The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-10-12

flaw. and IT'S value ~ the open Inarxes
today would be approaching thirty
thousand pounds. Any one who takes
an Interest In historical stones might
be tempted TO give even higher
price; for there has been enough blood
split over II. gentlemen. TO fill the
bath Of it's fortunate possessor'
He laid down the diamond on the
table and looked at his host with a
malicious grin. But all connoisseurs
are alike; they are as covetous OF
each others pet treasures as so many
cats.
"All the time that Sir Andrew had
been speaking. the fat fellow next TO
me had been snorting and swelling
until. pom my soul, thought he was
In for stroke OF apoplexy. | am the
best-tempered OF men. but have my
limits. and the old grampus was ono
OF them.
"'Are you in pain, sir?' l asked him.
"'Yes. | am. sir he said. in such n
high. squeaky voice that all the table
could hear him. I object 10 listening
to the definitions OF so-caIled experts.
who cannot tell diamond from a
glass marble. Experts? Humbugs,
that's what | call theml'
"'Do you refer 10 me. Professor En-
dicott?' began Sir Andrew. leaning
forward. with a very red face.
Most certainly / do
Then / must ask you for an ex.
PLANTATION or an immediate apology
"A man who can make so ludicrous
an error deserves neither the one nor
the other cried the professor. In great
excitement. That stone has been In
the possession OF the Princes or Pava-
lon for three hundred years. Prince
Peter, the present head OF the family.
kindly allowed me 10 examine II when
was in Moscow in 1894. l was not
aware that he had sold II. trust.
Mr. Taubery, that you obtained II from
a respectable source: II not, should
be no true friend did / hide from you
my belief that II had been stolen
IF a man had said such n deucedly
insulting thing TO me should have
knocked him down there and then.
would, pom my soul, without thinking
more about II. But Julius lay back in
his chair. smiling all over his face.
suppose those collectors get accus'
toned TO each others little ways:
they're queer lot, anyway.
"'You can be quite easy on that
point, Professor Endicott.' he said
Prince Peter was, unfortunately. in
volyed In the late Doloroush conspir.
acy. but had time 10 slip across the
Russian frontier before the police
could arrest him. | bought the dia
mond from his agent in Paris
"'You interest me deeply, Mr.. Tau
berry struck in Sir Andrew, speaking
very softly, though we could all see ht
was I'm devil OF rage. Even | was
not unaware OF the existence OF the
Payaloff diamond. II my memory does
not fail me. II is slightly disiigured by
a flaw on the eighth facetY
Certainly. Sir Andrew said oui
host; II you examine the stone yol
will see that such is the case.
!
diamond have before me. Therefor,
| humbly suggest that you have beef
deceived Nv this Partisan agent as 4
! IL c
Professor Endicott climbed 10 hi
feet with grunt OF dissatisfaction
and leant over the table, thrusting on
his podgy fist TO receive the jewel. ii
remained standing, with his bod
swayed forward. so that the electri
lights above the silver center piec
might shine the brighter upon what b
held Presently he dropped his hand
to his sides and stood staring abou
him like q plowman lost In Piccadill!
"This is not the stone l examine
five minutes ago, he suffered.
Nonsense, said old Julius, with
shadow OF fear In his eyes. 'Nonsens'
Endicott; look again.
"Can Il be that two such fafnou
experts have made mistaken sneere
Sir Andrew. Can II be that humbl
amateur like myself is right and tina
they are wrong? AS told you, gel
tue
'Hyderapore diamond be id
squealed the fat man. This thing is
fake. clumsy imitation. Tauberl
you have been rob5ed!
I'VE were all on our feet In an II
slant amid a clamor OF tongues. Blu
there was one man amongst us tina
kept his head; one man who realize
that his honor was in peril; that In
mediate action was necessary. iii
name-if ! am not too egotistical--i
Theophilus Gunton.
Fortunately have a voice OF som
power, and a manner that, when m
feelings are strongly moved. is pei
haps not unimpressiye. ! commando
and obtained silence. | begged then
to resume their seats; they obeyed
Julius Taubery.' ] said, has you
diamond disappeared?
"He answered that IL had. looking a
the imitation stone. which they had re