The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-03-18

noiseless, gliding movement-and be-
fore che had been the guardian genius
of poor John Judson's room for
week, the fever turned and he began
to grow better.
$780," he snid, suddenly, one bleak
February afternoon, when Mary Price
had been stitching silently by his
side, 81 shall get WE'LL"
"The doctor says so," silently as
sented Miss Price.
"Why didn't they let me dieP"
groaned the poor lapidary. screwing
up his forehead,
Miss Price looked ct him in amaze
ment.
Don't you want to live?" she said.
"What have got left to live for2"
burst out John Judson. 81 have
neither name nor fame left, and can't
even get the chance to earn my own
living. They believe me TO be a thief.
As we'll die of fever as die of starva-
ton"
Miss Price looked gently at him.
"There is no need of either" said
she. 81 have few dollars in the
savings bank. You are welcome to
them until you can work and earn
something for yourself"
Judson raised himself on his elbow
and stared at her.
"Why do you give me your hard
earned savings?" said he, bluntly.
because you need them more than
1 do, said Miss Price, sewing away.
Judson uttered low, bitter laugh.
III thought the race of Christians
was extinct" said he. 'But be-
lieve there are some left.
After that he recovered rapidly.
But on the day on which he first sat
up there came laundering knock ut
the door, and in walked old Mr.. Gold
love, plump, clean-shaven, and look
ing eminently respectable in his fur
trimmed overcoat and new kid gloves.
Judson started.
Have you come to arrest me, sir"
said he.
"Not at all, my dear fellow-not at
all, said the old gentleman. 'Look
here"
And opening his hand he showed,
snugly reposing in the palm, some-
thing small and sparkling, like drop
of blue dew.
''Its the Mordaunt sapphire" ex-
claimed the lapidary rather eagerly.
'Exactly," said Mr.. Goldilove. at
is the Mordaunt sapphire, and where
do you suppose we found it?"
81 am sure, sir, I do not know"
answered Judson, whose fever bright
eyes were still fixed on the glittering
blue jewel, as if he expected to see it
melt away.
"Why," chuckled Mr.. Goldilove,
81 was the thief myself. Ha, ha,
hal"
"You, sir ?" asked John.
"I sent this coat to the furrier's,"
said Mr.. Goldilove, "to have the trim
ming repaired where it had ripped
away. And the furrier found the sap
phre lodged neatly In a seam. 1t
must have clung to the fur some time
when leaned my elbow carelessly on
the table-slipped in at the ripped
place. and tucked itself comfortably
away. And all the time l was scod-
ing about you, Judson, and believing
you, in my heart, to be thief, l was
carrying about the missing jewel my
self. Good faith, my dear fellow! I've
thought since, if the Lord judged us
as hardly as we Judge each other, our
chances in the other world would be
mighty slim, eh? But I'm sorry
sorry from the very bottom of my
heart-and I beg your pardon, Jud.
son And the old place at the shop
is waiting for you, with little rise in
wages, whenever you choose to come
back |"
And he cordially wrung the lapi'
dary's hand once more, and hobbled
of; and it was not until he had gone
that Judson discovered that he had
lefta twenty-dollar bill on the table,
folded in an envelope, directed to
"John Judson."
When Miss Price came in, as usual,
ON her way home from the shirt fac.
tory where she worked, John. Judsor
had a story to tell her.
you've kept my heart up many O
time Miss Price, said he, "when il
has been like lump of lead in ny