The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-06-19
MY WIFE'S
DIAMONDS
By o. B. DU BOTS
Sc . = = - - = . = = = = = = = = = =
(CCpyright.)

(CCpyright)
My name is Raymond, Henry J. Ray
mOnd. and am u stock broker by pro-
fesSion.
You probably remember the rise of
G. Il. Q. in nineteen-twO. Well, | was
one of the tight little sticks in the
financial kite at that time, and l got
mine.
/ began to buy diamonds for Mrs.
Raymond, and never stopped until |
had loaded that clever little lady with
gems galore. | even bought them for
my wife's sister. The day gave Mrs.
R the diamond necklace, | gave
one to her sister Belle. 1t was scan
dalous the way bought diamonds.
Well, you know the condition Of
the market in nineteen-three. 1t was
simply awful, and things going from
bad to worse.
/ was living out at Brinton that
year, and when the winter came on |
was simply cupped for money You
can imagine how bad things were
when l tell you that | sifted the fur
mace ashes and shOveled the snow just
TO ecOnOmize, and yet we seemed TO be
paying our household bills. Somehow
that blessed little wife of mile could
stretch a ten-dOllar bill until it COW
cred fifty dollars worth of expenses.
Matters came to a focus, however,
one morning in December.
Jessie CHATS Mrs. Raymond, and |
had been TO reception at the club
the night before. Ye gods! but she
sparkled like a cut-glass chandelier.
And there l was going to the city the
next morning with just thirty-twO
cents in my pocket.
was in the smoker when the idea
came to me.
III steal Jessie's diamond neck
lace" said ].
Directly after dinner Fate drove
things my way on gallOp, for Jessie
suggested that we go down and call
on her sister Belle.
Say, Jess" said /. "if you don't
mind. I'd sooner run over to the club
house a while"
very WELL" she replied like an pbe-
dent little wife. But you'll call for
me, won't your
Certainly, certainly, I'll drop in al
10 80 sharp" l answered.
oh, but it was easy! l just walke'i
around the block, went in the house
dug down in the trunk and took my
plumber.
Just 10 keep up the little comedy
and introduce a realistic effect, / left
| the trunk lid open and wrenched of
the fasteners from a window opening
on the kitchen extension.
Naturally. l went to Silverstein'.
the first thing in the morning, and he
| came up dollar for dollar. Of course
/ explained that the market was ir
bad shape and / needed some ready
money that day, ETC., etc.
Maybe l didn't take home som,
flowers that night.
Well, all things come in due season
and l felt certain things were abOu
due when Jess went upstairs to dres,
for dinner. She said she would dress
Especial" in honor of my good lucl
and the roses. l knew that special
meant diamonds.
She had been in her room a few mo
ments only when heard her scream
Mercy! Jess. what is itT l asked.
"Oh, oh! I'll die from laughter
Oh, but this is too funny"
What is it, Jess? Tell me al
once"
why, why somebody has stoleI
my diamond necklace" Then sh,
went off into another fit of silly laugh
ter
WELL" / Numbered. Tell me, l.
that something funnyT'
"Oh, yes; it's too funny" she man
aged to say. ''They-they were Onl,
paste"
Paste! Those diamonds pastew
howled. You're crazy"
"Oh, no, I'm not; it's too funny.
IL had duplicate necklace mad
of paste diamonds" she gurgled. ''
| always MIC" lldl We DS TODDct
some day. Oh. isn't ii a good joker
saw Silverstein taking the matte
in the light of good joke.
where are the real diamonds
That's what l want to know" ! blurt
ed out. / must have spoken yer
rough. for she began to cry.
"They are In our safe-deposit boz
safe, and-and you don't even tell m
you are glad. and-and, or, oh, OH
wish l was deadw
Well. when / heard that joyous bi
of news all of my comfort talk cam
TO the surface. and / soon had he
q, feeling real chipperlike.
You'll leave them there. where n
robber can get them, won't you, deari
she chirped, drying her tears
"Why-er-nO-yes, yes, of course
managed to say.
"Oh. what a love of man you are
In about five minutes | heard Jes
give an unearthly scream, and
bounded up those stairs like balloO