Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19

wheel. ever sent forth such live and many coll
ored flames as did these handfuls of rubies.
emeralds sapphires and diamonds masSed to-
gether in the full blaze of tropic afternoon.
Bert remembered talk in Western Queensland
one night, before he had gone to the township
to learn trade.
"All big diamonds are red with blood if you
could only see it," mate of his had said.
There's not one of them that hasn't had muir
der done for it time and again. There's bad in
jewels, anyhow. Seems to bring out everything
bad in the people that has them Who's the
women that's craziest about diamonds? And
who's the men that buys most? What's sent
the burglars to prison? Jewels. They're the
prettiest things in the woodland the worst"
Too right they are" agreed one or two men
who had never owned as much as garnet.
And Bert, less laxative than the rest, and
more critical told himself that half of that
was nonsense and half of it spite.
Now handling the gems that had made up
the life of Billy-all- alone, he almost wondered.
It was almost with fear that he turned over
the jewels now. But he could not figure him.
self becoming a hermit of the islands on &C
count of them Besides thought Bert, with
a pang of regret. they aren't mine. anyhow"
Something seemed to catch him by the
throat. Something suggested why not?"
He wouldn't be really robbing any one if he
took the things and set himself, at one blow,
beyond want anxiety for all the so years of
life 10 come; made himself certain or Dorrie
and solid with Dorrie's parents.
He took an emerald in his hand and held it
up against the setting sun. This would be
worth a hundred" he thought, poking with his
finger the f1awless five-carat gem. And all to
60 to the guv'ment"
He set the emerald down, and rubbed his
knuckes across his eyes. Could you hurt your
eyes looking at jewels? He was seeing black
spots in the sky-no, one black spot-no, a
black line-"Spare me days." he begged, "n it's
not an airplane!"
HE acted instinctively now. without need for
thought. In two minutes he had collected
all the gems and stuffed them, unsorted into
their leather cases In two more he had opened
the safe in the wall. slung them in, and locked
it up. At the last moment he saw something
like long white envelope inside He snatched
it, put it inside his shirt, and strolled out again
on to the sea gallery. The plane was well in
sight now. flying toward Luala.
He knew now, by the droning roar that
swelled, sank, and died in duck-like squat
tering below, that the plane had arrived.
curious humor seized him. Tiptoeing into the
gallery, he peered through closed lowers.
It q long way down to the blue level
water within the jetty but Bert had excellent
eyes. He could see quite clearly the pilot who
had just finished opening up a collapsible
dinghy He could see passenger-a passenger
A
strike me pink" demanded Bert of powers
unspecifed, 'f 1t amt skirt!"
Annoyance and excitement not unpleasurable
fought each other In Berts mind. Perhaps the
latter won. At all events. he grinned as he
seized an old soft hat of Michael Benison's
crammed it down on his ear, and disposed
himself in long chair, with a magazine held
alp to cover his face. He wanted to see just
what kind of entry that girl with the flying
would make-how she'd be surprised when she
found he wasn't Billy all-alone after all.
II was almost Bert's last action In this world.