Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-12
CHAPTER VII.


ruby the Greek had brought him, and
was going to weigh 1T, not merely as
a matter of business, for he weighed
every stone that passed through his
hands from crown diamonds to sparks,
but with genuine curiosity, because in
long experience he had not seen
very many rubies of such size, which
were also OF such fine quality, and he
wondered where this one had been
found.
Just then, however, two well-dressed
young men, entered the shop and |
came up to him. He had never seen
either of them before, but their looks |
inspired him with confidence; and
when they spoke, their tone was that
OF English gentlemen, which all 9th
or Englishmen fnd it practically i'm
possible to initiate. and which had
been extremely familiar to Mr.. Pin
ney from his youth. Though he was
the great jeweler himself, the wealthy
descendant of five Of his name In sue
cession, and much better OF than half
his customers, he was alone in his
shop that morning. The truth was
that his only son, the sixth Pinney
and the apple of his eye, had just
been married and was gone abroad
for q honeymoon trip, and the head
shopman, who was Scotch, was having
his months holiday at Ayrshire, and
the second man had been sent for, to
clean and restring the duchess OF Bar
chesters pearls at her grace's house
in Cadogan Gardens, as was always
done after the season, and couple OF
skilled workmen for whom Mr.. Pin.
ney found occupation all the year
round were in the workshop at their
tables; wherefore, out Of four re-
sponsible and worthy men who usual
~ were about, only the great Mr.. Pin.
ney himself was at his post.
One of the two well-dressed custom
ers asked to see some pins, and the
other gave his advice. The first
bought a pin with small sapphire set
in spark., for ten guineas and gave
only ten pounds for it because he
paid cash. Mr.. Pinney put the pin into
its little morocco. case. wrapped it up
neatly and handed it to the purchaser.
The latter and his friend said good
morning in civil and leisurely man
ner, sauneered out, took a hanson a
few steps farther down the street,
and drove away.
= The little paper twist containing 10
gotheti's ruby was still exactly where
Mr.. Pinney had placed it on the coun-
ter, and he was going to examine the
stone and weigh it at last. when two
more customers entered the shop, evi.
IDENTIFY foreigners. and moreover OF
sort unfamiliar to the good 5eweler,
and especially suspicious.
The two were Baraka and her inter.
prefer and servant, whom Logotheti
had called Turk. and who was real
ly Turkish subject and Mohamme.
dan, though as to race, he was half
bred Greek and Dalmatian. Now
Dalmatians are generally honest
truthful, and trustworthy, and the low
class Greek of Constantinople Is us
.ually extremely sharp, IL he is nothing
more definitely reprehensible; and
Baraka's man was q cross between
the two, as have said, and had beer
Turkish family, and recommended te
Baraka by the Persian merchant il
whose house she had lived. He haG
been originally baptized Christian
under the name Of spiro. and hat
been subsequently renamed Salin
when he was made real Moslem a
IL years old, SO he used whichever
name suited the circumstances IL
which he was placed. At present h
was Spiro.
The interpreter spoke broken bu
Ineligible English. He called Ba
raka his master and explained tina
Z. the latter wished to see some rubies, i
Mr.. Pinney had any. cut or uncut. Thu
young gentleman. he said. did no
speak English, but was good judg'
of stones.
For one moment the jeweler forgo
Z the little paper twist as he turne,
towards his safe, pulling out his key
at the same time. To reach the SAT
he had to walk the whole length o
before he had gone half way he re
membered the stone, turned, cam
back and slipped it-into his waistcoa
pocket. Then he went and got tn
little japanned strongbox with pa
emit lock, in which he kept loose stones
some wrapped up in little pieces Q
paper, and some in pill boxes. n
brought 1t to his customers. an
opened 1t before them.
They stayed long time. and spir
asked many questions for Barak,
chiefly relating to the sliding scale {
prices which is regulated by tn
weight of the stones where their qua
ity is equally good, and Baraka mad
notes of some sort in little Enl
lish memorandum hook. as If she ha
done 1t all her life: but Mr.. PINE
could not see what she wrote. He wa
careful, and watched the stones whe
she took them in her fingers and hel
them up against the light, or lai
them on sheet of white paper I
look at them critically.
She bought nothing. and when sh
had seen all he had to show her, sh
thanked him very much through Spir,
said she would come back anothe
day, and went out with a leisurel,
oriental gait, as If nothing in til
world could hurry her. Mr.. Pinne
counted the stones again, and was g
ing 10 lock the box. when his secon