Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-04

in, stemp."
very good, SIR,
AS the valet went out Mr.. Van Torp
turned his chair half round without
getting up, so that he sat facing the
door. A moment later Stemp mad
ushered in the visitor, and was gone>
A slim youth came forward without
boldness, but without the least 1midl-
ty, as if he were approaching an equal
He had an oval face, no mustache'
complexion like cream, short and
thick black hair and very clear dark
eyes that met the Americans fearless
ly. He was under the average height,
and he wore rather thin, loose gray
Clothes that had been made by a good
tailor. His hands and feet were
smaller than Europeans.
$50 you're Mr. Barrack," Mr.. Van
Torp, said, nodding pleasantly.
The young face smiled and the
parted lips showed quite perfect teeth.
"Barak," answered the y0ung man,
giving the name the right sound.
YES, I understand, but 1 can't pro-
aounce it like you. Take chair, Mr..
Barrack, and draw Up to the table
The young man understood the ges-
down.
$50 you're a friend OF Mr.. Logo
theti's, and he advised you to come to
me? Understand? Logotheti of Paris.
Barak smiled again, and nodded
quickly as he recognized the name.
The American watched his face atten.
lively.
"All right he continued. you can
trot out your things now, right on the
tablecloth here"
He had seen enough of IAdians and
Mexicans in his youth to learn the
simple art of using signs. and he east
ly made his meaning clear to his visi-
tor. Barak produced a little leathern
bag. not much bigger than an ordinary
purse, fastened with thin thongs,
which he slowly united. Mr.. Van Torp
watched the movements OF the deli
cate fingers with great interest, for he
was an observant man.
With those hands," he silently re-
hected, ITS either lady or thief,
or BOTH
Barak took several little twists of
tissue paper from the bag, laid them
in a row on the tablecloth and then
began to open them one by one. Each
tiny parcel contained a ruby, and when
the young man counted them there
were five in all, and they were fine
stones II they were genuine; but Mr..
Van Torp was neither credulous nor
easily surprised. When Barak looked
to see what impression he had pro
duced on such a desirable bSyer, he
was disappointed.
no
ly; nice rubies. but I've seen better.
I wonder if they're real, anyway.
They've found out how to make them
by chemistry now. you know"
But Barak understood nothing. Of
course, beyond the fact that Mr.. Van
Torp seemed Indifferent which was
common trick of willy customers; but
there was something about this ones
manner that was not assumed. Barak
took the finest of the stones with the
tips of his slender young fingers, laid
it in the palm of his other hand, and
held it under Mr.. Van Torp's eyes,
looking at him with an inquiring ex-
preston. But the American shook his
head
mo rubies to-day, thank you" he
said.
Barak nodded quietly, and at once
began to wrap up the stones each in
its own bit OF paper, putting the twists
back into the bag one by one. Then
he drew the thongs together and tied
them in a neat sort of knot which Mr.. /
Van Torp had never seen. The young !
man then rose to go, but the million
aire stopped him.
Say, don't go Just yet. I'll show
you a ruby that1l make you sit up"
He rose as he spoke. and Barak I'M
derstood his smile and question. and |
waited Mr. Van TOrp went into the !
next room, and came back almost i'm (
mediately, bringing a small black mo- |
rocco case. which he set on the table |
and unlocked with little key that /
hung on his watchchain. He was not /
fond of wearing jewelry, and the box |
held all his possessions of that sort, |
and was not full There were three
or four sets of plain studs and links;
there were half a dozen very big gold
collar studs there was bit of an old
gold chain, apparently cut off at each
end, and having one cheap little dia-
mond set in each link; end there was
a thin old wedding ring that must
have been a woman's; besides q few
other valueless trinkets, all lying loose
and in confusion. Mr.. Van Torp shook
the box a little, poked the contents
about with one large finger, and soon
found an uncut red stone about the
size of hazelnut, which he took out
and placed on the white cloth before
the visitor
Now that's what I call a ruby" he
said, with a smile of satisfaction. Got
any like that, young man? Because
If you have I'll talk to you, maybe.
Yes" he continued, watching the orr
entails face, 81 told you I'd make you
sit up. But didn't mean to scare you
baldheaded. What's the matter with
you, anyway? Your eyes are popping
out of your head. Do you feel as If
you were going to have fit? l say!
Stemp!"
~ D