Some Italian kids dropped it as they skedaddled." "Let's have a look." "Sure." The policeman passed over the stone.
"Gee! That looks like real money.

Say, they can do anything with glass these days." "They sure can." A man in civilian clothes--a detective from headquarters--went up to the desk.

"What you guys got there ?" "A ruby this boob picks up off'n the sidewalk," said the sergeant, winking at the finder, who grinned.
"Let's have a squint at it." The stone was handed to him.

The detective stared at it carefully, holding it on his palm and rocking it gently under the desk light.
Crimson darts of flame answered to this treatment.

He pushed back his hat.
"Well, you boobs!" he drawled.
"What's the matter ?" "Matter?
Why, this is a ruby! A whale of a ruby, an' pigeon blood at that! I didn't work in the' appraiser's office for nothing.