Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-02-24

those TWO men were, and what became
of the one who disappeared"
1--WE strong impression that saw
him in New York the other day." Van
Torp answered. IF I'm right, he's
made money--doing quite well, I
should think. 1t wouldn't surprise me
to hear he'd got together a million or
So"
Really? What is he doing? Your
stories grow more and more inter.
esting"
IF he's the fellow we used to call
Levi Longlegs on the ranch, he's a
Russian now. I'm not perfectly sure,
for he had no hair on his face then,
and now he has beard like a 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, l suppose
| you'd call him. His name is Kralinsky
just at present, and he's found whole
| mine of rubies somewhere"
Really? 1 love ruhies. They are
my favorite stones"
Are they? That's funny. I've got
an uncut one in my pocket now, If
you'd like to see it. believe it comes
from Kralinsky's mine, too, though I
got it through friend of yours, two
or three days ago."
"a friend of mine?"
He was poking his large fingers
into one of the pockets of his waist.
coat in search of the stone.
"Mr. Logotheti," he said, just as he
found it. He's discovered a hand.
some young woman from Tartary, or
somewhere, who has a 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 it out
in the palm of his hand. She took it
delicately and laid it in her own,
which was so white that the gem
shed delicate pompegranate-colore
light on the skin all round it. She
admired it, turned it over with one
finger, held it up towards the window,
and laid it in her palm again.
But Van Torp had set her thinking
about Logotheti and the Tartar girl.
She put out her hand to give back
the ruby.
Il should like you to keep it, if
you WILL" he said. 81 shan't forget
the pleasure I've had in seeing you
like this, but you'll forget all about
our meeting here-the stone may Just
make you remember it sometimes"
He spoke so quietly, so gently, that
she was taken off her guard, and was
touched, and very much surprised to
feel that she was. She looked into
his eyes rather cautiously, remember
ing we'll how she had formerly seen
something terrifying in them if she
looked an instant too long; but now
they made her think of the eyes of q
large affectionate bulldog.
You're very kind to want to give
it to me-" she answered after a mo.
ment's hesitation, but 1 don't like to
accept anything so valuable, now that
I'm engaged to be married. Konstantin
might not like it. But you're so kind;
give me any little thing of no value
that you have in your pocket, for
mean to remember this day, indeed
dol"
5NNN AtNAALG III TIC Aublg Cdlu
Van Torp, still not taking it from her,
so it has no value for me. wouldn't
offer you anything that cost me
money, now, unless it was a theater
for your own. Perhaps the things
glass, after all; I've not shown it to
any jeweler. The girl made me take
it, because l helped her in a sort of
way. When wanted to pay for it she
tried to throw it out of the window. So
had to accept it to calm her down,
and she went of and left no address,
and thought I'd like you to have il,
if you would"
Are you quite, quite sure you did
not pay for it," Margaret asked. IF
we are going to be friends, you must
please always be very accurate"
I've told you exactly what hap
pened," said Van Torp. Won't you
take it now?"
Yes, 1 will, and thank you very
much indeed. love rubies, and this
is beauty, and not pTeposterously
big. think shall have it set as it is,
uncut, and only polished, so that it
will always be itself, just as you
gave it to me. l shall think of the
Good Friday music and the chimes.
and this hideous little room, and your
clever whistling, whenever l look
at It,"
You're kind to-day" said Mr.. Van
Torp, after a moments debate as to
whether he should say anything at
ALL
Am 1? You mean that used to be
very disagreeable, don't you?" She
smiled as she glanced at him. Il
must have been, I'm sure, for you
used to brighten me ever so much.
But I'm not in the least afraid of you
now!"
why should any one be afraid of
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