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

those two men were. and what became
OF the one who disappeared"
i've a strong impression that saw
him in New York the other day" Van
Torn answered. III I'm right. he's
made money-doing quite well.
should think. II wouldn't surprise me
to hear he'd got together million or
So"
Really? What is he doing7 Your
stories grow more and more inter-
esting."
of 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 a beard like 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. suppose
you'd call him. His name is Kralinsky
just at present, and he's found a whole
mine of rubies somewhere"
Really? l love rubies. They are
my favorite stones"
Are they? That's funny rye got
an uncut one in my pocket now, IL
you'd like TO see H. / believe II comes
from Kralinsky's mine, too. though I
got II through a friend OF yours, two
or three days ago"
"A friend OF mineg'
lie 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. Hes discovered a hand
some young woman from Tartary. or
somewhere. who has a few rubb,s 20
sell that look very much like Kra'
linsky's. This is one OF them"
He had unwrapped the stone now
and he offered II TO her. holding II out
in the palm OF his hand She took II
delicately and laid II In her own.
which was so white that the gem
shed a delicate pompegranate-colored
light on the skin all round H. She
admired II. turned Il over with one
finger. held II up towards the window.
and laid II 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.
4 should like you to keep II. IL
you WILL" he said. Il shant forget
the pleasure I've had In seeing you
like this. but you'll forget all about
our meeting hero-the stone may Just
make you remember II sometimes"
He spoke so quietly, so gently. that
she was taken on her guard. and was
touched. and very much surprised TO
| feel that she was. She looked into
his eyes rather cautiously, remember.
ing well how she had formerly seen
something terrifying in them II she
looked an instant too long: but now
they made her think OF the eyes OF
large affectionate bulldog. n
You're very kind to want to give
II to me-" she answered after a mo-
ments hesitation. but ! don't like to
accept anything so valuable. now that
I'm engaged TO be married. Konstantln
might not like Il. But you're so kind:
give me any little thing OF no valus
that you have in your pocket, for Z
mean TO remember this day, indeed
do"
Il gave nothing for the ruby" said
Van Torp, still not taking Il from her.
so II has no value for me. wouldn't
offer you anything that cost mo
money, now. unless IL was theater
for your own. Perhaps the things
glass, after all: I've not shown IL To
any jeweler. The girl made me take
II, because ! helped her In a sort OF
way. When wanted TO pay for Il she
tried to throw II out of the window. So
| had to accept IL TO calm her down.
and she went OF and left no address.
and | thought I'D like you to have IL,
II you would
Are you quite. quite sure you did
not pay for it?" Margaret asked. IT
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 II nowr'
Eyes, | will, and thank you very
.N@NNh aLNNNAs AbNN AubAfHs anu lnlN
is a beauty, and not preposterously
big. | think | shall have Il set as Il Is.
uncut, and only polished. so that II
will always be itself, just as you
gave It to me. 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 today" said Mr.. Van
Torp, after a moments debate as to
whether he should say anything at
all.
Am /? You mean that used to be
very disagreeable. don't your" She
smiled as she glanced ut him. II
must have been, I'm sure, for you
used to brighten me ever so much.
But I'm not in the least afiaid of you
nowl"
why should any one be afraid of
me?" asked Van Torp. whose smile
had been known to terrify Wall street
when drop" was expected.
Margaret laughed little. without
looking at him.
Tell me all about the Tartar strl -