The Diamo Diamond nd As Big As The Ritz F. S F
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
CHAPTER ONE
John Meets Percy J T. Ur c fr wll-kw fly H, ll w Mpp Rvr. H w x pr w v Nw El uc. Ty c S M’ Scl r B. H w ll fr r clvr . Mr. Ur pck r ’ ruk Mr Ur v l f y. “Rbr, yu’r lwy wlc bck r,” . “I kw,” J. “D’ fr w yu r wr yu c fr,” fr pruly. I “Yu r Ur fr H.” J w cry wlk wy. A w lv cy lk bck H fr l . S M’ Scl lf ur fr B w xpv xcluv by’ prprry cl wrl. J’ r w yr w wll. T fr f ll by wr vry rc J p ur v cl r fbl ly . I l f c yr cl, qu, by Prcy W j J’ cl. T w u w pl vry wll r: w bvu c fr vry rc fly. Prcy J ly bc fr. I fc, J w Prcy’ ly fr Prcy w k fr w r by. Bu v w J, Prcy w rrv lk bu r fly. S w J w v p ur Prcy’ “ W”, J w urpr bu ccp pply. Prcy r lk bu fly w y wr r. “My fr,” Prcy, “ rc wrl.” “O,” J plly. H cul k f r wr. “T rc,” rp Prcy. “I r r w Arc w r v ll llr yr. A fur r w r r r ll llr yr.” “O, y’r ,” Prcy. “My fr cul buy vry y v.” “G,” J, “ u b vry rc. I’ l. I lk vry rc ppl. I v Sclr-Murpy l Er. Vv Sclr-Murpy jwl b cck’ .” “I lv jwl,” Prcy uclly. “Of cur, I ’ w y cl
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1
kw bu , bu I v qu b cllc. I cllc f p.” “A ,” cu J. “T Sclr-Murpy b wlu.” “O, ’ ,” Prcy v clr J wpr, “T’ ll. My fr br T R-Crl Hl.” T u M w buful r pp ll vll cll F. A r-rw crr c rv wy. Ar lf ur ky bc rk c u I cr ppr r. J vr uc cr. “G ,” Prcy fr. “I’ rry w br yu r crr, bu w c’ l ppl r fr vll cr.” “W cr!” J, w w . “T ?” lu Prcy. “I’ ju l cr.” Ty rv rk wr p bw w u. Prcy lk clck cr , “W’ll b r ur lf. Yu’v vr y lk bfr.” J w prpr b urpr. “W’r rv upll w,” Prcy. “A rry cr cul rv up r.” Tr w pl c. T cr pp uly ppr u f rk. Ty r wrk fur u l cbl I c w fr bv. Ty wr wl cr w lwly l fr ru. I w r r, uly y wr ru . “T wr vr,” Prcy lk u f ww. “Nw ’ ly v l fr r ur r. I bl u. T wr U S .” “Ar w C?” “N, w’r . W’r M, l f Rcky Mu. Yu r ly v qur l f l Arc r’ y p.” “Wy? D y fr?” k J. “N,” Prcy, “y r pu p r . T r y rfr crrup r vr pr c c p f U S. T l w r cul. My fr cr vry r c l p-kr’ cp wrk. Ty u ur plc w l furr up vlly. Tr’ ly y fr fr f,” Prcy . “I’ ly cul u.” “W’ ?” k J. “Arpl,” Prcy wpr. “W v lf ¬rcr u, fu u y. S pl v v bc prr. Fr I ’ , bu y r r wrry bu .” T r M wr vry br y rv . Suly J w c cl f rbl r b lk.
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
J w by wr u yllw ww w r l l. I lk lk fryl. T r u f vl ply buful uc — vr r y lk bfr. T cr pp fr f rbl p. A p f p w u r p lly buful ly w blck r w r . “Mr,” Prcy, “ y fr, J Ur fr H.”
