The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-01-20
very possjbie Fnowledee Of f6ege

very. possible knowledge OF these
s~tores-shops, mean"
"Of course, Mr.. Rawn, I'd be willing
to do anything / could" she said. 81
know the city pretty well, having lived
here for some time. If you would
rather have me use my time in that
way, it would be a great pleasure. /
like nice things myself, though of
course | could never have them. I've
just had to flatten my nose against
the window-pane! But what is the
color scheme, MI. Rawn?'
About everything the COMPOUNDED
builders and decorators could think
Of" said Rawn frankly. Il think they
called it a gray-and-silver motive. /
know there's something In white, with
dark red for the doors and facings."
Miss Delaware sat for a moment, a
pencil against her lip, engaged in
thought.
Certainly, Mr.. Rawn. I'll be very
glad to do 1t, If | can be spared from
the Office"
That's all, Miss Delaware"
She passed out gently, im~personally.
Rawn found himself looking at the
door where she bad vanished.
1t was perhaps an hour later that
he ~re-opened the door himself In an
swer to a knock. Miss Delaware stood
respectfully waiting. There is a man
from Jansen's waiting for you, Mr..
Rawn," said she.
Tell him to come In" said Rawn.
There rose from a nearby seat a gray
haired, grave and slender man, Of sad
~demeanor, who presently removed
from his pocket and spread out upon
the glass top of John Rawn's desk
such a display OF gems as set the
whole room aquiver with light. Rawn
felt his own eyes shine, his own soul
leap. There always was something in
diamonds which spoke to him.
"Ah-hum!" said he, feigning indif-
ference, some pretty good ones, eh?"
He poked around among them with
the end of his ~penholder, as the
gray and grave man quietly opened
one paper package after another, and
exposed his wares.
John Rawn reached out and pushed
the button farthest to the right in the
long row on his desk. Miss Delaware
came and stood quietly awaiting his
command.
Something in the soul of Virginia
Delaware leaped! For the first time
her eyes shone with brighter fire; for
the first time she half-gasped in ac-
tual emotion. There was something
in diamonds which spoke to her also!
"Pick out two things there" said
John Rawn sententiously, pushing
himself back from the desk. 81
should say this pendant. Take a
guess at the rings. What would Mrs.
Rawn like; and what would about
suit Miss Rawn?"
She bent above the desk, her eyes
aflame at the sight of the brilliance
that lay before her.
Il should say your choice is excel
lent, Mr.. Rawn," said she at length,
gently, controlling herself. "The pen
dant Is beautiful, set with the emer-
aids. And al for the rings, I'd take
this one, l believe, with the two steel
blue stones"
How much?" said John Rawn, turn
ing to the grave and gray salesman.
The two pieces would cost you
t~wenty-eight thousand dollars, sir"
the latter replied, gyavely and imper-
sonally.
Miss Delaware" said John Rawn,
taking from his pocket his personal
check book, "oblige me by making out
a check for that amount. Bring it in
to me directly-and have the boy call
my car"
When John Rawn assembled the
steps of his mansion house that night,
he fairly throbbed with the sense of
his own self-approvai. There was that
In his pocket which, he thought, when
worn by the wife of John Rawn at
any public place of display, would in
dictate what grade OF life he, John
Rawn, had shown himself fit to oc-
cupy. He lost no time In summoning
his wife, and with small ado put in
her extended hand the little mass of
trembling, shivering gems. She gazed
at them almost stupefied.
We'll, Welt" he broke out, "can't