The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-10-05
6be Nesv "a
Arabian x
'' : ~: Nights

BY ROBERT
LOUIS
STEVENSON


"Who are you to come flying over ms
wall and break my Gloire de Diions,
What is Hyour name" he added, shalS
ing him, "and what may be your bust
ness here?"
Harry cond not as much as prefer
word In explanation
But just ut that moment Pendragon
and the butchers boy went dumping
past aud the sound OF their feet and
their hoarse cries echoed loudly in the
narrow lane. The gardener had re-
ceived his answer, and he looked down
into Harry's face with an obnoxious
smile.
"A thief" he said, upon my word,
and very good thing you must make
of 1t, for | see you dressed like a gen.
tleman from top to toe. Are You not
ashamed to go about the world in such
a trim, with honest folk. dare say,
glad to buy your castoff finery second
hand! Speak up, you dog the man
went on. you can understand Eng
lish, l suppose. and ] mean to have a
you TO the station"
Indeed. sir" said Harry. ''this is all
dreadful msconception and if you
will 80 with me to Sir Thomas Vande-
leur's, In Eaton place, ! can promise
that all will be made plain. The most
upright person, as | now perceive. can
be led into suspicious Positions"
my little man." replied the garden
er, II will go with you no farther than
the station house in the next street.
The inspector, no doubt, will be glad to
take stroll with you as far rs Eaton
place and have a bit of afternoon tea
with your great acquaintances Or
would you prefer to 20 direct to the
home secretary? Sir Thomas Vande-
leur, indeed! Perhaps you think
don't know a gentleman when see
one from n common run-the hedge like
you? Clothes or no clothes, can read
yon like book. Here is n shirt that
maybe cost MS much MS my Sunday hat
and that coat, take ii. has never seen
the inside of rag fair. and then your
boots
The man. whose eyes had fallen upon
the ground, stopped short in his insult
ing commentary and remained for
moment looking intentiy upon some
thing at his feet. When he spoke, his
voice was strangely altered.
what. In Gods name," said he, sis
all this?'
Harry. following the direction of the
mans eyes. beEcd spectacle that
struck him dumb with terror and
amazement. In his fall he had de
seconded vertically upon the bandbox
and burst It open from end TO end
.ff'szasaee a great treasure of diamonds
had poured forth and now lay abroad.
part trodden in the soil. part scattered
OF tue surface in regal and glttering
profusion. There was magnificent
cUronet which he had often admired |
on Lady Vandeleur, there were rings
and brooches, cardrops and bracelets |
and even unset brilliants rolling here |
and there among the rosohushes like |
drops of morning dew. A prncely for |
tune lay between the two men upon the |
ground a fortune in the most inviting, |
solid and durable form. capable Of be- !
ing carried in an apron, beautiful in it, |
self and scattering the sunlight in n
million rainbow flashes.
Good heayens!" said Harry. Il am
Iostr'
His mind raced backward Into the |
past with the ikcalculable velocity Of |
thought, and he began to comprehend |
his days adventures. TO conceive them |
as a whole and to recognize the sad |
In which his own character
and fortunes had become involved. lie
looked round him. as If for help. but /
he was alone In the garden, with his
scattered diamonds and his rcdoubta-
bic intcrlocu,or. and when he gave ear
there was no sound but the rustic of
the lesyes and the hurried pulsation OF
his heart. 1t was little wonder IL the
young man felt himself deserted by
his spirits and. with a broken voice.
his last calculation:
Il am LOST
The gardener peered in all directions
with an air Of guilt. but there was no
face at any OF the windows. and he
seemed 10 breathe again.
Pick UP a heart" be said. ''you fool.
The worst Of IL Is done. Why could
you not say at first there was enough
for twoY TwoT' he repeated. AYE.
and for two hundred. But come away
from here where we may be Observed.
Ind. for the love Of wisdom. straighten
out your hat and brush your clothes.
You could not travel two steps the fig
ure Of fun you look just now"
While Harry mechanically adopted
these suggestions the gardener. get
ting upon his knees. hastily drew to
yether the scattered jewels and return
u them 10 the bandbox. The touch Of
these costly crystals sent shiver OF
emotion through the mans stalwart
frame: his face was transhgured, and
IFS eyes shone with concupiscrnce- In
5ced il seemed as II he luxuriouslv
prolonged Isis occupation and dallied
With eftry diamond that he handled.
= last. however. If was done. and.
30 Ealing the bandbox In bis smock.
he gardener bcckoned to Harry and
preceded him In the direction Of the