The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-06-12

never been learned:
Miss BlondeI, of New York, stopping at the
Palais d'Orsay, will wear the Royal Ruby in her
box at the Chate1et to- morrow at the opening night
of the spectacle.
The celebrated gem was recently purchased
for 400 900 francs from the Bey Of Tunis. by her
father, the American capitalist.
Scores of curiosity seekers, held in
the mes1aes of glittering Paris, read
the notice and appeared at the per-
Torrance next night to witness the
first public display of the jewel. They
craned their necks and stared at the
empty right-hand stage-box, for in
formation had oozed out that this
was the Blonden box, and the lnowl-
edge had spread rapidly through the
anxious audience.
Would she come? That was the
question on all sides. Would she
wear the jewel after this advertise
ment; or come without it, or stay at
home? Surely the Royal Ruby would
not be seen that night
When this state of mind had been
reached, the heavy plush curtains at
the rear of the watched box suddenly
parted, and her father ushered Miss
Blonde1l into the box, removed her
1ow-cut sable cloak, threw it over the
rail in sight of all, and handed her to
the chair nearest the stage. Hundreds
of eyes behind opera glasses noted the
smallest detail and curiosity-seeking
Paris held it's breath as Miss B1ondell
removed the pin tightly securing the
scarf over her bosom and threw the
silk lowering from her neck, revealing
the Royal Ruby, scintillating in the
striking setting of a white satin
bodice, for an instant.
While the multitude of eyes was
pinned on the wondrous pendant,
sliding on a thin gold chain about her
neck, Miss B1onde1l leaned slightly 60
ward her father to speak At that
second one-ha1f of the breathless
audience was startled to see the slight
chain slip from her right shoulder.
A broken end dang1ed for moment
and then the Royal Ruby drop slid
quickly down the severed chain and
disappeared from sight below the brass
rail surmounting the upholstered en-
closure to the box.
A series of surprised gasps came
from the audience, a low curious
whistle of establishment from gentle
man sitting alone at the far end of the
box next to the Blondells', who had
leaned forward to see with the rest,
and at that moment Mr.. Blondel1
noticed the dangling end of chain
clinging to gardenia in his daughters
bosom and turned as wax-white as the
flower. All of which was duly regis
tered by hundreds of eyes behind
opera glasses.
At that moment the girl missed
the gem, snatched up the chain, and
stopped quickly to the floor.
:" It was on when / sat down." she
said to her father in a low tone, which
carried to the tense ear-instrunents of
those near by.
ct dropped to the floor!" cried
several of the awed audience in
French, givingvent to their excitement
in an effort at relieving the situation.
Meanwhile Blondel1and his daughter
had been searching the hardwood
floor at her feet. The head usher
hurried down the passageway to the
box and the single gentleman in the
remote corner of the adjoining box
rose as if to help. But Blonde1l
rushed to the small door and warned
back the usher, while his daughter up
turned the chairs and shook out her
skirts.
1t was no small article to lose. A
ruby of flfty-eight and
daree-quarters carats, the size of
robins egg. bigger than the ball to an
ordinary black hat pin, and not quite
SO large as cherry, with a ring i'm
bedded at the top, through which the
chain had slipped.
With his back to the curtain, pre-
venting assistance, B1ondell. his face
still white, scanned the floor, which slanted
down to the upholstered enclosure jutting
over the pit.
Several of the audience, in their excite
ment, rushed to points of vantage along the
aisies and scrutinized every movement of
the pair in the box. One man in the main