Evening star., 1923-04-17
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.

II.-A Mans Heart.
~ IND Bannock and engage
~ him to do this work. Tell
him he may name his own
The upshot of the matter was Man
ager Hale allowed himself to be per-
suaded. though against his better
Judgment.
Soon after the young man took his
departure, leaving in Hale's hands
the oriental ruby, worth kings ram
som: a thousand dollars in cash to
locate Bannock, and card, on which
was written:
ITO be called for. J. SMITH"
The manager was so frustrated by
this unusual occurrence he did not
n9tice at the time that the card bore
no address. The stranger had van
Ished as mysterously as he had come.
He was certainly uneasy concerning
who he was. how he came into pos
session of so rare gem and his
utter careleSsness in leaving 1t un-
receipted for.
Huh! No one but a woman would
be responsible for so mad a whim.
| What will Il man not do for woman
who has infatuated him?" he unused.
1t was great pity to mar such
gem. Still, if the owner had no such
scruples. why should he waste a re-
great over it? The notions of their
valuable customers must be catered
10, no matter how extravagant or
/ foolhardy.
Conflicting thoughts rushed through
his mind. This transaction was most
Irregular. Was he wise in accepting
Taking down his reference book, he
went hurriedly but carefully over it's
index. To his great surprise, he
| round no mention of this particular
ST. 1h
tie firm, after all? The long and
short of it was, they were assigned
the work of having the desired word
cut upon the stone. no matter what
the consequences might be-Success
or failure.
He thought of his wife's words: ~
am sure. James. something unusual is
about to happen today"
Well. something extremely unusual
had happened. He felt assured it was
OF no particular import to himself.
Did they not cater to the unusual
whims of their wealthy patrons every
day in the week? Only few days
before they had bejeweled the false
cost her large sum to thus appease
her vanity. True. they had advised
strenuouSly against the silly notion
She would have jeweled teeth. If
they had not acceded to her wishes.
taking into consideration she spent
large sum of money for their goods
with each turn of fashions whim.
some other firm would have accom-
nsodated her. and perhaps not have
done the work as solidly and well.
Hale passed the inclosure up and
down impatiently, pausing now and
then to gize at the ruby, which lay
on it's white cotton bed on the desk
The rays of the setting sun. filtering
caught its gleam. throwing long.
5loodred spIashes about the place In
all directions The sight was dis
|quieting, forcing the startling thought
Just been fought thereto the death
and the victor looking fearfuIly
about the awful scene of carnage ere
taking flight to escape.
Hale shuddered. Angrily drawing
down the shade, he determined not TO
allow his thoughts to travel into
paths in which they had never strayed
before. Such reveries were absurd.
1t was ridiculous to ponder thus over
n business transaction. He would
call Staples. lay the matter before
him. shifting the affair on his shoul-
dejS, as it were. ii he could be made
to see the Feasibility of the under
taking. He hoped Staples would be
with him in this matter. raising no
IQuesiton over the arrangement. He
touched an electric button on the
railing impatiently. In response.
tall. spare, middle-aged man ap-
peared.
"Sit down, Staples. I was worried
| lest you had gone. I should have
had lively time recalling you"
| Staples rose to his feet in alarm.
Il hope you do not mean you have
decided not to give me my vacation
at this time. sir. That would cause
me some inconvenience, as 1 have al
ready made every arrangement to
start tomorrow
mot so fast. Staples" laughed Hale.
n ic
ask you If you would mind making
your pleasure trip one of business for
the firm as well. There would be a
mighty tidy sum in it for you-all
Your expenses paid"
Yes. sir. Certainly. L"
First of all, do you know where
caSed?"
7 was talking with seafaring
well. declaring he's as clipper as a
man half his age. He was sent by
some government to katar, that's on
the Arabian cost, / believe. He has
remained there ever since as an ap-
Katar coast. He has outlived all his
II must send man in search of
BaRpock at once cut in Hale. HE
competent to execute the work re-
quired."
| Whereupon he explained in detail
10 Staples, showing him the superb
jewel on which the stranger wished
the word "Mizpah" engraved.
Like his manager, Staples fairly
gasped:
Ten to one it will be split-fairly
| ruined. 1t would be folly. almost
criminal, to attempt it."
That is not our lookout 1t must
be accomplished. barring accidents,
if it be within human power. You
are the only man, Staples, whom
can trust to take the valuable gem;
Aalsq to see that it is safely placed in
S3a Knocks hands,
Staples undertook the commission.
! solemnly declaring he might be
counted on to defend the treasure
with his life If need be.
He agreed with Hale that it would