The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-01

| hebang for stones tonight. true's death
you have. But you can search and see,
you like"
The Inspector took no notice either Of
the Yankees extended hand or his
speech. He just covered Salter with Il
revolver, and ordered his men to light
heir lanterns and search everything
thoroughly. They obeyed, and after n
Commute investigation, during which
they employed every device that their
ingenuity and experience could suggest,
on the cart, clothing and person of Sal
ter (who submitted like a lamb, and
even on the horses, they were forced to
confess that they had drawn a blank.
WAL, boss, are you satisfer that |
amt sellin' you a pup this timer" said
Salter, as he finished remaking his toilet
for he had stripped to the buff, with the
true hardihood of a man who is playing
for big stake, and means to win.
Not so much as a schlenter had been
found, and Mr.. Inspector Lpinski felt
that he had got himself into a very
nasty place. He had stopped a seeming
~ honest traveller, shot one of his horses
and submitted him to the indignity of a
personal search. Visions of his lost bet.
of a civil action for damages before Il
jury that might probably be |. d. b.
10 a man, of heavy damages, and of the
storm of ridicule that would overwhelm
him at the end, flashed in quick success
sion past his mental gaze, and, being
only human after all, he decided to tenn
porize.
I'm out, Mr.. Salterr' he said, with the
best assumption of cordiality that he
could muster I'm dead out, and it's
for you to call the game. I'm not salts
fed, but | know when I'm licked, and
am this time. What's it to be-"
WAL" drawled the Yankee, seems
how you're pulled me up here, shot a
horse, cut up the outfit and made me
undress in this almighty cold, L think
the least you and your fellows can 10
is to come across to Mike Maguire's
shanty yonder, and take drink. 1ou
bet want one pretty bad. What do you
say"
Under the peculiar circumstances
there appeared to be only one thing to
say, and that was Yes" In fact, In
spector Lipinski thought it remarka-
bly, good get out. Besides, miracle
might happen even yet, so he said yes
and followed it up with a really hand
some apology.
The result was that within very few
minutes the dead horse was unhar-
nassed and pulled out of the road, the
other leader hitched on to the end OF
the pole. and the whole party trotted
across the border toward Mike Ma
CURES store and shanty. On the way
Salter roasted the Cane boy unmerciful-
ly. and then not only consoed him. but
mystified him considerably, 10y telling
that he should have his money after
ALL
In spite of the wrong that had been
done him. Salter insisted on standing
the first round Of drinks when the par
ty at length stood up against Maguire's
bar The drinks were duly raised and
lowered. and while Lipinzki was order
ng the next round he said very quietly:
"Dy the way. boss, about those stones.
b'raps. rs you've come all this way, YOU
night like to see them. Here they are.
While he was speaking he had pulled
he Cape boy toward him and thrust
lis hand into his trouser pocket. He
ulled out the identical envelope which
he had asked for in the bar of the
Queens hotel with the inspectors signa-
ture still written across the flap. He
landed it over to the barkeeper and said:
"When the chief of the department in
Kimberley does do it, he does it to
rights. Just you open that, Mike, and
tell me of you ever saw prettier lot"
Mr.. Mcguire looked at the signature,
glanced curiously at the astounded in
spector then opened the envelope, I'M
folded the bulky packet that was in it,
and disclosed about 80 rough diamonds,
the sight of which made even his ex-
perienced eyes water Orange and blue,
green, rose and pure white, they gilt
tered most tantalizingly in the light of
the paraffin lamp which hung above the
bar counter.
"Mother av Moses, what lot! Shure.
they're the pick of the mines, and
worth kings ransom any day. said
Mr. Mcguire in somewhat awe-strlcken
tone, as he gingerly turned the priceless
stones over and over with the end of his
thick forefinger Here, take them back,
mister. before Tn tempted beyond the
endurance of human flesh and blood by
the sight Of the darlins, God bless their
pretty sparkles.'
SO saying, honest Mike, knowing that
his own reward was to come, handed
them back to Salter, who pocketed them
in handful as he turned to the almost
paralyzed inspector and his men, and
said:
mo, boss. they're not schlenters this
time--a little steam and a little skill,
you know. Wall, here's to you, and now
I'll just take your Good-for* for that
thousa pounds, Mr.. Lipinzki, and then
Wen Sd. good night. I'm not coming
back to Kimberley till I've done my
business down in Forth Elizabeth. Chin
chin!'
1t took all the inspectors self control
to enable him to rise to the occasion,
but he did it. He took his licking like q
man and a sportsman, and his subordin-
ates and the Cape boy just grinned and
drank their liquors, for after all, /. ID.
sometimes this way and sometimes that.
The game has been smartly played, and
they looked upon the winner rather with
admiration than with enmity.
That round of drinks was drunk, and
then another and another, and then
alas for the weakness of the best bal
anced human nature, Mr.. Seth Salter,
with a confidence born of the fulness of
his triumph, left the barroom with the
diamonds in his pockets, and went out
into the night to see his discounted
friends off on their homeward journey.
Exactly what happened during the next
quarter of an hour was never known.