Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-23

places stuck the little Key INTO the
secret keyhole which then revealed
itself, turned it three times to the left
and five times to the right, and opened
the heavy iron door. The safe was an
old fashioned one that had belonged
to his father before him. He got out
the japanned tin box, opened that,
and produced the stone, still in it's
paper, for it was too thick to be put
into one Of Mr.. Pinney's favorite pill
boxes.
Logotheti undid the paper, took out
the big uncut ruby, laid it in the palm
of his hand, and looked at 1t critically,
turning it over with one finger from
time to time He took 1t to the door
of the shop, where the evening light
was stronger, and examined 1t with
the greatest care. Still he did not
seem satisfied.
Let me have your lens, Mr.. Pin
ney," he said. "and some electric light
and a sheet Of white paper"
Mr.. Pinney turned up a strong drop
hight that stood on the counter. and
produced the paper and q magniher.
It's a grand ruby" he said.
'T see it is," Logotheti answered
rather CURLY.
do you mean TO say" asked the
surprised jeweler. that you had
bought It without thoroughly examin-
ing 1t sir-you who are an expert?'
mo, that's not what I mean" an
swered the Greek, bending over the
ruby and scrutinizing It. through the
strong magnifier.
Mr.. Pinney felt himself snubbed,
which had not happened to him for a
long time, and he drew himself up
with dignity minute passed, and
Logotheti did not look up; another
and Mr. Pinney grew nervous; few
seconds more, and he received shock
that took away his breath.
This is not my ruby" said Logo
theft, looking up, and speaking with
perfect confidence.
"Not-your-ruby!" Mr.. Pinney'a
Jaw dropped. But" He could get
no further
I'm sorry," Logotheti said calmly.
I'm very sorry, for several reasons.
But it's not the stone 1 brought you,
though it's just as large, and most ex-
trasrdinarily like it."
But how do you know. sir?' gasped
the jeweler.
Because I'm an expert. as you
were good enough to say just now"
Yes, sir. But / am an expert, too,
and to the best of my expert belief
this is the stone you left with me to
be cut the day before yesterday. I've
examined it most thoroughly"
mo doubt" answered the Greek.
But you hadn't examined mine thor
lu toll hod
You had only looked at 1t with me, on
the counter here"
That is correct, SIR" said Mr.. Pin
ney nervously. That is quite true"
Very well. But I did more than
merely look at it through lens or
weigh It. 1 did not care so much
about the weight, but I cared very
much for the water, and 1 tried the
ruby point on 1t in the usual way, but
It was too hard, and then scratched
It In two places with the diamond,
more out of curiosity than for any
other reason"
You marked It, sir? There's not
single scratch ON this one! Merciful
Providence! Merciful Providence,"
Yes" Logothe1 said gravely. The
girl spoke the truth. She had two
stones much larger than the rest when
she first came to me in Paris, this one
and another. They were almost ex-
actly alike, and she wanted me to
buy both, but l did not want them,
and I took the one I thought a little
better in color This is the other, for
she still had It; and, so far as know,
it is her legal property, and mine is
gone. The thief was one of those
two young fellows who came In Just
when Mr.. Van Torp and l went out.
remember thinking what nice-looking
boys they were!"
He laughed rather harshly, for he
was more annoyed than his considera-
ton for Mr.. Pinney made him care to
show. He had looked forward to CIV
ing Margaret the ruby, mounted just
as she wanted 1t; and the ruby was
gone, and he did not know where he
was to find another, except the one
that was now in Pinney's hands, but
really belonged to poor Baraka. who
could certainly not sell II at present.
A much larger sum of money was
gone, too, than any f1nancier could
lose with equanimity by such a pc
culiarly disagreeable mishap as be-
luR TODDeu. IucEo were ScV0Tdl T6d-
sons why Logotheu was not pleased.
'T am deeply Inundated" said the
worthy old jeweler. 81 have not only
been tricked and plundered, but
have been the means of sending limo
cent people to prison"
You had better be the means of
getting them out again as soon as pos
sible," said Logotheti. And you
must also make an effort to trace
those young men who stole the ruby"
81 most certainly SHALL" replied the
jeweler, "and If it is not found we
will make It good to you. sir. what
ever price you set upon It. 1 am
deeply Inundated. but nobody shall
say that Pinney & Son do not make
good any loss their customers sustain
through them"
Don't worry. about that, Mr.. Pin
new" said IaoRothett who aaw how