CHAPTER TWO
An Amazing Discovery Arwr J rbr r buful r — r f uc, f buful , f l fc. Tr w w w r w rk fr l cup. Tr w rl w fc lk wr w prcu blu jwl r r. Tr wr r w wll f l r wr f ll p vrywr. I crr f pl r r wr cryl lp, r r wr fur ru f r yp clr. T y w r. T pl wr f r w uc vrywr. J w vrc by I buy wl urru fll lp. H wk up vrl ur lr. H w lr r Prcy w vr . “Yu fll lp r,” Prcy . “I l . I w b cfrbl r yr cl. S rv ur yu w yu wl yu wr lp.” “I b r clu? I’ cfrbl.” J. “Prcy, bfr yu I w pl,” . “Wy?” “Wll, I ’ rlly blv yu w yu yu b T RCrl Hl.” Prcy l. “I u yu ’ blv . I’ u, yu kw.” “W u?” “T u cl . I’ vry b u bcu, xcp fr r p, ’ l . O b . Ar’ yu l?” Bu J T. Ur w lp. T x r wk up cvr r w ll w ul. A rv w ufr b b.
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3
“G v,” J, ry rbr wr w. “G r, r. Ar yu ry fr yur b, r? D’ up — I’ll pu yu — r. Tk yu, r.” J’ pj wr k . H xpc b l lk cl, bu pp. I fl b v lwly . T b rll w ly b wr wc w prur by. H w urru by blu quru cul w. Sul c fr bv ru -r l. “Wul yu lk prfu wr r, r, prp cl wr ?” “Y,” r J, “ yu pl.” “Sll I ur v-pcur c, r?” k rv. “N, k,” wr J plly. H w jy b uc ’ w y rc. Ar r uc c fr u. W b w vr w rubb w l, lcl prfu. T rv v fc. “Mr Prcy w yur r,” rv. “My Gyu, Mr Ur, r. I wll rv yu vry r.” J wlk u u f r, wr fu brkf w fr . Prcy w l r, bufully r, rcr. Prcy l J fllw ry f W fly brkf. A f Arc Cvl Wr, fr f pr Mr W, FNr W, w wy-v yr l cll I w bu u llr l. F-Nr w rc c f Gr W. O y c w, y ppl wr , k wy-fur f b rv w . Ar l M, wr wll. A w r cvry. O y l ll, r y wu f w vry ury. H w qurrl, bu bcu v u ru r . H c qurrl y u. Ju bfr ppr l, qurrl rpp lr, prfc . A l cp, x r k rv w fr r . Sc f rv kw w w r w vlubl w, fr . H w cvr u w l u . H ll fur b full f w bck w. Tr l x ll . W r ll br rkpr f F-Nr w rr fr urb pc. H cp fr pr cu r fr Nw Yrk, wr l fw u- . H bu w ur u llr l, bu w ll yr. I fc, l Nw Yrk ju bcu ppl wr lk bu cvry f , vry w . Yu F-Nr rur M.
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
CHAPTER THREE
Kismine I w wk F-Nr clcul u w bu qul quy ll wrl. I w pbl kw xc vlu. N wrl u l buy . A w cul y w uc u ? I w u. I , w rc vr lv; y, w w wr? T cvry f uc wul cr r wrl rk. T ly cul w ll cvry crly. F-Nr r rvl r pr f wrl. W ur u llr w ruk ll w f ll l S Prbur Ru, wr y ll l. H w cur jwlr uc fr Cr. H r S Prbur fr w wk, v fr l r bcu lf w r. F-Nr v lv fr I. Bfr l Ru pr Cr rur x yr w br br . H v cpl f wy-w cur lk w v prr, lv k, r prc ul. A clcul wl b bll llr. Fr 1870 ul 1900, ry f F-Nr W w l ry f wl. H rr ly fr Vr, , urr brr bcu ruk rly l ppl r cr. Tr wr fw r urr ur ppy yr f prr. Bfr , cvr y l p bk ll vr wrl. H , Brck, rfr l vry rr l, ru, bll llr l cul ll bx. Tr yr r F-Nr’ , c bu fr u. H wl w by clcul cul uppr ll W fr r, cl . Bu kw prc cr. T w fly J T. Ur w y w. T w ry r lvr-wll r r. Ar brkf J wlk u f r rbl rc lk buful vlly w lk, r r. H w w rbl p wlk l blu w wr. H ur crr w rl c wr . S w buful rl vr . S w wr ll w r c ju blw r k. Hr pk f wr br. S w yur J — r x. “Hll,” ly. I’ K.”
