River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-25

you can charge It UP against me.
Low much day? Laundry in
ciuded?"
''One diamond meal" said Nikolai
blandly.
Sir Julius turned livid; he clRtched
at his neck where hung the cEamois
bag suspended from the cord.
You don't get anything" he
shouted. That's nice trick to play
on man. Because I've got few pre-
cious stones"
Il want nothing, said Nikolai
Miss Boyd is the hostess here
Diamonds are nothing but crystallized
carbon. AS you are aware, Sir Julius,
they have no intrinsic value apart
from their relation to other commodi
ties. In Maiden Lane or Kimberly
they bring good prices; here they are
worth exactly one turtles egg for
the smaller ones and one turtles egg
and a drink of water for the finer
stones
Sir Julius detached the bag and
picked out tiny stone.
Here! Give me turtles egg" he
snarled.
Nikolai picked out the smallest egg
and handed it to the millionaire with
a bow. While SIR julius devoured it
greedily, Nikolai turned the diamond
over to Miss Boyd.
1--WE have a new boarder,' he said.
Please accept his meal ticket in adj
vance,
Mary took the diamond with a
smile When the millionaire had con-
cluded his meal he bought drink
with another stone.
How many more have your" asked
Van Aam, laughing.
"Twenty-four," answered Sir julius
with snarl
Three a day. unused Van Aam,
'and one for lodging-unless Sir Julius
prefers to sleep outside the campfire
among the raccoons. That will last
six days. Perhaps - that time we
shall find some manner of reaching
more hospitable shore"
"Nikolai," said Van Aam. when the
millionaire had departed wrathfully
to pace up and down the sandy beach
and battle with his emotions, where
do you think we are? This is not
one of the Caymans. There is no
scrap of coral formation. We must
be north of the coral limit-that
would mean in the latitude OF the
Bahamas
He ceased and sprang to his feet
suddenly. Come with me. Nikolai, /"
he cried. Il want to speak to you
Quick, before it grows dark. We have
some walking to do"
They did not return until after sun.
set Then they were both chuckling
Miss Boyd and Mr.. Summers" said
Nikolai, excuse this mirth in the
| presence of such danger. But really
we have a joke too. exquisite to be
shared. How long will it take our
| diamonds?''
Six days. said Mary, smiling.
And you promise to keep them?'
Yes" said Mary, her face sudden
ly becoming serious. Yes, l will. Dc
you know he tried to push me out OF
the boat when they lowered it from
| the deck?"
Nikolai clenched his fists. Its q
| pity we can't leave him here to rot, .
| he muttered. But after all we have
some sort of human duty toward him. "
''The worst of it is said Van Aam
that We shall have to stay in this con
| founded place until he has passed
over his board
Have you seen ship" cried.
Van Aam and Nikolai looked at
one another and laughed.
Well" said Van Aam, "the secret
will keep six days, won't it,"
That night Sir julius paid out an
other diamond for his lodging, and his
raucous shores, interpersed with
groans as he tossed from side to
side upon the stony ground, kept
most of US awake until the sun rose
We exacted a tribute in advance
that day, and when Sir Julius in a last
attempt to save his gems offered to
work for his living, we sent him off
for turtles eggs. We watched him
wander off into the jungle and peer
into the trees; that effort was toe
much for him, and thereafter he lay
at home in sullen silence while we
went off on our expeditions.
But not to gather turtles eggs. At
evening Van Aam and Nikolai disap-
peared, returning on the following
morning when the sun was well up
over the trees. They called to Mary
and myself to follow them, and, leaY-
ing the millionaire sitting despairingly
beneath the thorn shrubs, we hast
ened to a tiny glade beside trickling
rivulet. where we found spread out up
on the grass first-class banquet.
There was ham, two loaves of fresh
bread, a pound of butter, clean nap
kins, and, to crown all, a bottle of
champagne.
Fall to, fall to- said Van Aam,
inviting us to the feast. when you
are satisfied the mystery shall be
entirely explained"
Even our curiosity could not over
come our hunger. Two days diet OF
turtles eggs had sickened us of that
staple food for all time. When, at
last. we laid our napkins aside we
rose and followed our companions
through a narrow path in the jungle.
A mile ahead we emerged into clear
ing. we heard the sound of the sea !;
and all at once, rounding a promon-
tory, there appeared before our aston
ished gaze
MY little hotel-my latest invest
ment." said Van Aam proudly, point
ing to an immense five-story cree.