The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-11-25

challenged, tell me where it is?"
Into the goldsmiths eyes came
lightning flash of intelligence, such as
Flora remembered to have seen there
when Farrell Wand, leaning on the
dusty counter, had hidden him go and
bring something pretty. He seemed
to culver moment in indecision.
Then he whipped his hand out of his
sleeve and held it forth palm upward.
This time it was Chatworth who cried
out. The thing that lay on the gold.
smiths palm Flora had never seen,
though once it had been described to
her" bit of an old gold heather
god, curled around himself, with his
head of two yellow sapphires and a
big blue stone on top"
There it blazed at her, the jewel
she had carried in her bosom, that
she had hidden in her pouch of gold,
and that had vanished from it at the
touch of magic hand, now cunningly
restored to it's right place in the fore.
head of the Crew Idol, browning him
with living light.
Speeches. they looked together at
the magic thing. They had thought 1t
far at sea; and as if at a wave of
genii's wand it was here before them
flashing in the quiet garden.
With an effort Chatworth seemed to
keep himself from selling on ring
and man together. He looked search
ingly at the goldsmith and seemed on
the point of asking a question, but,
instead, he slowly held out his hand.
He held it out cup-fashion. 1t shook
so that Flora saw the Chinaman
steady it to drop in the ring. Then,
folding his check miraculously small,
enveloping it in the ragged piece Of
newspaper, the little man turned and
shuffied from them down the gravel
walk
Chatworth stood staring after him
with his idol in his palm. Then, turn.
ing slow eyes to Flora, "How did he
come by this?" he asked, as sternly as
If he demanded it of the mystery 1t.
self.
HE had it, from the very first"
The pieces of the puzzle were flashing
together in Flora's mind. THAT first
time Harry left the exhibit ae took
it there"
But the blue sapphire?" Chatworth
insisted.
Harry" Flora whispered, Harry
gave it up to him"
Gave it up to him!" Chatworth
echoed in scorn.
But she had had an inspiration of
understanding. HE had to-for
money to get off with. He gave Clara
all he had so that she would let him
get away. Poor thing" she added in
a lower breath, but Chatworth did not
hear her. He had taken the Idol in
his thumb and finger, and, holding 1t
up in the broadening light, looked
fixedly at it with the passionate in.
with which one might hold
and look at a friend thought dead.
She watched him with her Jealous
pang increasing to a greater feeling
a feeling of being separated from him
by this jewel which he loved, and
which had grown to seem hateful to
her, which had shown itself a breeder
Of all the greedy passions. She came
softly up to him, and, lifting her
hand, covered the Idol.
He turned toward her In wonder.
"Ah, you love it too much" she
That's unworthy of you," he re.
preached her. 81 have loved you
more; and that in spite of what I
believed of you, and what this means
10 me. To me, this ring is not
pretty thing seen yesterday. 1t is
The symbol of my family. 1t is the
power and pride Of us, which our
have worn on their hands as
hey have worn our honor in their
hearts. 1t is part of the life of my
people; and now it has made itself
part of our life, of yours and mine.
Shall 1 ever forget how starkly you
leld it for the sake of my honor,
sven against myself? Should l ever
nave known you without it?" He
,ut the ring into her hand, and, smil.
ng with his old dare, held it over the
ountain. Now, If you want to, drop
in" He released her hand and
urned to leave her to her will.
For a moment she stood with power
n her hands and her eyes on hi
lverted head. Then with a little
ush she crossed the space between
hem. Here, take it! You love It!
want you to. keep it! but can't for.
ret the dreadful things it has made
,eople do. It makes me afraid"
In spite of his smiling he seemed to
Ter very grave. you dear, silly
hid! The whole storm and trouble
f life comes from things being in
he wrong place. This has been in
he wrong place and made mischief"
Like me-" she murmured.
Like you" he agreed. Now we
hall be as we should be. Give me
our hand"
He drew off all the rings with
yhich she had once tried to dim the
parkle of the sapphire, and, drop
ing them into his pocket like so
luch dross, slipped on the Idol that