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J cul blv y. “Yu ’ l bcu I w’ fl wll. Yu y r, J.” “Nc yu,” J . “I p yu’r fl br.” S u y w r. J w crcl bu w. A l fc — b kl, lu vc, cl lk — w u k l r. Fr r lf w x rl w b prfc. “Ar yu fr E?” k K w r. “N,” wr J, “I’ fr H.” “I’ cl E fll,” . “D yu k I’ll lk ? I’ Nw Yrk M Bul’. I’ vry rc, bu fr I u wrry.” Yur fr w yu b pru,” brv J. “W r pru,” wr, r y w pr. “N f u vr b pu. Fr w vr ul b.” “Mr w — wll, ll urpr,” I cu K,” w r yu wr fr — wr yu r fr, yu kw. Bu , ’ Sp l-f.” “D yu p uc u r?” k J, ry fc w b ur by c. “Prcy J I r r vry ur.” S pu, , “Yu kw, I’ vry c rl. I vr k r rk r r y xcp pry. I kw rly y c r cry, I r vry ply. I blv rl ul jy r yu , ly wy.” “I , ,” J uclly. “I lk yu,” wpr. “Ar yu p ll yur w Prcy wl yu’r r, r wll yu b c ? N by vr b lv w ll y lf. I’v vr v b llw by l — xcp Prcy. I c u r p yu, wr fly wul’ b ru.” J bw w u c cl H. “W ul w,” K wly. “I v b w r lv. Yu v’ k k yu c. I u by lwy wy.” “Wll,” J wr pruly, “ f , bu . Grl ’ r f — H.” Ty wlk bck u by .
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
CHAPTER FOUR
The Hole J lk Mr Brck W full ul. Brck w bu fry. H pru fc, ll y r by. H crr wlk ck w l prcu . H Prcy wr w J r prpry, lv r,” , p rbl u. “Ty r c f y fr bru w fr Vr. Nw r r w ur y f . Ty v lv wy fr wrl fr l y v vlp r lu.” “T lf cur,” cu, y wlk vr buful r r. H l plly J. “Ar r y c, fr?” k Prcy uly. “O l r ul b,” Brck W rpl rly. “W’v cul.” “Mr l ,” Prcy, “ Il cr...” “A rrbl k,” Brck W. “Bu f cur r’ cc w . Prp fll vr cl. Bu v f fr w, w wll blv ry? Hwvr, I v w lk fr r w ru r.” “Ay luck?” k Prcy. “S. Fur f rpr y c kll w lk lk , bu y wr prbbly r rwr.” H pp lk. Ty c lr l ru cvr by r r br. Brck W p l w wlk ck. J pp lk w. H ly r u fr blw. “C w Hll!” “Hll, by! Hw’ r up r? “Hy! Trw u rp!” “D yu v l wc fr u?” I w rk clrly l blw, bu J cul ll fr r vc c y wr l-cl Arc. T Mr W uc bu r w wlk ck uly r w l. “T r w fru f cvr u,” Brck W . Blw r ppr lr l r lk lk f bwl. T wr p f l. A b r wr bu wy ufr f rpl pl. Ty ll b ly.
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Brck W w f l k frly vc. “Wll, w r yu, by?” Ary vc c fr u l. A ll l up , “L k yu fw qu. Yu k yu’r fr .” “Hw cul f y p b fr wr yu?” Brck W k. “All r!” ll cr. “W’v lk bu bfr. Yu’r fr bu yu’r u. Pu yurlf ur plc fr c. Wy ’ yu ru u kp yur cr?” “Ar yu ru? I ru c y ur Il, l wk cp.” T prr uly cr w pp. Brck W w l. “Yu ,” cu, “I v yu. I lk yu jy yurlv. T’ wy I ’ ll yu wl ry c. T — w w ? — w by f y fur r plc.” T pl wr uly l. Mr W k wlk ck pu bu r. T l blw w u l w rk . Mr W, fllw by w by, wlk wy r lf cur. July u w f cl wr, uy y. J K wr lv. L r, w uc r w u, y p ur r r. H l r v uc lk wpr r lu. S v wr . “D yu y ‘K’”? k ly, “r...” S w b ur. Nr f vr k y bfr, bu ur x ur k ll rc. Ty c rr pbl.
