Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-06-18
-Lippincott's.

60 HE famous Champion diamond
threw back the light from its
many facets. and strange, bril-
liant colors shot from its depths. 1t
was the finest stone 1 had ever seen
in my life.
L was particularly pleased with my
design for the setting. No other hand
had touched it, and 1 felt that the
frame, so to speak, was worthy of the
picture.
The ring, now that it was finished.
was fit even to adorn the hand Of
Gwendolen Forrest, the beauty and
heiress of the season. But l did not
envy young Mr.. Champion his fiancee:
In my own Nell l had girl as good
and as pretty as any in the land.
L was about to take the ring to Mr.
Nugent, when Nell herself ran in. She
was my employers daughter. and his
private house was upstairs over the
large showroom in Clifford street. 1t
was against all custom for Nell to
come down to my workshop, for her
father disapproved of our engagement.
But to-day she had not been able to
rasist Tho tanntatinn nf hA--s-e5 pO-l,-
at the Champion diamond
just as she had slipped it on her fin
ger and was dancing about. twisting
her hand that the marvellous stone
might catch the light, the door opened
and Mr.. Nugent entered. I prepared
to defend Nell from harsh reprimand.
but none came. Her father appeared
oddly preoccupied, merely took the
ring from her, examined it earnestly.
and, swapping the lid of the case down
upon it, placed it in his pocket and
walked away.
Next day 1 was sitting at work when
i saw hanson drive. up. and Mr..
Champion jump out. He came hastily
into the showroom, which adjoined the
one where 1 was sitting, and where
Mr. Nugent was.
"Scoundrelr' l heard him saw. and
could scarcely believe my ears lyon
thought to fool me easily by false
stone, but l am as good a Judge of
jewels as you are. You are a thief
sir! What have you done with the
diamond l intrusted to you?"
Mr.. Nugent answered in lower
voice. What he said could not have
made any great impression upon Mr.
Champion, however, for he inpatient
ly interrupted, and at last an ominous
threat concerning the police" reached
my ears.
l sat still. l understood well that
Mr.. Champion had deliberately ac-
cused my employer of trying to palm
Off upon him an imitation diamond.
yet l knew that l had set the true
stone and delivered it to Mr.. Nugent
only yesterday.
My employer himself was a skilled
workman, though not a good designer.
and in the time that had elapsed be-
tween my handing him the ring and
his transferring it to the owner he
could have removed the stone and re-
placed it by another But for such a
bold trick to succeed the imitation
must be magnificently made, and the
original diamond must have been care
fully measured.
1 had never known that Mr.. Nugent
kept any false gems about the place.
and besides, was it likely that a man
in his position would care to run so
terrible a risk? Still, could not help
remembering how haggard and irrita-
BILE he had been of late, and the keen
interest that he took in the stock ex-
change intelligence.
AS thus .speculated on the astound-
Ing accusation Mr.. Nugent himself
opened the door of the workroom. He
looked keenly at me, as If wondering
If 1t would be safe TO trust me.
did you hear anything of what
passed in the next room?" he ques-
toned.
admitted that had.