The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-03-22
Although Mr.. Damon had carefully

Never mind, we'll soon fix it," and
taking a long lead pencil from the
breast pocket of his vest, he wiped il
and thrust it into the aperture. With
a gurgle the wine bubbled>~orth, Their
a hard substance struck the bottom
Of the goblet.
"Why, If the villains who put uL
this Burgundy have not left broken
glass in the BOTTLE" exclaimed Da.
mon, with ill-concealed disgust.
''They must want to murder thelI
customers"
Stepping to his bachelor cupboard
the reporter took therefrom a silver
spoon, with which he tished out the
foreign substance and dropped it
upon the table, eXclaiming:
'Ihere's the thing which might
have been the cause OF some ones
untimely death, and the subject of a
good article for the morning jour
nails"
A cry of surprise escaped the lips
of the jeweler-guests as each stimuli
%taneously stretched forth a hand to
grasp the small object which had been
the means of so disturbing the eIua-
nimity of their host.
"Why Damon, it's a diamond J"
cried Mr.. Wordsworth, eXcitedly.
"a diamond :" reiterated the re-
porters, aghast with astonishment.
IF it is not q valuable gem, I
never saw one," continued Wards
worth. what say YOU, Richard
SOM" turning to his companion in the
trade.
1T 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 she stolen Jew
els, think you?" asked Damon, his
newspaper instinct leading him with
lightning-llke rapidity to trace their
find" to the steward who had given
the wine, back across the Atlantic
even to the vaults of its original
owner.
"Perhaps." answered Wordsworth,
his voice husky with excitement.
But, quick, Damon, bring US Il
basin, and we will examine the con-
tents of the flask"
If the Threats Of the quartet had
been parchcu with thirst, they would
not for an instant thought to moisten
their lips with a drop Of the liquid.
Ills hands trembling, Mr.. Wards.
worth struck off the neck Of the bot
tie Ivy a single blow Of a fruit-kHi!e
which he took from the table, then
allowed the Bur 'undy 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 glass.
Diamond after diamond mingled
with the rudy wine, and spanked
with scintillations which dazzlcd the
eyes OF the beholders.
For d moment the occupants Of the
room stood about the table, speech
less. Then tn 1,ewele: grasped the
hand of his host, and exclaimed:
'.Damon, your fortune is made.
There are undoubtedly the Jewels
which were taken from the safe of
Jaspar. SJurgiS X JasDar, London.
and the reward of $50, 600 is yours.
a small fortune, INV boy, a small for
tune"
Then if the Englishmen's gold
comes this way, it shall be divided
into four parts, and you, my friends,
shall share with me-" returned the
reporter, promptly. But what is to
be done? l know a column exclusive
for the morning paper" and the
young man sprang towards his desk.
with the intention Of writing out a
startling story of the wonderful re-
covery of the stolen diamonds, valued
at $3.50, 600.
He was restrained. however, by his
friends, VINO assured him that to pub.
liSh the matter now would be to
serve as a warning to the thieves and
thwart the ends of justice.
"We will take that diamonds down
to my store and lock them up" said
Mr.. Wordsworth. ''Then notify the
police, who will probably arrest the
steward, and then cable across the
news"
II am sorry that I have been the
means Of causing trouble to the man,
for we are old friends" observed Mr..
Damon.
1.-The steward may be innocent"
urged Diamonds companions. 'Do
you think if he knew the contents of
the bottle he would be likely to give
it away? No, sir" aided Mr.. Wards
worth. 'yOu may rest assured that
some Of the principals in the affair
nave blundered, and blundered badly.
Nevertheless, 1t was a brilliant
scheme to smuggle the diamonds.into
America by this means"
The jewelers. argument proved cor
rect. The arrest and trial of the
steward of the ocean steamer ell cited
the fact that be had been intrusted
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