Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-03-28
D
CHAPTER 5

1.-THE JEWELLERS of Europe
talked about the great Camden
ruby. now missing for many years
One In Amsterdam claimed he had
the ruby. but when he showed it to
Vthers. they laughed at him. This
1psild not be the ruby that was so
laY1ous. There was no hole in It.
no chain. the stone was not large
enough. His ruby was big one.
but the Camden ruby was huge.
larger than a pigeons egg. wom-
an could clasp her fingers around it.,
but not shut them over it. The gem
the Amsterdam jeweler had was sold
In 1647 or Whereabouts. I'm not sure
OF the date. for a small fortune as
the Camden ruby. Later 1t was
proved an imitation because in Lon
don the following YER the Camden
ruby was worn by a woman. The
ruby which was mistaken for the
famous one was afterwards found to
be similar to the Camden. but
smaller and unpierced. It is now
owned by the Rothchilders of Lon
don. It is a part of their great ruby
collection which will go to the Brit
lsh Museum at the death of the
present heir. SO much for that.
an 1649 an old llan came to the
house of Lady Morley in London
with jewel for sale. She saw him.
of course as she loved jewels and
had many of them. She was fabu-
lousy wealthy and a great favorite
It. was just before the trial and exc
cution Of Charles the First. Crom-
wells hand was already heavy on the
land.
ST say she admitted the old man.
and saw what he had. Without
word she paid him his price in gold
The stone he took from his dirty
pouch he whispered to her. was the
Camden ruby. She had never seen
the like of it before and even if the
mans price was high. the jewel was
worth It. She would Lave t set in a
great necklace.
ct suppose she asked the mar
where he got the ruby. suppose
he told her something. probably not
the truth He was never seen again
stone. but she summoned her maid
and ordered her to find her jeweler
and bring him to her Immediately
She had great plans for the ruby
and was going 70 have her ieweler
design a necklace that would set
london 70 talking
THE maid saw the stone on her
mistress neck saw her lean toward
her mirror to admire it the more
Lady Morley was beautiful woman
7 think 7 have said
''The gr,1mhlinc maid hustled out
through the dark streets to find the
1eweler 7 rather jnoaoine che I'D no.
relish her journey that night It was
hardly safe for a woman to be alone
on the streets at NIGHT. but her mis-
tress had insisted she go herself and
that she say nothing to the ieweler
about her purchase
''Fhe jeweler. one Hans Clap. might
have been in bed when the little
maid came. However. he arose
dressed and followed the girl back
The girl had been gone perhans
several hours We can't tell. Dis
tances In old ondon were not made
In few minutes by motor
"Breathlessiy the maid led Hans
Clap up the stairs and knocked on
Lady Morlev's door. There was no
answer. She knocked again. then
opened It wide and staggered back
when she saw her mistress lying on
the floor. her hand cupped around
the; ruby
."She was dead-there was a great
knife wound - her heart. but the
ruby was in her hand.
There was a scandal. Of course.
but 1t was hushed up " Lord Nor
ley. the husband of Nell We do not
find much of The story in records of
that time. Perhaps the reason is
that the country was in upheaval.
and plain Cromwell frowned on the
Morleys and their famous Jewel We