The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-10
THE FATAL RUBY

young girls sweet voice; but he was
thinking of the monster ruby; he
was quivering with curiosity. with
impatience, to hear the rest OF Mr.
LeXhams story.
When she had finished he thank
ed her in a low voice, full of re-
spectful admiration and gratitude;
but it was Mr.. LeXham who asked
her to sing again. She complied az
once: for Evelyn was one of those
girls to whom it is a pleasure to
give pleasure, and who was devoid
of the vanity which assumes re-
luctance to display gift
You shall nave your favorte
now" she said, nodding smilingly
over her shoulder at the old gen
tleman.
He clapped his hands when she
had got through with the song: and
Reece, with a gesture of imploration,
placed another piece of music on
the stand She gave a glance at il.
murmured, Yes, | think | reEem-
Der it" and had commenced t1 pay
the prelude. when footman ap-
preached with d note on a sllv,
She took the note, with a little air
of surprise, looked at It, then. sud
denly turning pale, rose from the
music stool, and. standing Tor . no
ment, as if lost n ,hough,. sad,
with a forced ConEosrra:
81 think / am .i;ed, ! v1rl ga to
bed, if you don't mind by lea"irg
You. Steele"-Stee,e vas the bYter
will get you anything you wan:. |
Goodnight, Mr.. Lexham! Goodnight.
you will not forget our drive tomor-
row." she added to Dexter Reece.
He merely bowed, and went to the !
door with her to open it. AS he did |
so, he glanced at her hands; the |
note had disappeared. 1t was a quick !
covert glance, similar to that which |
he had bestowed on the note as she |
had taken it from the salver:' and |
he had noticed that the envelope |
was a common one and rather soil
ed. The handwriting he had been
unable to see.
Il could do with a whisky and !
soda now" remarked Mr.. Lexhan |
and he led the way to the smoking |
room. Steele brought in the spirit |
stand and a cigar cabinet, and re- |
spectfully asked if anything else |
We're wanted before he retired nois
lessly. Mr.. Lexham had thrown him
self on a luxurious divan; but DeX-
ter Reece had wandered round the |
beautifully appointed room, looking |
at the superb ethchings on the |
walls; and, as he passed the door
on the way to the divan, he closed |
the door in a casual way.
Very little whisky and plenty c
soda, plaese," he said in response
to Mr.. Lexham's invitation. Il rare
Iy drink spirits"
There was a pause. Reece leaned
back and smoked as if he had
nothing on his mind; but he wait
ed, and presently he got his reward;
for, with a yawn, Mr.. Lexham said:
oh | didn't tell you the rest OF
Sir Mortimers story. | know there
was something | wanted to say,
| had left unsaii. Where
was /? Oh, yes, the ruby. Well, Sir
Mortimer did not sell it. He, NATL
rally enough, regarded it as an
heirloom for his daughter; an her
oom which would outvie the most pre-.
cous possession of the wealthiest fam
Lies; though its greatest value in his
eyes lay in thief act that his child
would some day wear it on her bos-
ON, and set the world a-gaping."
'One can understand his feeling"
said Reece; but the child was only
a baby then; some years would have
to pass before she could wear such
a gem; it was rather dangerous
possession to keep and protect. What
did he do with it,"
He sent it to a local bank" said
Mr.. LeXham; "and there it remain
ed for some years; three, to be pre-
else. At the end of that time the
bank found it necessary to change
its quarters, and, while it was get
ting into its new premises, Sir
Mortimer, who was quite aware of
the value of his extraordinary gem,
had it sent here to the Hall. Would
to God he hal left it in the care
Of the bank"
Reece glanced at the face of the