Chapter II: “i Want to Buy Old Nick.”

If Henry Townsend had expected his daughter “to make a fuss,” he was more than agreeably disappointed. She said not one word, but turned and left the room.

Going straight to her own sanctum, she took the set of beautiful furs which poor Old Nick’s money had bought, put them carefully into her drawer, and locked it. Then, placing the key in her pocket, she threw a shawl about her and started for the stable, where Hiram Bents, the foreman, was holding a monologue on the subject of “durned fool men who would sell their next o’ kin, if they could get enough cash for ’em, never mind if they bruck the purtiest leetle heart that went a pit-a-pat!”

“Hiram, did you see Nick sold?”

“I reckon I did, missie.”

“Who bought him?”

“An old duffer what was goin’ about tryin’ to git a three-hundred-dollar critter fer one hundred.”

“Where did he take Nick?”

“Down ter the city ter some horse exchange, where I’ll bet a fiver he sold him fer twict what he give fer him.”

“Do you know the man’s name?”

“Guess I kin git it. He left his cyard fer the boss, and said he’d call round agin when he had anythin’ likely he wanted fer ter sell,” and Hiram gave an indignant snort, as he took a card from a shelf above his head.

“Here yer be, missie.”

Isabel took the card and read:

“Jacob Vedder, Dealer in Horses. East Twenty-fifth Street, New York.”

“Thanks, Hiram. I’ll keep this, please.”

“Ye’re welcome. I don’t want ter tech the thing; seems like it’s a scrap o’ Old Nick’s hide.”

Isabel went back to her room, and, locking the door, opened her trunk. Down in the bottom was a jewel box, from which she took a small leather case containing a ring of curious design. The ring itself was of dull gold, holding an uncut stone. It had been sent to her when she was a mere child by an uncle in India. Excepting to mention that the stone was valuable, he had said but little about it, and she had kept it more as a curiosity than for any supposed intrinsic value.

It was still three days to Christmas and bitter cold. Weather-wise folk predicted a snowstorm within forty-eight hours.

“Mamma, dear, can you spare me to-morrow? I want to go to the city for the day,” said Isabel, as she came into the pleasant sitting room and placed her arm caressingly about her mother’s shoulders.

“Spare you, sweetheart? I’ll try. What is the demand--Christmas shopping?” asked her mother, drawing Isabel’s hand to her lips and kissing it softly.

“Oh, lots of things! May I go?”

“Certainly, dear.”

It was a determined young spirit which stepped into the big city next morning and, making her way to one of the large jewelry stores uptown, asked to see the proprietor. Ushered into his private office, she lost not a moment in coming straight to the point, and said to him:

“I have something I wish to sell.”

“Yes? May I inquire what it is?”.

“It is a ring.”

A smile crept into the jeweler’s eyes.

“Not a rarity; do you think so?”

“That I do not know, and I wish you to decide. I have been told that it is very valuable. It was sent to me from India by my uncle.”

“Have you shown it to anyone else?”

“No; but I am very anxious to sell it. Will you _please_ tell me what you will give me for it?”

The proprietor looked not a little surprised.

“We should have to consider it, my dear young lady, and within a reasonable time give our decision.”

“But I can’t wait. I must sell it to-day--right off,” said the girl impulsively.

“Such a thing would be unheard of. But I will examine it.”

“But why can’t you decide right now? It wouldn’t take you very long, I’m sure, and it’s _so_ important!”

“The Christmas shopping, you mean?” for there were girls in his own family, and he knew the demands of Christmas.

“Christmas shopping!” she exclaimed with fine scorn. “Do you suppose I am trying to get money for Christmas shopping? I want to buy Old Nick.”

“Old Nick!” he repeated in amazement. “You’re the first person I’ve ever met who thought seriously of buying his Satanic Majesty and set about obtaining money to do it.”

“Oh, dear me! Please be serious, for really it is all too dreadful to laugh about,” and tears came into the pretty gray eyes.

“My dear young lady,” said the jeweler kindly, for he saw how deeply in earnest she was, and he was touched by the pathetic tone in the girlish voice, “I beg your pardon for smiling, and will be glad to learn the circumstances, if you are willing to tell them.”

Although nearly seventeen, Isabel was still in many respects a child, and in a moment was pouring out the story of her love for Old Nick, and her determination to buy him back. It was all told very simply, yet with a child’s dramatic touch, and her listener quickly detected her wish to shield her father from censure, even though he justly deserved it. When she had finished, he looked into the flushed face and shining eyes, as she asked:

“Can you wait an hour or so? I am in need of a certain stone, and it is just possible that the one you have may fill the want. You say it is a ruby?”

“Yes, it is a ruby,” replied Isabel, as she took the ring from her purse and handed it to him. “I will wait as long as you wish,” and she stepped into the outer shop.

In a little more than an hour she was called into the private once again. With a beating heart she entered. The jeweler rose from his chair as he saw her.

“Well, have you come to learn Old Nick’s fate?” he asked kindly. “I am happy to say that you have solved half the problem, anyway, for the stone is very beautiful, and I am willing to give you two hundred dollars for it. Do you accept my terms?”

“Two hundred dollars! Why, Old Nick was sold for less than one hundred. But one would buy him back; don’t you think so?”

It is to the man’s credit that he suppressed a smile as he answered very seriously:

“Ah, but the dealer will never be willing to sell him without making a good profit. You’d better take the two hundred; the ring is fully worth it.”

“Well, perhaps I would better,” she said simply, “I should be sorry not to have enough,” and she looked up into the big man’s face as confidingly as though she were seven instead of seventeen.

“I’m sure you would be; so take this and be careful of it. It is a good deal of money to look after.”

“I’ll be very careful, and I am _so_ much obliged to you.” Her small, gloved hand was impulsively offered.

“Good-by, little lady, and accept my best wishes for your success.”