The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-07-05

els belong neither to me nor to you.
They are the property of the state.
When your gendarmes come be sure I
shall make that clear"
Pooh, | have always known that
you were a fool.' he cried contemptu-
ously.
'.Ah. l thought you would listen to
reason." l said quickly. Now, tell
me fr~ankly-why have you been so
keen on this hunt for the casket? Was
IL to please Miss Quintard or to please
yourself?'
why not both? In pleasing myself
perhaps I should be pleasing Miss
Quintard."
"And perhaps not" I replied dryly.
"a truthful answer, duke, If you please.
We have no time to lose-if you care
for the baubles in this casket."
"Well then, for myself" he said
looking at me %curiously.
And If I had not surprised you just
now. you would have taken your cas-
ketful of Jewels to London or Paris to
dispose of them at leisure?"
Perhaps" he assented i~nsolentiy.
"Or would you have taken this cas-
ket to Miss Quintard and apologized
for making a slight error?"
"Why could / not have done both?"
he cried. Yes, Mr.. Hume. even II
you give it to the ~gendarmes, the cas-
ket is m~ine-legally and morally. The
state will grant my claim, and them
THAT is the point I was coming to.
Supposing you were offered a share
of these baubles-I do not say how
great a share-could you possibly be
/ induced to give up the casketT'
81 have heard there is an English
proverb that it is better to have a bird
in ones hand than two in the bushes"
But allow me to remind you that
this time the bird is in my hands"
For the present." he interrupted
with a meaning glance.
Come, come" I cried sharply, I'VE
have had enough Of this quibbling. I
make you a sporting proposition. I
will give you a share of these jewels
for the casket."
II am afraid" he said suspiciously,
my share would be rather small"
1T would be o~ne-third," I said quiet
". II am not a thief. / covet no
stolen property. and these stones were
stolen. The price of blood is on them.
Whether they were stolen today or 500
years ago, the moral aspect Of the case
is the same. But I want that casket
and / must have it."
"who gets the other two-thirdsT' de-
manded the duke, like a greedy glut
ton. est. Hilary. l suppose"
"If he can prove to me that he has
played fair"
The duke thought a minute. Very
well, l agree"
I emptied the chambers Of the re-
volver's cartridges. l put them into
my pocket. / pushed the weapon care
fully under the newspapers again.
And now that the strain Of the past
FIVE minutes is over I suppose I may
have a look at my casket."
with pleasure" The duke bowed
sardonically.
In shape and size It was not unlike
the pseudo Da Sestos casket with
which the duke had attempted to de-
ceive Jacqueline.
II was of bronze. overlaid with
plaques of gold. enriched with cloison,
ne enameled work and precious stones,
cut for the most part en- cabochon. The
V rose to an apex. At the apex
was a knob of wrought gold. in shape
a monsters head. the eyes formed Of
minute rubies. At the -four corners Of
the ove were large semiprecious
stones of chalcedony, rock crystal, car
buncle and turquoise. From these four
stones to the knob of gold ran lines OF
pearls. Altogether it was beautiful.
1T would fetch a thousand pounds
at Christie's any day." l unused.
! TTn ha %an~IuIa1