The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-03-15
a Coral
Earring
Bv DONALD CHAMBERLlN

A man and Il woman sat In an Italian
restaurant in New York. At near
table sat man with pointed beard.
The couple were spea king Of Naples.
The man with the pointed beard sat
gazing ut coral earring the woman
wore with ;in evident interest. He
also listened to the couples CONVERSE
ton. When they turned their talk
from Naples to Milan he raised his
glass toward the man and said:
Pardon me, signor; am Il citizen
Of Milan. Meeting one familiar with
the place Of my home. cannot re-
frain from asking him to drink with
me to the finest city in the world. |
trust the signOra will join me as we'll
Both the man and the woman raised
their glasses and drank TO ''the finest
city in the world" and the proposer OF
the toast was invited to join them at
their table. 1t was not long before
they had become 50 pleased with each
other that an exchange Of cards was
made. The man with the pointed
beard was Andrea Mchclli. The 9th
crs were Signor and Signora Carelli,
Michelli was familiar With all Italian
had never been. Carelli, though he
admitted he had been there often, did
not like the place. declaring it to be
the worst city in the world
"In what respect? asked Michelll.
"Criminality,' was the reply.
"Now think OF it," said Michelli,
mot long ago our Milan journals were
full OF murder in which a beautiful
woman high in the social circle was
made away with, and at the same
time u lot Of valuable Jewels were
TAKEN
While saying this Michelli fixed his
eye on that Of Signor Carelli. The
latter returned it with the same fixed
ness till Michcli's gaze was removed:
then the conversation fell into other
channels. MicheIli called a waiter and
asked if lie could bring Il certain kind
OF wine from the south Of Italy. The
wine was brought. and the party drank
TO the king and queen Of Italy. then
pursued their chat, drifting over the
peninsula for awhile, then taking up
the manners and customs Of the Amer
leans.
Carclli drank very little wine, but
the signora was not sparing Of 1t. For
this reason her husband was the more
ia cituru of the two and the chat was
carried on between her and Michelli.
May | ask he said, "where you
got those coral earrings? l have never
seen such beautiful carving"
The woman before replying looked
at her husband, then said that she had
been given them by her mother and
believed they had been cut in Paris.
THE reason am interested In them"
said Michclli, us that my wife has
some corals which l have always sup
posed came from Naples. In fact
have been told that the most beautiful
work done in corals is executed in that
city Would you mind permitting me
to examine them?'
The woman looked again at her hus-
band for instructions. He was very
pale, but said nothing. 1t seemed that
his wife felt the request to be an or
der. At any rate. she reluctantly took
Off one Of her earrings and handed it
to Michelli. He examined it admfring.
ly, then asked for its mate. The wom-
an hesitated, looked up 1T Michelli as
if surprised at such request, then
handed him what he had asked for.
He looked at the two together and
said.
'"These are not mates"
"Indeedw said the woman with gen.
uine surprise, then. turning to her hus-
band, asked if he had ever suspected
what the signor said. 5...
Careili seemed too much agitated to
reply.
Il thought" said Michelli. that you
got them from your mother:'
Both the woman and the man were
now visibly agitated. Michelli took
out wallet, from which he drew forth
a coral earring. the exact mate to the
finer of the two shown him by the
woman.
'Giuseppe Ricadona." be said, Il
came to America for the express pur-
~