The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-04-07
E~4lT Il DINA'S RIJBY8|

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 it in the palm
of his hand, and looked at It critically,
| turning 1t over with one finger from
time to time. He took it 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 a sheet of white paper"
Mr.. Pinney turned up strong drop
light that stood on the counter, and
produced the paper and a magnifler.
Its a grand ruby" he said.
Il see it is" Logotheti answered
rather curtly.
DO you mean to say" asked the
surprised jeweler that you had
bought it without thoroughly examin-
ing 1t sir-you who are an expert?'
NO, that's not what / mean," an
swered the Greek, bending over the
ruby and scrutinizing 1t 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
Logotheti did not look up another
and Mr. Pinney grew nervous; a few
seconds more, and he received shock
that took away his breath.
This is not my ruby" said Logo
theft, looking up, and speaking with
perfect confidence.
Not-your-ruby!" Mr.. Pinney's
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
traordnarily 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 it most thoroughly"
No doubt" answered the Greek
But you hadn't examined mine thor
oughly before it was stolen, had you
You had only looked at it with me. OF
the counter here"
That is correct, SIR" said Mr. Pin
ney nervously. THAT is quite true.
Very well. But | did more thai
merely look at it through a lens o.
weigh it. / did not care so mucl
about the weight, but | cared yer.
much for the water. and ! tried tn,
ruby point on it in the usual way, blu
it was too hard, and then | scratche,
1t in two places with the diamond
more out Of curiosity than for an.
other reason"
You marked it, sir? There's not
single scratch on this one! Mercifu
Providence, Merciful Providepce!"
Yes" Logotheti said gravely 9TH
girl spoke the truth. She had tw
stones much larger than the rest whel
she first came to me in Paris, this on
and another. They were almost eA
actly a1Nxe and she wanted me L
buy both, but | did not want then
and | took the one | thought littl
better in color. This is the other, 70
she still had it; and, so far as know
it is her legal property, and mine i
gone The thief was one of thos
two young fellows who came in jus
when Mr.. Van Torp and ! went out
remember thinking what nice-lockin
boys they were!"
He laughed rather harshly, for h
was more annoyed than his considers
ton for Mr., Pinney made him care t
show He had looked forward to giN
ing Margaret the ruby, mounted jus
as she wanted it; and the ruby wa
gone, and he did not know where h
was to find another, except the on
that was now in PinAeys hands, bu
really belonged to poor Baraka, VIII
could certainly not sell it at presen
A much larger sum of money wa
gone, too, than any tinancer coul
lose with equanimity by such a p,
cuiarly disagreeable mishap as b.
ing robbed There were several RET
sons why Logotheti was not pleaset
. 81 am deeply Inundated said tn
- worthy old jeweler. II have not onl
n, been tricked and plundered, but
u have been the means of sending inn,
cent people to prison"
Is you had better be the means {
n getting them out again as soon as pc
Ie sble," said Logotheti. And yo
" must also make an effort to trac
le those young men who stole the ruby
" Il most certainly shall" replied I'll
ieweler, "and if it is not found W
Of will make it good to you, sir, wha
re ever price you set upon it. l al
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