The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-20

and black bag in the other.
Good evening. gentlemen" said he.
at home and smiling.
"Sit down." drawled Raffles in casual
response. Say let me Introduce YOU
to Mr. Ezra b. Martin of Shicawgo
Mr.. Martin is my future brotber-in-
law. This Is Mr.. Robinson, Ezra. man.
ager of Sparks e Co. the celebrated
Joolers on Regent street"
pricked up my ears. but coltented
myself with a nod. l altogether dis
trusted my ability to live up to my
new name and address.
Il figured on Miss Martin bein' right
here, too" continued Rallies, "but re-
greet TO say she's not feelin' so good.
We light out for Parrus on the 0 a. m.
train tomorrer mornin', and she
guessed she'd be too dead. Sorry to
disappoint you, Mr.. Robinson, but
you'll see I'm advertisin' your wares"
Rallies held his right hand under the
electric light. and a diamond ring
flashed upon his little finger. l could
have sworn 1t was not there Eve min
utes before
The tradesman had a disappointed
face, but for a moment 1t frightened
as he eXpatiated on the value Of that
ring and on the price his people had
accepted for 1t. l was invited to guess
the figure, but l shook discreet head.
have seldom been more taciturn In
my life.
'Forty-fve pounds" cried the jewel
er, 'and it would be cheap at 80
guineas."
That's right" assented Raf1les.
''That'd be dead cheap, l allow. but
then, my boy, you got ready cash, and
don't you forget it."
do not dwell upon my own mystifi-
cation in all this. merely pause to
state that l was keenly enjoying that
very element Nothing could have been
more typical of Rallies and the past.
1t was only my own attitude that was
changed.
1t appeared that the mythical lady,
my sister, had just become engaged to
Raf!es, who seemed all anxiety to pin
her down with gifts of price. l could
not quite gather whose gift to whom
was the diamond ring, but it had evil
IDENTITY been paid for, and I voyaged to
the moon, wondering when and how.
l was recalled to this planet by del
uge of gems from the jewelers. bag.
They lay alight in their cases like the
electric lamps above. We all three put
our heads together over them, myself
without the slightest clew as to what
was coming, but not unprepared for
violent crime One does not do eight
cen months for nothing
Fright away" Raffies was saying.
"We'll choose for her, and you'll
change anything she don't like. Is that
the ideaW
"That was my suggestion, sir"
"Then come on, Ezra. 1 guess you
know Sadie's taste. You help me
choose"
And we chose-Lord! What did we
not choose? There was her ring, a
diamond half hoop. 1t cost f95, and
there was no attempt to get 1t for $50.
Then there was a diamond necklet-
200 guineas-but pounds accepted.
That was to be the gift of the bride
groom. The wedding was evidently
imminent. 1t behooved me to play a
brotherly part. l therefore rose to the
occasion, calculated she would like a
diamond star GIG, but reckoned it
was more than | could afford, and
sustained vicious kick under the
table for either verb. | was afraid
to open my mouth on finally obtaining
the star for the round hundred. And
then the fat fell in the fire, for pay
we could not, though remittance
(said Raffies) was overdue from Moo
York"
"But | don't know you, gentlemen"
the jeweler exclaimed. Il haven't even
the name Of your hotel?'
81 told you we was stoppin' with
friends" said Rallies, who was not
angry, though thwarted and crushed.
"But that's right, sir! Oh, that's dead
right, and I'm the last man to ask to
take quixotic risks. I'm tryin' to fig
ure a way out. Yes, sir, that's what
I'm tryin' to do
81 wish you could, sir" the jeweler
said, with feeling. ut isn't as IL we
hadn't seen the color Of your money,
but certain rules l am sworn TO OBJ
serve. 1t isn't as IL l was in bust
ness for myself. and-you say you
start for Paris in the morning.
ION the 0 a. IN. train" unused
Rafiies, "and I've heard no end yarns
about the joolers stores In Parrus. But
that amt fair. Don't you take no no
tice o that. I'm tryin to figure way
out. Yes, slr!"
He was smoking cigarettes out Of a
twenty-five box. The tradesmaH and
had cigars. Rallies sat frowning with
a pregnant eye, and 1t was only too
clear to nae that his plans had mis-
carried. l could not help thinking.
however, that they deserved to do so
If he had counted upon buying credit
for all but f400 by single payment
of some 10 per cent. That again
seemed unworthy of Rafies, and l,
for my part, still sat prepared to spring
any moment at cur visitors throat.
"We could mail yeu the money from
Parrrls," drawled Raffies at length,
"but should we know you'd hold up
your end OF the string and mail us the
same articles we've selected tonight2"
The visitor stlffened in his chair.