The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1904-06-17

GO 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
I'm my life.
1 was particularly pleased with my
design for the setting. No other hand
had touched it, and l 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
resist the temptation of having a peep
at the Champion diamond.
Just as she had slipped 1t 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. | prepared
to defend Nell from harsh reprimand
but none came. Her father appeared
nd
ring from her, examined 1t earnestly,
and, swapping the lid of the case down
upon it, placed 1t in his pocket and
walked away.
Next day was sitting at work when
l saw a hanson drive up, and Mr..
into the showroom, which adjoined the
one where 1 was sitting, and where
Mr.. Nugent was.
'Scoundrelv' 1 heard him say, and
could scarcely believe my ears. you
thought to fool me easily by a 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 your"
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-
90 =
off upon him an imitation diamond.
yet l knew that 1 had set the true
stone and delivered 1t 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 1t by another. But for such a
bold trick to succeed the imitation
must be magnihcently made. and the
original diamond must have been care
fully measured.
had never known that Mr. Nugent
kept any false gems about the place
and besides, was 1t likely that a man
in his position would care to run Sc
terrible risk? Still, could not helI
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
IL it would be safe TO trust me.
Ibid you hear anything of wha
passed in the next room?" he ques
toned.
admitted that had.