Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-10-29

be developing spinal trouble, though
the doctors here really didn't seem TO
know what allied the child; and then
the sentence / clearly remember was.
I'm very greatly in need of money"
fear must have drawn back sud-
denly actually thought she was try
Ing to borrow of me-for she smiled
and answered my unspoken words: Il
don't mean 1 want TO borrow anything.
] have some property want to dis
pose Of ! want to sell some rubies."
why, Mrs. Delario. I'm not a
dealer" l replied quickly.
Il know you're not-that's why l
thought you could help me better than
anyone else. The stones were left me
by great-uncle in France, and / may
as well confess it now-they came In
duty free"
"SmuggledT" interjected.
"Well, a friend brought them over
and they weren't found when the bag
gage was examined. But don't you see
that was why I could sell them at a
bargain?"
II don't know anybody who deals in
Struggled gems"
"of course--but you needn't tell
that-you don't actually know how
tssy got in--you are selling them for
friend. It's because you don't know
mat that you can sell them better
than ] can. At least you wouldn't mind
looking at the stones and telling me
what they're worth so I'll have some
thing to go on? haven't an idea how
valuable they are"
Take them to Tiffany's," I sug-
gested
I'm afraid to take them anywhere,
TO tell you the truth. Eugene took
them TO a place on Maiden lane yes
terday and the people acted so queerly.
Eugene-he's very psychic-got the
impression that they were going to ac-
cuse him of smuggling them or some
thing of the kind-stealing the rubies.
perhaps from them-and he put them
in his pocket and ran out. He thinks
he was followed, but he couldn't make
sure. Don't you see how easy II
would be for anyone to accuse lone
woman of theft"
But how would they prove any
thing?" / interrupted. "If the stones
are yours"
She stopped me with bitter laugh.
Cant you see that the mere public
accusation that I'd stolen jewels would
ruin me professionally? 1t would put
me instantly under suspicion of fraud
in all my dealings. Oh, you don't
know; you haven't conception of
what this life MEANS" she went on
little wildly. "You don't know the
struggle just to make ones daily
bread. A lawsuit would ruin me finan-
cially-I have no money to hire law
yer to defend me-"
a friend. Yes. I'd help her in every
reasonable way.
"You mustn't labor under any false
Impressions about me-" she went on.
II have little property-not enough
10 support two peOple-and what l
earn. / live here rent free-they pay
the rent-the circle that meets here
twice week. have the house much
as minister has his parsonage. If
there were ever any scandal--if they
turned me out from here-Td be prac-
tically pNnniless. l couldn't make a
fresh start with that hanging over me.
And then my son !"
said, well, get the stones and I'll
look at them if you care to have me
do that"
She left me with grateful smile,
but returned so quickly that rather
guessed she had the stones on her
person. 1t was a dingy little paste
board box she'd come back with, fas-
tened with common little elastic.
She slipped the elastic and placed the
box in my hand.
l raised the lid. gave one look
at the contents, emptied out the stones
into my hand and--nearly fell off my
chair,
THE STONES l HELD WE'RE
BLOOD-RED DIAMONDS And there
were seven of them--a stone you don't
see one of In year. perhaps. Why.
didn't know there We're such stones
In the heavens or the earth or the
waters under the EARTH Seven blood
red diamonds, absolutely fiawless. first
water gems, and perfectly matched TO
the last facet, the last CLEAN and
twinkle in their radiant depths.
held them. almost frightened, end
really didn't hear what she was saying
till she remarked something about
their being matched.
Matched Well. they were matched
this way If an absolutely perfect me-
| chanicaI mind with an absolutely per-
feet mechanical tool, working on abso-
lutely perfect substance can be con-
celved. the mind and the tool. work
Ing without variation, might have pro
duced those seven stones. Yes-l
should say they were matchedi
81 remember you told me once" she
was prattling, that the larger the
/ stones the more individual they be
came and the harder they were to
match. II they were worth five thou.
sand dollars apiece couldn't l get
say-forty thousand dollars for the
! seveng"
Forty thousand dollars" I gasped
| looking at her now for the frs; tiI:C
since I'd looked at the stones.
An expression 81 disappointment
crossed her face, and of chagrin TOO
at having committed herself before