The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-03-05
CHAPTER iIi.-ceot,oued.

~S ~ uus-~0VxlU000.
She passed out gently. impersonally.
Nawn found himself looking at the
door where she had vanished.
II was perhaps an hour later that
hs re-opened the door himself in an.
swer to knock. Miss Delaware stood
respectfully waiting. There 10 q man
nom Jansen's waiting for you, Mr.
Rawn," said she.
Tell him to come in." said Rawn.
Tiers rose from nearby seat gray.
haired. grave and slender man, of sad
demeanor. who presently removed
from his pocket and spread out upon
the glass top Of John Rawn.s desk
such display Of gems a. set the
whole room aquiver with light Rawn
felt his own eyes shine. his own soul
leap. There always was something In
diamonds which spoke to him.
Ah-hum!" said he. feigninG indif.
ference. some pretty good ones, chr"
He poked around among them with
the end Of his penholder. a. the
gray and grave man quietly opened
one paper package after another. and
exposed his wares.
John Rawn reached out and pushed
the button farthest to the right in the
long row on his desk Miss Delaware
came and stood quietly awaiting his
command
something In the soul Of VIRGINIA
Delaware leaped! For the first time
her eyes shone with brighter nre: for
the nrst time she half-gasped in nc.
tual emotion. There was something
In diamonds which spoke to her also!
Pick out two things there" said
John Rawn sententiously. pushing
himself back from the desk Il
should say this pendant Take 4
guess at the rings. What would Mrs.
Rawn like; and what would about
suit Miss Rawn?"
She bent above the desk, her eyes
ahame at the sight of the brilliance
that lay before her.
i should say your choice is excel.
lent. Mr.. Rawn." said she at length.
gently, controlling herself. THE pen.
dant 10 beautiful. set with the emer.
AIDS. And as for the rings. I'd take
this one. l believe, with the two steel.
blue stones"
How much?" said John Rawn. turn.
ing to the grave and gray salesman.
The two pieces would cost YOU
twenty-eight thousand dollars. sir"
the latter replied. gravely and imper-
sonally.
Miss Delaware" said John Ravu
taking from his pocket his personal
check book. 'oblige me by making out
a check for that amount Bring il in
to me directly-and have the boy call
my car"
When John Rawn ascended the
steps of his mansion house that night
he fairly throbbed with the sense of
his own selfapproval. There was that
in his pocket which. he thought. when
worn by the wife Of John Rawn at
any public place Of display. would in.
dicate what grade of life he, John
Rawu. had shown himself fit to oc-
cupy. He lost no time in summonins
his wife. and with small ado put in
her extended hand the little mass of
trembling, shivering gems. She gazed
at them almost stupefied.
t.,
you say anything? What about IT.?
They're yours"
"Oh. John!" she began. John!
What do you mean? How could YOU
how could l."
For one moment he looked at her.
and she shrank back from his gaze.
But Rawn's anger turned to self.pity.
my own wife won't wear my dia-
monds." said he.
She came now and put her arms
about his neck. the first time in years;
\ but not in thankfulness. She looked
straight into his eyes. John" she
said. "Oh, John!" There was all of
woman's anguish in her eyes, In her
voice.
CHAPTER Nv.