FALSE DIAMONDS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10954, 2 May 1901, Page 2

FALSE DIAMONDS.

Br V. W. if. "I think I will get in this eoiop-rtment/ <r_id M. Peer-boom on tL. platform of the Bruise's Central Station to bis better half who iollowed at his h«el*. j If ha pux»y g-fJtkman clasped ths door handie- with his fieaby little fingers, and drew h,T__!i up panting to the height of the compart inert. In ths aperture of the open door the profits of a charming youn. lady became -visible. She wore a simple but elegant Fall costume. Mrr:,». Peer-boom knit her brow. "I think you will get in here. Louis," she she as id in a ton? as .harp as a hatp'n. This is no compartment for smokers." With this _hs piwhsd him aside with a gentle pre-«_r« of her energetic arm. "As you'will, Eleonore." said M. Peer.boom, resigned, and got in the next compartment. "H.re you can make ycnntelf comfortable, Louis." she continued. "The compartment is quite empty." "Quite empty," confirmed 11. Peereboom. xrith only a ha/f-suppressed sigh. "Be nm that you don't lose the umbrella! Do you hear. Louis? It is brand new, and cost twenty {races! And don't yon venture oat alone in Paris! It's dangerous there— during the World's Exposition. Always keep by the side of Uncle Edward, do you hear? "Hs i.» relish':?. And don't forget tt greet Brother-in-law Ilk-ardot, in Jeumont, and giv. him a package of cigarettes. You und'-rstand. on account of the examination oi the. baggage —he is Custom house inspector.'* Th* train for Paris was on tlie point oi setting itself in motion when a young man nwh.fi toward the compartment, tore open th. door, and spr.ing in. Th. young man threw himself carelessly in the corner. Everything about him revealed the lounger of lbs boulevard*-,—the curled moustache, the Van Dyke beard, the glossy .•ilk ii-U. th? elfgar.t gloves, the p.itent leather j-iioe-s, *v;iich only partly" concealed ; the chc I;--; d. *:!k socks. M. Per reborn v;~w;d the fellow-traveller with uncc-r.rxaltd y.i'mhation. "At least a little bdemnification for the lost conv_r»atl>"!» in tli; adjoining compartment." h? thought. "You arc also going to Pari?. I suppose?" 1:0 V?:<i -:o'.;l. to bl ?ak th:; ic°. Wb-'n the :-.trai!ger answered in the affirmative the convrr; Ytkn tor.k its eotir. 1 -.. M. Pcen-bo-iii was not mistaken. His ; {ciiuw-fiuveihr w*r< a delightful t.-lkcr. H. ! lei w sh. latest j;ike-s of the boulevards and | c.;i! d'.:"t.'d hiins-U with the; charming good I rat,;;*;, of the gcr-iiir- Pari:-i an. M. Pccre-b'.-om was errnjit;:: ;el. "M-iv I oiier you a C : r.intt?lli, monsieur?" he .«aid. iio'di:*.:; < tit to hi?, vis-a-vis a large i.ox of c:g;T.ttc.--;, which he took from his po:trna::t.ai, not without ce-rcmoniou-ne-ut. "I am very rnti.?h obliged to you," said lb? ;;t;angcr, gr.t;iou:dy. Hi' let the dark h!:ii* smok. whirl in long th-..'ds out of both n-srtril-. "Gi-TAiir,*'" hv fx'ul, with the confidence of a i r,r.noi--;--::;ur. "A pity about the heavy duty on the frontier, 'Phis i-av.ac'.ty of the Cu-tom*-* collect or can spoil the wh._e en-joym.n-t for one." "SM" eam-i in a short whistle through M. I'ccreboom's teeth. The Strang." lo.krd up surprised. "What, d ■■> you mean, niont'icur?" '"St!" repented M. P: r.*l;:-om, at ths same time snapping his finger . "You must know, mor..*::i'iii'," It: s.iid with confidL-ntia! im-poi-tancc, "my -tot'.-.er-in-law is Cu_tom_ ilou.so Irspecter at thi frontier station." "Ah. so!" said the Parisian, understanding. Jiut then the ";peed of the train began to diminish. Tier were approaching a station. "Excellent! ex client!" cried the stranger. "You snap your fingers at th_ Customs Inspector! E_ccll*:nt! excellent!" At th. earnc limt h* clapped his hands like a playful child. Th'; train stopp-d. At. that mom.