The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-04-11
MRS. BOB
By JoHN STRANGE WINTER.

one has time to live in Queensland-here
scarcely to breathe. However, now ! hav.
half an hour to spare and I want to know
whether your diamonds are better thar
mine or not. Well, OF course, they ar,
better in one way whether they are
worth more or not, for yours are you
own, while most Of mine are family few.
els"
Thus urged, Mrs. Bob went to n leather
covered box of very ordinary appearance,
the corner fell OF and disclosed a stou
basket-she lifted the lid OF that and tool
q an iron-bound box whic., fitted within
the basket. tits an unconventional at
fair" said Mrs. Bob, as she felt in her
pocket for the key-"but we latter our.
selves it does not look like u jewel box"
ut does not,n said her hostess.
Then she turned the entire contents out
Tor the benefit of the two ladies-and
what n collection it was. The ornaments
were almost entirely Of diamonds, but
there was OF exception, an enormous
butterfly formed Of a large pigeons blood
ruby, with a single pearl for the head.
emerald eyes and wide spreading diamond
wings. Lady Lucifer picked it out from
among the glittcring collection. "My
dear, wear that to-night-it will look love.
ly with that dead white gown"
Yes. will wear it," said Mrs. Bot.
u v saw anything so lovely in my
life," exclaimed Mrs. Tratford; "there are
SO many, and they are all so large and
beautiful. II they were mine l should
never be able to sleep for wondering II
they were safe"
oh, yes; you would Don get used to
that" Mrs. Bob replied. 81 used to feel
u little nervous in India and on board
ship, but l kept the shabby old basket in
sight aud everybody thought 1t was bon
nets-I always called it my bonnet box >
she ended, smiling.
MY dear" said Lady L.ucifer, II yield
you the palm. Mine cannot come any.
where near them. I always said you
were the luck:est girl I aver knew, al
ways.n
Mrs. Bob smiled and began putting the
cases back into the box, laying aside on
the table such ornaments as she wished
to wear that evening. Then she packed
up the basket again and threw n shawl
carelessly over 1t. "There," she said. ut
is quite safe. Nobody would ever dream
there was anything valuable In that"
All this did not leave Mrs. TrafTord
too much time in which to get ready for
dinner. She went back to her room
where she found Julia already nearly
dressed.
why. motherl" said she, >'where have
you been?"
II have been in Mrs. Mnrkham's bed.
room. my dear. looking at her jewels
have seen jewels BEFORE she added, .but
never anything like hers"
Julia was too happy, however, to bs
much impressed by anybody's jewels, nc
matter how costly or beautiful.
care they goodi' she said, carelessly.
Exquisite said Mrs. Trafford, with
decision.
However, when Julia, half an hour
later, saSSsfrs. Bob walk into the draw.
ing-room, with her dead white satin dress
the big butterfly playing on her left shoul
der, and three large stars adorning the
bodice beneath it, which in their turn
caught up and held iu place a lovely neck.
lace of large single stones, she felt indit.
ferent no longer, but looked at her with
undisguised admiration and caught her.
self wondering whether she would evel
be able to adorn herself in like fashion.
wonder is there any woman in all the
world who does not really like diamonds
l once knew q man who said he detested
them, and l have heard that same MAJ
tell a lady that her diamonds were ex
quisite. Julia, that evening, turned te
Stephen Howard and said, How delight
full your sister looks"
Eyes, she does look rather NICE" he an.
swered In true brotherly fashion, that is
a nice frock she's got on"
"And her diamonds are lovely" said
Julia.
do you like diamondss" he inquired.
"Ilove them" she said promptly, al
which he laughed aud said how odd il
was, ladies were all the same on that sub
ject.
"Yes, I believe we are" said she, laugh
ing too.
1t was q large dinner, of more tina,
forty people, indeed-and Julia went ii
with Stephen and enjoyed herself obi 81
much. OF course the evening seemed t,
go like magic aud it was quite with sur
prise that she realized that the guests
were quickly saying goodnight. AS tn,
last one disappeared Mrs. Bob moved t,
where Lady Lucifer was standing. "I'n
SO tired tonight, Violet" she said, II IN
going to bed. Goodnight"
Goodnight, DEAR said Lady Lucifer
"Bu: cannot l do anythingg Will yor
have anything sent up to your roomw
Mrs. Bob fairly laughed. mot a thing
dear-I am tired, that is all" she replied
81 will just steal off before you have thos,
wonderful card-tricks."
So away she went and then Mr.. Car
rinRton. who was a young man highly
popular In society, a sort Of Jack-of-all
amusements, began to show of his skill
at various card-tricks-yet scarcely hat
he began when the door was hurriell,
opened aud Mrs. Bob came running ii
with a scared white face, scarcely indeed
less white than her satin gown. "Ohl Fol
Violet" she gasped. Y
Her hostess and her husband botl
jumped up. "What is it2" asked one
"Are you illf" said the other.
my box-my jewelsl" she cried. "The.
are gone-all gone-stolenl'
Good Heayens!' cried Markham: thel
dashed up the stairs followed by all the
panic stricken company.
"Oh. Maimiei what shall we dor" criet
Lady Lucifer in great distress.
Mr.. Bob began to laugh in a very sus
picious way Us IL very little was needed
to send her into Mysteries. ell" sht
began-then pointed to the place where
the box had stood and to the open win
dow.
1t was not more than two or three inchel
open, but already it was too Int In tn,
year for bedroom windows, or indeed 10
the matter OF that any windows, to stan.
open without some special reason-ther
was, however, a very special reason 70
this window standing open. and with al
exclamation Bob Markham dashed acros
the room and lung 1t to the top, thrustinl
his head out ms Ii it was likely thnt til,
thief or thieves would be crouching in tn,
laurels below.
They have actually left the ladder
against the wall" he said to Lord Luci
fer. who had followed him.
What is to be donc?n Lord Lucifer al
swered, with a question. Here Thomas
run down and turn some of the men out
Let US have the police such us they are u
once. And let Joe saddle Benny Bess an
drive off to the station at B~lankhamptol
at once and tell the police there. Let hin
drive like steam"
sit won't be any good.n said Bob Mark
ham. shaking his head. tive noticed