Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-01
chants attention was attracted to q


prettier bits of blood couldn't be met
with anywhere between the viaduct
and Hyde Park corner. The Ameri-
can-looking, soldierly gentleman who
was apparently the owner of the phae-
ton was not driving, which was at
once accounted for when Vanderstroom
observed that the right sleeve of the
! strangers closely buttoned gray frock-
coat was empty, and pinned across his
breast.
Military, by the cut!" calculated
Cornelius to himself, as he surveyed
the new arrival, marked the missing
arm, and noted the cockade in the hat
OF the neat, middle-aged groom who so
deity manipulated the bays.
Guess this should about fix tho To-
cation, cried the One-armed military
looking gentleman in unmistakable
Yankee accents, as he descended from
his seat in the carriage, scanned the
memorandum. in his hand, and then
surveyed the house in which Cornelius
had his Office.
American twang," thought the dia-
mond merchant, continuing his mental
| notes. Yankee Colonel or General,
may be, who has made his pile in pork,
! petroleum or wooden nutmegs. won
| der If he's after diamonts."
Diamonds, beyond q doubt! More
luck for Cornelius that day!
| For VanderstrOOm's name was on the
strangers lips as soon as his patent
feathers had touched the pavement.
Wall, wall, and he was Mr.. Wander
strOom!-wall, now, really"
| Guessed" they had better sail right
in" as he wanted to inspect some
stones for a present he contemplated
"springing" on his wife. Fact was,
he'd had bonanza cable" from Ari-
IONA that morning telling him that in
his new mine they had not only come
upon fresh reef, but they'd struck it
tarnal thick" Calculated" he
wouldn't know where to stow all the
silver, if Arizona crowded it in on
him so ALFRED fast" But guessed"
that diamond buying would help as
quick as any other way TO knock the
bottom out of Pot-shot Gulch."
With these and sundry other explain
atory interjections, by the way, all of
them delivered with that unconvention-
al freedom of speech and breeziness of
| Easter is held to be peculiar, the
American and the diamond merchant
found themselves in the first-hoor Of
fee.
| Cornelius Vanderstroom impressively
took a bunch of keys from his pocket,
and with considerable ceremonial
opened the great safe. The stranger
started at the array of jewels that met
his gaze. Cornelius felt fattered at the
involuntary tribute paid to his collec-
ton. Diamonds, both rough and cut,
were quickly brought forth and cum
ningly displayed in the most suitable
| light on backgrounds of black velvet.
But the polished gems alone met with
the General's--yes, assuredly General,
by his easy air of command-approval
| And what a nice, discriminating eye
the American had for first-water gems!
In vain Cornelius tried to palm off in
ferior qualities at high-grade rates.
The stranger wasn't to be had. So
the merchants respect for his customer
rose in proportionate ratio with his
fastidiousness. At last a number Of
beautiful Pneil, Or river, diamonds and
some perfect specimens from the Jag
erfontein mines were selected. They
constituted the very pick of Wander
placed on one side to be appraised, the
little Dutchman sighed to discover how
the expert eye of the Arizona silver
king had travelled over oil the straw
tinted gems and fastened only on the
blue-white stones.
A splendid lot, and cheap at fifteen
hundred pounds. So evidently thought
the American, for ut that price the
bargain was concluded. And now,
about the setting? What would Mr..
Vanderstroom recommend? For him.
self, the American fancied the two
finest Pneil stones for earrings, and the
remainder in a spray-a cataract OF
brilliancy which, he guessed, ''wOuld
take the shine out of Niagara, and
make Pot-shot Gulch sit up"
Ultimately, it was arranged that Van.
derstroom should get the jewels set,
and the little man seemed proud of the
confidence reposed in him. In six weeks
at the latest the Dutchman undertook
to deck the ears and bosom of the
strangers wife with the loveliest orna-
ments that ever struck envy into female
heart.
Then there was pause.
The American seemed instlnctively
to divine the uppermOst thought in
he unbuttoned his coat with his only
hand-the left. Then he was met by 8
difficulty, which Vanderstroom was re-
quested to assist in overcoming.
Would he mind putting his hand ir
his-the stranger's-left inside breas,
pocket and get his pocket-book out fol
him? Ever since those dod-gasted
Indians" had winged him, remarked
the American with laugh, he had
made his wife his right hand; but al
she wasn't there he must ask Mr.. Van
derstroom to take her place and helI
him to weigh out some dollars"
Vanderstroom, thus invited, dipped
; his chubby little hand into his patrons
pocket and produced the case.
It was a handsome Russia leather
affair, bound with silver and having al
autograph cut in the same metal on the
back. But Cornelius placed the peck
etbook in the Americans hands with
out stopping to decipher the name.
The stranger laughed again, and re
turned it to the diamond merchan
/. with request that he would read it.
The little man gave q start and ,
, short, sharp cry of surprise sprang t.
! his lips, for he could scarcely credi