Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-08

would havo won fortune on the stage.
The Diamond King wore but few jewels,
hut these were of the most dazzling splen-
dor. and on no two occasions did he wear
the same ring or scarfpin. One night,
after a good deal of wine, the Due de
Morny, model Of open propriety and an
example of covert wickedness, took the
colonel's left hand, on the third finger Of
which blazed steel blue diamond of at
least eight carats, stone unsurpassed in
the werld for its size.
pardon me. Colonel Gonzales, he said
in his winning way, but that gem fasci-
mates me This is not the place to talk Of
such things. but if you could be induced
to part with that diamond you may name
your own price"
Laughinely the colonel took OF the ring
and said as he handed it to the due:
81 am imposing on the company"
"What do YOU mean" asked the due
"Only this-that there are tons of stone
like that in the ring to be had FOR the min
ing"
do you mean that it is not a diamond"
Il do. 1t is piece of quartz crystal cut
and set so as to deceive all but experts.
Why, have so stones of the same kind, >"
laughed the colonel as he reached out his
hand for the ring.
The Due de Morny held the stone up to
the blazing light, then looked in a puzzled
way from it to the owner. At length he
asked:
"Coloncl Gonzales, if that were dia-
mond, what would it be WORTH"
AT least 100000 francs, or $50, 600, {"
was the reply.
The due examined the stone again. He
felt that he could get an unsurpassed gem
I~.A @l~.,,. -.
scrupulous as the Bonapartc family, to
which he was allied in q left hand way, he
| asked:
"Will you intrust this stone to me for
"a louisE''
Surely was the prompt response
"And if at the end of that time L agree
to give you 200, 900 francs, or $40, 900, for it
will youracccpt?''
LAS gentleman l cannot, for assert
| the stone is not n diamond said Con-
zales
But you will let me have it for a day?''
| "Ies: that and this pin, both of which
| are crystals, and if the pin were a genuine
| diamond it would be worth $4,000" said
Gonzales.
The due took the ring and pin, and the
next morning he showed them to the best
experts in Paris, all of whom declared the
stones steel blue diamonds and unsurpassed
| in the world for their weight.
| That afternoon the Due dc Morny called
on Colonel Gonzales and offered him 500,
| 900 for the two stones
| "They are not diamonds, and SO can
| not take your money" said Gonzales as
he put the ring and pin away.
| "But if am willing to take the risk:
Come. here is the gold. Give me the
| stones''
And you will sign an agreement that
told you they were not diamonds"
Yes, Il dozen agreements, " laughed the
Duo dc Morny.
Colonel Gonzales called in a notary, the
agreement was signed and certified to, and
| the due went out with his diamonds 81
| leaving s1Co, 900 behind him.
The next morning Paris and all Europ'
| was startled with the news that Cyru
Cushman, valet of Colonel Gonzales, hat
stolen 81. 200, 900 in diamonds from hi
master. which he sold at half their price t,
the best people in the capital.
Colonel Gonzales shrugged his shoulders
but made little or 10 effort TO arrest TIL
faithlcss servant. A week after this Colo
mel Gonzales left Paris for London, bu
from that day to this he has not been hear,
of.
Ten days after his departure an elderl
gentleman signing himself Colonel Pedr
Gonzales, Rio de ,Janeiro, BRAZIL put u
at the Hotel Espanol, on the Rue Richie
lieu.
Figaro interviewed the last and the ger
uine Gonzales, with n result that stirre
! Paris like new revolution.
An investigation followed which prove
that the first Gonzales, if indeed that wer
his name, was brilliant impostor.
, The stones sold the Due de Morny wer
: changed in an instant, and he bougf