Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-08-25

care even to please 0bermuller. just
wanted the feel of that diamond in my
hand. | wanted ii lying on my own
neck-the lovely, cool, shining, rosy
thing. It's like the sunrise, Mag,
that beauty stone. It's just tiny pool
of water blushing. It's
How TO get il! How to get away
with it! On what we'd get for that
diamond, Tom and when his time
is up-could live for all our lives and
whoOp il up besides. We could live
in Paris, where great grafters live and
grating pays-where. if you've got wit
and 100000, and happen to be darn
sight prettier," you can just spin the
world around your little finger!
But, do you know. even then
couldn't bear to think of selling the
pretty thing? II hurt me TO think
of anybody having ii but just Nance
Olden.
But hadn't got II yet.
Gray has a dressing nom to herself
And on her table-which is a big box.
open end dOwn-just where the three
sided big mirror can multiply the
jewels and make you want EN- three
times as bad, her big russia-eather.
silver-mounted box lies open. while
she's dressing and undressing. Other
times it's locked tight. and his lord.
ship himself has il tight in his own
right hand, or his lorcships man. Top
ham, has it just as tight.
How to get that diamond! There
was a hard nut for Nance Olden's
sharp teeth to crack. | only wanted
that-never say I'm greedy Mag
Gray could keep all the rest of the
things-the pigeon IN rubies and
pearls, the tiara all in diamonds, the
chain OF pearls, and the blazing rings,
and the waist-trimming all OF emer-
aids anG diamond stars. But that dia-
mond, that huge rose diamond
couldn't ] just couldn't let her have it.
And yet l didn't know the first step
10 take toward getting it, till Beryl
Blackburn helped me out She's one
OF the Charities, like me-a tall
bleached blonde with a pretty, pale
face and gold-gray eyes. And, If you'd
believe her, there's not a man in the
audience, afternoon or evening, that
isn't dead-gone on her.
Guess who's my latest" she said to
me this afternoon, while we four
Charities stood in the wings waiting.
"Topham-old Tophaml"
1t all got clear to me then in a min
ute.
"TOpham-nothing!" ! sneered.
Berry, Bighead, 1opham thinks Of
only one thlng-milady's iewel-box.
Don't you fool yourself"
oh, does he, miss. Well Just TO
prove it, he let Inc try on the rose
diamond last night. There!"
, ITS easy TO say so, but don't see
the proof. He'd lose his job so quick
it'd make his head spin if be did it,
Not if be did, but if they anew he
. did Xnuul not ,auou
J Not me Why would !? ] don't
believe it, and ! wouldn't expect any
body else to. don't believe you could
get Topham 10 bulge from his chair
In Grays dressing-room if you'd"
"What'll you bet?"
I'll bet you the biggest box Of choc-
olate creams at Huyler's."
Bone! III send for him tonight,
just before Gray and her lord come,
and you'll see"
How'll ! see? Wherell ] be-"
We'll, you be waiting in the little
hall right of Grays dressingToom at
f, 1880 tonight and-you might as well
bring the creams with you"
Catch on, Mag? At 1870 in the even
ing ] was waiting; but not in the lit
tie hall of Grays dressing-room.
hadn't gone home at all after the
afternoon performance-you know we
play at three, and again at $3.50. had
just hidden me away till the rest were
gone, and as soon as the coast was
clear | got into Grays dressing-room
pushed aside the chintz curtains OF the
big box that makes her dressing table
and waited.
Lord, how the hours dragged!
hadn't had anything to eat since lunch,
and II got darker and darker In there,
and hot and close and cramped. put
In the time, much as ] could, thinking
OF Tom. The very first thing I'd do
after cashing In, would be to get up 10
Sing Sing to see him. I'm crafty To see
him. I'd tell him the news and see
II he couldn't bride a guard, or plan
some scheme with me TO get out soon.
Afraid-me? What Oft II they
found me under that box I'd Just give
'em the Beryl story about the bet
How do you know they wouldn't DO.
lieve It? Oh, don't care, you've
got to take chances. Mag Monahan. II
you 90 In for big things. And this vaf
big-huge. Do you know how much
that diamonds worth? And do YOU