The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-12-24

! those two men were, and what became
Of the one who disappeared"
I've q strong impression that l, saw
him in New York the other day." Van
Torp answered. III I'm right, he's
made money-doing quite well,
should think. It wouldn't surprise me
to hear he'd got together a million or
So"
Really? What Il he doing? Yom
stories grow more and more inter.
esting."
IF he's the fellow we used to call
Levi Longlegs on the ranch, he's q
Russian now. I'm not perfectly sure,
for he had no hair on his face then,
and now he has beard like French
sapper. But the eyes and the nose
and the voice and the accent are the
same, and the age would about cor
respond. Handsome man, / suppose
you'd call him. His name is Kralinsky
just at present, and he's found whole
mine of rubies somewhere"
Really? / love rubies. They are
my favorite stones"
Are they? That's funny. I've got
! Ill uUCul Ouc III my poSnSl hoWt -
you'd like to see 1t. / believe 1t comes
from Kralinsky's mine. too, though I
} got 1t through friend Of yours, two
J or three days ago."
"A friend of miner"
He was poking his large fingers
into one of the pockets of his waist.
coat in search of the stone.
:. emf 10 ccfJ i,,ct hn
found 1t. Hes discovered q hand
some young woman from Tartary, or
somewhere, who has few rubies to
sell that look very much like kra.
linsky's. This is one of them"
He had unwrapped the stone now
and he offered it to her. holding 1t out
in the palm of his hand. She took II
!: delicately and laid it in her own,
! which was so white that the gem
| shed a delicate pompegranate-colore
!. light on the skin all round it. She
admired II, turned 1t over with one
:. finger. held it up towards the window,
and laid it in her palm again.
But Van Torp had set her thinking
l. about Logotheti and the Tartar girl
She put out her hand to give baci
the ruby.
Il should like you to keep it, 1
" you WILL" he said. Il shant forge
the pleasure I've had in seeing 70,
- like this, but you'll forget all abou
. our meeting here-the stone may jus
III make you remember 1t sometimes"
| He spoke so quietly, so gently. tina
she was taken off her guard, and wa
touched, and very much surprised I
feel that she was. She looked int
his eyes rather cautiously, remember
ing well how she had formerly see
something terrifying in them II sh
looked an instant too long: but MOI
they made her think of the eyes of
large affectionate bulldog.
You're very kind to want to Civ
1t to me-" she answered after m,
ments hesitation, but | don't like
accept anything so valuable, now tn,
I'm engaged to be married. konstanci
might not like it. But you're SO kind
give me any little thing of no yalr
that you have in your pocket, for
mean to remember this day, indee
do"
Il gave nothing for the ruby" sa
Van Torp, still not taking 1t from he
so 1t has no value for me. wouldr
offer you anything that cost n
money. now, unless 1t was a theat
for your own. Perhaps the thing
glass, after ALL I've not shown Ii
u any jeweler. The girl made me tai
II. because | helped her in sort
n way When l wanted to pay for 1t 81
i tried to throw it out of the window.
i had to accept 1t to calm her dow
and she went of and left no addres
and thought I'd like you to have
If you would"
Are you quite. quite sure you d
not pay for it?" Margaret asked.
we are going to be friends. you mu
please always be very accurate"
I've told you exactly what ha
pened." said Van Torp. Wont y
take ii now?"
i Yes. l will, and thank you We
much indeed. love rubies, and Il
is a beauty, and not preposterous
big. think shall have it set as it
81 uncut, and only polished, SO that
will Giways be itself. just as y
gave it to me. shall think of t
Good Friday music and the chim
and this hideous little room. and va
clever whistling. whenever l 10
at it,"
You're kind today" said Mr.. v
Torp, after a moments debate as
whether he should say anything
all.
AMI. You mean that used to
very disagreeable. don't your"
ma. smiled as she glanced at him.
the must have been, I'm sure. for J
oy used to brighten me ever SO mu
10 ! But I'm not in the least afraid Of J
sold =,