Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-08-21

nothing like them in all New York
from Tiffany's down to Maiden Lane,
and never has been never saw any.
thing like-near like any OF them
except the one Ia the Russian crown
OF Anna lyanoyana. That's bigger
but h hasn't the same fire."
Just laughed at him Why. Bill
ings, these pajamas we're sent me by
a friend in China, and assure you-"
ASSURE What can you assure
what do you know about IT," said
Billings rudely. What did your friend
know, or the one he had these things
from--or the one before him-or the
one still before that? Pshaw!" Aud
he snapped his fingers.
With his hand he swept up the ~
lie caps and the long, wirelike threads
that held them and smiled the hand.
full curiously
HIN! Funky sort Of aromatic smell
-balsam, cedar oil or something like
that" he muttered half aloud. That
accounts for the preservation. But
still"
He crossed his legs and pulled
thoughtfully.
Tell you how | figure this out,
Dicky," he said finally These night
les your friend has sent you are aw-
fully rare and old; and for delicate,
dainty elegance and that sort of thing
they've got everything else in the silk
way showed off the clothes-line. But
as to these jewels, you can just bet
all you've got that whoever passed
them on was not wise to them being
\ under these covers"
Here he got to looking at one Of
the buttons and murmuring his ad'
Electromagnetic trance, you know.
by Jove!" l remarked, just to stir
him up a bit. And he unloaded a
great funnel of smoke and continued:
MY theory is that during some
danger. some mandarins' war, likely.
somebody got cold feet about these
jewels and roped them in with these
bits of silk-see how different they
are from the rest of the stuff! Then
when the roughhouse came, these pa
jamas were swept along in the sack.
ing-sort of spoils of pillage, you
know 1t was a clever method Of con
cealment-clever because simple-s
hiding place unlikely to be thought Of
because right under the eye. You re
call Poe's story of The Purloined Let
ter?'"
asked Billings how much hC
thought one of the rubies was worth
had in mind how devilish hungrily
he had looked at them. But he sighed
then frowned and answered impatient
ly:
That's it! That's the trouble abou
all the rare and beautiful things o
this life! Always some debasing
prohibitive sordid money value, dam
mit!"
He squinted at the stones again ant
let the weight of one rest upon hi
finger. He shook his head, signing
well, they're over twenty carat
each, and therefore, Of course, man,
times the value of first water dia
monds. After you get above tiv
carats with real Oriental rubies, dis
monds are not in it,
With an abrupt gesture he pushe
the things away and rose. His pip
had gone out, but l noticed that h
did not relight it. l held the gem
full In the rays of the lamp, and Bill
ings paused, holding hungry gaz
over his shoulder.
Il say, Billings, how much did 20
say one was WORTH" | asked carr
lessly. For a moment he did not r.
ply, but muttered to himself.
Il didn't say" he finally replied
and rather GROSSLY. Then he whirle
on me impulsively. See here, Ligh
nut" he exclaimed, "if you'll let m
have one of those for my collection
I'll give you twenty-five thousand fc
it-there!"
He gulped and continued:
"I'll have to make some sacrifice
but don't mind that I"
But l shook my head Really,
could hardly keep from laughing
his face.
: Sorry! Can't see it, old chap"
said Wouldn't sell one of them j.;
INV nrica