Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-05-05
A BOOMERANG.

"Twenty thousand francs"
NJ. Vertrand made q wfs face, shrug
ged his shoulders, iooi cd at some
other stones, then again at the first
cnes, and said:
isn't that a rather Sit price,"
TIE jeweler smiled dramatically,
and Al Bertrand, who w2s observing
MS face closely, imaginel he could
hear him say by himself. They are
for Mile. de Morannes."
Evidently they were fer Mile. DC
Morannes. Had they ben for Nine
Bertrand, he would not 1--we hesitat
ed, he would net have said: isn't
that a rather stiff price" but he would
have said: SHOW me something al
about five thousand francs
The jeweler continued to smile
we'll knowing that this puzzled his eli
ent, and NJ. Bertrand could still hear
him say inwardly They are fol-
Nile. do Morannes."
Pushing aside the two glitterine
bundles with his finger, he said with
a sigh: Il will think the matter
over"
Az soon as he was outside the shop
his mind was made up. Ee drove to
Mile. de Morannes and told her that
times were hard, that he lad Dough;
railroad stock which was going down.
that he must put up money to protect
his margin.
"That is the way it is, my dean
Lucille. If II viii be a sensible girl
you will be satisfied with one dia'
mond. Ten thousand francs l can af
ford. 1t is not that I would gladly
give you what you want, tut just at
present ! really can't afford it
There are women Who Wauid have
pouted and cried, but Lucille vas not
that kind. She kissed her lovers cheek
and said in her gentlest voice: "Poor
darling, you must not mind it bit.
will wait to some other time when
you are better off.
''But why not let me give you the
one diamond?"
mo, dear, do not want one. When
monds cime in rairs, they are not
sold separately when they are so per
fectly matched. Please do not think
of this any more, it really does not
matter"
M. Bertrand left her, but did not
feel quite happy. The twenty thou
sand francs seemed to lie heavily in
his pocket.
The next day when he was about
to leave his Office the telephone bell
rang, and Mile. de Morannes asked
him to call On her Immediately. he
went and found her radiant.
did you try to bargain yesterday"
she asked.
"Bargain?"
"Oh, l am sure you did not try to
get the diamonds cheaper"
"Of course not. 1t is no use trying
that with that man.
"Of course it is"
"You must be Joking"
won't you just try?"
"What is the use of trying, when /
know he won't do it,"
''Try anyway, make him an Offer"
"That he may come down five francs
perhaps"
Offer him ten thousand for the
pair. Times are hard for jewellers,
too"
He gave in, and had hardly left the
house when Mile. de Morannes was at
the phone calling up the jeweler.
Hello Yes, it is 1! M. Bertrand
will call to see you in moment He
will offer you ten thousand francs.
Let him try hard and then accept.
Come to my house in an hour and
will pay the balance. l want those
diamonds. What? How are you to
accept? Well I am sure I don't care;
just accept. I .ant the diamonds"
When NJ. Bertrand left the jewel
er's shop he had made out a check for
ten thousand francs and had the dia-
monds in his pocket. He felt very
proud of himself, but suddenly a
thought struck him that made him feel
uneasy. Suppose the jeweler had fool
ed him and given him two inferior
stones. He rushed to his friend Four
nier, who was an expert on diamonds.
"How much are these diamonds
worth, Armand? l am afraid l have
been cheated" he exclaimed.
Fourier examined the stones care
fully and said: Between eighteen and
twenty thousand francs. How much
did you pay for them?"
"Ten thousand"
Impossible! Well, 1 bet Lucille
will be happy"
'They are not for her.
When he came home he said to him.
self that follies were for ones mis-
tress but bargains for ones wife, and
some moments later Nine Bertrand
found the diamonds under her nap
kin at the dinner table.
At about the same time the jeweler
was talking to Nile. de Morannes: at
went frs; rate. hope you are salts
fed with me-so much the better.
shall cali for the ten thousand in a few
minutes, and tonight or tomorrw night
you will have two of the most magni-
fcent diamonds in Paris, almost for
nothing"
But neither the next day, nor any
of the following days, did Nile. de
Morannes get her diamonds.
She knew M. Bertrand had given
the diamonds to his wife, and as she
could not very well tell him that she
had money~of her own, she had to
contribut; her part to a present for
Nine. Bertrand.
Penalty of Fraud.
California rejoices in lady max