The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-06-30
IT DINA'S RIBY

She smiled. too, because his tone
vas kind, and, standing up. she took
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
a large stone and held Il up to the
light, turning It 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-
ton.
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 II
in his right hand and closed his fin
gers upon it. 1t was a thank-offering.
"Nonsense!" objected the million
fare. smiling. but holding out the stone
to her. Its very sweet of you, but
you don't mean it, and / 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
back and shook her head. to show that
she would not take it 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 II back
into your pocket"
She turned and met him, and made
gesture of protest and entreaty, as
If earnestly begging him to keep the
gem. He looked at her keenly, and
he was a Judge of humanity, and saw
that she was hurt by his refusal. AS
last resource. he took out his peck
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 fingered
II I'll take It for nothing"
Barak's eyes suddenly flashed in a
most surprising way, her lower lip
pouted. and her cheek family changed
color. as a drop of scarlet pomegranate
Juice will tinge a 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 IL 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 &C
tons 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 a 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
| stinctiyely towards the door, as IL 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 1t 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 rot know what
the gesture meant.
Barak's face changed Instantly; she
smiled, nodded, and waved her hand
and that she was quite satisfied. Then
she made a sort of salute that ne
thought very graceful indeed, as IL she
were taking something from near the
floor 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.
We'll" ne said to himself. and his
lips formed the words. though no
sound articulated them. that's a 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 II 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 1t was
more than probable that he was never
to see Barak again, and IL he ever did,
1t was at least likely that she would
refuse to take back her gift, and as
theoretically as on the first occasion.
At that moment IL occurred to him
that he might sell 1t to a 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 a lelsureiy pace
from his hotel by the river to Piccadil-
ly and Bond street, and entered a Jew
eler's shop of modest appearance but