The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-06

| THE TABLE.
Iy. There is no ruby here"
mo rubyi" Evelyn started to
her feet and leaned across the
table.
She caught the box from his
hand as he held it toward her.
Only the fifteen diamonds lay
within IL; the ruby was gone.
With a quick movement she set
down the jewels and snatched the
safety-deposit box toward her,
dumping the whole contents upon
the table.
ut must be here! How could
IL have dropped out of the jewel
case? l haven't touched 1t since
the day l put il here" she ex-
claimed, mistakenly.
But the ruby was not to be
found. Finally Poole crossed the
room and after rummaging in a
desk returned to the table with
some sheets of paper and a stick
of sealing-wax. ITO prevent fur
ther complications / suggest that
We render the diamonds safe
against any possible tampering in
the future by making them into
a packet and sealing them"
Evelyn watched him wrap the
stones, first in tissue, and then in
heavier paper.
Lighting matches, he allowed
the wax to drip into round red
splotches covering the ends of the
folds. He completed the opera
ton by imprinting the soft wax
with the seal-ring from his fin
ger.
The operation complete, Eve
lyn returned the deposit box to
the vault, and the two young
people went back to the car.
Evelyn's mind was in a tur-
moil. Her trump card had been a
| blank. She wanted to cry, but
one look at her silent companion
dried her tears.
| The motor-car retraced it's
course from the village, while
Evelyn's thoughts struggled with
the dilemma in which she seemed
SO hopelessly to have enmeshed
| herself.
Il say" Poole said, abruptly,
I've a bit of business over in
Burwick. Would you mind mo-
toring me over?"
"If you like" she replied, alb
| jectly, and turned the car.
Arrived in Burwick, Evelyn left
Poole without ceremony and turn
ing the car, drove off.
Once alone upon the sidewalk,
Poole advanced toward 1ewelry
shop above which hung the sign
IT. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Dia-
monds." AS he entered the pro-
prietor came forward behind the
showcases.
MY name is POOLE" began the
visitor. I'm staying at the Win
throps'."
"oh, yes, Mr.. Poole, I remem-
ber," the jeweler nodded, pleas
antly. You were in a couple OF
weeks ago. ! believe. and looked
over our assortment of rubies."
"Quite right" agreed Poole.
I'm here this time on a little err
| rand not my own" He pro-
duced the ruby which Col. Win
throp had given him. Colonel
winthrop isn't quite suited with
this, he ventured.
/ $50 I feared. He seemed a lit
tie dou btful about il yesterday,
put in the jeweler. There was
some question, he said, as to its
| matching another stone"
/ Exactly" said Poole, now sat
isfied that his presumptions were
correct. 1T doesn't match, and
If it's possible to return it"
Poole looked induiringly at the
| jeweler.
Certainly" assented the other,
| taking the ruby from Poole. Il
| hope to have a new consignment
by the first of the month, and If
! you win tell Colonel winthrop"
| Il shall be glad to do So" in
| terjected Poole.
perhaps then I can suit him, -
| finished the jeweler. "Curiously
lenough. Mr.. Archie Winthrop was
in here, too, yesterday. looking at
rubies. my assistant tells me-
Yes" said Poole. drawing the
other ruby from his pocket. I'm
entrusted with a like commission
in regard to this stone"
Very we'll, he's quite free to
return il. They were both endeav-
oring to match the same stone ?"
the jeweler enquired.
Yes, although quite independ-
emily of each other. as IL happens. -
Had been in when Mr.. Archie
Winthrop called | could have ex-
planned TO him that the ruby Col
onel Winthrop had taken was
more like to prove what was
wanted; but nv assistant. who
waited on him. Was quite iEnor-
ant OF the other transaction. But
III cancel both charges"
Thank YOU. said Poole.