The state herald., 1909-12-03
@~lIT Il DINAS RLJBY

was hiuu, anu, stdluiuB up, Sne lOOh
out her little leathern bag again quick
ly. emptied the twists of paper into
her hand, selected one by touch, and
slipped the rest back. She unwrapped
large stone and held 1t up to the
light, turning 1t little as she did so.
Van Torp watched her with curiosity,
and with an amused suspicion that
she had perhaps played the whole
scene in order to mollify him and in
duce him to buy something. So many
people had played much more elabo-
rate tricks in the hope of getting
money from him, and the stones might
be limitations after all, in spite of Lo-
gotheti's penciled line of recommenda.
tion.
But Barak's next action took Van
Torp by surprise. To his amazement,
she pressed the ruby lightly to her
heart, then to her lips. and last of all
to her forehead, and before he knew
what she was doing she had placed 1t
in his right hand and closed his fin.
gers upon it. 1t was a thank-offering.
"Nonsense!" objected the million
iare. smiling. but holding out the stone
to her. ITS very sweet of you, but
you don't mean 1t, and l don't take
presents like that. Why. it's worth a
thousand pounds in Bond street any
day!'
But she put her hands behind her
she would not take 1t back. Then with
her empty hand she again touched her
heart, her lips and forhead, and
turned towards the door.
Here. stop" said Mr.. Van Torp,
going after her. Il can't take this
thing! See here. say! Put 1t back
into your poclst!"
She turned and met him, and made
gesture OF protest and entreaty. as
II earnestly begging him to keep the
gem. He looked at her keenly. and
he was Judge of humanity, and saw
that she was hurt by his refusal As
last resource. he took out his pock-
et-book and showed her a quantity OF
| folded bank notes.
WELL" he said, Since you insist,
Miss Barrack. I'll buy the stone OF
you. but I'll be everlastingly jiggered
II I'll take 1t for nothing"
Barak's eyes suddenly flashed N a
most surprising way, her lower lip
pouted, and her cheek family changed
color. as drop of scarlet pomegrtSate
Juice will tinge bowl of cream.
She made one step forwards. plucked
the stone from his fingers, rather than
took IL. and with a quick. but girlish.
ly awkward movement, threw 1t to-
wards the window as hard as she
could, stamping angrily with her little
foot at the same moment Mr.. Van
Torp was extremely disconnected. as
he sometimes was by the sudden ac.
tions OF the sex he did not under.
stand. Fortunately the stone hit the
wall instead OF going out of the win
dow.
I'm really sorry. Miss Barrack," he
said In tone OF humble apology. and
he went quickly and picked up the
gem. Il hadn't quite understood. you
see"
She watched him. and drew back in.
stinctively towards the door, as II ex.
pecting that he would again try to
| give IL back to her. But he shook
his head now. bowed with all the
grace he could affect. which was little.
and by way of making her feel that
he accepted the gift. he pressed II 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. MS he did not know what
the gesture meant.
Baraks face changed Instantly; she
smiled, nodded. and waved her hand
to him, TO say that II was all right,
and that she was quite satisfied. Then
she made n sort OF salute that he
thought very graceful indeed. ms II she
were taking something from near the
floor and laying II 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 nj 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 n queer
sort OF n mornings work. anyway"
He reflected that the very last thing
he had ever expected was n present
OF ilno ruby from pretty heather
girl In mans clothes. rccommond TO
him by Logothctl. Though he almost
laughed at the thought when II oc.
CURED TO him, he did not like the Idea
OF keeping tho stone: yet he did not
know what TO do with II. for II was
more than probable that he was never
to see Barak again. and II he ever did.
II was nt least likely that she would
refuse TO take back her gift. and ms
energetically aH on the first occasion.
AZ that moment II occurred to him
that he might sell II 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 stcmp that he wns