Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-03


and produced the stone, still in its paper.
Logothet undld the paper took out the big uncut
ruby. laid it in the palm of his hand, and looked at
critically. turning it with finger from
time to time. He took 1t to the door of the shop.
where the evening light was stronger, and examined
it with the greatest care. Still he did not seem
satisfied.
Let me have your lens Mr.. Pinney.' he said,
and some electric light and small sheet of white
paper nnsv turned 49, ,rona dron ,;ah which stood
the counter and produced the paper and a
magnifer: Its grand ruby he said
II see it is, Logotheti answered rather CURLY.
DO you mean to say. asked the surprised
jeweer that you had bought it without thoroughly
examining it., sr.-you who are an expert
No, that's not what [ mean. answered the
Greek. bending over the ruby and scrutnlzing it
through the strong magnIfer.
A minute passed and Logotheti did not look up;
another, and PlnneV grew nervous. a few seconds
more, and he received shock that took away his
breath
This is not my ruby said Logotheti looking
up, and speaking with perfect confidence.
Not your ruby Pnneys jaw dropped
But" He could get no further.
I'm sorry. Logothetl said calmly. m very
sorry for several reasons. But it's the stone l
brought you. though its just as large. and most
extraordinarily like it
But how do you know, SIR: gasped the jeweler
Because I'm expert. you were good enough
Yes, sir But am an expert too, and to the
best of my expert belief that is the stone you left
with me be cut. the day before yesterday. I've
examined it most thoroughly
NO doubt, answered the Oreek Dut you
hadn't examined mine thoroughly before it was
stolen, had you? You had only looked at it with
me. the counter here.
That correct. sir. SAID Plnney nerVously
" That is quite true.
Very we'll But did more than merely look at
it through lens weigh it. did not care SO much
about the weight; but l cared very much for the
water, and tried the ruby point on it in the usual
way; but it too hard. and then scratched it in
two places with the diamond. more out of curiosity
than for any other reason.
You scratched 1t. SIT. There not single scratch
on this one! Mercfu Providence. Merciful Provi-
dence!"
Yes" Logotheti said gravely. The girl spoke
the truth She had two stones much larger than the
and another. They were almost exactly alike, and
she wanted to buy both; but l did not want
them, and took the one thought little better
in color. This is the other. for she still had
and far as l know it is her legal property. and
mine is gone. The thief was one of those two young
fellows who came in just when Mr. Van Iorp and
went out. l remember thinking what nice looking
boys they were
HE laughed rather harsh1y. for he more
~ moved than his consideration for PInney made
him care to show. He had looked forward to giving
Margaret the ruby. mounted just as she wished it
and the ruby gone. and he did not know where he
to find another. except the one that was IN
Pinney's hands, but really belonged to poor Baraka,
who could certainly not sell it at present. A much
larger sum of money was gone. too, than any tnan-
cier could lose with equanimity by such peculiarly
disagreeable mishap being robbed. There were
several reasons why Logotheti was not pleased:
So far as the money went, he not about
the law in such case. and he did not know whether
he could claim it of Pinney. who had really been
guilty of gross carelessness after lifetime of scrupu
lous caution. Pnney was certainly very well off,
and would not suffer nearly so much by the loss OF
few thousand pounds from the shame of having
been robbed in such impudent fashion of gem
that even his, but had been ntrusted to his
keeping. >,