Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-01

place until reached Bareiiiy. was
iii most Of the time My companion
tried to take tho ruby from me, but did
not succeed. When l returned to my
friends, came alone.
No need Of more particulars on that
point could picture the fearful strug.
gle between those two men for the pos
session Of jewel worth princes ran
som. The presence Of this man before
me showed who was conqueror.
Who knows that it was not his CON-
panion that made the find? Who can
say what the nature Of that struggle
wasg Was there n conflict at all? Was
not this man now in my presence u
murderer?
But why speculate? He was the only
living witness, and no one could unseal
his lips.
Pardon my agitation, he said, rap
idly regaining his self poise, "but you
can comprehend the reason. ! have
given you the true story Of Mana Sahib's
ruby. l bring it to you, hoping that
among your many millionaires In this
city you may find purchaser for me
True, the ruby is valuable, but Of itself
it is neither meat nor drink, and what
good can il bring me? Icannot afford to
keep IL. There are those who can. Find
me one Of them, and your fee shall be
liberal one. "
"You have not set price, provided
find n customer, which is exceedingly
doubtful "
What do you esteem IL WORTH"
81 must decline to say. When you
pass n certain point with the diamond
or ruby. there is no rule by which its
value can be determined. 1t is purely
fancy"
1T you wish me to name my price, !
will say $50. 600"
was astonished again, and an un-
easy suspicion took possession Of me, n
suspicion which could not define. But
| felt there was something uncanny and
unnatural about the whole business.
The price he had set was barely one
tenth OF the ruby's real value. believed
more than one crowned person in Eu
rope would pay at least $3.50, 900 TO
become its owner. The thought that
such a bargain was probable half de-
cided me to make the purchase myself
IL read your surprise, he said, with
that winning courtesy which had i'm
pressed me at the opening Of our inter
view. II know that il is worth great
deal more than that. but the sum !
name j. one which few people will pay
for luxury Of that sort. II is enough
for me. When shall call?"
Suppose you ray toward the end Of
the week will give you q receipt. "
1T is no, necessary. Your reputation
is guarantee that my property is safe
IN your hands.
"But l prefer that you should hold
ny receipt" "
IL am satisfied. Why should you no.
e:''
And despite my half angry protest
40 took ~ his umbrella, and with tho
smile revealing his white teeth behind
his black mustache he passed out OF the
door into the darkness and rain.
Left alone with my disturbing thought
and the wonderfa. stone. now sub
jected IL 20 the most minute examina-
tion possible.
And as one claiming to be an expert
| must say something about the ruby,
one Of the aristocrats OF tho mineral
kingdom.
The finest rubies in the world come
from the mines OF Burma, although
they are found in many other parts OF
the world. and even in our own coun'
try, where their quality cannot be COM
pared with those Of Burma and the
specimens of India proper. The genuine
ruby is pure, limpid, fiery red corun.
dun. which Is crystaliized oxide OF
aluminium, and forms the basis Of nearly
every gem, excepting the diamond, which
we value for hardness, brilliancy and
color A crystal Of pure red corundum
is "a ruby, Of the blue variety n sapphire.
Of the green an emerald, and So on.
The structure Of the ruby is as ex-
traordinary rs that which determines
its color. 1t is found in crystals of an
endless variety Of shapes, but all hay