The Agitated Emerald

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 7, 16 February 1907, Page 35

The Agitated Emerald

By

GEORGE FOLSOM

(The story of a mobile gem that eut up all sorts of capers and created no little excitement

"W < R. JOHN TRUESDELL, a retired merchant, had forsworn I ■ fast horses, and had not yet ac- | t quired the automobile habit. ▼ Being free from these “manias,” as he termed them, he devoted his leisure to collecting unset precious stones. So zealous was he in his new occupation that he soon attracted the attention of those independent dealers who make a business of “private house” trade with customers who never haggle at a jeweller’s counter, and insist on examining gems on their own library tables. Mr. Truesdell was excited as well as pleased when he had read for the second time the following letter from one of these dealers: . New York, November 1, 1905. John Truesdell Esq., Dear Sir,— I have just succeeded in securing one of the largest and finest rough emeralds that has ever come to this country. It was found in India and is said to have some strange characteristics. One of these is its changing to a. lighter colour under conditions I cannot very well explain in a letter. It .is also said that it has been known to move without being touched. I would like you to see it before I show it to others. The price is four thousand, which no more than covers its actual value in karats. The other things may be all humbug, and I wouldn't care to nave you buy it expecting to find it something queer. Trusting you will make an early appointment, I remain, Yours respectfully, THOMAS TRIPP. “I’ve had good things from Tripp,” said Mr. Truesdell to his secretary, “and I think I will look this emerald over. Please write him, Mr. Wilder, that I will see him here to-morrow night. If that stone really does change in tint—-for I suppose that is what he means—l will have it cut and set. But are there such siones?” Tracy Wilder a tall, slender young Englishman with a closely trimmed, pointed beard, hesitated a moment. “There was the Nadhir diamond,” he said slowly, “which flashed defiant rays when an enemy of the king, its owner, came near it. Then there was an East Indian ruby which turned white every new moon. There were others, but I cannot recall just what they did.” “Authentic’” said Mr. Truesdell. Wilder put out his hands with a distinctly French gesture as he answered, “Not exactly vouched for, but mentioned in chronicles of the early occupation of India by the English. All such stories are more or less exaggerated.” “Well,” said Mr. Truesdell, settling down to an examination of the more prosaic stones of his own collection, “make the appointment, any way. I will consider the emerald on its merits.” At eight o’clock the next evening Mr. Thomas Tripp bustled into t he library, a thick-set, smooth-faced, well-dressed man, with just enough bluntness to prevent his displaying any trace of servility. For servility, .Tripp considered, was a very useless thing in his particular business. “Tve. brought it, Mr. Truesdell,” he cried briskly;-‘and really, sir, the more I look at it the finer it’Shows up. It’s a grand stone/but ” and here his voice sank, "I’iu afraid of it. 'l*here does seem to be something about it ” and then he looked at his customer and from

