A Deal In Rings

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 11 (Supplement)

A Deal In Rings

+ -+ ' + + COMING EVENTS

TA XL is, not gold that glitters. Nor are all stones that glisten diamonds , —or rubies. - • • ■ Did you'ever buy a ring in Cairo? My mate did. After the Evacuation the Mountods were encamped ; at Jioascar. After boingdeloused and issued with clean clothes we were given leave to Cairo in rotation. . . When my turn came, my mate and I set out for. this city of many vices and pleasures. "Arriving tliore wo slaketl a thirst of some importance, then had a look round. . • • • . In our wanderings through the native quarter we were passing the end 0 11 ? nc of. those dark, unwholesome smelling lanes peculiar to this section, when wo heard a call:: "Zealand*, come ore. j •'Hullo," said my mate, "who is this! , It was a native girl, dressed in black, yashmak and all. I said, '"What you want?" "Come in 'ere," she; replied,, showing us a door into a hovel. Entering the place,'she; inquired if « wanted . to buy a ring—' a valuable ring. Jkly] b rudder, • him a big thief, he

What A Trooper ' Bought ' ■.; ' steal liirn in temple. You no tell p lice- ] man. I show you," With this she i pulled out a piece of rag and disclosed what looked to be a lovely ring, with ! a large, glistening stone. We gazed at the thing, my jriate saying, "By cripes, it's a corker! It would be° worth a bit in New Zealand. Saw much you want for it?" "You give me Eenglisli money. Five shillin's —verra cheap. But you no tell p'liceman." My mate took tiie ring, and off we went, congratulating- oursolves on the deal, and speculating on its value in New Zealand. We met the mob, imbibed some more liquid refreshment, and eventually found ourselves back in camp at lloasear.

Following rovoille next morning, while washing my face I spotted sometiling hanging on the braces of the man next to inc. It was my mate's ring. I said to him, "Where did you get that ring? It belongs to — . "Like it does. I bought that in Cairo last week," 1 I told my mate about it. After, breakfast he told me that he had seen a ring on the cook's finger like his. Asking him to let me have another look at his, he pulled it out and passed it' over to me. I pressed' the ring betweon my fingers with a fair pressure—and it doubled up like a concertina. "A very valuable ring." . • Hade of lead, new and shining; with a nico glass ruby, it was worth about threepence in the bazaar. By the end of the day we had seen a number of them.' Rosie must have done a good trade, for we heard of a lot of "Aussies" and "Dinks" who had been taken in by her.' . I suppose she made enough to votire on. Well, good luck to her. The last time I saw my old mate I paid to him: "You want to buy the very valuable ring?" "You go to " was His prompt reaty.

DIGGERS' CRICKET Auckland Competition TfUXTUHES for next Saturday, February 11, in the Auckland R.S.A. competition are as follows: — Grey Lynn v. New Lynn, Outer Domain; Point Chevalier v. Takapuna, Takapuna; Eden-Roskill -v. R.S.A., Walker Park; Parnell v. Onehunga, Onelitinga; Avondale v. Devonport, Devonport; Newmarket, a' bye. Playing against Newmarket at Walker Park on .January 21, McLaughlin, of the Groy Lynn Club, made 103 in just a shade over 40 minutes. Great scoring!

Auckland R.S.A. Meeting rpHE quarterly meeting of the Auckland R.S.A. will be held in the Lewis Eady Hall on Thursday, February 9, at 7.45 p.m, It is at these meeting: that riiembers may obtain informatior on all matters relative to ex-service-men's interests, and for their own satisfaction members should attend "in: large quantities. 5 ?