The Van Buren press., 1904-06-11


nature of the discovery By an exclama-
ton for. left 20 herself Nell would not
have understood But she was quick 10
comprehend, and, realizing the worst
she swayed. staggering backward.
My poor father she moaned, as
held her. He is ruiaed foreyer-and |,
too! The daughter of a convicted thiet
is no fit wife Of an honest nam
My darling! You are vile Tor
king, and as for your father, swear 10
you that will save him yet"
You? You cannot"
Il tell you that can ana Will" For
even as spoke an idea fiashd into my
head which startled me by its audacity.
In a moment had thought out every de-
tail
made up the stones, Champion dia-
mond and all. into a packet, carefully
closing the secret drawer, and, cOntriv-
ing to get away without being seen, went
straight to my brothers house in Kent,
managing to avoid the service of sub
poena. Thus | was not present at the
police court proceedings, which would
have meant ruin for my plan.
Nr. Nugent was committed for trial,
and meanwhile staid in the country,
working each night in my locked room
with the tools | had brought with me
until the gray dawn filtered under my
closed shutters
When | saw my Old employer in the
dock at the trial / vas shocked at the
ghastly change which had come over
him.
The evidence at first went steadily
against him. twas proved that he had
lost money heavily on the stock ex-
change, Mr.. Champion swore that the
stone in the ring delivered TO him by Mr..
Nugent's own hand was not his diamond.
One expert testified that not only was
the stone he now saw not the Champion
diamond, it was not genuine jewel at
all, but a marvellous imitation. All
other was not so positive. He looked at
the gem through hisglass, turning it this
way and that declaring that In all his ex-
perienCe he had never seen false stone
so cleverly executed as this, Indeed he
was not prepared to swear that it was
false
This was the first ray OF doubt which
had been thrown by the evidence upon
Mr. Nugent's guilt; and then | went
into the box | was cool now, for the
game had gone into had cost me many
Qualm of conscience. But had no in
tention Of cheating Mr. Champion,
swearing falsely, or furnishing nay per-
sonal honor
The preliminary question Of the prose-
cutting counsel brought out the fact that
had designed the rings setting and,
done all the work upon il
What sort of a stone was It your en-
plOyer gave you to set?" was the next
question.
An extremely valuable white dia-
mond," | replied
DO you swear that you set the genuine
stone and delivered the ring when fin
tshed to the prisoner"
II do"
"Do you consider It possible That stone
might have been taken out and an imt-
tation one substituted"
Certainly But could toll whether
the ring had been tampered WITH since
it left my hands"
Take this, then, examine It, and in
form the court if that is the stone you
set"
The ring was handed to me, and hush
fell upon the court The kind Of lull
which denotes that vital point IN a case
has been reached,
put my hand In my waistcOat pocket
for my jewelers. glass and the sharpest
eye could not have seen that also drew
forth a new ring, made in the secret
hours Of the night--an exact counterpart
Of the other, save that II contained the
real Champion diamond
pretended 10 examine the imitation
with great care, while all eyes were
fixed upon me At length returned tho
glass 70 my pocket, and with il the ring
with the false stone | could near my
heart beating, but handing to the court
usher the new ring said firmly, in re-
ply 70 the snappish "Well?' of the pros
ecuting counsel,
"I swear unhesitatingly that the set
ting Of this ring has not been tampered
with. and that this IS the genuine dia-
mond which was given me tu set
A rustic went round the room; tho
doubling expert pricked up hts ears, tho
prosecuting counsel, with Mr.. Cramp-
ton and the treasury solicitor were
whispering over the ring
"You honor" said the counsel, 81 ask
uerm lssion TO recall the expert"
stepped ont Of the box and the expert
stepped in The now ring was put into
his hand, a friendly ray Of sunshine
lighting up the Jewel
This Is remarkable" he said at last.
| "lt IL the first time + have ever made a
mistake. This stunr Is genuine can-
! not doubt it.
And so the prisoner was free But
when the verdict Of Not guilty" was
pronounced a faint Rroan echoed II and
dead man was taken from the dock.
A spasm Of thu heart had proved fatal.
Six months Inter Nell and were mar
ried on our honeymoon We were walk,
| ing in lane near Ifracombo, when we
came face TO face with Mr. Champion,
who was stopping with his bride In n
| neighborlng country house
"Nh Mr.. Wade" hc exclaimed, 4
haven't seen you since that mysterious
ease Of mine DO you know | have al.
] 49,. ,k,,ubt .