Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-29
Il Yang Man Learns
the Difficulty Of Contra
dieting a Wom0n-And
There IRE SeveruI Other
Complications, Ali Form
ing One Of This Authw5
Best Stories.
ILLUSTRATED BY
r. W. CHAMBERS.

tall tower to be erected in one of
the East FiftieS, between Fifth ave-
nue. and Madison had raised a storm
of protest from the neighbors
Blasting is not of course what it
was in the good old days before Government
regulation; yet much innocent fun may still
De mad by a contractor with a sense of humor
ana good deal of political pull
One Autumn afternoon about O'Clock it
was evident to tie trained eye that something
momentous was about to occur. All the trucks
came plunging up the steep ramp and rum
bled hurriedly away; the giant scoop that had
been charging the clay bank like an angry
rhinoceros ceased its labors; the steam drills
all died down together. and two men waving
red flags sprang out onto the street.
one caught by tie arm gil who was glu-
Ing her nose to the window of LIE Courriers
jewel shop the other shooed at great bank
president who was just entering Peterloo's an
tlque shop to buy himself Queen Anne writ
ing desk
Exactly four minutes later the whole block
seemed to lift slightly as a carpet lifts when
the wind gets under it. The sound reminded
a celebrated general, hurrying to his club of
the sound of the Big Bertha in Paris
Then simultaneously the following events
occurred: A Chinese painting on glass crashed
from the wall of Peterloos and was shattered
to bits; the window of Nine. Kendal's dress
making establishment on the second floor OF
the house across the street fell out and
D.
LIE Courriers window cracked from top to bot
tom. but didn't fall out; taxicab was tilted
over and a lady inside screamed steadily
though quite uninjured. and the bank presi-
dent rushed out of Peterloo's without buying
the desk
4 Ar. PHILIBERT BARNES, the managing
w director of the American branch of the
great Rue Royale jeweler was sitting in his
inner oftice-a small room of gray and gold
boiserie with crystal chandeliers He had been
thinking. people so often are thinking lust
before pandemonium breaks loose that life was
rather dull and that being in the jewelry bust
ness was not at all exciting. He had imagined
that it would consist entirely of secret inter-
views with great f1nanciers who wanted to buy
royal emeralds for wicked little dancers: or
private conferences with faithlesS wives, trying
to sell their pearls to save worthless young
Adonises. Instead. he had just spent a tire
some afternoon with doWager in fur cape,
who wanted to have three old diamond stars
reset with the minimum of expense.
When the blast came, Phil thought-for in
moments of danger we all think egotisticalIv-
that he, Individually, was being dynamited by
gunner. He slammed the door of the safe,
grabbed revolver and rushed into the outer
office.
The first thing he saw was the doorman be-
ing carried in. 1t took several minutes for
Phil to assure himself that the mans injuries
were superficial.
Then only did he notice that the show win
dow was cracked
Nothing missing, is there?" he asked
mo, don't think so,' said Watson, his
head clerk.
But as they moved together toward the win
dow they saw that Watson had been too opti-
mistic. There was something missing, namely,
the great Medici ruby. Its lovely hesh-col-
ored case stared at them-empty
An hour was spent in investigating, in ques-
ticning every one, in teephoning the insur-
ance company, and summoning the police
Nothing whatsoever developed. There had
been many people passing at the instant OF
the explosion, crowd had surrounded the in
Jured doorman, any one might have slipped a
hand into the broken window.
At length Phil went back into his little gray
office and gravely contemplated ruin His ruby
had been insured, yes, but not for its full
value, and the difference at this moment would
about wipe him out. What fool he had been!
He had insured the Copeland diamond for its
full value, and there it lay, sparkling to itself
in the safe. But. urged by Watson, he had
skimped on the ruby No he wouldn't put
the blame on any one else. The fault was his.
He thought of his sister and her young
children all dependent on his success; of
brave old M LIE Courrier's struggle to make
a go of the Paris shop in these times. He
sighed. AS a business man he appeared to be
q flop.
He looked oddly enough, exactly as all those
handsome young men, who, in black coats and
striped trousers, with cleaning pearls in their
ties, advance. in any well conducted jewelers..
and treat your request to have your watch
regulated with the consideration DUG order
for a diamond necklace. 1t was odd that Phil
did look like this. because he had begun life
as mining engineer. He had bern examin-