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

turbed good humor. "Say now, I'll give
YOU a pointer, as them sneaks OF yours
don't seem to have got on to it yet. I'm
going across to Freetown some time be-
tween now and Sunday on a little pri-
vate business of my own. S'pose, now,
l was taking that bit of shortage with
me-whatll you lay against me getting
it through?'
sTen years on the breakwater," snap
ped the inspector, as he emptied his glass
ter.
mo, you DON'T" laughed Salter;
''that's for me to lay. Now, look here.
I'll lay you 10 years ON the breakwater
to a thousand pounds-that's only a hum
bred year, and / think my times a
darned sight more valuable than that, so
I'm giving you big odds-that I'll take
that little lot through for all you can do
to stop me.
AS he spoke he suddenly pulled his
left hand out of his trousers pocket and
held it out to the inspector with the palm
full of rough diamonds.
Lipinzki fairly CAPPED at the heap of
glittering stones, but he lost neither his
presence of mind nor his professional
promptitude. Like lightning a revolver
jumped out of his coat pocket, and as
he covered the Yankees heart with the
muzzle, he said sharply:
'sThat bluff won't work, Mr.. Salter. I'll
see your hand for thousand now. If
yon don't want sudden death in your
family, come along to the office, and
account for the possession of those dia-
monds."
To the added amazement of every one
in the room, Seth Salter burst into a
loud laugh, and said, without moving
out of the line Of fire:
"Waal, boss, / did think you had a
better eye for klips than that. D'you
fancy I'd be such an almighty sucker
as to-good Lord, man, can't you see
| they're schlenters? There's no law
agin carrying them round, | reckon.
Here, take 'em, and see for yourself.
There's plenty of good judges in the
room to help you.''
A very brief examination satisfied the
disguised inspector that the astute Yam
kee had once more turned the laugh
aginst him. The things were "schlen-
ters," or "snide diamonds tions
i
to give them the peculiar frosted ap-
pearance of the real rough stones-which
were used chiefly for the purpose OF
swindling the new chums and green
horns who were making their first es-
says in l. ID. B.
1 Iipinzki saw that he had "done him a
shot in the eye," as the camp vernaclllar
had it, and put up his revolver with
what grace he could. The Yankee took
his little triumph very quietly, and
asked the young lady behind the bar to
oblige him with a sheet Of note paper
and an envelope Then he wrapped uf
the false stones, put them into the en-
velope, stuck it down, and asked the in
spector to write his name across the flap
which he did. with a peculiar smile on his
well shaped lips.
"Waal, now, that's bet, eh?' said
Salter as he put the packet in his peck
ct. .sNow let's take another drink on il
and then go home. It's getting late and
I've got to pack There's mo KNOWN
how soon / might have to start"
~ slAsses were filled again and thu
/ Y <<clinked his against the inspec
/ t5l & with as much cordiality as though
sShey had been the best of friends, in
Z stead Of. as they were now huntc, aus
!. quarry in chase ITO the death.
/ The next day Seth Salter openly hire
- cape cart and team of four horses t
q tYle him to Bloemfontein, which
S aboutsS0 miles by road from Kimberl.
: and whep the bargain was struck h
e privately Informed the driver, an OF
t colored cape\ boy, who had made MOI
s than one run \of the kind, that IL l
t, would start at midnight instead of mil
n day, and go via Freetown instead {
Boshoff, he should have 600 for this
1t part of the journey alone, which wa
n not a bad fare for drive of less tina
e an hour The boy jumped at the offe
a and within a couple of hours had a
II cepted one Of twice the amount. wit
e half cash down, from Inspector in;nsk