The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-09-25


his head now, bowed with all the
grace he could affect, which was little,
and by say of making her feel that
he ACCEPTED the gift, he pressed it to
his heart, as she had done, and to his
lips, but not to his forehead, because
he was afraid that might cause some
new mistake, as he did not know what
the gesture meant.
Barak's face changed instantly; she
smiled, nodded, and waved her hand
to him, to say that it was all right,
and that she was quite satisfied. Then
, she made sort of salute that he
! thought very graceful indeed, as if she
were taking something from near the
hoor and laying it on her forehead,
and she laughed softly and was out of
the room and had shut the door before
he could call her back again.
He stood still in the middle of the
room, looking at the gem in his hand
with an expression of grave doubt.
well" he said to himself, and his
lips formed the words, though no
sound articulated them, that's queer
sort of a mornings work, anyway"
He reflected that the very last thing
he had ever expected was a present
OF fine ruby from a pretty heather
girl IN mans clothes, recommended to
him by Logotheti. Though he almost
laughed at the thought when 1t oc.
CURED to him, he did not like the idea
OF keeping the stone; yet he did not
know what to do with 1t, for it was
more than probable that he was never
! to see Barak again, and if he ever did,
it was at least likely that she would
refuse to take back her gift, and as
theoretically as on the first occasion
At that moment it occurred to him
that he might sell 1t to dealer and
give the proceeds to Lady Maud for
her good work. and taking his hat and
gloves he went out Immediately, with.
out even telling Stemp that he was
going.
He walked up at leisurely pace
from his hotel by the river to Piccadil-
ly and Bond street, and entered jew.
eler's shop of modest appearance but
ancient reputation. which had been in
the same place for nearly century,
and had previously been on the other
side of the street. -.-.. r.
, Outside, two well:dressed men were
looking at the things in the window;
within, a broad-shouldered, smart
looking man with black hair and
dressed in perfectly new blue serge
was sitting by the counter with his
back to the door, talking with the old
Jeweler himself. He turned on the
chair when he heard the newcomers
step, and Mr.. Van Torp found himself
face to face with Konstantin Logo.
theft, whom he had supposed to be in
Paris.
We'll" he said, without betrayipg
the surprise he felt, this Is what
! call very pleasant accident, Mr.. Lo-
| gotheti"
The Greek rose and shook hands,
and the American did not fail to OBJ.
serve on the counter small piece of
tissue paper on which lay an uncut
stone, much larger than the one he
had in his pocket.
IF you are in any hurry" said Lo-
| gotheti politely, Il don't mind waiting
in the least. Mr.. Pinney and 1 are
In the midst of discussion that may
never end, and believe neither of us
has anything in the world to do"
Mr. Pinney smiled benignly and put
In word in the mercantile plural,
which differs from that of royalty in
being used every dav.
The truth is, we are not very busy
just at this time of the year." he
said
That's very kind of you, Mr.. Logo
theft" said Van Torp, answering the
latter, "but I'm not really in a hurry,
thank you"
The stress he laid ON the word real
ly" might have led one to the conclu.
sion that he was pretending to be, but
was not He sat down deliberately at
a little distance, took off his hat, and
looked at the gem on the counter.
II don't know anything about such
things, of course" he said in tone of
reflection, "but I should think that
was quite nice ruby"
| ASdIu MT. flnney SmlleQ OenlRnly,
for Mr.. Van Torp had dealt with him
for years.
ITS a very fine stone, indeed, SIR"
he said, and then turned to Logo
theft again. Il think we can under
take to cut it for you in London" he
said. Il will weigh it and give you
careful estimate"
AS matter of fact before Van Torp
entered, Logotheti had got 80 far as
the question of setting the gem for
lady's ring, but Mr.. Pinney, like all
the great jewelers., was Is discreet
and tactful as a professional diplo-
matist. How could he be sure that
one customer might like another to
know about ring ordered for lady?
If Logotheti preferred secrecy, he
! would only have to assent and 70
away, as if leaving the ruby to be cut,
and he could look in again when it
was convenient; and this was what
he at once decided to do.
II think you're right. Mr. Pinnov"