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
CHAPTER FIVE
What Happened to the Guests? Evry y Mr W w by w u r , ply lf r w cl u lk. J fu Mr W w cplly ur y r p xcp w. Mr W w lwy rrv y. S w qu r r w ur w ly r Prcy, w w l cvr Sp r. J, lr ur, lk lk K bu w pry. Hr fvr bk wr bu rl fr pr fl. Prcy K v rr u f r fr — y wr b l. J w fc by cl, y k Prcy, “W bul wrful cl?” “O,” wr, “I’ brr ll yu, bu w w wrk l ury. H w ly pr w fu w cul wrk w ul u f y — lu cul’ r r wr.” Twr f Auu J w rry rur cl. H K c ru wy rr fllw Ju. “I wul b cr rr r,” K , “bu I cul vr fr’ pr rry yu. T b ru wy. I’ rrbl fr rc ppl rr Arc bcu y v fr wppr.” “I kw,” J. O r l Auu f K’ c c r u rr J. Ty wr r fvr plc bw k J ly, “S I k w’ll vr rry. Yu’r wly, c. Yu’r lk r rl bcu yu’r rc. I ul rry ur f rc bu b ppy w r lf-ll llr.” “I kw ur f rc bu c,” K. “S w fr f y r w v u.” “O, yu’v r u?” J k. “O, y,” quckly, “w’v fw.” “Bu w’ yur fr fr y wul ll r bu plc?” “Wll, y,” wr. “L’ lk bu r pl.” Bu w J w curu. “S r pl!” . “W’ upl bu ? Wr’ y c rl?”
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J w vry urpr w K r cry. “Y — — ’ rubl. I lk f vry uc. A J . Bu cu v ywy. I cul’ ur .” J uly w cl. “D yu ... W pp ?” k J. “Fr k cc — J kp v , y uc .” J w rr by w r r p- u. “Nw I’v l yu I ul’ v,” ry r rk blu y. “D yu yur fr urr bfr y l?” S . “I Auu uully — r rly Spbr. I’ ly url fr u ll plur u f r.” “Hw bluly rrbl. Hw? Wy? I u b . D yu rlly y ?” “I ,” K quly. “W c’ pr lk pl bcu w wul b bl vryy. T wul k u fl vry b. T k r fr J , fr lwy r w xpc. T wy w ’ v y by.” “S yu urr ?” cr J. “I w vry cly. Ty wr ru wl y wr lp — r fl wr lwy l y f .” “Bu, I c’ ur wy yu cu v .” “I ’!” cr K. “I v vr v y. Ty wr J’ u. A y lwy vry . J v c pr, pclly wr . I wll prbbly v vr — I w’ fl b bu . W c’ l uc wy I f jy ur lf. Tk f w lly wul b r f vr c v. Wy, fr r v l f r b fr, ju w v.” “A ,” cr J, “ yu l lv yu pr rur y lv. A yu lk bu rr, kw I wul vr lv plc lv.” “N,” pr. “N yr. I r. Yu wr r I u yur l y ul b pl fr b f u. Bu I fll lv w yu, — I’ ly rry yu’r b kll. Bu f yu r kll, yu c’ vr k r rl.” O, rlly! I w yu k?” cr J rcly. “Wll, y... I v lwy r rl c v r fu w kw c vr rry. O, wy I ll yu? I’v prbbly ru yur w, w wr rlly jy urlv. I kw wul k qu fr yu.” “O, yu ?” J vry rly. “I’v r u f . If yu k ’ fu fll
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
lv w by w ’ uc br crp, y wy fr .” “Yu’r crp,” pr rrr. “Yu’r crp. Yu c’ y I k crp.” “I ’ y .” “Y, yu . Yu I k crp.” “I ’.” Tr vc wr lu, bu w y r fp y bc l. A lr Brck W w lk ru r bu. “W k crp?” k. “Nby,” wr K quckly. “W wr ju jk.” “W r yu w r?” k. “K, yu ul r r ply lf w yur r. G r. G ply lf. I ’ w yu r w I rur.” T bw J l. “S?” K rly, w r fr l, “S w yu’v ? W c vr . H w’ l yu. H wll p yu f k w’r lv.” “W’r lv yr.” cr J rcly. “H ’ v wrry bu . A ’ k I’ y r y lr. I x ur I’ll b vr u, r w I v .” Ty wr b K c cl pu r r ru . “I’ .” “Yu u b !” “Of cur I’ ,” rrup. H lv fr r uly rur. S w — wul w r r. H pu r ru r k r. Ar ll, v , lv . Ty wlk bck lwly wr cl cu w y wul cp. Ty c c Brck W r y ul lv x .
