Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-07
THE KINGS ROSE DIAMOND.
By GEORGE GRIFFITH.

copyright. fses. by the Author.l
Day by day. stone by stone. the par
Gel had Increased. aud every one of the
now splendid collection Of gems repre-
sented not only 90 many pounds sterling
in hard cash when once successfully
translated from the Kimberley CON-
pound and sorting houses to the outside
world. but also many moments Of desper-
ate yet skillfully hidden anxiety, during
which the fckle needle Of fate had
swayed to and fro between two poles Of
fortune and ruin.
Some men in Frank Ridley's position
and he was one Of the most trusted
sorters in cainp-would have taken the
stones out one by one, or employed
Kafiirs to take them from him after
they had been searched, and pass them
direct TO one Of the illicit dealers out
side, hut that was not his way. He had
no other confidant than his own con-
science, not always an approving one,
but at any rate one that would not give
him away.
To have taken the stones ont one by
one would only have multiplied the
risk Of discovery and ruin by the num-
Der of them, for the possession Of .
single Illicit diamond would have
meant disgrace and penal servitude just
as certainly as would the discovery on
his person Of the whole $40. 600 or ESQ.,
600 worth of gems-the very pick OF the
Kimberley mine output for nearly six
months past.
So one afternoon he made mp his
mind that he had tempted the fates far
enough, and at that evening he walk.
ed of to his lodgings with his heart In
his mouth and fortune In the lining
Of his somewhat shabby felt wideawaks.
That night, albeit with some little
fear and trembling. he permitted him.
self the luxury Of few minutes exam
ination Of his plumber In bulk and an
estimate Of its value. not TO him, but
to the moro fortunate man who should
succeed in getting the parcel through
safely to London or Amsterdam. II he
could only do that himself. he would
never need to do another days work In
the world, but he was an employees. .
sorter. and therefore . marked man.
and the secret ramifcations Of the won
derful system which inclosed him and
all like him as in u net were many and
wide.
No. that risk was too great, consider.
ing that he could now make "a, 900 or
Go, 600 in nm hour or 80 and at the samo
time transfer all his risk and liability
to some one else, and 60 back to his
work with light heart and. In . GER
tain sense, . clear conscience.
Yet there was one magnificent rose
diamond. which must have weighed
somewhere between 10 and 30 carats
which be would dearly have loved 70
see nicely cut and polished and glitter
ing ON the neck or In the hair OF q GER
tain well loved some one far away In
old Carlisle, but no knew well enough
that there was not another Of It's size
and color in the world. The nearest TO
IL was in the Do Beers collection, and
the mere possession Of II BY any one but
q monarch or u millionaire would mean
Just what bis own possession OF It
meant, so there was no use thinking
about that.
With something very like q sigh for
the unattainable possibilities Of his 20
far successful theft, he tied up the gems
in a bic Of dirty rag and stuffed thie
into the toe Of q rather dilnpidated
Wellington boot Then he had wash
and "a change and went for walk down
town.
On his way along Stockdale street he
ohanced to meet well dressed, dapper
looking little man. who nodded to him
as one might do to casual acquaint-
ance. and said in quick. ohirpy sort
Of tone:
"How do. Ridley! Going strong. eh!"
pretty well, Mr.. Muratti." he re-
piled, with quick look mp and down
the street. Returns are looking up
again. We've had some very pretty
finds the last day or two"
"Oh, glad TO hear IL, even from q
man who wastes his opportunities as
idiotically rs you do! Anything par
ticularly choioeg"
"well. yes. Are you doing anything
in secondhand boots just now. Mr..
Muratti."
II may here be conveniently explain.
ed that the gentleman with whom
young Ridley had thus fallen into con-