him inquiringly to the secretary, now busy at his desk in a far corner. “You can say anything you wish before Mr. Wilder,” said Truesdell, “he is something of an expert, too, and will examine the stone with me. Mr. Wilder, this is Mr. Tripp to whom you wrote, and he has brought the emerald. Come over to the table and join us.’’ Wilder quietly seated himself at the end of the long, leather-covered table at which Truesdell and Tripp were already seated, and the dealer went on: “Now,” he said, taking from an inner pocket a small box, “I want to say something before I open this. It’s hard to believe, but you can judge for yourselves.” He held up the box and shook it. There was no sound that the others could hear, and Mr. Truesdell smiled. ' “This morning,” said Tripp, impressively, “I looked at the stone and wrapped it in tissue paper afterward. Then I put it in the box and placed the box before me on the table. 1 heard a slight rattle and looked at the box and. would you believe me. gentlemeii, that box actually moved!” Mr. Truesdell stared, but Wilder laughed. “Put it on the table now,” ho said. Mr. Tripp placed the box in the centre of the long table, and the three men looked at it intently for more than a minute. It did not move, and again Wilder laughed. “The move was an illusion,” he said. Mr. Truesdell thought differently. As the prospective owner of a stone with a history he was prepared for any exhibition. In fact, the price being settled, he was very willing to have the box move or even to have the emerald unwrap itself and come out of the box of its own volition. “Open"it, open the box!” he cried eagerly, “and let me see this wonderful stone. I cannot wait.” Mr. Tripp opened the box with provoking slowness. Taking off the tissuepaper he finally revealed to Mr. Truesdell a magnificent uncut stone, half an inch wide on its Hatter side ami somewhat longer from its Hat to its pointed end. “Odd shape, too.” said Tripp, fingering it gingerly, “almost the oddest I ever saw, and I have seen a good manv in my time.” He passed it over to Mr. Truesdell, who examined it with glistening eyes and moving lips. “Magnificent!! - ’ he ghsped,. “wonderful! Whether it moved or not, it moves me. Magnificent!” he repeated, for no other adjective seemed to tit the ease. Wilder, being at least four feet from the others, actually sprawled along his end of the table to get a nearer view. Then, his curiosity apparently satisfied, he settled back into his chair and waited for his turn to examine the stone. When it came he looked the gem over with the patient, careful manner of an expert. “It is magnificent,” he said, handing it back to his employer, “no otjier word describes it,” “Mr. Tyuesdell,” said Tripp, rubbing his hands together, “you know a stone when you see one. Mr. Wilder seems to know one, too. Do you fancy this- one at the price?” • •, ’• - “The best answer I can give you (o that” said Truesdell; “is my, check. Now," he added, after passing the check

over to Tripp, “there can be no question in the matter. The stone is mine, and if it moves it moves for me.” “That is understood,” said Tripp laughing, “and 1 don’t mind saying that 1 had a sort of a fit when the box tipped this morning. It might have rolled over when 1 wasn’t there, you know, and gone clean away. You’d better keep it locked up when your eye isn't on it.” “Nonsense!” cried Wilder nervously, “there’s nothing in that moving business. See here,” he went on, rising, “suppose we work that out now. If it can move it can do so just as readily unwrapped as wrapped and boxed. May 1 test that, Mr. Truesdell?” “Certainly, if you wish,” said his employer. “We will place it between us,” said Wilder, rubbing the flattest end of the stone and laying that side on the table at a point about two feet from where he had been seated. Each of the other men were sitting at the same distance from the sparkling green object, now directly under an electric light, Wilder sat down again and the three men gazed intently at the emerald. For perhaps a half minute they neither moved nor spoke. Then Tripp began to move his fingers nervously, and Truesdell for a moment allowed his eyes to wander from the stone to the moving fingers. Suddenly Tripp gasped and straightened himself in his chair. Truesdell turned his eyes to the emerald and sprang to his feet. The stone was moving down the table toward Wilder, slowly indeed, but unmistakably. Wilder did not rise. Instead, he shrank slowly away from the table back into his chair. His right hand hung over the arm of the chair, the other drawn from the table when he fell back into his chair, was nervously closing and unclosing. In his face there was more fear than surprise, and Truesdell, leaning forward, allowed his gaze to leave the moving gem for a moment. He saw the secretary’s face and wondered. Wilder had been the skeptic, and now he was perturbed. Tripp was now on his feet, apparently striving to speak. The stone was barely six inches from the end of the table and Truesdell had made one step toward it. “It will go over!” he cried in a choking voice. “It is going over!" “Wait!” cried Tripp, reaching over a detaining arm, “I—l will " At that instant the stone slid over the edge and disappeared. A sharp but slight explosion followed, and Wilder, springing from his ehair, bent over the carpet, his hands moving convulsively. “Look! Look!” be cried, pointing to the floor under the projecting end of the table. On the red carpet were scattered a number of small, glittering green fragments. “The emerald has exploded!” cried Truesdell. Then he ran to the door and equaled it. ... . .. . “Ames," he called, \-ome up here, will you? Something has happened," . 11. - • IIH-l • - 4 - .. . .; > Sidney Ames bad arrived al the Truesfifteen- minutes after Mr. Tripp had been ushered into the library. In a few moments Miss Alice- Truesdell bad put- him jn possession of the contents of Tripp’s letter. 1 ;

