The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-31
CHAPTER ".

be here 1 broke through my rule. I lived in England for ten years as young man.
 But. MT. Van Nostrand. you are not what we call old with us. You are nale and hearty and should not deprive peo- pie of your society"
 Carlingford, to tell the truth, and my books are my refuge. Those and my collection of gems aie my hobby. Do you care at all about precious stones?' "Yes. indeed. and have picked up many good one in my wanderings. curi- ous expression fitted across his face, part amusement and part sardonic. .l would like to show you some of mine. Green" to the butler, "open the old safe and bring me the upper drawer. I will show you some sapphires that think you will admit are quite good, and l have also some diamonds which are said to be quite fine specimens. He spoke quietly, but with certain pride in his tone that did not escape the notice of Carlingford.
 The butler slid back panel in the prise of the guests. disclosed safe. which he opened and took therefrom drawer. This he placed in front of MT. Van Nostrand
 Now. MT. Carlngford. prepare to be daZzled,' said his host. as he lifted chamois skin case which fitted into the drawer out onto the table. Here are the sapphires.' He opened the case as the other guests gathered ronnd, and displayed them to their astonished eyes. There was a mass of superb stones of various sizes, but most of them were very large and wonderful color. These are wonderful. MT. Van Nos | trand," exclaimed Caringford with a note of sincere admiration in his voice, | which pleased the old man hugely. "I | have never seen. even in Paris, anything to equal them. How do you dare to keep | them in the house?"
 | ha al of al hat I was running great risk, IS they are l q fortune in themselves, together with l my rubies and diamonds. but Green here has been with me for years, and no one | else knows the combination, nor how to l slide the panel. and l shall soon take | them to bank and out of harms way. | There have been some daring robberies l of late about here and 1 hardly like to | trust them in that safe.'' | You are taking a great risk, but as | you say, 1t is in safe hands, 1 mean the knowledge of the safe and the panel. You have other stones, judge.
 in Persia. and here are some diamonds | from Kimberley, the first, almost, to 1 come out; In fact believe they were in the first lot brought from South Africa" !" | You are a good judge. evidently. MT Van Nostrand. These are the real pig blood rubes, and large stones too. Your daughter should wear some of these"
 l likes gems as much as l like them, and will have none of them. She objects to my having them in the house"
 "1s she superstitious on the subject? know of that are supposed to bring bad | luck. and even that Is questioned I know people that have superb opals and | equally good luck; it would be difficult to convince them that the stones are | unlucky."
 No. 1t is not superstition with my daughter She simply does not like | them"
 Well, must thank you for a great treat. though I cannot commend you for tempting fortune as you do, by Keeping them In what l should consider very unsafe place"
 ''1 suppose that you are right. but what pleasure shall l have from them after l l send them to a bank? might as well give them away. cannot be running to see them every day or so. Here l take them to my library and look at them whenever I feel like it.
 True. and it is your affair, l trust that you will pardon me for, as a stranG- CT. taking the liberty of critieising your | arrangements.
 "'I feel complimented that you should take such an interest, MT. Carlingford, | Green you may return these to the safe. Gentlemen, shall we join the ladies
 The host rose and led the way to tn" drawing room As they passed through the hall, Carlingford paused.
 This is a large house for city, Mir. | Van Nostrand, and unless l am mis- taken you have land In your rear, or on one side, at least. I though l saw 1t as l came up to the door from the side | street."
 Yes this land is part of a farm be- | longing to my great grandfa ther. | My grandfather sold part of 1t for a great deal of money and built the original | house. Then as this part of the city grew more and more valuable, my father sold more and added to the house. The land | increased in value. the house in size. as can be seen. Little rir my aivestor realize the value that his farm would attain in years to cone.'
 Your people were In the Dutch East India trade. were they not
 Yes; why do you ask?''
 l Because mine were also, and I see many curios here similar to those in the old place on the other side. Those spears and clubs are from Java. think"
 Yes, indeed. Why, this is delightful I am more than eyer pleased that came down to dinner
 They were now in the drawing room. and Cariingford made his way at once tO Miss Van Nostrand.
 Your father and I have developed a great bond of sympathy. Miss Van Nos trand. which in part I regret to heard that you cannot he included. He tells me that you do not care for his beautiful gems"
 No, l regret to say that 1 do not; hut
 I try to overcome my dislike to them for his sake. My younger sister tshe is but 1t) delights in them, hut I cannot bring myself to it
 Then there is another Miss Van Nos trand?"
 70. a young onc If she were in Eng land she would be in the school room. al most, but this one is very independent as most young Americans are.
 Tt is born in the blood.
 | Perhaps so. Mamma died soon after she was born: shc Is the baby of the house. I am sorry that l could not have joined papa and you in your hobby | An, well. perhaps you can joint us in our fondness for tho East Indian curios. 1 exciting business in the old days" | ''Ah. there I am with you, MT. Carling l ford, Some time l hope to visit India and see that wonderful land for myself" | Tt is indeed wonderful land, and If you will permit me. some day. l will call upon you and tell you of 1t l have travelled all through the best of it"
 Thank you, I shall be delighted. You are not going. surely?'
 l Yes but If may l will come again some day and talk 1t over with you" l Do SO. Do not come Thursdays, for every one comes that day. I am nearly always in after 5. l can give you some very good tea. It will even please an 1 Englishman"
 CHAPTER V. | Not a person was to be seen on the street where the Van Nostrand house stood at o'clock in the morning after the dinner spoken of in the last chapter, except very drunken individual who was leaning up against the iron fence which surrounded the front of the house. He was quiet. but apparently much in need of the support oi the fence, as he l PlupR ii most affeCtiOnAtelV. a The light