The Van Buren press., 1904-06-11
FOR THE
GIRLS SAKE
By FRANK THOMAS


rom its depths. 1t was the finest stone
| had ever seen in my life.
Twas particularly pleased with my de-
sign for the setting No other hand had
ouched it. and | felt that the frame, SO
10 speak, was worthy Of the picture
The ring, now that 1t was finished was
ct even to adorn the hand of Gwendolen
Forrest, the beauty and heiress of the
season But did not envy young Mr..
| CramptOn his fiancee, In my own Nell
I had a girl as good and as pretty as any
N the land
was about to take the ring to Mr.
Nugent when Nell herself ran in. She
vas my employers daughter and his pri-
vate house was upstairs over the large
showroom in Clifford street. 1t was
against al custom for Nell to come down
o my workshop, for her father disap-
proved our engagement But to-day she
had not been able to resist the tempta-
ton OF having a peep at the Champion
liamOnd
Just as she had slipped II on her finger
and was dancing about, twisting her
hand that the marvellous stone might
ratth the light, the door opened and Mr.
Hugent entered prepared to defend
Nell from harsh reprimand, but none
came, He father appeared oddly preoc-
cupied, merely took the ring from her,
examined it earnestly, and, swapping the
i'd OF the case down upon it, placed it in
bis pocket and walked away.
Next day was sitting at work when
| saw hanson drive up, ard Mr.. Cramp-
ton jump out. He came hastily into the
ihOwroom which adjoined the one where
was sitting, and where Mr. Nugent
was
"ocoundrell'' T Heard him say, and
could scarcely believe my ears. "You
thought to fool me easily by a false
stone but am as good a Judge Of jew
els as you are You are a thief sir,
What have you done with the diamond
intrusted to yOu?"
Mr. Nugent answered in Tower voice.
What he said could not have made any
great impression upon Mr. Champion,
however, for he impatieutly Interrupted,
and at last an Umiuous threat concerning
he police" reached my ears
| sat still Understood well That Mr
Champion had deliberately accused my
employer Of trying to palm off upon him
an imitation diamond, yet knew that
had set the true stone and delivered it
to Mr.. Nugent oulyyesterday.
My employer himself was Skilled
workman. though not a good designer
and in the time that had elapsed between
my handing him the ring and his trans
ferring 1t 10 the owner he could have re-
moved the stone and replaced it by an
other But such a bold trick to succeed
the imitation must be magnifcentIy
made, and the original diamond must
have been carefully measured.
| had never known that Mr. NuEent
kept any false gems about the place, and
besides, was It likely that a man in his
position would care 10 run so terrible a
risk? Still | could not help remember
ing how haggard and irritable Ne had
been Of late. and the keen interest that
he took in the stock exchange uteiIi-
gence.
AsI thus specuated on the astounding
accusation Mr. NuEent himself opend
the door Of the workroom He looked
keeny at me. as If wondering if il would
be safe to trust me
Did you hear anything Of what passed
in the next ROOM" he questioned
| admitted that had
"Of course, Ishall be triumphartfy ac-
Quilted he answered, clearing his
throat husNly as he spoke "StlII Mr.
Champion can make things disagreeable
And, look here. Wade, haven't always
been as frlndly to you as ght, but
can trust you You'll be an important
witness Do what you can for me for ,hc
girls sake
The words sounded strange, but was
given no time to answer, for AT chat mo-
ment Mr. Champion returned with two
Scotland Yard men. My employer was
given into custody and taken 10 the po-
lice station to BE charged the detectives
remaining to search the promises.
Mr. Nugpnt, being a widower, with
only one child the management Of the
business practically dcyolved on me.
and as the detectives ransackod the
place they put many questions 10 me as
10 wherr the stones were kept The safes
were all pointed our 10 them. but they
seemed disappointed with their opera
tiOHS
Late in the evening they came 10 mo In
the workroom, and, holding out the
ring, that had made for Mr. Champion.
one Of them said;
This B your work, We understand Is
that the stone you sct?"
| glanced at g. but only replied 81
don't cali myself an expert In precious
stones, and all can say Is that this one
precisely resembles In size, shape and
appearance the one given me 10 set
while This statement WAS SUPERFICIAL.
ly true that one glance had been enough
10 show mo that was not looking at the
Cmmpton diamond
The detectives left saying that would
have 10 tell all knew In the witness
box a.d then Just rs was about TO lock
up the place for the night Nell came In
II was the hr'' time she had let me So,
her since her father had been taken
away
The face which | thought the swectez,
ON earrh vas marble white aud thory