The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-04
BEGIN HERE TODAY


John Ainsley, a man of educatic
and breeding, becomes a mast,
crook-preying upon other thieve
His first venture into theft was
the expense of Daragon, FIT
Avenue jeweler.
Now, in a resort hotel, Ainsley
recovering the strength which j
lost in months of near-starvatio
before he turned to dishonesty. A
the resort he unfairly loses $500
a golf bet with Ernest Vantint
chief owner of detective agency
a coarse, boorish Individual. Var
| tine is engaged to Miss Kernocha,
daughter of wealthy retired brok
er. AS proof of his great wealth
kernochan shows Ainsley a ring
an enormous ruby-which he CAV
to his daughter upon her engage
ment to Vantine.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
He was not loath to do so, and
learned that the jewel had his
tory. 1t had been owned by Rus
sian grand duke who had fled t
Italy when Kerenski came into pow
err. He had disposed of it to an Am
erican millionaire by the name o
Adams, who had died shortly after
ward, leaving his affairs much in
volved.
II had claim against his estate
and | took this stone in settlement
from his widow" said Kernochan.
l wondered, looking at his SNUG
face, with the pious sidewhisker.
and the mean, hard mouth, how Just
had been his claim against the es.
tate. Idly, | questioned him--ye,
not too idly, for the stone attracted
me. learned that Adams had left
a widow, who now resided in Boston
and who was in rather straitened
circumstances. Thinking of how
comfortably that widow might live
upon the proceeds of the sale of the
ruby, felt my distaste for Kern
ochan increasing. | made up my
mind that | would have that ruby.
But next morning, starting for
the second fairway, where the pro-
fessional was awaiting me to correct
nasty slice that long absence from
the game had produced in my drive.
came upon the Kernochans and
Vantine in the lobby. They were
dressed for travel, and porters were
laden with bags. stopped beside
them. E
Yes, we're leaving" Kernochan
told me in reply to my polite ques.l
ton. "A telegram late last night
sudden death OF former partner Of
mine; inconsiderate of him to die
Just now, when l am enjoying the
golf, but it can't be helped."'
His callous brutality should not
have affected me, but l marked it
up against him. ], too, felt that his
partner was inconsiderate; l wanted
he ruby, and it was going away. |
nurmured an insincere coincidence.
turned to Vantne.
I'D hoped, with little practice.
o take you on again." l told him.
"Well, there are other golf
ourses," he leered.
Il live at Greenwich, Mr.. Ainsley,"
aid KernOchan. "In a few weeks
he courses around there will be in
:ood condition. If you're in New
york-"
THANK you very much," l told
i'm warmly. !
And the next day l, too, left Pine
urst. Two evenings later l was in !
session; and twenty-four hours after
ny arrival l had read and digested, |
n newspaper files, the life and
cath of the Henry Adams, whose
widow had surrendered the great
uby to Benjamin Kernochan. For,
GU see, when l make up my mind | !
m very much in earnest.
had read Of supercrooks; | had
net one in the flesh, and almost
nder his eyes had distracted a
ewel for the possession of which
e had made his supercrook plans.
had told myself then that the So
allied supercrooks succeeded merely
ecause of the low intelligence of
ne police opposed to them. If low
was all nv super-
rock possessed-could achieve sue
ass, what would the intelligence of
gentleman achieve?
l had answered that question sat
'factorily. BY one bit of sleight-
f-hand I had made more money
IAN honest drudgery would have
armed me in lifetime. For | had
profession. Born to expecta
ons which had not been fulfilled,
found myself, at thirty, possessed
an ar'stocratic birth, a cosmo-
oiltan EDUCATION and-nothing
Sc. l was living sermon of the
Utility of the gentleman. For the
~ when the mere being a gentle
an entitled one to decent. and
'norable living has passed for
'er. The world has no respect for
ne instincts: it pavs its tr;hu+os