The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-11-19
! THE LANBTON DIAMOND.


its depths. 1t was the finest stone 1
had ever set in my life.
was particularly pleased with my
design for the setting. No other hand
had touched it, and [ felt that the
frame, so to speak, was worthy of the
picture.
The ring, now that it was finished,
was fit even to adorn the hand of Lady
Gwendolen Forrest, the beauty and
heiress of the season. But l did not
envy young Lord Lambton his fancee;
in my own Nell l had a girl as good
and as pretty as any in the land.
I was about to take the ring to Mr..
Nugent when Nell herself ran in. She
was my employers daughter, and his
private house was upstairs over the
large showroom in Clifford street. 1t
was against all custom for Nell to
come down to my workshop, for her
father disapproved our engagement.
But today she had not been able to
resist the temptation of having peep
at the Lambton diamond.
Just as she had slipped it on her
finger, and was dancing about twisting
her hand, that the marvellous stone
might catch the light, the door opened
and Mr.. Nugent entered. prepared
to defend Nell from harsh repri-
mand, but none came. Her father
appeared oddly preoccupied, merely
took the ring from her, examined it
earnestly, and, swapping the lid of the
case down upon it, placed it in his
pocket and walked away.
Next day was sitting at work,
when l saw hanson drive up, and
Lord Lambton jump out. He came
hastily into the room, which adjoined
the one where I was sitting and where
Mr.. Nugent was.
"Scoundrelp' heard him say, and
could scarcely believe my ears. "You
thought to fool me easily by false
stone: but I am as good Judge Of
jewels as you are. You are a thief,
sir! What have you done with the
diamond I intrusted to you?"
Mr.. Nugent answered in a lower
voice. What he said could not have
made any great impression upon Lord
Lambton, however, for he impatiently
interrupted, and at last an ominous
threat concerning the "police" reached
my ears.
sat still. I understood very we'll
that Lord Lambton had deliberately
accused my employer of trying to
palm off upon him an imitation dia-
mond, yet I knew that l had set the
true stone and delivered it to Mr..
Nugent only yesterday.
My employer himself was q skilled
workman, though not good designer,
and in the time that had elapsed be-
tween my handing him the ring and
his transferring it to the owner he
could have removed the stone and re-
placed it by another. But for such a
bold trick to succeed the imitation
must be magnifcently made, and the
original diamond must have been care
fully measured.
I had fever known that Mr.. Nugent
kept any false gems about the place,
and besides was it likely that a man
In his position would care to run so
terrible risk? Still, I could not help
remembering how haggard and irrita-
BILE he had been of late, and the keen
interest that he took in the racing in
telligence.
AS thus speculated on the as
founding accusation, Mr.. Nugent
himself opened the door of the work
room. He looked keenly at me as if
wondering if it would be safe to trust
me.
"Did you hear anything of what
passed in the next room?" he ques-
ioned.
I admitted that I had.
"Of course, shall be triumphant
ly acquitted" he announced, clearing
his throat huskily as he spoke. 'Still,
Lord Lambton can make things dis
agreeable. And look here, Wade, ]
haven't always been as friendly to you
as l might, but can trust you. You'll
be an important witness. Do what
you can for me, for the girls sake"
The words sounded strange, but !
was given no time to answer, for al
that moment Lord Lambton returned
with two Scotland Yard men. Ny en-
ployer was given into custody and
taken to the police station to be
charged, the detectives remaining to
search the premises.
Mr.. Nugent being widower, with
only one child, the management of the
business practically devolyed on me,
and as the detectives ransacked the
place, they put many questions to me
as to where the stones were kept.