Evening star., 1933-05-14

HERE was CONSERVATION within the
walls of the Elite Loan Co. The
company didn't like to get gypped-
very seldom was-but now they were.
And how!
Nothing but q two-karat white
Apphire!" exploded Nose Butekan, the
proprietor. There's an expert for you'll"
: He glared at his young appraiser. Jersey"
Iiley How was to know?" protested Jer-
sey. (Right name Harold, but he came from
Newark, hence the queer handle) The light
was rotten. And he said It was perfect blue
white stone"
HE said sol" howled Mr.. Butekan. He
should be believed! Since how long has any
body believed anything Rubies Noble said. hey?
II that guy told me it was today-rd know 1t
was yesterday or even next week. And you
loaned four hundred dollars On . white sap
phire! It would be robbing somebody to ask
twenty dollars for it,"
"Wel it looked like diamond
The telephone rang Mr.. Butekan's voice
was irritable as he answered. Then surprise
came into his mobile face. then rudy anger.
He hung up with mixed emotions
"There's one good thing about it" he unused.
II amt the only sucker In this town who was
stuck That low-hfe. Rubies Noble, pulled his
dirty trick II times yesterday and the day
before in other shops. He goes IN when the
Light Is poor, asks for high loan on q blue
white stone-and do they get caught! White
sapphires amt so common. guess, Jersey.
you never saw one, hey?"
mo. I never did I'm sorry, Mr.. Butekan.
you should cry yourself to death!'
I UE went on in the Elite ONCE. The Incl
= dent Of the white sapphire was not mem
toned again, although the unuttered curses
muttered by Mr.. Butekan would have curled
the equanimity Of Mr.. Noble.
To the trade Rubies Noble was a crook.
But the official world of crookdom would have
spurned him Rubies never took . chance He
made his living at Showing up" stun IN the
loan offices and then selling the tickets at q
fancy price to the gulhble.
He got his nickname from the curious fact
that he was crazy about rubies and yet couldn't
tell a real one from a good phoney. The ruby.
as any appraiser will tell you' Is hard stone
to know.
A couple of days later Mr.. Butekan laid
down his ultimatum. Listen, jersey I want
you should say nothing about this white sap.
phire to nobody, yunderstand? And most OF
all don't let on to that skunk In the grass,
Rlbies Noble-the dirty dog In the nest!"
So when the apprehensive Rubies Noble stuck
his barometrical nose In the door some few
days later, there wasn't . frown In the air.
Gingerly he stepped inside ready to run back
ward. But there was Mr.. Butekan himself
up at the back, weighing out sore gold. He
went over to him.
"oh, hello, Mr. Butekan," he offered, stil
ready to run.
M. Butekan nodded Urufaed Of brow. Eu-
dently he wasn't sore. Perhaps he hadn't dis
covered the diamond" was . white sapphire
yet Heigh-ho!
Rubies produced . roll Of gold chains.
wrapped in q black cloth. Buying anything?
Here's a trade Ninety cents . pennyweight.
New stuff"
Mr. Butekan cast an eye upon them. noted
the famous name ON the swivels. without
word he unlocked 10 Of them, tossed them
into his scales.
"sixty-five pennywetghts." remarked Mr..
Butekan. "The cashier, she will 0ive you
check"
Rubies took the check and was gong out
when Mr.. Butekan called to him. 1--WE got
some swell cinnamon diamonds coming in to-
morrow" he said casually. IT you're around
tomorrow about II. you can have first look at
'em. Cheap, too"
"okay," said the relieved Rubias, 7 got
mooey. See you tomorrow" .lEt