The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-09-02
FOR THE
GIRLS SAKE
By FRANK THOMAS

i had ever seen In my life
was particularly pleased with my de-
sign for the setting No other hand had
touched II. and felt that the frame. so
TO speak. was worthy Of the picture.
The ring. now that II was finished was
fl even TO adorn the hand OF Gwendolen
Forrest. the beauty and helress Of the
season. But l did not envy young Mr.
Champion his flancee; IN my own Nell
had girl as good and as pretty as any
in the land,
! was about 10 take the ring 10 MI
Nugent when Nell herself ran in she
was my employers daughter. and his pri-
vate house was upstairs over the large
showroom IN Clifford street II was
against all custom for Nell TO come down
TO my workshop, for her father disap-
proved our engagement But to-day she
had not been able to resist the tempta-
tion Of having peep at the Champion
diamond
Just as she had slipped II on her finger
and was dancing about, twisting her
hand that the marvellous stone might
catch the light. the door opened and Mr.
Nugent entered. l prepared TO defend
Nell from harsh reprimand. but none
came. He father appeared oddly preoc-
cupied. merely took tho ring from her.
examined It earnestly. and. swapping the
lid Of the case down upon II. placed Il In
his pocket and walked away.
Next day | was sitting at work when
saw a hanson drive up. and Mr. Cramp-
ton jump out He came hastily into the
showroom. which adjoined the one where
was sitting. and where Mr. Nugent
was.
"Scoundreli" heard him say. and
could scarcely believe my ears you
thought to fool me easily by n false
stone. but | am as good a judge Of Jew
els as you are. You are thief. siri
What have you done with the diamond
! intrusted to your"
Mr.. Nugent answered in a lower voice
What he said could not have made any
great impression upon Mr.. Champion,
however. for he impatiently interrupted.
and at last an ominous threat concerning
the police" reached my ears
sat still. understood we'll that Mr.
Champion had deliberately accused my
employer Of trying to palm of upon him
an imitation diamond. yet knew that
had set the true stone and delivered II
10 Mr.. Nugent only yesterday.
My employer himself was n skilled
workman. though not a good designer.
and in the time that had elapsed between
my handing him the ring and his trans
ferring II To 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 magnlhcently
made. and the original diamond must
have been carefully measured.
l had never known that Mr. Nugent
kept any false gems about the place, and
besides. was II likely that man in his
position would care to run so terrible
risk? Still. could not help remember
ing how haggard and irritable he had
been Of late and the keen interest that
he took In the stock exchange intelli-
gence.
AsI thus speculated on the astounding
accusation Mr. Nugent himself opend
the door OF the workroom.
"Did you hear anything Of what passed
in the next room2" hequestioned.
odntttad that I had
"Of course, l shall be triumphantly ac-
quilted" he answered. clearing his
throat huskily as he spoke. Still, Mr..
Champion can make things disagreeable.
And. look here. Wade, haven't always
been as frindly to you as might. but |
can trust you. You'll be an important
witness. Dowhat you can for me, for the
girls sake"
The words sounded strange. but was
given no time 10 answer. for at that mo-
ment Mr.. Champion returned with two
Scotland Yard men. Ny employer was
given into custody and taken to the po-
lice station TO be charged. the detectives
remaining to search the premises.
Late in the evening they came to mein
the workroom, and. holding out the
ring. that had made for Mr.. Champion.
one Of them said;
This Is your work. we understand ls |
that the stone you set?"
I glanced at It. but only replied: 81 |
don't call myself an expert IN precious |
stones. and all can say is that this one |
precisely resembles in size, shape. and |
the one given me TO set"
While this statement was SUPERFICIAL |
ly true. that one glance had been enough |
to show me that was not looking at the |
CHAMPION diamond.
The detectives left. saying that would |
have to tell all knew in the witness
box. and then. just as was about 10 lock
up the place for the night, Nell came in.
II was the first time she had let me see
her since her father had been taken
away.
The face which I thought the sweetest
on earth was marble white. and there
we're dark shadows under her lasheS
There's something must say to
you" she painted, something I've been
Wild to say all day lest It should be too
late. but dared not let any one suspect.
A month ago father conhded to me that
he had lost a great deal OF money. and
he showed me how 10 open a secret
irawor in his Chippendale bureau. II
over anything happens to me- he said.
don't lose a moment. but look into this
irawer: throw away everything that you
gill find in the left hand partition, and
Keep what may be in the right"
Together we ransacked the old bureau.
md at length Nell touched the spring
which opened the secert drawer. Idrew
In my breath sharply. for elight Of the
candle which held struck out a CLEAN
from a pile Of exquisitely made false
stones which lay In partition on the left
hand. while on the right was the CramD-
Ton Ffovrnva