*r,t there sounded from the adjoining apartment a rather violent dispute. "This is not a .mcking compartment!" cried a deep, r.ttling lady's voice. "7 hat dr:esn't prevent one from smoking a little cigarette," replied a somewhat excited, but euphonious feminine voice. M. Peereboom listened with raised eyebrows. "Under no circumstances, madam, shall I allow anyone to smoke in this compartment," Fcreeched the firs.t voice. "Very well, madam," replied the scconl; "yen oblige mc to wok the p-litenens which I m's.s hero among ladies in the next compartment am.t-.ng tin gen tic in era. I am ccrtan of finding it there." Halt a minute later the young lady who hod excited in Brussels t-li» displeasure of Mine. Peereboom had seated herself opposite M. Posreboom. Tho two gentlemen vied with each other in their attentions to the graceful newcomer. After scarcely a quarter of an hour a lov.ly mouth had blabbed out a wihwle historr. Her nam« was Madamoisellc Therese. She was an actress of the Eden Theatre, in Paris. She lived in the Bus Choiseul, No. 40. Sir; had just, completed a contract at th. Theatre de la Monnaie, in Brussels, with unexampled success. • Khe was to a*ct the _umt evening in a spectacular nlay. M. Pee reboom porceiwd w.'th pleasure that his Kwecit vis-a-vis preferred to address herwdf to him. a circumstance which his fellow-traveller soemed to notice, not without vexation. Mile. Thor.so was indefatigable. In tlio short, pauses of her charming talk she puffed dark blue rings above her head, while she held tho cigarette with calculated awkwardness between the stiffly outstretched fingors. A largo diamond in a costly setting flashed variegated colours on all sides. The Parisian could not forbear expressing his admiration for the wonderful ring. "You admire the ring?" she said, complacently. "You aro right; It is certainly splendid. But.—unfortunately—false." "What!" cried M. Poereb-iom. "Impossible!" protested his neighbour. I assure you, gentlemen. We actresses have the privilege of wearing false gems. Moreover, nobody notices it. The manufacture Jwm" mado enormous progress. Look here. I have with ma a collection of stones which every one would think genuine. She drew a plain-looking bnx from her dress pocket and raised tho cover. About twenty diamonds, as largo as beans, sparkling witih wonderful brilliancy, became visible. This two gentlemen could not suppress an exclamation of astonishment. "Charming, are they not?" she continued. "And yet false. I bought them yesterday in Brussels—live hundred franca; a trifle. I need (.hem for mv part as a Chinese princess in tine fairy play this evening." | She caressed the stones with a loving look, and rolled them with childish delight slowly to and fro. They rattled together like tire marbles with which children play. "If they were genuine," she said, "they would be worth a million and a half." "At tire least," confirmed M. Peereboom, who liked the role of a connoisseur. "I see you are a judge," she said to M. Peereboorii. "I have a whole collection at home. If yon would give mc the pleasure of your visit " "You aro entrancing, mademoiselle!" cried M. Pe«r.bt>om. inspired. The train see-mod about to stop. "What station comos now?' asked Mftle. Theresc. "Jeumont," said M. Peereboom. "Tiie first French station," added tho Parisian. "Where the baggage is examined," supplemented M. Peereboom. "Your poor cigarettes!" said tho young lady compassionately. fear! My brother-in-law, the Custom house inspector-—you understand " "But your diamonds", mademoiselle," said the stranger with emphasis. "Pooh! They are false V "But they look like genuine ones. The officers might make a mistake " "What matter* that?" "If you were detained here, mademoiselle! Only consider!" "Dear mc!" she exclaimed anxiously. "If I failed to bo at the performance——" "Mademoiselle." said M. Peereboom. "do not be alarmed! Give mc the stones. With mc they are safe, I guarantee you." "Charming," she cried, beaming with joy. "Why didn't I think of that?" Sfh'e handed him the box, which he carefully put in his breast-pocket "Jeumont! All get out, pleas., for the | Custom house examination!'' sounded fr-.--

