The Bismarck tribune., 1924-08-13

JeWeJ-DOX. Neral0 was q multimil-
Iionaire of vulgar antecedents and
taste who had died few years ago.
Six months later, his widow had fol-
lowed him, and they had left heirs
who chose to rid themselves of the
miscellaneous collection which the
Geralds had acquired. l could not
blame the heirs, for most of the
Gerald possessions were more suited
to the walls or cabinets of museum
than to a private home.
And when the auctioneer held up
a golden hOx, studded with Jewels,
felt embarrassment for him, COM
PEELED as he was to declare that this
article was a work of art. 1t was
about nine inches long, six inches
wide and four inches deep; and work
manship, even a high degree of
craftsmanship, had been expended
upon it. But the thing was too gor-
geous, too flamboyant, and one read
lily believed the auctioneer's state
ment that the late Mr.. Joseph Gerald
had himself superintended the de-
signing and the manufacture of the
box. One also believed without hest
taton that it had cost the multi
millionaire over ninety thousand dol
lars. Certainly the precious stones
that studded it were worth at least
fifty thousand.
But the very idea that had given
birth to the box was vulgar. 1t had
been intended to be the receptacle for
certain jewels of Gerad's wife.
The thing angered me. Artists in
precious metal had been debauched
by Gerald's money and forced to
prostitute their gifts for beauty in
order to crafty milionaire's vulgar
whlm. | wondered that anyone save
Il dealer in gold and jewels, who pro-
posed to buy the thing for it's intrin
sic value, should bid upon it. But
Gerald's death had not rid the world
Of vulgarity. "
The bidding opened at ten thou
sand dollars, and progressed rapidly
to twenty-five thousand. confined to
men when l intuitively knew were
dealers. Then another man took
hand. His clothing alone stamped
him for VIII AT he was, newly en-
riched vulgarian. For his coat was
cut IN the extreme of Broadway
fashion; his neckwear was an Of
Tense to gentleman, and the soli-
taire diamond that cleaned from it's
silken folds must have weighed
dozen carats. He had not been born
to money; long acquaintance with it
would have inculcated in him few,
at least, Of the fundamentals Of cor
rect attire. His nose was a mere
blob, piglike. His eyes, peeping over
rolls of fat, were also porcine. His
forehead slanted back, and his heavy
jaws and jutting chin made him ami
mal-like. Another of the filthy pro-
fiteers who had grown fat upon the
suffcrings of the World! Another of
those persons who had risen from
the depths during civilizations great
convuision.
l could picture the wife of this
man; as loathsome as himself, doubt
less. Also ! could picture the price
less jewelry that would go into that
box. For if man would give sixty
five thousand dollars--it was knocked
down to him at that price-for
place in which to put his jewels,
what were the jewels themselves
The mere thought made me dizzy.
IT l could get my hands upon that
box when it was filled, the fancies
that spring had put into my mind
today what might be possible to me.
One of those young girls whose eyes
had seemed inviting on the Avenue
today
"Sold to Mr.. Marcus Anderson"
said the auctioneer.
Slumped down in my chair, fun
ing with hatred toward Anderson. |
up when l heard his
name. For there were few people
who had not heard of Anderson. He
was supposed to have become, dur
ing the war, one of the richest men
in the world. My appraisal of him
had been absolutely correct, and my
vanity was CiShIcu tHdl, even III SO
slight matter, had not erred.
/ watched him 60 to desk and"
write check. My eyes followed him
as he came down the aisle and pass
ed through-the door. He came so
close to me that the skirt of his coat
brushed my knees. Mr.. Anderson, as
he climbed into his enormous town
car,>did not know how nearly he had
escap4d violent attack.
Continued in Our Next Issue)