Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

144 Bob drew a heavy leather pocketbook from inside his vest, and started to remove the rubber band from around it. The Crab’s eyes were fixed intently on his every movement, Bob opened the pocketbook and laid it flat upon the table. There were six rows on each side, twelve rows in all, of bril- liantly beautiful and evidently perfect un- set diamonds! They ranged from a karat to five karats in size! Ikey the Crab’s mouth hung open and his eyes rolled upward from the diamonds to the faces of the twins and then back again. He put a trembling hand to his forehead and did not notice the drops of icy sweat that trickled down his fingers. Then he dropped both hands upon the table and clawed at the old green cloth with which it was covered. ‘“My Gott!” he whispered hoarsely— “ you wonderful tvins—you wonderful tvins ——where on earth did you get ’em?” He stood up and his hands fluttered soothing- ly over the stones and then dropped down upon them tenderly. Bob and Tom looked at the old man wonderingly. Here was one who actually worshiped what they only admired and knew the value of. The Crab sank into his chair again, his eyes still glued upon the stones. He repeat- ed the question: “‘ My Gott! Where did you eet ’em?” He seemed to have difficulty in getting his breath. He hissed more than he talked. “How much for all them stones—how much?” ‘ Seventy-five thousand dollars for those and another book like it.” ‘“ Another book—like—that?” screeched the Crab, looking at the brothers as though he could not believe such a thing possible. ‘Where you been, you—” ‘“Never mind where we been or where they come from—you sheil out seventy-five thousand and they’re all yours.” Ikey the Crab stumbled to his feet and started for the door. Tom sprang after him and caught him by the shoulder. ‘“* What in hell you doin’?” “ Nuthin’,” snarled the Crab. ‘“ Come along with me if you want tuh—I’m goin’ after the scales—an’ maybe after the money ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. —but the scales an’ my glass first—an’ we'll see—we’ll see.” Tom accompanied him to the outer room and they returned with the scales, closed the door again, and placed the scales upon the table. : ““ Now see here, old man,” broke in Bob, “make this thing short. If you think we’re goin’ to spend the night here while you monkey ’round with your damn glass an’ your damn scales, you’re dippy. You been in diamonds all your life, same’s we’ve been. You knows ’em with your eyes shut. You know them stones is worth a hell of a lot more’n we're askin’ of you—and you know you want ’em and are a goin’ to have ’em, so what’s the use 0’ foolin’. Get busy.” ‘“T must weigh ’em—anyways some of em,” came the nasal twang from the Crab; “it won’t take but a minnit.” “You hurry now,” admonished Bob; “size up a few of ’em an’ then make your estimate—we got no time to lose.” Ikey carefully weighed and examined - through the glass one entire row of the stones, and the row contained twenty-five diamonds. “ That’s enough now,” exclaimed Bob, tearing the book away from the pawn- broker’s grasp. ‘“ Get a move on or the deal’s off.” Thus admonished, Ikey gave the remain- - der only a cursory examination, occasion- ally taking an odd one up and giving it a thorough inspection. He knew they were all diamonds and he knew they were good ones. “The other book—you say you have another book?” “ Here it is,” and Tom laid it on the table before him unopened. The fence opened it himself, and almost fainted when the contents lay scintillating before him. Many of these stones he looked at close- ly, and others he simply held the glass over for an instant. Then he ran the glass up and down the rows. At last he seemed satisfied. ‘How much?” he questioned. He was regaining his composure. “JT told you once,” answered Bob. “Seventy-five thousand bucks. And see here, Ike, don’t try jewing us down. It 9-A GOmMmicdooks (S@)