The Cairo bulletin., 1910-05-24
NATHANSON'S WE'D
DING GIFT.
BY Harold Carter.


south Africa, was down and out. Wit
indictments pending covering the sal
and purchase Of valuable stones, h
had skipped bail and the country
much to the relief OF the authorities
the chagrin of the diamond compa
MES. and the delight of the many VIII,
admired the old mans ingenuity an,
| pluck
Had the mining companies been act
| uated by a spirit of forebearance
Nathanson's wedding gift to his son
in-law, the miserable little trader Ep
stein, would never have convulsed
Kimberley with laughter. Williamson
had indeed, offered to return the IA.
nous Sing-mason diamond, weighing
l9Ih carats. uncut, ii they would
abandon prosecution. But the compa-
MES refused straightway. Some day
the stone would come back to them.
for 1t could never be sold, nor could IT
be sent to Holland for cutting. and
was as useless to Williamson as a
white elephant in his waistcoat peck.
ct might be.
Williamson skipped Kimberley VOW
ing that the companies should pay for
the Singmason stone twice over. He
had hardly been gone day before the
manager Of the United, poor Scotch.
man named McDougal, came riding up
to Epstein's shanty upon the verge
OF the company's property outside OF
the town.
Epstein. you've got notice to quit"
he cried harshly Clear out OF here
by the end of the week, or I'll pull
the place down over your ears" Thus
did the Unified take revenge upon the
absent Williamson in the person OF his
family Epstein was turned off the
ground and lost the native trade. He
regretted his hut of waffle frame
work beyond the drift, just beyond the
company's land, smearing it with mud
made from the mine refuse heaps.
Epstein was a slow-witted fellow, not
dangerous In his anger, and McDou-
gal came up presently to see his new
abode. contemptuously tolerant.
$50 you reckon to do a trade here,
eh?" he snarled. Mark you, Epstein,
not one company Kaffir enters your
store"
Epstein shrugged his shoulders in
concilatory way.
Not one, tell you" McDougal
went on in bullying tones. Where
lid you get this mud ON your walls?"
he added
From the mine waste" said Ep-
stein. 1.-THE waste which | bought
rom you last year for paving"
Suddenly McDougal's heart leaped
n his breast, Set into the very lamb
If the new door, yet In such fashion
hat 1t would have escaped the notice
n any but an expert, was magni-
icent diamond. How 1t came there |
vas clear. The mud had hardened |
bout 1t, and Epstein would not have |
1t there for days for any pur.
'ose OF trickery. 1t must Lave been
by the sorters and dumped |
nto the refuse from which Epstein
ad plastered his building
McDougal mounted his horse and
ode away feyerishly. Within three
ours the general manager had ridden
p to the shanty.
Epstein" he began. scarcely able to
mccall the trembling of his voice,
he company thinks Is hasn't done
@ sqaure thing by you In putting YOU
Il its ground. X was done in the
lat OF the moment, but II you like to
me back you can have the best site
r trade in the Kaffir location And
as you shan't lose a penny I'll give
u twenty pounds for this store"
Epstein looked at him cunningly.
"Ha, you can't trap me-, he laughed.
'ou want my location to prospect for
amends. Williamson, he gave me
As place for wedding present and
Id not to sell for less than two thou
nd. Tomorrow, maybe 1t cost more.
The manager fumed. Two thousand .
IS a stiff price, still he knew from
9 experience Of Is years that the
m was genuine. 1t must be worth
arer ten. In any event he would
the better OF Epstein.
Bring q pen and ink and I'll give a
,eipt" he demanded. In few mo-
'nts the ownership OF the place had
anged hands. A minute later the
anager pried out the great stone and
ID II In his hands triumphantly.
His estimate had been a good one,
once he had got the better OF
'thanson's brood Epsteins jaw
laughing like child the manager
'ried bis prize to the sorting table.
Dougal Joined him there. looked at
jem, and scratched his head In
'plexity.
You don't mean she's not genu.
?" said McDOuRal. "Bllt.--well let's VI