Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-07-04
The Stolen
Diamonds
BY M. and r. M. TERRELL

occasion demanded a grim handling
and Sollie, with sigh, screwed up
his cOurage-and his anger-tO meet
the situation at least half way.
Miss O'Day," he called out into the
shop.
"What Is it, Mr.. Sobel2'
"Katie-er, Miss O'Day," he began,
once she was in his little cubby-hole
of an office at the rear of the shop;
'sitg down, please"
She did, wonderingly.
Miss O'Day, you still chew gum,
don't your" he asked, his voice low
cred.
II do, Mr.. Sobel," she mimicked.
want stick? Say, 1t wasn't you
ts,at took"
"Ain't these your sleeve guardsT
Sollie interrupted, plainly i'll at ease.
Miss O'Day, now realizing the seri-
Gus drift of the conversation, took the
pair of small sateen guards and looked
at them closely.
"Sure. My old pair. Why?"
katie" lie started to explain,
we're alone. Rubin's lunching.
Listen: for months small diamonds
have been disappearing mysterious
like from my pouches and trays"
"Well, Mr.. Sobel?' she inquired
icily.
"See here, Katie, I-you-for all
the diamonds in the world, real ones,
understand me, grille, I wouldn't
couldn't shouldn't"
"Mr. Sobel, I've been with you sew
eral years. You ought to know me by
this time"
"But, Katie, listen; I find a piece
of chewing gum with small diamond
stuck in it, all wrapped up in these
sleeve things and stuffed away in your
corner Of that coat closet there!"
Katie sputtered with anger, then
she sobbed with humiliation. Sollie
tried to get in word; what chance
have the Jewish with the Irish? Katie
wound up by hurriedly rushing out Of
the shop.
Sollie had better sense than to fol-
low Katie down the street. She'd
come back; she'd have to come back,
ooiAC ouuuCAIy ACoAAACu. AONC hdo
found pair Of glasses at lastl
SOllie went over to his safe, opened
it and lost himself In thought over the
mystery Of the diamonds. It was
f0rtuit0us moment for the passing by
Of one "Flicker" Cuffins, a recent
guest Of the state. Mr.. Cuffins, let
out Of the penitentiary, was always
good for three days of grace. 1t was
just as this Illumination Of Flicker's
philosophic mind that his eye care
lessly took in Sollie Sobel's jewelry
store and, er, loan shop. The pro-
prietor was alone, his back turned and
lost in thought. The safe was open!
Whereupon Sollie received tap
upon the bean and Flicker, second
later, had several diamond pouches.
The jeweler, who was unconscious,
was quickly bound and gagged and
showed into the recess back Of the
safe.
Katie O'Day slipped into the store
a few minutes later, so noiselessly that
she caught Rubin Gunsberger, the
watch repair man, off guard. He
quickly showed his hands behind his
back.
Save your tricks, Mr.. Gunsburger,"
Katie cried out. "I'm wise to you
now. Put those sleeve guards down
and that wad of chewing gum! Sure
it's your stinginess that gave you
away to me. You know a real dia-
mond when you get your hands on
one, Rubin! I've been walking over
in the park and thinking things out.
Say, why didn't you spend nickel
and buy your own gum?"
"Gwan! You're crazy!"
Like a flock of foxes, uh-huh. You
tight-wad, you stole gum out Of my
vanity box. You chewed that gum
and painted it and wadded a little Of
it in the folds Of each tray corner,
didn't you? You dirty hound, you!"
Rubin's face was guilt enough.
"And then, when you thought your
game was out, you had to pin your
dirty work on me! Why, you garbage
can of man, you king skunk, you"
Gunsburger ran true to form.
"D-n Soil" he whined. Paying
starvation wages! J"
Katie, her suspicious fully aroused,
rushed to the safe and peered in.
$50 you took all the diamondsw
she gasped. "Your middle names go
ing to be Sing Sing!"
1t was here that Sollie, bound and
gagged behind the safe, managed TO
attract attention. Katie dragged him
out and set him free. Rubin Guns
burger was still staring at the rified
safe when his employer grabbed him
by the arm.
"You bum, you'll" Sollie exploded.
II heard every word back there! I'll
starvation you! Shut up; I'm talk
ing! You get the hi out Of my
store or I'll bust open your main
spring! And, get this, Rubin, if you
amt here again in one hour with all
those chewing gum diamonds, with Z
per cent interest from the time you
stole each one, I'll catch you myself
for the police. Seven per cent
month, understand. Git!"
Il