The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-01-25


stemious, but to enjoy quiet game
of whist"
"Vcry well, will look for you Mt
eight o'clock, sharp. Good-by." aud
with little ceremony the hustling jour
nalist turned on his heel and left his
friends place OF business TO complete
the orduous labors of the day.
At the hour of eight two reporters
and two jewellers, all old acquain-
tances, were seated about a table in
Damon's room, enjoying themselves
hugely as they laughed aud chatted
over the topics of the day.
Al length tho host arose and said -
"Now, boys, supposing we try the
quality Of the stewards present. |
don't suppose that any Of us are con-
noisscurs of wines, although wo might
be able to know what would make
good newspaper story when wo ran
against it, or tell the quality of piece
OF gold when taking it in hand. How
ever, we all have tastes, and In this
free country, are at liberty to express
our opinions. So. Mr.. Wardsworth,
yours, first" and tho reporter cssaycd
to fill the glass Of his friend.
Although Mr.. Damon had carefully
removed the cork, yet TO his surprise
only feeble stream Of liquid issued
forth.
"Ah," ho remarked, "somcihing
has fouled up the neck Of the bottle.
Never mind, wen soon fix it," and
taking long lead pencil from the
breast pocket of his vest, he wiped it
aud thrust ii into the aperture. With
a gurglc the wine bubblel forth, then
hard substance struck the bottom of
the goblet.
"Why, II the villains who put up
this Burgundy have not left broken
glass in the bottle" exclaimed Damon,
with ill-conccalcd disgust. "They
must want to murder their custom
ers."
Stepping to his bachelor cupboard
the reporter took thcrefrom u silver
spoon, with which he fishcd out the
foreign substance and dropped 1t upon
the table, exclaiming,-
There's the thing which might
have been the cause of some ones un-
timely death, aud the subject of a
good article for tho morning jour
nails"
A cry of surprise escaped the lips
of the jewelcr-guests as each stimuli
taneously stretched forth a hand to
grasp the small object which had been
the means of so disturbing the cquan-
unity of their host.
"Why, Dimonl It's diamond"
cried Mr.. Wardsworth, cxcitcdly.
ga diamond" reiterated the rcpor-
ters aghast with astonishmcnt
"If it is not valuable gem, never
saw one," continued Wardsworth.
'"What say you, Richardson" turning
to his companion in the trade.
alt is "a stone of the first WATER"
conclusively replied the experienced
dealer in precious metals. "How
came it in the bottle, do you sup
pose?'
"Can it be one Of the stolen jewels,
think your" asked Damon, his news
paper instinct leading him with light
ming rapidity to trace their "fnd" to
the steward who had given him the
wine, back across the Atlantic, even
to the vaults of its original owner.
"Perhaps,' answered Wardsworih,
his voice husky with excitement.
"But, quick, Damon, bring us basin
and we will examine the contents of
the tlask."
II the throats of the quartettc had
been parched with thirst, they would
not for an instant have thought to
mois:en their lips with drop of the
liquid.
His hands trembling, Mr.. Wards
worth struck of the neck of the bottle
By a single blow Of a fruit knife
which he took from the table, then
allowed the Burgundy to flow freely
out into the China bowl. With bated
breaths, the men watched the glitter
ing spray as it fell from the jagged
edge of the shattered glasst
Diamond after diamond mingled
with the ruddy wine, and sparkled
with scintillations which dazzled the
eyes of the beholders!
a