The state herald., 1910-01-21
ST IE1DINA'S RIJBY8M

ne WiSheu 10 see tue ruby. MT. fln-
ney turned the discs again to their
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 its
paper, for 1t 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 1t in the palm
| of his hand, and looked at 1t critically,
turning 1t 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 it 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 sheet of white paper"
Mr.. Pinney turned up strong drop
hght that stood on the counter. and
produced the paper and magniiler.
ITS grand ruby" he said
Il see 1t is" Logotheti answered
rather CURLY.
DO you mean to say" asked the
surprised jeweler that you had
bought 1t without thoroughly examin-
Ing 1t sir-you who are an expert?"
4
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. A minute passed. and
Logotheu 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
theti, looking up, and speaking with
perfect confidence.
"Not-your-ruby," Mr.. Pinneys
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 brought you,
though it's just as large. and most ex.
traordinarily 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 1t most thoroughly"
No doubt" answered the Greek.
But you hadn't examined mine thor
oughly before II was stolen. had you :
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 did more than
merely look at It through n lens or
weigh II. did not care so much
about the weight. but | cared very
much Tor the water. and ! tried the
ruby point on IL In the usual way, but
II was too hard. and then I scratched
II In two places with the diamond,
more out of curiosity than for any
other reason"
You marked II. sir. There's not a
single scratch on this one. Merciful
Providence! Merciful Providence!'
Yes" Logotheti 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
ana another. They were almost ex.
actly alike. and she wanted me to
buy both. but | did not want them,
and took the one thought little
better In color. This Is the other. for
she stu had IL: and so far as | know,
II In her legal property. and mine IL
gone. The thief was one OF those
two young fellows who came in Just
when Mr.. Van Torp and went out.
remember thinking what nice.locking
boys they wcre'"
He laughed rather hnrshly, for he
was more annoyed tAan his considera.
ton for Mr.. Pinney made him care to
show. He had looked forward TO CIV.
Ing Margaret the ruby. mounted lust
m she wanted II: and the ruby was
gone. and he did not know where he
was to md another. except the one
that was now In Pinncy's hands. but
really belonged to poor naraka, who
could certainly not sell II at present.
much larger sum OF money was
| gone too thnn nnv npan,i.r .a,,Id