Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-05-22

% " ~ NAWK WIN MANN "
identify him.
This fact having been communicat.
ed by the embassy to the baron. n
OF the clerks Of the legation called az
bis hotel and accompanied him to the
jewelers.. Won H~emmersteln received
the ruby In a leather box lined With
velvet ana, calling a cab, drove to the
pawnshop OF Jules Pombeau. where
be pledged 1t for a loan Of a thousand
francs.
A few days later Won Hemmerstein
called again at NJ. Cheseul's shop and
eonfded to him that he was . ty
be married and 1t had occurred to him
that two rubies, Of the size and shape
and hue Of the one be had purchased,
would make a pair Of earrings suitable
for a gentleman's wedding gift to his
bride. Did the jeweIer have such an
other ruby in stockF
NJ. Cheseul had only one or two 9th.
er stones that would come near to
matching the FIRST. and In all there was
some slight variation. The baron ap-
penred disappointed. aud the jewel
er, bent on making a double profit.
agreed to Try to End n match for the
ruby In the stock Of some other lew
eler. But he explained that to find q
perfect mate would require consider
able labor and the second gem would
be worth a much larger sum than the
hrsk Won Hemmerstein asked him TO
Ok a price for the mate, aud after some
elaboration he named 10000 francs.
Won Hompn-ruA,g HHl 49,
staggered at this figure, saying that
be would give it provided a perfect
match were obtained, and the jeweler
called his attention to the fact that
the two together would command q
much higher price than separately.
The baron gave the order, and NJ.
Cheseul began a hunt all over Paris
for the second ruby.
A great many valuable gems are 20
be found In the hands OF pawnbrokers,
and among others to whom the lew
eler applied was NJ. Pombeau, one OF
the principal members Of that trade
In Paris. That he would do so was
expected by Won Hemmerstein and
was a part Of his plan. A few DAYS
after ordering the second gem be cali
ed at NJ. Pombeau's shop and said he
would redeem his pledge. He laid down
the thousand francs borrowed on Il,
and the broker handed It back to him.
by the bye, baron" said Pombeau,
would you like to sell that stoner'
"No. indeed. l value 1t very highly.
1t has been In my family hundreds OF
years"
II have a brooch into which II would
at nicely. On this account, II you
were willing to part with It, | would
give you a good price for it."
What do you call a good priceT'
Pombeau would not mind giving 49,
600 francs for it. Won HemmersteIn
sneered at this and started to leave
the shop. Pombeau called him back
and said that the ruby to him would
be worth 10000 francs. This seemed
to arrest the baron's attention. Aft
er some dickering he sold the stone
for 21.000 francs n received the
money for 1t on the spot.
Calling a cab. he drove at once to M.
Cheseuls shop and asked II they had
found n mate to the ruby. No: they
had not had time, They had sent out
a minute description Of it and were
expecting replies. The baron said that
was fortunate. He had changed his
mind. He had determined on a more
magnificent present for his bride than
the twin rubies. And. now that his
mind vas made up. he would pay for
the stone he had bought, So he pro-
duced bank notes to the amount of TO-
O00 frnncs and fook n racafnt
BY this ingenious device be had real
lied 1900 francs, or $1,000.
But that the baron was a gentleman
Of superior cRliber is proved by the
sequel. With the 1000 francs that
he had made he returned to Monte
Carlo and by one Of the most remarka-
BILE runs of luck ever known there won
back all he had lost and 1000 per cent
In addition. When he left Monte Carlo
he went direct to Paris and on arriv-
ing there made straight for POmbeau's
pawnshop. The pawnbroker met him
as though nothing disagreeable had
happened.
Il have been regretting parting with
the ruby | sold you and would like to
buy It back" said the baron.
II do not wish to sell It"
mot for a better price than you paid
me?"
Il do not say that l will not sell
anything ] own at a price"
LET me see; ! think you paid me
$1,000 francs. How would $4,000
francs suit your"
The pawnbrOker was perplexed. he
had been done once. and now be fear
ed to be done again. he baked at
the offer.
well" said the baron, turning
away, III you conclude to sell the gem
address me at the Circle Francois Ma
tiOnal. Good morning"
This was enough to decide the pawn
broker. who regarded a bird in the
hand worth two in the bush. He call
ed the baron back and sold him the
stone. after all clearing 5000 francs
on the transaction.