Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-25


bring Mr.. Twistleton back with him.
Oh. FRITZ"
Don't be alarmed, hearts dearest"
said Fritz, eonsolngl yrs enc rSa her !,
which we can effectually guard against
this com ,ination of ills is"
ayes, Fritz?"
"To get married while Mr.. Venable
Is gone"
to defy him like that He has been
very Kind to me. y fluttered Verbena.
IN be good to you, too, my dar-
llng!"
Nonsense, Fritz. You're spelling
my hair. Do stop, Fritz" protested
the girl.
"1'hen promise me, Verbena."
mo, I'll promise nothing"
At the lapidaries' convention there
was stormy session that year. Herr
Heidelgrun was there; a snufTy, dried
up old man, of great age. a<ld still
greater arrogance, who had apparent
" come out of his spiderweb in Wen
ma for the sole purpose of disconcert-
ing all the antiquaries of the western
continent.
"De Malmaison emeralt!" said Herr
Heilelgrun Dat ish a mistake.
Vat YOU call one big lie. 1t occupies
Won al your time to chase desc lie, and
den nail him down. | haf the NAL
maison emeralt in mine collection"
"How can that be?" said Mr.. Vena-
BILE, choking with rage, while Mr..
Twistleton stood by, ready to espouse
| his friends cause. when here it is
| the very stone ITSELF"
He opened the velvet case, which
contained the drop of green fire. 1t
blinked at the circle of eager faces
above it like baleful eye.
Herr Heidelgrun laughed shrill
cackle of derision.
dat de Malmaison emeralt," said
he. "Oh, how easy are some folks
hoodwinked! A ferry goot imitation
l grant. Oh, yes; can tell you al
about him. But de genuine NAL
maison emeralt it was sell me in 1850
at Vienna. by one Captain Giles Vena
| BILE"
"Verbena's father" thought Mr.. Ven.
able, with a start and sinking of the
| heart.
"For de gracious Empress Augusta
who den making de collection for &
| necklace which should outshine al
the courts of Europe. l pay Captain
| Ncnable 5000 forms for him and / en-
| gage my best workmen to make him
an imitation Malmaison emeralt which
shall deceive the very jeweler himself
| 81 t'nk | make my fortune, but an
wrong. De captain he pocket his
florins and rides away. De graciou:
empress she change her mind. She
| gets tired of emeralts and she inks she
will hat pearls. Bat l know dere viii
some day be market for de Nal
maison emeralt. l keep him. ha
him yet. Here he is and here is de
letter from Captain Giles Venable
which proves his genuineness. Eli:
| Are you satisfied now?"
And the green blaze of the real gen
| put the artificial imitation to shame a.
once.
Mr.. Venable came home without
waiting for the adjournment of the
convention. He did not bring Mr.
/ Twistleton home with him.
| "A man who couldn't tell even
bogus stone from a real one!" sput
tered Venable, "and calls himself &
| VI GYMS Wi bChu, NOlllC
| Verbena came accordingly.
I've got something to tell you,
said Venable.
yes, uncle" murmured Verbena
her little heart giving an ominou.
| throb.
| "The Malmaison emerald is hum
bug" said Mr.. Venable, distinctly.
"Oh, uncle!"
"And Cable Twistleton is charlatar
and an adventurer" And he proceed
ed to impart to his niece the revela.
ton Of Herr Heidelgrun.
Your father has wrecked the fam
lily fortunes and broken my heart, my
dear" said he. an give up the study
of gems and | will devote myself t
roses. They cannot initiate flowers
And, Verbena---"
Yes, uncle"
You may marry young Elcombe i
you wish. Twistleton doesn't deserve
wife, after this"
| Thank you, uncle" said Verbena
demurely.- Waceriy Magazine.
am convinced of the merit Of Hood'
Sars iparllla, after having taken S0 8 :,v