The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26

Ihdt u Idttle-pdtoo youCu WHO ndQ
come in the wake of highly reputed
connection of theirs, and the other that
Of an American tourist who gave all
the evidences Of great wealth and had
presented letters to leading men in
London which had insured him atten-
tinos. This mans name was Fair
brother, and the moment Mr.. Grey
heard it, he recalled the fact that an
American with a peculiar name, but
among his guests on the suspected
evening.
Hiding, tho effect produced upon him
by this discovery, he placed his finger
on this name and begged his cousin
to look up its owners antecedents and
present reputation in America; but
not content with this, he sent his own
he soon learned, this gentleman had re-
turned. The result was an apparent
vindication Of the suspected American.
He was found to be well-known citi-
zen OF the great metropolis, moving in
the highest circles and with reputa-
t1on for wealth won by an e1traordi-
nary business instinct.
To be sure he had not always enjoyed
these distinctions. Like many another
menial position in a western mining
camp, to be the owner of a mine him
self and so up thru the various grada-
tions Of a successful life to q position
among the foremost business men of
Sew York In all these changes he
had maintained q name for honest, ie
not generous, dealing. He lived in
great style, had married and was known
to- TO- have but one extravagant fancy.
art, taste which, if report spoke true,
cost him many thousands each year.
This last was the only clause in the re-
port which pointed in any way towards
this man being the possible abstractor
OF the Great Mogul, as Mr.. Grey's fa-
nous diamond was called, and the lat
Of hs fancs1 this ne ia bmse sGP to pqss e
g fact of this kind weigh against tho
favorable nature Of the rest. So he
recalled his AGENT double-locked his
cabinets and continued to confne his
display Of valuables to articles which
did not suggest jewels. Thus three
years passed, when one day he heard
mention ei II made n Of a wonderful diamond
From it's description he gathered that
it must be the one surreptitiously alb
stracted from his cabinet, and when.
after some careful inquiries, he learned
that the name Of it's possessor was
Fairbrother, he awoke to his old sus-
picions and determined to probe this
mysterious matter to the bottom. But
secretly. He still had too much con-
sideration to attack man in his posi-
tion without full proof.
Knowing Of no one he could trust
with SO delicate an inquiry as this had
now become, he decided to undertake
it himself, and for this purpose en-
braced the first opportunity to cross
the water. He took his daughter with
him because he had resolved never to
let his one remaining child out Of his
plans or reason for travel. No one did.
Indeed, only his lawyer and the police
were aware Of the loss Of his diamond.
His first surprise on landing was to
learn. that Mr.. -Fairbrother, Of whose
marriage he had heard, had quarreled
with his wife and that In the separa-
ton which had occurred, the diamond
had fallen to her share and was conse-
quently In her possession at the pres
ent moment.
This changed matters, and Mr.. Grey g
only thought now. was to surprise her
with the diamond her person and
by one glance assure himself that Il
was indeed the Great MoguL Since
Mrs. Fairbrother was reported to be a
beautiful woman and a great society
belle, he saw no reason why he should
v
soon. He therefore allowed himself to
accept invitations and attend theaters
and balls, tho his daughter had suffered
from her voyage and was not able to
accompany him. But, alasl he soon
learned that Mrs. Fairbrother was
never seen. with her diamond and, one
evening after an introduction at the
So there he was baked on the very
threshold Of his enterprise, and, recog
nizing the fact, was preparing to take
his now seriously ailing daughter
south, when he received an invitation
to q ball of such select character that
he decided to remain to it, in the hope
that Mrs. Fairbrother would be tempted
to- put on all her splendor for SO mag
him with sight Of his own diamond
During the days that interviewed ht
saw her several times and very soo1
decided that, in spite Of her reticence
in regard to this gem, she was not suf
fciently in her husband 8 confidence tc
know the secret Of It's real ownership
This encouraged him to attempt piqu
ing her into wearing the diamond. OF
stones and finally of his own, declaring
that he had a connoisseur's eye for
fine diamond, but had seen none as ye
} in America to compete with specimen
! or two he had in his own cabinets. He
eye flashed at this and, tho she saii
nothing, he felt sure that her presenc,
at Mr.: Ramsdell's house would be en-
eoe So much n 1 for fe' Mr Grey Tgs attitude i,
this matter up to the night Of the ball
: 1t is interesting enough, but that o.
| Abner Fairbrother is more interestin;
and much more serious.
} His was indeed the hand which hat
) distracted the diamond from Mr.
7 Grey's collection. Under ordinary con
l ditions he was an honest man. III,
l priced his good name and would no
: conscience, and once his passions wer,
5 aroused nothing short of the object de
: sired would content him. At one,
t forceful and subtle. he had at his com
rnand infinite resources, which his wan
4 dering and eventful life had heightene,
8 almost to the point of genius. He say
8 this stone, and at once felt an inordi
nate desire to possess it. He had GOV
). eted other men g treasures before, bu
; not as he coveted this. What had bee
? longing in other cases mania il
s this. There was a woman in Americ
3 whom he loved. She was beautiful an
|, she was splendor-Iovlng. To see he
: with this glory on her breast would b
s worth almost any risk which his i'm
{ agination could picture at the moment
) Before the diamond had left his han,
he had made up his mind to have it fo %
= his own. He knew that it could not b
, bought, so he set about obtaining it b.
3 an act he did not hesitate to acknowl
edge to himself as criminal But b
! did not act without precautions. Hay
4 ing keen eye and a proper sense O
size and color, he carried away fror
: his frst view, OF it true image of tn
1fn vL,n- h. Il -