The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-13

very select boarding house carried ON
by Mrs. Bognor at number Il Russell
Street. Bloomsbury. He arrived with
. steamer trunk, an elaborate travel.
ing-bag and dressing-case; took the
best vacant room In the house. and
dressed for dinner. Mrs. Boenor
looked upon him a. I valuable addi-.
ton to her clientele, and introduced
him freely to her other guests.
Amongst these was Major Edward
Jones. Major Jones sat at Mrs. Bog
nor's right hand, and was evidently
the show guest of the clearinghouse.
Peter Run, without the least desire to
attack his position, sat upon her left
and monopolized the conversation.
On the third night it turned, by
chance. upon precious stones. Peter
Run drew little channels leather bag
from his pocket
am afraid" he said, " that my
tastes are peculiar. have been in the
East, and | have seen very many pre-.
cious stones in their uncut state. To
my mind, there is nothing to be COM
pared with opals. These are few
brought home from India. Perhaps
you would like to look at them, Mrs.
Bognor."
They were passed round, amidst a
little chorus of admiration.
he 10 reo nv,, ~. No. a.. -
Peter Run remarked, is, think, re-
markedly beautiful. / have never
seen a stone quite like TT
1t is wonderful. " murmured the
young lady who was sitting at Major
Jones's right hand. What fortu-
nate man you are, Mr. Run, to have
such q collection OF treasures! /"
Peter Run bowed across the table.
Major Jones, who was beginning to
feel that his position as show guest
was in danger. thrust his hand into
his waistcoat pocket and produced a
lady's ring, in which was set single
opal
Very pretty stones" he remarked
carelessly. but can't say am very
fond Of them. Here's one that be-
;longed to my sister, and my grand
mother before her. have 1t IN my
pocket because was thinking Of hav-
ing the stone reset and making pres
emit Of 1t to friend Of mine
Peter Rufus popularity waned-he
had said nothing about making q pres
emit to anyone of even the most insig-
nffcant OF his opals! And the one
which Major Jones now handed round
was certainly magnificent stone.
Peter Run examined it with the rest,
and under the pretext of studying the
setting, gazed steadfastly at the inside
through his eyeglass. Major Jones.
from the other side of the table,
frowned, and held out his hand for
the ring.
a very beautiful stone indeed! .
Peter Ruiz declared, passing it across
the tablecloth. Really. l do not
think that there Is one in my little
| collection to be compared with 1t
Have you many treasures like this
Major Jones?"
"Oh, few: " the Major answered
carelessly. family heirlooms, most Of
them"
You will have to give me the ring
Major Jones'" the young lady on his
right remarked archly. It's bad luck
you know, to give 1t to anyone who If
not born in October. and my birth
/ day lis on the 18th"
my dear Miss Levey," Major Jone!
answered. whispering in her ear
more unlikely things have happened
than that should beg your accept
ance of this little trifie."
Sooner or later Peter Ruiz sail
geniaIly, II should like to have littl
conversation with you, Major. fame.
that we ought to be able to find plent,
Of subjects Of common interest"