Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-07-26

nothing like them In all New York,
from Tiffany's down to Maiden Lane,
and never has been. | neve saw any
thing like-near like any of them
except the one in the Russian crown
of Anna I%vanovana. That's bigger,
but it hasn't the same fire."
1 just laughed at him. why, Bill
ings, these pajamas were sent me by
a friend in China, and l assure you
Assure? What a o assure
what do you know about tt?" 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! And
he snapped his fingers.
With his hand he swept up the lit
tie caps and the long, wirelike threads
that held them and shifted the hand
full curiously.
HIN! Funky sort of aromatic smell
-balsam, cedar oil or something k
that" he muttered half aloud. That
accounts for the preservation. But
still"
He crossed his legs and pulled
thoughtfuiiy.
Tell you how 1 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 h silk
way showed off the c%lothes-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-
miration-regular trance, you know.
by Jove!" I 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 c
ing-sort of spoils of pillage, you
know. 1t was a clever method Of con-
cealment-clever because simple-a
hiding place unlikely to be thought OF
because right under the eye. You re-
call Poe's story of The Purloined Let
ter?"
I asked Billings how much he
thought n of the rubies was worth.
I 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 about
all the rare and beautiful things OF
this life! Always some %debasing.
prohibitive sordid money value, dam
mit!"
He squinted at the stones again and
let the weight of one rest upon his
finger. He shook his head, signing.
We'll, they're over twenty carats
each, and therefore, OF course. many
times the value of first water dia-
monds. After you get above five
carats with real Oriental rubies, dia-
monds are not in It,"
With an abrupt gesture he pushed
the things away n rose. His pipe
had gone out, but I noticed that he
did not relight it. l held the gems
full In the rays of the lamp, and Bill
ings paused, holding a hungry gaze
over his shoulder.
81 say, Billings, how much did you
say one was WORTH" I asked care
lessly. For a moment he did not re-
ply, but muttered to himself.
II didn't say" he finally replied,
and rather GROSSLY. Then he whirled
on me impulsively. See here, Light
nut" he exclaimed, IF you'll let me
have one of those for my collection.
I'll give you twenty-five thousand for
it-there!"
He gulped and continued:
'Ill have to make some sacrifices,
but / don't mind that. L"
But I shook my head. Really,
could hardly keep from laughing in
his face.
Sorry! Can't see it, old chap" l
said. wouldn't sell n of them at
any price,"
(To BE coNT1NUED.)