The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-04

"N SAA S"AN AAN D%SA hAo
band in the world said Mrs. Bowser
as she walked with him. Il hope you
didn't pay too much for these beautiful
thing"
"Tl:cy were one Of my bargains, dear.
| was looking around for something
when | cane to ar auction place. They
pat Up TIE articles and | biz them of.
l e for SO what would Lave cost me
seTen or eight hundred dollars at any
5eTTeiry store. That is Die Of the things
that pie2se me. What in blazes ais
that in[6Tual old catt'
Mrs. Bouser Eos Doubts.
The feline WAS trying TO suppress a
giGg,c and ro!.-Ig over and over on the
floor to d i. While q shadow Of doubt
Lad chased the smile from Mrs. Bow
SEES face.
Think Of it, dearie," said Mr.. Bow
ser-"seven or eight hundred dollars
worth Of diamonds for only twenty! /
never could have got them in the world
If the a%uctioneer hadn't had consump-
ton and wanted to close out his bust
ness and go 10 Florida"
"And-and you are sure they are
genuine diamonds!'
LAS sure as sure. The man warrant
ed them white stones of the purest wa
ter, and dying men don't lie. You can
fash them under the noses of all the
vOmen on the street and be sure that
they are Il. real thing. The ring seems
a b I1!Se for YOU
"yes: Il L."
The jeve!ry store on the next block
is CieH. :.et lie take the ring and run
Goa .: x nd have il fixed. I'll take
tha On -. rs as well. as l want to
be &c. ~. 81 lie jeweler. l wanted
to = 4 r..r Of E.:u. and. although the
sto-e w@s hardly ha.f the size Of this,
the s"~ll:.@" wanted >12J for it. l told
hiL t..r.l lie w&s q rubber.'
Went to the Jewelers..
When NJ. 3OUser had gone the cat
LOOKED at Mrs. BoWser in sorrow and
pity, but cC:..I not make her under
stand that Shingles were about to be
torn off the roof Five minutes after
leaving the house Mr.. Bowser was say
ing to the jeweier:
II want this ring made a trife small
er, and l hope you can do it while l
wait"
$50 you bought one, did you?" was
queried as the man made a brief in
spection and began to grin.
"As you see. l also bought this pin
and this bracelet"
Eyes? 1 can fix the ring to fit, but
why do soT"
What do you mea by that?"
why, it is only a plated ring, with a
rhinestone in it, and it is a poor stone
at that. If you wanted anything of
that sort, why didn't you say so? The
other pieces are just the same. Where
did you pick them up?"
His Face Turns White.
do you mean to tell me-" replied
Mr.. Bowser as his face began to turn
white, that it is pinchbeck jewelry?"
1T is nothing less, and I presume
you bought it at auction. Honestly,
now, what did you pay for it?".
at can't-can't be pinchbeck!"
But it is. Didn't your wife spot it
at once?"
Mr.. Bowser looked at the smiling
man for a long minute and wondered
how he could murder him quickest.
Then he raped on the showcase with
his knuckles and hoarsely whispered:
Don't toy with a desperate man."
And you hadn't better toy with any
more auctioneers. If you don't believe
what l say take your stuff elsewhere.
Even a longshoreman would spot the
~rhinestones. What's the trouble with
you? Instead of coming to a response
BILE person when you want
Calls Jeweler Villain.
"Sir, you are a villain!' gasped Mr..
Bowser.
And you are a sucker"
Mr.. Bowser had no bomb, bayonet or
stiletto, and he took his anniversary
presents and started for home. He
had five minutes in which to mediate.
He assembled the steps, unlocked the
door, and, striding down the hall, be
confronted the guilty woman and thun-
dered:
Woman, l have discovered you"
What on earth do you mean?' re-
piled Mrs. Bowser.
Il mean that a train leaves the depot
for the town in which your mother
lives at 10 o'clock In the morning. l
mean that you will take it. l mean
that our respective lawyers will ar
| range about the divorce and alimony.
I meant mean
And he dashed the rhinestone jewel
~ on the floor and jumped up and
down on it and uttered cuss words, and
then strobe into the library and slam
! med and locked the door. His twenty
second anniversary had been a sue
cess. NJ. QUAD.
The SteepIechase.