Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-10-02

unique, no one Of its kind they have ever
seen or heard Of being equal to it in size
and purity or comparing with it in line
| aud brilliant play Of coOrs."
"A birthday present, you saidT re-
marked Alice, hoping that she would be
led to say something more Of it.
Eyes, and what renders il more sacred
and dOuby dear it once belonged to my
mother. My father being absent the day
! was twelve years old, my grandfather
gave it to me, with his blessing. Judge,
then, of my distress, when the very first
time | wore it from home | lost it,"
Lost it,"
eyes, and had long given up all hope
OF ever recovering it, for we dared not
noise abroad the loss of so precious
gem, when, few evenings since, some
one came to the shop and offered it for
sale"
"Who offered it? Did your grandfath-
or know
me. He was glad to get it back again.
for more than two-thirds Of its full value
without asking any questions"
Falkland, as he slowly returned to his
lodgings, felt at loss what to do
Scarcely a day passed, but that he rccN
lessly contracted some debt, without the
means OF paying for it. and now that
Jeduthun, the jew, had refused to adj
vance him the hundred pounds for which
he had applied, his last expedient 70. sat
isfying the most clamorous of his credit
ors, was cut off. A thought struck him
as he placed the key in the lock of the
door which opened into his room. He
stopped, reflected moment, and then
retraced his steps.
There was tract of land still in his
possession, belonging to the estate left
by his father, which yielded him only
| triliing income. He would offer the Jew
n mortgage of this land, it, instead of
the one hundred he had asked for he
would give him two hundred He found
| the jew preparing to close the shop. AS
Stunning a more concilatory air than when
he parted with him. he made known the
reason of his return. His proposal was
accepted, and the following morning was
appointed for the transaction of the bust
| ness
When, at last, he found himself in his
own apartment, he saw man sitting
near the table, who, as there was no
light. except what was afforded by fire
nearly burnt out, he supposed to be his
valet.
why are you back so soon, Redding? 2"
said he. Il gave you leave to stay away
till morning"
"You mistook me for that rascally
valet of your, eh?" said the man, rising
and coming forward.
rs it you, Jem Corkle? How did you
get in?-through the key hole?"
"As the door wasn't locked, such an
expedient was unnecessary"
"Then l must have forgotten to lock
the door when | returned an hour ago.
AS Redding has master key, supposed
| it was he"
"You have great confidence in that
valet of yours, suspect"
mo, don't trust him at all in any af-
fair of Importance, and that is why
sent him away to-day"
'"There is little need of your trusting
him, for his curiosity is such that he
finds things out without being trusted"
What do you mean?"
THAT he overheard the whole Of what
you told me, the other evening, about al
tering the date OF the will old Burlington
made in favor of his niece"
How came you to know"
mo matter how, as long as what I
tell you is true"
81 am lost, then"
"Not so bad as that. As yet, he has
told only one person"
who, of course, then. must be you"
We'll, to confess the truth, it was"
II didn't suspect that you were on such
confidential terms"
HE had little inclination to bestow
his confidence on me, you may be certain
When, on the night in question left you
t i opened the door rather suddenly, wheI
some one darted away from behind it il
such haste as to make me suspect it wa,
some one who had been listening. | man
aged to overtake him. and by dint of per
suasion and threats, succeeded in makinl
him confess that he had heard all W,
: had said. l didn't part company will
e him, however, till had extorted a prom
Y ise from him not to mention what he haC
heard to any person living"
e "A promise which he will be sure I,
Y break, as he is as much given to talka
tiveness as curiosity"
( Eyes, and I've been thinking it will
d need sharp argument to keep his tongue
q from wagging."
!, But where shall we find one who will
4 be willing to make use of such an argu
t mentg"
e Leave that to me. But then Their
o must be time and opportunity"
y Tomorrow evening l will find SOM
pretext fer sending him to the shop o
q Jeduthun, the Jew"
:, "At what hour?"
e "Nne."
$ Ten would be the better time"
+ eyes, but the shop will be closed befor
4 then"
e Mine let it be, then. L remember
s nice, snug place close by the Jews tum
t ble-down domicie where he who is to b
o employed can conceal himself"
{ "And let him be sure not to part com
|, pany with him till he has lost all powe
o of telling tales"
you needn't caution me on tina
score"
: And tell him, IL the affair occasio
l. noise or cutlery, he will be in no DANCE
l. of being surprised, as the Jews, who ar
N the sole inhabitants of that quarter, ar
much like the snail, which, at the int