Arizona republican., 1911-10-26
By HORACE HAZELTlNE.
Copyright. 1910, by the Pearson Pub-
 fishing company.

The dapper little salesman beamed amiably upon him as he entered.
 ''I should like" said Fultener. with something of insouciance in his man ner. to buy an exact duplicate of the diamond you sold me yesterday"
 But at that the beaming amiability of the jeweler clouded. He rubbed together his thin hands. and then, with an awkward hunch of his shoulders, that was hardly shrug. those hands parted company and stretched in sig nificance of a dilemma.
 But, my dear sir" he deprecated. a duplicate of such a stone is not to be picked up every day. I am quite sure. sir, that we haven't its like in the shop, sir It's question whether there is diamond that matches it, in all particulars, in the whole of London. sir"
 'Oh, come now, my good fellow" Fultener cut in. ''I dare say matches are not as plentiful as pebbles on a sea beach, but you can't make me be- lieve that stone is absolutely unique, you know"
 Quite so, sir" agreed the clerk. "1 fancy it can be matched. I didn't mean to imply otherwise. sir; but it can't be duplicated offhand. sir, as you seemed to fancy. It may take days, and it may take weeks, sir. And the price" he hesitated a moment the price may seem trifle exces- sive, sir"
 The duplicate will cost much more than the original?"
 The pair will cost you not less than three thousand pounds, sir"
 "Oh, I say" exclaimed the Ameri- going some"
 Tt really couldn't be done for less, sir" emphasized the salesman.
 For all of minute, Fultener drummed with his gloved fingers on the glass top of the show case. wrin- kling his brow and biting his lip the while. Then, as with having suddenly reached a decision. he again faced the waiting tradesman.
 Very good" he said But the price must not exceed the figure you have named"
 The dapper little man behind the counter bowed almost reverently his assent.
 Quite right, sir. Thank you very much, sir" And Fultener. with a brisk Good morning" went hurriedly out.
 There were moments during the next two days when, even in the midst of his happiest association with Alice Davenant. he lapsed abruptly into ap- prehensive preoccupation. After all, would his project work out to satis- factory fulfilment? He had planted the seed in good soil; but would it germinate? More than once was he tempted, like the tyro in gardening, to dig into his garden plot to make sure one way or the other; but wholesome fear of spelling everything deterred him
 And then. on the morning of the third day, his plant broke through the soil. shot upward, like Jacks bean- stalk, and lowered luxuriantly, all in the space of ten minutes.
 The first peeping sign of green was when, before he had left his rooms. Mir. Jonas Bunsbury's card was brought up to him. When Bunsbury followed. apologetic and ingratiating, a bud appeared, which opened. min ute later, in the course of the callers little speech.
 "It is bit out of the way of busi- ness, sir" declared the pawnbroker, a wary-eyed. stoutish man, with crisp, curling red hair; "but I thought as how you might care to dispose of that diamond, sir, that you pledged with me a few days ago, sir; seeing that l can offer you a most unusual price for it, sir"
 Fultener made point of looking extremely bored. Had I wished to sell it, I shouldn't have pawned it," he said, with degree of finality.
 "very true, sir; can quite see that. sir. But it's like this: l was foolish enough, sir. to show that diamond to my good woman, seeing as she's a rare good judge of precious stones. sir; and now nothing will do but l must buy it for her, If so be it can be bought Which is my only excuse for coming to you ere at your 'otel, sir, with this offer, sir"
 "It's hardly worth while making your offer, Bunsbury," returned the young American, indifferently, as he took up his hat and gloves, indicative of going out.
 "I'll give you eight hundred pounds for it. sir" persisted his visitor. But Fultener, who had played poker rather well. in the days prior to his grand tour, only laughed.
 "A thousand" said Bunsbury, promptly.
 But, my good man." Fultener pro tested. drawing on glove; while that is probably an extraordinary price, you must remember that l am not in trade"
 When Bunsbury offered twelve hun dred, the American paused with his left glove half on. Although there was no change in his outward seeming. he was wondering, trepidantly, whether he dared refuse this offer. Was the pawnbroker's limit reached? , What had the Regent Street jewellers bid for the stone2 They could we'll afford to pay two thousand pounds for 1t, and still be five hundred pounds to the good