The Springdale news., 1915-11-19

curious chain of dull old gold Of q. cient workmanship But the face oi the loeket is what has sleamed benca. the wan moon rays
 Burk gasps at the sight of it Was ever Il diamond of such Il size? Barh is Il billposter and knows little of dia monds He cannot tell diamonds iron paste, perhaps, but he can tell paste from diamonds. Il wonder If it's fakC?" he gasps. Why, a piece of ict this size would be worth some money
 Then, as if promNed by some olt burlesque buffoonery, he holds the shin ing object against his moistenel tongue. Anyway. it ain't alum." ht says Burk. the bilIposter, knows alum. It is used in paste. The great white stone gleams so brightly as the moons light strengthens that the rougl biliPo<ter is half convinced
 .Oh, Lordy, Suppose it was real QamondE' he whispers hoarsely. And he forgets that he has dropped the plate and knife and is unconsciously wandering away from the hives and honey.
 When he reaches the fire beneath the dead tree he notices his partner is ab. sent. He holds the locket ill the fire. light and is rewarded by a blazing daz. zle. reflecting the crimson glare of the flames from the facetel stone as large as an English walnut. Then he hears step behind him and springs guiltily to his feet. It k Jack Williams. back from the spring with a pail of water for their coffee
 Whats the excitement? Whateha hiding there:' asks Jack Williams sus nieionsly.
 Burk brings the chain and locllet into view. 4Somepin found" he an- sWers Think it's worth anything? Suppose il was q real diamond and as hig as that: IIuiiy gee.
 Williams takes it and examines it seornfnIy "A diamond that size?'s he asks. You're dafy, They ain't made that biz It's what the fake jew elry guys call 'a piece of big sum.' Put there's nothing cheap looking about it That chain aint brass not the loeket, either, says Burk.
 Let's give it the acid test" remarks Williams, and going over to the wag- oh.Z he removes | piece of glass from ole Of the sides of their large. square lantern.
 The HRpermost facet of tue stone ht the loeket is drawn down across the glass. A low. grittins. slightly kissing sound follows. The amateur lapidary bends the deeply scratched plane of glass It sewers clear and straight along the line of the deep scratch The bil1posters have found and now possess the diamond from the sky. They stare at it dumfounded Then Williams says hoarseiy, It's real diamond. We're rich men, Ben
 With an oath Burk suatche- the chain and diamond from the shaking hands of Williams
 "We2 You ain't got no claim on it. he cries. with hoarse greediness Who found il? Did you? Naw' found 1t and it,s niue and don't have to share with nobody
 Well, keep it. you hog. cries the other There's lots Of junk will cut glass. have been good enough pal to you when you were sick and broke and up against il. and If il is worth anything l suppose you are yellow dog enough 10 hog it all. But this shows me just what you are. And if it's worth ten pins or ten millions want no part of it, you dirty cheap tour husher and sneaking swine"
 And they make no coffee and cook no cakes DOT bite nor sup with each other but with hatred and greed in their hearts they lie for tue last time blanketed side by side One of them clutches the jewel of murder and dis