Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-01-20

i
II al NE hour of eight two reporter
and TWO jewelers., all old acquain
e ances, were seated about table II
Damon's room, enjoying themsclyo
nogely as they laughed and chatte,
over the topics of the day.
AT length the host arose and said -
Vow, boys, supposlng VIC try III,
' quality of tho Stewards present.
I;doHi suppose that any of us are con.
, nolsseurs of wines, although we might
pe able to know what would make q
good newspaper story when we ran
Ngalnst 1t, or tell the quality of piece
9f gold when taking it in hand. How
ver, wo all have tastes, and in this
SFce country, are at liberty to express
.ur o,'inions. SO. Mr. Wardswor,h,
yours, flrst,p and tho reporter essayed
70 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," lie remarked, s'someihing
has foued mp the neck of tho bottle.
Never mind, we'll soon fix it," and
taking a long lead pencil from the
breast pocket of his vest, he wiped it
and thrust it into the aperture. With
a gurgle tho wine bubblcl forth, then
hard substance struck the bottom of
the goblet.
'Why, If the villains who put up
this Burgundy have not left broken
glass in the bottle" exclaimed Damon,
with ill-concealed disgust. "They
must want to murder their custom
ers."
) Sepping TO his bachelor cupboard
the reporter took thorefrom silver
spoon, with which he fished out the
foreign substance and dropped it upon
the table, exclaiming,-
~lhcre's the thing which might
have been the cause of some ones un-
timely death, and the subject of
good article for the morning jour
nals."
A cry of surprise escaped the lips
ofthc jewelcr-guests as each stimuli
tancously stretched forth a hand to
grasp the small object which had been
the means of so disturbing the equan-
Unity of their host.
"Why, Damonl LIS diamondl,
cried Mr. Wardsworth, cxcitedly.
81 sdjamonl - reiterated the repor-
N,H II is not valuable gem, never
saw onc,' continued Wardsworth.
''What say you, Richardson turning
10 his companion III the trade.
alt is q stone of the first water"
replied the experienced |
ileaier in precious metals. "How
came it in the bottle, do you sup
posc?"
"Can it be one of the stolen jewels,
Ihnk your asked Damon, his news
paper instinct leading him with light
ming rapidity TO trace their "and'' TO |
Ihc steward Who had given him the
wine, back across the Atlantic. oven
10 the vaults of its original owner.
"Perhaps,' answered Wordsworth,
his voice husky with excitement.
''But, quick, Damon, bring US basin
md we will examine the contents of
lie flask"
If the throats of the quartette had
been parched with thirst, they would
not for an instant have thought to
noisten their lips with drop of the
liquid.
His hands trembling, Mr.. Wards
worth struck off tho neck of the bottle
by 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 baied
breaths, the men watched the glitter
ing spray as it fell from The jagged
edge of the shattered glass!
Diamond after diamond mingled
with the ruddy wine, and sparkled
with scinlilations which dazzled the
ayes of the beholdersl
For a moment the occupants of the
room stood about the table, speechless;
Then the jewcler grasped the hand of
lis host, and exclaimed:
"Damon, your fortune is made!
rhe'e are undoubtedly the jewels
which were taken from the safe of
Jaspar, Sturgis & Jaspar, London,
md the reward of twenty-five thou
'and dollars is yours. A small for
une, my boy, small foriunc!"
Then if the Englishmen's gold
,omes this way, it shall be divided
nlo four parts, and YOU, my friends,
hall share with me-" returned the re-
porter, promptly. "But what is to
DC don ? | know column exclu.ivc
FOR the morning paper" aud the
IOuug man sprang towards his desk
with the intention of writing ont IL
startling story of the wonderful re-
,ovtry of the stolen diamonds, valued
1t $3.50, 900.
He was restrained, however, by his
friends. who assured him that to pub
ish the matter now would be to serve
as warning to tho thieves ami thwart
he ends of justice.
"Wc will take the diamonds down
10 my store and lock them up said
Mr.. Wordsworth. "Then notify the