While the \_i&& cf the otte.filers •was searched j£'T Reerebocsa w_!K_<i wit a bi_ brother-in-law. the Custom bowifispeetor. up ard down before the train. . M. Eicardot w_* all smiley ****?»* ! let a box rf Rename ones" d-sappear m ! hi* deep pocket V , . , I "M. Veer.bcom's baa-sag*. h» a*«dr j teen examined," te «« _l__ % _f xxr vho was earthing the compartments The htter raised bis band to his cap by wav of salute. . . j "Th, examination lasts longer to-day than usual." ?aid M. Peereboom. "For good reasons," replied Ricardot. We have sot wind. , "Wind? Of what-' . . „.- , "Ther* are members of an inrcraaUona! bnn. of -mugdeia in the train. In view of "k* W?War and ths World s Exposition diamond "Lulling i* extremely lucrative "'•SET *i comprehensible." assured M. Pe-refcoora. with impcitance. At last the examination wa* ended. Tfie travellers had taken their s«us agsun. Srarrelv h« . the train set itself in motion once inCT. when Mite. Therese b.o*e out into an uncontrollable lauffl- , _._,,„* "Charming! Divine!" she cried repeatedh*. "If yon had seen tneir faces, monKkur, wh._ they didn't tad anything of value! Moreover, lam greatly indebted to you. monsieur. Without your support—; -Vot worth mentioning, mademoiselle, broke in XI. Pt_raboom. ./'I return your tr«iMi.e to yon unharmed. H* held out the box to her. Before she could take it the st naffer bad possessed him* .f of the treasure with a quick grasp. "t\r'-'lon xr» " he said, politely, *tf I take rour Valuable property under my protection "for the rest of the journey. One cannot know .'' , . , "You are exc«edin.,ly kind, monsieur. The trip to Paris "pa s «d with increased cheerfulness. M. Peereboom s happiness seemed to reach the pinnacle wtien the -.transre r . in St. Denis, the last station before Paris, twk have quits unexpectedly and sot out hastily. "But- your diamonds! said M. Pecreb:»om, when the fellow traveller had disappeared. . , "Ah, never mind!" she replied with a calm smile. "They are in good hands." The train approached the Northern station. M. Peereboom seized the velvety hands of the voting ' af - v ''.- ---"So you really .:Uow mc to visit you'in Pa-is':" ho said in the softest tone of which his voice was capable. "Why, cwtainh*; We v.*ould be mexp:vs',ib!y Rl-.il!" ' "We? Who—we" '■\YcV- —mv husb-tnd and I." " V i: :: ■*•—■ ■ _.-bon-I '■ You are—married ?" stymn. M. Peereboom. "The young m-ir. who got out a- little while ago " "Is mv hu.-'vinc. I have good taste, haven't j? He is just as gallant as handsome. Jli v.-ill hi very glad it you visit us. Don't forget. No. 40 lUip Choiseui! You havo done him nn inelfnble favour; he owes you boucdle-is gratitude, and will not fail to give you revenge. You have let Into earn two htn.rcd thousand francs." "Two hundred thousand irar.es?" "At the very h ..-t! The trade with diamonds i. cxcocliDglv remunerative nowaday-." "What, your diamonds were " "O.nuhie! You perceived that immediat?iy, man _f-ur. if on are a connois-seur. you icnow. Moreover, we are at the end of our journey. Au revoir, monsieur! 40 P.U!*: Clioiscul!"' She got out nimtily. M. Peereboom •stood as if petrified." For a moment he was unable to utter a wold. j "Rand of smugglers!" he cried finally, with a hoarse voice. "I shall inform the polie.—without delay !" She turn.cl toward him once more. , "And your cigarettes?" she said, with a | little mocking smile. j Then she tripped quickly away.