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11
CHAPTER SIX
The Bribe L r J wk up uly bcu r lu u r. T r fp wpr. H kw lf w r w fr. W u v pr bu r b x w b x r. H jup u w cl, r fr r. H r b rc vry w l buful. T w pp c. T r f w r p r lv r ll. T Brck W ppr lvr, wr fur c r b. H rl c w kll . Ty lk Brck W, w u, “G r! All r f yu! Quck!” T r lv r lvr. S vry ru w pp, uc r ru urr. Bu w cul b? Wr pl ry cp? Or ppl f F cvr vlly? J kw. H r lvr up w . Prcy w prbbly lp fr, u. T w ppruy j K pl r cp. H w ul lvr w l fr vrl u rur r r quckly. T r f K’ r w p lp wr . K w r ww, l . A J r ur wr . “O, ’ yu,” wpr, wlk wr . “D yu r ?” “I r yur fr’ lv y...” “N,” rrup. “D yu r rpl?” “Arpl? Prp w u wk .” “Tr r l . I w fw . O f ur r u y fr wk up. W’r r ly.” “Ar y r purp?” “Y — ’ Il w cp — bu l’ up rf r wc fr r.” S k y w up rf r lvr, wr J k r. Fr rf r y cul bbr y crcl -rcr u wr ck . K clpp r pply, bu lr bbr b rpp r bb vlly w .
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T rpl b ck -rcr u, f w ry. Ar wl ly w u wr l. Ty cul prc cl uc lr. “C ,” J cr, pull K’ r. “W v w. D’ yu rl rpl wll ck yu f y yu?” K l rf r uwllly. “W’ll v wk J,” y urr wr lvr. T w r f cl l, “W’ll b pr, w’ w? Lk ppl bk. I w’ v y pr I’ll b cplly fr. Fr pr. W fu!” S pp v J ppy k. “I’ pbl b b fr pr,” J ruly. “I wul c b fr pr. Yu ul br yur jwlry w yu.” T u lr w rl J rk crrr. Ty w ru c ll fr l fr u rrc wc bl. K l J J l p plc. Fr r y cul wc bl vlly cp w cry. I w r ’clck r w y rc r plc. J lr r fll lp ly. J K r wc bl. Srly r fur ’clck l u w ry clu f r k. T rpl wr y clr ru. S y wul l wul b f W. A pp vlly bc qu. T cl rk l. I w buful wu l b buful u. J w K, lk r r, w lp. S lr J r fp l p. H w lc fr p. T cu wlk up u. H fl w r, f . H lwly l bv w w. Brck W w p f u ky, wc w ry ju bfr w. J wc Brck W, w w l u. H w ll u. T uly l w lv w wr f l u bjc w bw . T r ry f r u c u lv lwly l . T Brck W l b pk w pr. “Yu u r!” cr. “Yu...r!” H pu fr , wr r. W w ? W pry? J u. “O, yu up r!” T vc bc r c. H w pry. “Yu r...” J l brlly bu cul ly r fw wr r r. T uly rl Brck W w r brb G. T f lv w pl — pr f r fllw. Brck W wul v G r prfc
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wrl. T w cul bc ru bul. I cul b r curc. My wul wrk fr yr wul b cr w l r prcu l. I l f curc r wul b lr f rc ru, wc wul bur u y f y w lk wl pry. I rur Brck W k fr ly pl , wul b vry y fr G. H k rur wy y wr yry , y r . I w vry pl. L v p k rpl. L lv lv y bfr. Brck W pk G. Bu w brb b u fr G, u. G H prc. I w G w ’ , H u v H prc. A prc wul b rr. I wul b rry crl r r pyr. H crl wul b uprr. T w r. G cul k r lv . A pk, c bc brk, r ucr. H r rully ur w lk w l v, lk l prp — cly .