“Funny idea that," he said, “espe.tally the moving. Stones that change in colour, or tint, are not unknown. Who is Tripp? I seem to know the name. A' thick-set man, with a smooth face and an oily manner. Does that describe him ?” "1 don’t really know, Sidney,” she laughed, “but father often buys from him. And Sidney, I don’t half like our new secretary, lie is furtive, don't ym think?” “Not really,” said Ames, “he’s jus.;, nervous, diffident. 1 noticed that when I met him coming over from EnglamL But he is all right and of good Of course he is poor and I guess he war. glad to get this berth. I am his sponsor, you know, so you must not abuse him before me.” “I am not abusing him, Sidney, but I think he is rather queer.” “Maybe he is,” answered Sidney carelessly, “and this emerald your father says he will have mounted for you, if it turns out to be all that it should. Do you really want it?” At this moment Mr. Truesdell’s loud call was heard, and Sidney jumped up. “Wait here. Alice,”, he cried, as ho ran up the stairs, “if it is anything serious 1 will come back at once. I’erlmjtt the stone has changed colour.” In ths library the first face he saw was that of Tripp. He cast one searching look at the dealer and turned to Air. Truesdell, who stood at the end of the table looking down on the green fragment s. "The emerald has exploded, Sidnev!” cried Truesdell, in a quavering voice. "No!” said Ames blankly. "Has it? How?” "How?” cried Truesdell, throwing up his hands. "Why. how would it explode? See here,” motioning toward the floor, "there are the remains.” Sidney stooped and began picking up the pieces of the emerald. “Not much good now, are they?” he said. "There sympathy for you,” groaned Truesdell, tinning to the others. In a few moments Ames had all the larger fragments in a little heap on the table. Then ho separated them. ‘‘So this is the emerald that changes colour?” he said. “It has changed colour since it exploded—in places. What was it doing when it went off?” Truesdell, with another groan at Ames’s impassiveness, told the story of the emerald’s trip across the table and over the edge. “That reminds me of something,” said Ames. “ Do you remember that London clipping I gave you to put iu your scrap-book of queer tales about diamonds ami other stones? Wilder,” turning toward the secretary, “would you mind getting the book from the big desk beyond yours?” Then he sat down in Wilder's chair. “You sat here, did you?” he said, taking the book from the other’s, hand. Wilder nodded, and went back to Tripp's bide of the table. “ Here it is," cried Ames. “ Excuse me, please, while Igo over it.” He read tho item to himself with frowning face, - 1 thought it was a similar case," ho ,said, as he closed the book, “and. 1 will now demonstrate.” He reached both arms along the table and then drew them-back again. - • ' “Thia- -he said. Jj,doesn’t give mo much liberty of actiow!’ Tho sleeves are tight.”

Hr i<»m“ from his * hair and walked toward Wilder. “ You might let me wear your coat for a few minutes, if you don’t mind,” he •aid ; ’ this is a very pretty illustration of something that happened in London, •nd I want to do it properly.” Wilder hesitated for an instant, then |«M>k off his coat and handed it to Ames. “ 1 don't see ” began Truesdell, querulously. “ You will.” interrupted Ames, as he seated himself, in the new coat, at the end of the table. “ Now,” he went on, “ imagine that this in cent piece is a diamond, for it was a diamond that performed in England. I lay it here,” placing it where the emerald had been placed. “ Now, you all watch it carefully—and nothing happens at first. You are too anxious, you know, as they were in London. I will tell you about that after 1 get through my demonstration.” “'This is foolishness,” began Mr. Tuesdell. looking from Aines to Tripp, now frowning in his chair. Wilder, still in shirt-sleeves, stood liesidc him. “ Foolishness?” queried Ames, “ I don’t — Ah! Jt moves.” fhe coin had started down the table toward him. and he drew back into his chair with an affectation of alarm. Truesdell was the only man of the other three who stirred. and he moved toward the coin as he had started before to catch the emerald. Again he was too late. The coin increased its spe<*d. and fell over the edge of the table. This time there was a sharp, metallic click, and Ames reached down to the carpet with his right hand. “Ah!” he said, ‘‘the coin is broken, ami here is the result,” and he held up two nickels before the indignant Mr. Truesdell. I’he latter would have spoken, but Ames checked him. “ Now.*’ he said. “ 1 will read the clipping,” and he pulled the book toward him ami read aloud: “ A happening at the Carlton Club has created some excitement among members. A denier in diamonds was showing a supposed ‘live’ diamond to three club mem-

