The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-13
''DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND"
BY JANE BUNKER.
Copyright, 1913, The Bobbs-NIerriII Co.

she had twice caught Clair,
turning over things in her-Mrs
Delario's-suitcase.
What finally brought abou
the crisis was this: A sitter hat
given Mrs. Delario a ten-dollal
bill, and she had gone hastily Il
her room for change. Returning
she had left her bedroom door
aJar. The moment she haC
shown the sitter out. she wen
back to replace her purse ant
found Claire In the act of closinf
the wardrobe door. The girl hat
said she was looking for he
muff! And why her muff In Mrs
Delario's wardrobe3
Monsieur the father had ar
rived next morning and taker
Claire away.
Then Mrs. Delario quickl,
switched the conversation oil
the real subject of my visit
She introduced II by saying tha
Lila-who was still in a board
ing-school near Philadelphia
was breaking down and might
have to be sent abroad for treat
ment.
I'm very greatly In need o.
money" she said. Il dom
mean | want to borrow anything
| have some property l want to
dispose OF. l want to sell some
rubies, and thought you would
help me. There are reasons why
| cant do II myself. The stones
were left me by a great-uncle IL
France, and lmay as we'll con
fess IL now that they came in duty
free"
Struggled" I interjected, ant
added: Take them to a dealer.
I'm afraid to take them any
where, to tell you the truth. Eu
gene took them to place OIL
Maiden Lane yesterday and tn,
people acted so queerly. Don't yol
see how easy II would be for an,
one to accuse lone woman o
| theft"
We'll, get the stones and II
look at them, IL you care to hav,
Inc do that" | ventured.
| 1t was dingy little pasteboarC
box she brought and placed in M!
hand,
| raised the lid. gave one lool
at the contents, emptied out tn,
stones into my palm and-nearl.
fell off my chair!
The stones | held were blood
red diamonds. Seven blood-re,
diamonds, absolutely flawless
first-water gems, and perfect.
matched to the last CLEAN an,
twinkle.
'If they we're worth five thou
sand dollars apiece, couldn't
! get-say-forty thousand for tn
seven?" Mrs. Delario asked.
Forty thousand dollars!"
gasped.
Aren't rubies that size wortl
even that" she faltered.
"Rubies!" | must have simpl.
shouted the word at her.
ooh. don't tell me they're onl!
pastel" she groaned.
PASTE" yelled. why
woman, they're diamonds. -
blood-red diamonds--the mos
valuable stone in the world"
Then they're worth forty thou
sand dollars at the very least!
she sigher.
Mrs. Delario," I said soberly
81 can give you only rough -esti
mate, but in my honest opinion
these stones are worth at least ;
million dollars"
My thoughts were chasing on,
another, and the silence between
us was such you could have heart
a pin drop. And In that silenc,
the front bell pealed through tn,
house.
Mrs. Delario's hands flew to he
bosom as though she had beef
shot.
"My heavens-it's GOMEZ" Sh,
gasped and the color left her face
confess was frightened whel
| thought of the diamonds ant
only two women alone In tn,
house - apparently = to guart
them, but Mrs. Delario was terri
fled.
II feared tt feared it, sh,
muttered. "Who can it be? TIL,
maid is QUIT is too early TO
her. Eugene doesn't come hom
till midnight-he has his key
The ring was repeated-a bust
nesslike peal.
"These stones" she locke,
about the room, despairingly
where can | hide them?'
Again the ring.
Mrs. Delario, though DEATH.
white, was now composed. Me
chanically, she slipped the elasti
over the box and rose.
III go to the door," she said
And with that she whisked Vi