Mexico Missouri message., 1910-04-07

itself, turned 1t three times to the left
and five times to the right, and opened
the heavy iron door. The safe was an
old-fashiohed 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 favorlte pill
boxes.
Logotheti undid the paper, took out
the big uncut ruby, laid 1t in the palm
of his hand, and looked at 1t critically,
turning it over with one finger from
time to time. He took 1t 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 sheet of white paper"
Mr.. Pinney turned up strong drop
light that stood on the counter, and
produced the paper and a magnifler
It's a grand ruby" he said.
Il see it is" Logotheti answered
rather CURLY.
do you mean to say" asked the
surprised jeweler, that you had
bought 1t without thoroughly examin-
ing it sir-you who are an expert?"
mo, that's not what I mean," an
swered the Greek, bending over the
ruby and scrutinizing it 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.
INDEPENDENTLY" 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 l brought you,
though it's just as large, and most ex-
traordlnarily 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"
Eyes, 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 1t most thoroughly"
mo 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, on
the counter here"
THAT is correct, sir" said Mr.. Pin.
ney nervously. THAT is quite true"
Very well. But I did more than
merely look at 1t through a lens or
weigh it, l did not care so much
about the weight, but I cared very
much for the water, and l tried the
ruby point on it in the usual way, but
1t was too hard, and then l scratched
it in two places with the diamond
more out of curiosity than for any
other reason"
"You marked it, sir? There's not q
single scratch on this one! MercifuI
Providence! Merciful Providence!"
Eyes," Logotheti said gravely. "The
girl spoke the truth. She had two
stones much larger than the rest when
she first came to me in Paris, this one
and another. They were almost ex,
actly alike, and she wanted me to
buy both, but l did not want them
and I took the one thought a little
better in color. This is the other, for
she still had it; and, so far as 1 know
1t is her legal property, and mine is
gone. The thief was one of those
two young fellows who came in Just
when Mr.. Van Torp and l went out. ]
remember thinking what nice-looking
boys they were!"
He laughed rather harshly, for he
was more annoyed than his considera.
ton for Mr.. Pinney made him care to
show. He had looked forward to Civ,
ing Margaret the ruby, mounted Just
as she wanted It; and the ruby was
gone, and he did not know where he
was to find another, except the one
that was now in Pinney's hands, but
really belonged to poor Baraka, who
could certainly not sell 1t at present
A much larger sum of money was
gone, too. than any financier could
lose with equanimity by such a pc
culiarly disagreeable mishap as be.
ing robbed. There were several rea.
sons why Logotheti was not pleased
Il am deeply Inundated" said the
worthy old jeweler. 81 have not only
been tricked and plundered, but ]
have been the means of sending limo
cent people to prison"
'You had better be the means OF
getting them out again as soon as pos.
sible," said Logotheti. "And. you
must also make an effort to trace
those young men who stole the ruby
Il most certainly SHALL" replied the
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