bers, when the stone, without any warning. began to jump up and down. In the slight disturbance which ensued the diamond disappeared and the clubman who hail already paid for it was disconsolate, but suspicious.” “ The stone was afterwards found, an unpleasant feature of the case being the fact that one chib member seemed to be involved. The matter was hushed up, but the buyer recovered his cheque.” “ Now, Mr. Tripier,” cried Ames, ‘‘ give me Mr. Truesdell’s cheque. I wish to explode that.” ”My name is Tripp ” began the dealer. ’• Not in London,” returned Ames, coolly. “ You are going too far, Sidney!” cried Mr. Truesdell. “ The risk was mine after 1 paid for the stone. You are certainly going too far.” "Don’t you see it yet?” cried Ames. ‘‘ No. Then I will have to tell you what was not printed in that clipping. The diamond was brought to the club by a gentleman named Tripier. When it jumped. it jumped toward a club member who was known to be in financial difficulties. It failed to explode, though the exploding business was not then unheaid of. “ The third, or disinterested, club member had good eyes and saw things. So the stone was recovered, and given back to Tripier. He returned the cheque, and, as the clipping says, the matter was hushed up.” " But this stone is gone—the fragments are there! ” cried Mr. Truesdell, helplessly. “ This stone,” said Ames. K is not gone. See -here.” he went on, holding up a long horse hair. ** 1 found this under the table. On fhe end is a bit of wax. The stone is pressed down upon it. The gentleman in the chair holds the other end of the hair, and as he moves back in evident alarm the, stone comes toward him. When it falls over the edge he catches it in his left hand; with his right hand he explodes against the chair a toy pistol cap attached to a small iron weight. Then the fragments of the stone are found on the floor.

“ That, sirs, is a combination of tho .London happening aixl an ‘ explosion ’ story told me by tne third clubman. Now, Air. Tripp in New York, and Mr. Tripier in London, give me the cheque.” ” When you show me the emerald,” said Tripp, sulkily, while the secretary stood pale, but quiet, looking from Truesdell to Ames and baek again. "The third clubman,” went on Ames, •‘said that when the ‘live’ stone went over the edge of the table it was conveyed to a small poeket on the inside of the confederate’s eoat-sleeve. Here putting his thumb and forefinger inside the right sleeve of Wilder's eoat —“ is the emerald!” And Ames held it up where Mr. Truesdell could see it. “ That is it,” cried the collector. ” The game is up,” whispered Wilder to the discomfited dealer. “ Give him the cheque and say nothing. The old man is proud, and we will get away all right. Ames knows that.’’ Tripp threw the cheque across the table to the collector, and Ames went on talking, for he had seen the shamed look in Truesdell’s faee. “ You ean take the stone with you when you go, Mr. Tripp,” Ames said, looking again at Truesdell, who nodded, “ and take Mr. Wilder with you at the same time. Confederates seem to be as easily procured here as in London. Mr. Truesdell could hold you on this, but I guess we will hush it up right here. But it will be just as well if you both leave town. Mr. Wilder can send for his things.’’ Thinking that Mr. Truesdell would prefer to be left alone, Ames followed the swindlers downstairs. " Girlie,” he said to Alice Truesdell, “ you won’t get your rough emerald. Jt proved altogether too rough, and your father sent it away.”