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Escape A J r , vry r b pp ru . T ky bc rk fr w r blw. Tr b rup ply fr wy. Fr r w rk br’ pp. Tr b u f ur. T w ll. T w cu bfr u r. T lv lu u r lur v r. G rfu ccp brb. Fr r J wc buy f y. T ur w rpl l r cl. J r w f u wr w rl wr wk. Ty wr w fr . K jup r f. J kw r w fr wr. Ty u u ly. H k f c rl y lly v ru r r l. W y bu lf l A cr p y ur ru w u y ju l. A clr ky y w w-r lwly c w u. Tw ru lv fllw . Ty wr crry bw , wc u. T w r ur j , Mr W r , Prcy. T pl w r u fr r rpl fr f cl. Brck W rup pp by rck. T lv pull up rpr f u. Ty ll ppr rpr — w-r r, wf , lly w lv.
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
K pull J’ r. “Wr r y ? W r y ?” cr wlly. “I u b wy f cp.” A ll cr fr w rl rrup c. “D’ yu ?” cr K. “T u xpl. Ty r ry .” Bfr pk, clr f u bc br yllw. A cl xpl r w r r, bu k. T pl v ppl w u wr crly . Evry w ry r w lc vrywr. J w rl wr l vlly. A u y rc cl wc rk bur f W’ l. Ty lk bck buful vlly, wc w w pcful . Ty w f J bru w r bk. “Tr,” , pu blcl r pu wc . “I lwy k f br ur.” “Nw,” J , “py yur pck l’ w jwl yu bru w yu. W lc f jwl w wll b bl lv wll ll ur lv.” K pu r r pck k u l f y jwl. “N b,” cr J uclly. “Ty r’ vry b, bu — !” H xpr c w l f up u. “Wy, r’ . S wr.” “O,” xcl K. “W I .” “Wy, r l,” cr J. “I kw!” S r lu, “I p wr rwr. Ty bl rl w v J. S v xc fr . I vr y bu bfr.” “A w yu bru?” “Y,” . “Bu I k I lk br - I’ b r f .” “Vry wll, “ J ly. “W’ll v lv H. A yu wll rw l ll w yu p wr rwr, y wll vr blv yu. Ufruly, yur fr’ bk bk ppr w .” “Wll, w’ r w H?” “If I c w wf y , y fr w’ v py.” J pk up. “I lv w,” quly. “I v lwy w y w krcf. I’ll w
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cl fr ppl uppr b f yu.” “D y v lury l H?” k K cly. “Of cur,” wr J. “I’ ju lk vrywr l.” “I u w wr y cl.” J lu. “Ju ry , . “Ty’ll rw yu u f w bfr yu kw w’ pp.” “Wll fr b r?” k. J lk r . “Yur fr ,” wr ly. “Wy ul H? Yu’v cfu w r plc w .” Ar r y pu wy blcl pu u r blk fr . “W r w,” K , lk up r. “Hw r b r ur r w r pr c.” “Ur r,” rp. “I vr c r bfr. I lwy u f r b bl . Nw y fr . Ty k fl y yu w ll r.” “I w r,” J quly. “Evryby’ yu r — ju fr f ccl .” “Hw pl b .” cr K. “T’ w I’ l,” J. “L u lv fr wl, fr yr r , yu . T’ fr f v ruk w c ll ry. Tur up yur c cllr, ll rl, ’ cl .” H cvr lf w blk fll lp.
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ •
17
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THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ
