The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-11-29
THE BEAUTY STONE.

THE BEAUTY STONE.
I.
And you mean to tell me that the
stone has brought you bad luck? Ha! ha
It's too funny for words. My dear chap,
you've got liver on!''
Horace Midwinter sat bolt upright on
the shingle, and pitched FIVE pebbles i'll
succession into the sea before replying.
"Well, all can say is that wish you
were in my place, then, Arthur" he re-
sponded, sullenly.
80 do I. Why. that Beauty Stone is
worth good bit of money to you any
day, and if you are tired Of bad luck you
can easily get rid of it by giving the
talisman to me. Pm always open to
break my luck when a stone like that's
at the bottom of it,
$50 1 would, only-well, there's fas-
cination about the thing somehow. Do
me by poor wretch Of an Arab dying
Of .gunshot wound in the desert-mur-
dered, probably. 1 did my best for him,
so he gave me the stone, and said there
were only three like it in existence, and
that it would bring me luck if carried
it about with me. He died, of course"
obviously, or. he wouldn't have been
''Well, l took it back to Cairo, and the
niggers just grinned and said the stone
would kill me. 1t brought luck to col
ored man. they said. but to white one
death. The niggers are right and the
Arab wrong, unless he led
But you're not dead yet" ~. f.
mo; soon shall be. though. The YES
sci l came back to, England in ran on
the rocks, and l only escaped drowning
by the skin Of my teeth and life-belt.
l was knocked down in Piccadilly by a
cab within a month of my return, and
then had near go with blood-poisoning.
l came down here for a change fort
night ago. A few nights after my ar
rival, as left the house in the evening to
go for a stroll, brick fell from the root
of house and smashed to pieces on the
pavement almost at my feet, thrown at
me by someone. no doubt. Now, to
crown it all, a shot was fred at me as
was walking along the cliff late last
night ~.
"You were shot? BY whem?'
Don't know. 1t was too dark to see.
The information has got into the papers
that I have one of the famous Beauty
carry it about with me; so | suppose
some one else wants it. Might have
asked for it in a polite manner, though.
I think l shall try the police. if there is
such a thing as bobby to be found in
a quiet hole like this
"Worse thing you could do. The police
would only mess up the whole business.
Try and find the culprit yourself: Do
you usually walk along the cliff ut
night"
Eyes, about 10. generally. But that's
not the worst Of it, Arthur. She refused
me today for the second time"
"A woman in the case, Ell? What's
her name?''
''Oh. you know her we'll enough" re-
piled Midwinter irritably. II came down
here because she was staying in the
town, and hoped to 60 back a happier
man than l came. but it's this unlucky
stone that's upset everything. You've
pose?
Good heavens! Not Jacob Daven-
ports danghter?"
Eyes. Why not?''
''She's already engaged
ITO whom?"
"Myseff"'
Midwinter stared into his compan'on's
who had robbed him of all he loved best
in the world. his old college chum, Ar
thur Hermann! He could not believe it.
DO you mean what you say?" he
gasRed.
trespass on my preserves in future" re-
Piled Herman, severely. Then, changing
his tone, he added, half in earnest: Per
haps you would need less persuasion to
give me the Beauty Stone now you know
all! Good luck to yourself AMI bad to
me ought to make matters even, eh ~ y
Midwinter's hand few to his waistcoat
pocket. 80:
He pulled out the end of his watch
chain, and attached to it was a gold set
ting in which lay large pink stone tina,
glistened in the sun with q strange H.
minence suggestive Of the opal. For a
moment he gazed at it intently. as if in
with decision. <
mo. Arthur" he said. slowly. Sewing
this tone to you won't bring me the love
Of the woman who has already pledged
herself to you, and under the circum-
stances scarcely desire that it should.
Good luck or bad, the Beauty Stone shall
remain mine" x
A savage look as of pent-up passion
burned in the others eyes for a second.
''Goodby for the present" he said.
And rising to his feet he strobe swiftly
in the direction of the town. IS
$1,000, II. -
Midwinter scarcely knew why he linz
gered any longer in Littlesea. BE had
failed in his object to win the love OF
Minnie Davenport. and that was sum
Gent to sweep away all enjoyment OF
the 3sa4ubri0us SURROUNDINGS In: fhe3
evenings he skunk into, dark corners OF
the pier and watched her in silence as she
sat a short distance away listening to the
lively strains of the band. She was il