The scrap Of Writing g-paper had ex-
actly covered it. | understood what it
was, which, when Pugh and | had tapped
with the hammer, had caused the answer
ing taps to proceed from within. Our taps
had caused the wires to oscilliate, and in
these oscillations the crystal, which they
held suspended, had touched the side of
the box.
/ looked again at the piece of paper
"A Present For You. Was this the
present-this crystal? regarded it in
tently.
at cant be diamond"
The idea was ridiculous, absurd. No
man in his senses would place diamond in-
side two-penny- y-half-penny puzzle box.
The thing was as big as walnut And
yeti am pretty good judge of precious
stones-if it was not an uncut diamond it
was the best imitation | had seen. I took
it up. l examined it closely. The more
closely | examined it. the more my wonder
grew.
at is a diamond p
And yet the idea was too preposterous
for credence Who would present dia-
mond as big as walnut with trumpery
puzzle? Besides, all the diamonds which
the world contains, of that size, are almost
as well known as the Koh-i-noor.
''If it is diamond, it is worth-it is
worth-Heaven only knows what it isn't
worth, if it's a diamond"
| regarded it through strong pocket
lens. As | did so l could not restrain an
exclamation.
"The world to China orange, it is
diamond p
The words had scarcely escaped my lips
than there came tapping at the door.
Come in!'' cried; supposing it was
Bob it was not Bob, it was Pugh. In
stinctively | put the lens and the crystal
behind my back. At sight of me in my
nightshirt, Pugh began to shake his head.
"What hours, Tress, what hours Why,
my dear Tress, I've breakfasted, read the
papers aud my letters, come all the way
from my house here, and you're not up"
Don't look as though were up?'
"Ah, Trcss ~ Tress Y He approached
the dressing-table His eye fell upon the
ruins. whats this ?"
That's the solution to the puzzle
"Haye yOn-h8Te you solved it, fairly,
Tress ?"
i'It has solved itself Our handling, and
tapping, and hammering must have freed
the springs which the box contained, and
during the night, while l slept, they haveN
caused it to come open.
"What was in the box p
Il shall have half?'
'Yop shall r.
| held out the crystal between my finger
and thumb
''What is it o.
"That is what desire to learn
Let me look at it.
k,No,, 49,, ,r,aloop,o 20 LII - - ,,,b o,o -
is. Look at it as long as you like, and as
closely.
Pugh leaned over my hand. His eyes
began 10 gleam. He is himself not bad
Judge of precious stones, is Pugh.
'It's-it's-TreSs lis it diamond ?"
"That question I have already asked my
self"
''Let me look at it =
handed him the crystal and with it |
handed him my pocket leAs
aWith the aid of that glass imagine
that you will be able to subject it to more
acute examination, Pugh.
He began TO examine il through the
lens. Directly he did so, he gave an ex-
In few moments be looked
up at me. His eyes were glistening behind
his spectacles. | could see he trembled.
"Tress, lists diamond, Brazil
It's worth fortunel'
"I'm glad you think So
aGlad | think so Don't you think
that it's diamond ?"
eIt appears to be diamond. Under
ordinary conditions | should say without
hesitation that it was diamond; but when
l consider the circumstances of its discov-
cry, am driven to doubts. How much
did you give for that puzzle, Pugh ?''
"Niuepence; the fellow wanted a shil
ling, but gave him ninepenee. He seemed
Dontent.
''Ninepence Does it seem reasonable |
that we should find a diamond, which, ifit
is diamond, is the finest stone | ever saw
and handled, in ninepenny puzzle? 1t
n