The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-03-28


the thing was as big as walnut. The
lights were on 1t being dull weather,
and the stone blinked and sparkled
like the sun on dancing water.
MY word, julius said. But
that's risky bit Of stuff to carry
about with you
Its going to the bank this after
noon.' he answered. so II you want
to examine the pretty pebble. gentle
men, this is your last chance"
And with that he took it from its
case, as proud as a young husband
of his first baby, and sent it round the
table.
II was sitting on Julius left. Be
tween us was fat old boy, who was a
stranger to me. He took a long stare
at the stone, whistling softly between
his teeth, before he passed 1t on. 1t
went from hand to hand, never out of
sight, so far as l could notice, until it
came to Sir Andrew Carlton. who fan
cies himself an expert on gems. They
say that when Lady Carlton is in the
stalls, the play Is finished to the wo-
men sitting behind her, for they can't
keep their eyes off her pearls. Sir
Andrew pulled out magnifying glass,
and began examining the diamond.
- congratulate you, Taubery,' he
said, after about minute. You have
acquired historical stone!'
'Old julius leant back, with smile
halfway round his head, but he didn't
say word
This stone, said Sir Andrew, In
the heavy, pompous way that he has,
tapping 1t with his magnifying glass
to attract attention, this stone is the
celebrated Hyderapore diamond, to
which first historical reference is
made in the year 1884. 1t was cap
tured by the Rajah of Hyderapore
from a ruling chief In the Deccan after
battle, In which four thousand men
lost their lives. In 1880 it was stolen
from the rajah's palace by a Spaniard,
who escaped to Bombay, where he was
robbed and murdered The stone dis
appeared for about sixty years.
1T subsequently came into the
possession of one Of the East India
companys agents, who was stabbed to
death in his bungalow near Calcutta
about 1760. The diamond, which is
held to have inspired the attack, was
saved from the robbers by the appear
ance of his guests and servants. The
it to the Due d'Alembert, who lost his
diamond and incidentally his life in
the French revolution It turned up
again at the court of Napoleon ILL.,,
being then in the possession Of Henri
Marvin, the well-known financier. Un-
til today I thought it was still in his
family.
1t is one of the very few large d1a-
monds that is absolutely without a
flaw, and its value In the open market
today would be approaching thirty
thousand pounds. Any one who takes
an interest In historical stones might
be tempted to give even higher
price; for there has been enough blood
split over it, gentlemen, to fill the
bath of its fortunate possessor.'
He laid down the diamond on the
table and looked at his host with a
malicious grin. But all connoisseurs
are alike; they are as covetous OF
CATS
"All the time that Sir Andrew had
been speaking, the fat fellow next to
me had been snorting and swelling
until, pom my soul, l thought he was
in for stroke of apoplexy. l am the
limits, and the old grampus was one
of them.
care you in pain, sir?' asked him.
"'Yes, l am, SIR he said, in such a
high, squeaky voice that all the table
could hear him. I object to listening
to the definitions of so-called experts,
who cannot tell diamond from q
glass marble. Experts? Humbugs,
that's what call them!'
do you refer to me, Professor En-
dicott? began Sir Andrew, leaning
forward. with very red face.
"'Most certainly I do.
Then l must ask you for an ex-
PLANTATION or an immediate apology
"A man who can make so ludicrous
an error deserves neither the one nor
the other cried the professor. In great
excitement. That stone has been in
| the possession of the Princes of Pava-
LOFT for three hundred years. Prince
Peter, the present head of the family,
kindly allowed me to examine 1t when
l was in Moscow in 1894. l was not
aware that he had sold 1t. l trust,
Mr.. raubery, that you obtained it from
a respectable source; If not, should
be no true friend did I hide from you
my belief that it had been stolen
IF a man had said such a deucedIy
Insulting thing to me l should have
knocked him down there and then. |
would, pom my soul, without thinking
moro about 1t. But Julius. lay back in
his chair, smiling all over his face.
suppose those collectors get accus-
toned to each others little ways:
they're queer lot. anyway.
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