The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-07-28
CHAPTER VII.

When Van Torp and Logotheti left
Mr.. Pinney's shop, the old jeweler
meant to have a good look at the
ruby the Greek had brought him, and
was going to weigh II, not merely as
a matter of business, for he weighed
every stone that passed through hts
hands from crown diamonds to sparks,
but with genuine curiosity. because in
a long experience he had not seen
very many rubies of such a size, which
were also of such fine quality, and he
wondered where this one had been
found.
Just then. however. two vell-dressed
young men entered the shop and
came up to him. He hat never seen
either OF them before. but their looks
inspired him with confidence; and
when they spoke, their tone was that
of English gentlemen. which all 9TH
er Englishmen find it practically I'm
possible to initiate. and which had
been extremely familiar to Mr.. Pin
ney from his youth. Though he was
the great jeweler himself, the wealthy
descendant Of five of his name in sue
cession. and much better of than half
his customers, he was alone In his
shop that morning. The truth was
that his only son, the sixth Pinney
and the apple OF his eye, had just
been married and was gone abroad
for a honeymoon trip. and the head
shopman. who was Scotch. was having
his months holiday at Ayrshire. and
the second man had been sent for. 10
clean and restring the duchess OF Bar.
chesters pearls at her grace's house
In Cadogan Gardens, as was always
done after the season. and a couple of
skilled workmen for whom Mr.. Pin
ney found occupation all the year
round were in the workshop at their
tables; wherefore, out OF four re-
sponsible and worthy men who. usual
ly were about, only the great Mr.. Pin
ney himself was at his post.
| One OF the two well-dressed custom
ers asked to see some pins. and the
other gave his advice. The first
bought a pin with a small sapphire set
in sparks, for ten guineas. and gave
only ten pounds for II because he
paid cash. Mr.. Pinney put the pin into
Its little morocco case. wrapped II up
neatly and handed II to the purchaser.
The latter and his friend said good
morning In a civil and leisurely man
ner, sauntered out, took a hanson a
few steps farther down the street,
and drove away.
The little paper twist containing Lo-
gotheti's ruby was still exactly where
Mr.. Pinney had placed II on the coun-
ter, and he was going to examine the
stone and weigh II at last, when two
more customers entered the shop, evil
IDENTIFY foreigners. and moreover OF a
sort unfamiliar 20 the good jeweler,
and especially suspicious.
The two were Baraka ars her inter
prefer and servant. whom Logotheti
had called Turk. and who was real
ly Turkish subject and Mohamme-
dan. though as to race. he was a half
bred Greek and Dalmatian. Now
Dalmatians are generally honest,
truthful. and trustworthy. and the low
class Greek OF Constantinople is us.
ually extremely sharp, IL he is nothing
|
Baraka's man was a cross between
the two. as l have said. and had been
brought up as Musulman in a rich
| Turkish family, and recommended to
Baraka by the Persian merchant In
whose house she had lived. He had
been originally baptized a Christian
under the name of Spiro. and had
been subsequently renamed Salim
when he was made a real Moslem at
IL years old, SO he used whichever
name suited the circumstances In
which he was placed. At present he
was Spiro.
The interpreter spoke broken but
Ineligible English. He called Ba-
raka his master and explained that
the latter wished to see some rubies, IL
Mr. Pinney had any, cut or uncut. The
young gentleman. he said, did not
speak English, but was a good Judge
of stones.
For one moment the jeweler forgot
the little paper twist as he turned
towards his safe, pulling out HIS keys
at the same time. To reach the safe
he had TO walk the whole length of
the shop. behind the counter, and
before he had gone half way he re-
membered the stone, turned. came
back and slipped It into bis waistcoat
pocket. Then he went and got the
little japanned stronghold with a pat
ent lock. In which he kept loose stones,
some wrapped up in little pieces of
paper, and some In pill boxes. He
brought it to his custoL.srs, and
opened II before them.
They stayed long time. and Spiro
asked many questions for Baraka,
chiefly relating to the sliding scale of
prices which is regulated by the
weight Of the stones where their quar-
ity u equally good. and Baraka made