The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-24
THE EVENING STORY
The Hissar Eme..h
(By Clarissa Mackie

And the emerald" repeated CoIe-
man eagerly. as he fingered the con-
e s OF his friends gem cabinet. st
don't see the Hissar emerald. What
mas become of it? That was the gem
OF your collection"
Lamson leaned forward and drew
out the lower tray of the cabinet
FROM an assortment of small leather
cases thrown carelessly together he
LOOK one and gave it to Coleman.
There Is the Hissar emerald he
said quietly ~
Coleman pressed the spring, and as
the lid flew up he uttered a startled
cry. @A
''Why-why?" he suffered exc,ted.
ly. this is not the Hissar-?" He
paused tnterrogatively.
II IS the H1ssar emerald and none
otner, returned Lamson, speaking
with curious elaboration and distinct
ness. He took the case from his visi-
tors hand and shook the huge stone
into his palm.
1t Is like green glass;" muttered
Coleman, staring stupidity.
A piece of green stone as large as
an almond, oval in shape, cut in a
hundred facets that reflected the
lamplight duly as Lamson rolled It
about in his hand
| You are joking" said Coleman, sit
ting back in his chair and looking
| keenly at his host.
WISH II were joke, said Lam
son ruefully, as he replaced the Jewel
| in the casket and laid it upon the ia
| Bile. 20
7 wish you would tell me about it,
old man." remarked Coleman impa-
| tlently. lighting another cigarette.
! Tell me about the transformation of
one Of the most famous jewels of the
world into worthless glass?"
or course you know it's history,
coleman, began Lamson, settling
back in his chair. "You know I pur-
chased it from an old chap in Bonn
bay for a ridiculous price-thirty
gold rubleS-and the man seemed to
be much relieved to be rid of the
| stone. You know it was in my pos
session for ten years after my return
| from India, for you examined it fire.
| quently and admired it's color and ex-
traordinary brilliancy"
Coleman nodded.
Three years ago I was in Paris"
continued Lamson. II had the en-
erald with me- was considering a
setting for it. Several weeks
elapsed before I found time to
visit a goldsmith. I cannot recollect
what did detain me from going i'm
medfate1y on my arrival, but I do re-
member that one day I suddenly re-
solved to attend to the matter with
out further delay. I had been carry
Ing the jewel in a chamois bag which
w d
about my waist. I removed the bag
from the belt and placed it in the in
ner pocket of my coat and proceeded
at leisurely pace toward a certain
| shop in the Rue de vignier, where
there was lapidary and goldsmith
with whom I had done business.
"As passe da small cafe I glanced
carelessly through the open door, and
upon my word, Coleman, was never
| more startled in my 1ifei My gaze en-
countered that of a pair Of the green
est eyes I ever saw, and strange to
relate, they sparkled beneath the
snowy turban of Hindu
Coleman threw back his head and
laughed heartily. "A green-eyed Hin
du!" he chuckled. "Ye gods, what a
combination"
Lamson arose and paced the floor
ed he glanced furtively toward the
long windows concealed by velvet
draperies.
"Involuntarily. stopped and star
ed at the man." he continued; land
he returned my gaze, calmly, coolly,
insofently. and with such steadiness
and force in the depths Of his green
orbs that I felt myself drawn toward
him by their very power. In less time
than it takes to relate it I was seated
opposite to him at the small round
table with a glass OF absinthe before
cinated interest and he stared at me
in return. He was a fine looking
chap, tall, handsome, with clear dark
skin in which was set those spark
ling green eyes. such an anomaly in
a man of his race that felt the white
turban he wore must have been as
sumed as a disguise; with that excep-
ton his clothing was the conventional
European dress.
GAS I lifted the glass to my lips.
mech nical1y, he leaned forward and
said politely: You are the we'll
not, sir?' I admitted the fact and
made the usual remark about his
having the advantage. He spoke ex-
cellent English with slight accent
and his reply took me by surprise.
You are the possessor of the Hissar
emerald he asked, coolly, with the
air of one who had a right to know.
stared at him and made no reply.
After he had repeated the question
found breath to tell him that he
might seek that Information else
where
sWhat did he say to that?" asked
Coleman with interest.
Bowed politely and said that he
would take my advice?"
"And you didn't favor him with a
glance at the stone?" asked Coleman,
with a disappointed grimace.
"Hard1yi He left me then" cont1n-
ued Lamson, lowering his voice to al
most a whisper as he leaned toward
his friend, "and I never have passed
a moment since then that the fear OF
death did not hang over me. That
green-eyed devil has tracked me re-
lentlessly around the world. L know
of course that it is his intention TO
get possession Of the emerald-pos-
sibly it was once his-and I know
that some day he will wear me out
and" He threw out his hands
with hopeless gesture and sat down
In the chair and stared into the fire.
st shouldn't think he'd want 1t
now" remarked Coleman grfmly, |
with side glance at the duh green
stone in the case. 1T can't imagine
any one, especially clever chaps nke
those indians. bothering over worth !