Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-17

| known man of enormous wealth came
to me with the request that should
procure for him diamond of superior
beauty. He wished to give it to his
wife, and he wished 1t to outshine any
which could now be found in New
York. This meant sending abroad
an expense he was quite willing to in
cur on the sole condition that the
stone should not disappoint him when
he saw it, and that it was to be In his
hands on the eighteenth OF March, his
wffe's birthday. Never before had I
had such an opportunity for large
stroke of business. Naturally elated,
entered at once into correspond
ence with the best known dealers on
| the other side, and last week dia-
mond was delivered to me which
seemed to fill all the necessary re-
quirements. had never seen finer
stone, and was consequently rejoicing
in my success, when some one, do
not remember who now, CHANGED to
speak in my hearing of theswonderful
stone possessed by certain Mrs.
Fairbrother-a stone so lange, so bril-
liant and so precious altogether that
she seldom wore it, though it was
known to cOnnOisseurs and had a
great reputation at Tiffany's, where
| it had once been sent for some alter
alton in the setting. Was this stone
larger and finer than the one I had
procured with so much trouble? If
! so, my labor had all been in vain, for
my patron must have known of this
diamond and would expect to see it
surpassed.
II was so upset by this possibility
that l resolved to see the jewel and
make comparisons for myself. found
| friend who agreed to introduce me
to the lady. She received me very
graciously and was amiable enough
until the subject of diamonds was
1 preached, when she Immediately
stiffened and left me without an op-
portunity of proffering my request.
However, on every other subject she
was affable, and I found it easy
enough to pursue the. acquaintance
till we were almost on friendly terms.
But I never saw the diamond, nor
would she talk about It, though I
day drew out before her eyes the
one had procured for my patron and
made her look at it. Fine she cried,
fine!' But failed to detect any envy
in her manner, and so knew that had
not achieved the object set me by my
wealthy customer. This was woeful
disappointment; yet, as Mrs. Fair
brother never wore her diamond, 1t
was among the possibilities that he
might be satisfied with the very fine
gem had obtained for him, and, in
fluenced by this hope, sent him this
morning request to come and see It
tomorrow Tonight I attended this
ball, and almost as soon as / enter the
drawing room I hear that Mrs Fair
brother is present and is wearing her
famous jewel What could you ex-
pect of me? Why, that I would make
an effort to see it and so be ready
with reply to my exacting customer
when he should ask me tomorrow II
the stone showed him had it's peer
in the city. But she was not in the
drawing room then, and later be.
came interested observation-disclosures he
cast look at me-'so that half the
evening passed before had an oppor
tunity to join her in the so-called al
cove, where had seen her set up her
miniature court. What passed be-
tween us in that short interview we
held together you will find me pre-.
pared to state, If necessary 1t was
chiefly marked by the one short view
4 I succeeded in obtaining Of her mar
velous diamond, in spite of the pains
she took to hide it from me by some
natural movement whenever she
caught my eyes leaving her face. But
In that one short look I had seen
enough. This was gem for a col
lector, not to be worn save in roya
presence. How had she come by it
And could Mr.. Smythe expect me tc
procure him stone like that? In my
confusion I arose to depart, but the
lady showed disposition to keep me
. and began chatting so vivaciously thai
. I scarcely noticed that she was all the
time engaged in drawing off hel
gloves. Indeed, l almost forgot the
jewell possibly because her move
ments hid it so completely, and onl,
remembered it when, with sudden
drawn me to watch the falling flakes
she pressed the gloves into my hanC
J with the coquettish request that
, should take care Of them for her.
!, remember, as | took them, of striving
: to catch another glimpse of the stone
whose brilliancy had dazzled me, bu
she had opened her fan between us
J A moment after, thinking heard ap
preaching steps, quilted the room
This was my first visit"
AS he stopped, possibly for breath
} possibly to judge to what extent wa:
, impressed by his account, the inspec
: tor seized the opportunity to ask i
: Mrs. Fairbrother had been standing
any of this time with her back to him
To which he answered yes, while the.
were in the window.
Long enough for her to pluck of
the jeel and thrust it into the gloves
If she had so wished?"
"Qulte long enough"
'But you did not see her do this?"
II did not"
"And SO took the gloves withou
suspicion?"
Entirely So"
"And carried them away?"
Unfortunately, yes"
! Without thinking that she nigh
want them the next minute?"