Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
THEKING'SRUBIES
A STORY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
By Adelaide Fuller Bell.
Copyright by Henry T. Coates & Coy
CHAPTER xxx.
Cover Makes Peace With Phil.

TO let covers wrath cool lltte peIoEe ne
showed himself about the place again.
So he spent the day in the woods with
Fits, to the delight. of both. He read his
fathers letter many times during the day
and reproached himself for his disloyal
thoughts toward him.
when he comes back" he thought, II
know everything will be cleared up for
since the receipt Of the letter his faith In
Gyp's story Of his origin had vanished. He
could not believe that the father who had
written him that tender letter was not his
true parent. He saw no one to speak to
all that day and he and Fits ate solitary
lunch together under the trees. But he did
not feel at all lonesome.
When Nose returned home in the evening
he found Phil at the cabin and told him
that he intended driving distance Of
twenty miles the following day, to bring
home flock Of sheep that Mr.. Montjoy had
purchased for the farm. He would need
some one to assist and Dean had consented
to PhiIs going.
The boy was delighted, for the trip would
keep him away from the lodge at least one
day, possibly two. For Nose said that he
was not sure that they could drive the sheep
| home in one day, and in case the animals
could not travel SO far, they would either
have to seek shelter at some farmhouse or
camp out during the night.
"Oh, let US camp out!' Phil cried, with
all boys enthusiasm for a night out under
the stars. -" but them" he added, "you would
not want to-
.'Nevah yo's min my rheumatic. Ole
| Moses not er gwine ter hev rheumatic no
| mo-. Why, jes look hyer," and he got up
and attempted a clog dance, beating his
hands together by way Of accompaniment.
Phil laughed till the tears ran down his
face to see the grotesque figure that he cut,
in trying to prove that his old enemy had
deserted him.
They started the following morning while
the stars were yet shining. Phil weAt to
the barn with Nose and helped to harness
the horses which We're to be useo instead
Of the slow-paced Absalom.
They were just starting down the east
drive when the old man suddenly halted.
For de lans sake!" he calculated: He had
just remembered that to pass along that
three rods. three yards and three feet"
that must intervene between him and the
ring ''for three months, three weeks, and
three days"
"Onlucky can't start out dat away.
"Well it's said to be unlucky to turn back
after you've started once; and 1t VIII De
ever SO much farther to go back oyer the
hill, and around Old sugar Loal. Inn
was impatient to be off.
"T'wont be nigh so onlucky fur me to go
miles outen my way, as twould to go de
way 1 started"
That was a happy day for the boy, and
when night overlook them upon the return
journey Nose turned the animals into a
pasture, and then they built campfire
by the roadside. and made coffee and tried
wagon, deciding at the last moment that
he could not risk a night on the ground.
Phil drove the horses while Nose looked
after the sheep. Every once and a whhe
one Of the flock, tired by the long journey,
would have to be lifted into the wagon.
Among these was little brown lamb that
Phil picked up in his arms, where II nestled
during the rest Of the journey.
II wonder II Mr.. Montjoy would sell me
this lamb?" he said as they drew near
home.
"Oh! lust because can't bear to think of
this little thing having it wool clipped of
when it's cold, and shivering around on the
| hills. But 1 won't ask him fearing a re-
fusal.
.I'u ask him To- yo', eff yo wants me to-.
True to his word, as soon as ne returned
from the city, Nose found chance to ask
his employer to sell the lamb.
II don't care to have anything to do with
that boy,'' Mr.. Montjoy returned severely,
until he clears himself of the suspicion
resting upon him."
took dat ring. He's de hones'es boy evan
seen Why, he might jes' er took de lam
an yo'd nevah known 1t. 1 knows Phil
didn't take dat ring"
Mr.. Montjoy was struck by SUCH earnest
ness, and little puzzled.
well, let him have 1t for what It's
worth" he said with shrug. He seems TO
have money to buy what he wants"
Nose ignored this insinuation and hurried
! Phil could not put off his return to Marion
Lodge any longer. He was busy pushing
the lawn-mower when he saw Cover COM
ing UP the drive with his fish-pole in his
hand.
"Gowerr" he called. The boy halted but
said nothing. This was not encouraging, but
he went on brayely. I'm sorry 1 acted SO
badly the other evening.
LAS If that was the worst thing You ever
did, exclaimed the other.
We'll, 1 have not done what you're mint
ing at, any way.
"You even deny it after you offered the
stone for sale?' Cover had forgotten that
he was not to mention this.
Phil stared at the speaker as il he had
suddenly lost his senses. Then he remem-
bered the stone which he had offered to Mr..
Tanner, but decidede to make no reply.
There seemed to be no one in the family who
believed in him. Then recalling Madame
Dupres friendship he resolved that he would
make another effort to reach her.
In the meantime the family were holding
another council in the library.
Il see no other way to proceed than to
arrest PHIL Mr.. Montjoy said to Madame
Dupre.
You would arrest him, but you let thai
imposter go free, with never word about
his arrest" she answered. Il tell you /
won't hear of it,
But have almost positive proof that
he is the guilty party Mr.. MontJoy said,
little impatiently. In the first place no
ring was kept. Secondly: He was so near
your room that he might have slipped in
while you were asleep and taken it. Thirdly:
He offered stone for sale TO the village
jeweler. Fourthly: Gyp assures me that a
Gypsy woman whom she encountered
Marie that child must not be allowed TO
! leave the grounds unaccompanied-told her
| that Phil was her son; and you know what
pilferers gypsies are.
"And how untruthful," added madame Sc
renely.
But think of the jewel he offered for
sale!'
"Can Mr.. Tanner prove that it was ours?
| Is he even prepared to say that it was a
ruby?"
Moo" admitted Mr.. Montjoy. But / be-
lieve the only way in which we shall be
able to secure the ring is by the means /
suggest
Hartley, the boy would have restored the
ring had it been in his possession, when
you offered reward with no questions
asked"
He may have disposed of it,
1.-The ruby really belonged to your wife.
having been given to her mother, but If you
persist in hunting this boy to prison, you
will live to regret that you embittered your
CT andmotherss last days. / would rather
never learn of my sons fate than that this
poor lads life should be blighted." With