The evening world. Newspaper, December 21, 1914, Page 19

The Evening World Daily Magazine. Monday, December 21. 1914 By M confusion. The cry, half suppressed, broke the spell peculiar to a “Faust” night. The somewhat portly Marguerite, her voice soaring like a cage-born bird suddenly freed, was decking her mature person with the glistening stage gems left on her scenic doorstep by the suavest of devils, As the singer hung about her neck the rope of pearls with which Mephisto planned to fetter her soul, Mrs. Missioner, swinging her fan with a freer motion, struck the slenderest part of her diamond collarette. The golden thread on which the choicest of the Misstoner jewels in their perforated settings were strung snapped. Instantly most of the freed drops of frozen fire that constituted Mrs. Missioner’s ma; Aificent necklace—the one with the Maharan The blow was sharp. the floor of the box. Mrs. Missioner, as the little scream broke from Dorothy March, a debu- tante she had taken under her wing for the evening, clutched at the few diamonds that fell into her lap. March drew her skirts tight her ankles and shrank and shran.. into a corner of the box, ming room for the man who sprang to Mis. Miss- joner’s aid. Before another moment eped, Curtis Griswold was on his knees scooping together the scattered Jewels with suow-gloved hands. Brux- ton Sands, slower of movement, bent with more dignity to tbe task. In the next box, separated from Mrs. Miss- joner’s only by a low velvet rail, a man of Oriental features and com- plexion turned to \ «tch the scramble Though he did not his hawk-like face eeemed to thrust into the centre of for the jewels etir from his pla: the excited sroup. In the Missioner box all four of its occupants were concerned for immediate recovery of the diainonds that had sprung f.om Mrs. Mission- er's neck to her lap, and then 1 peded across the floor. Griswold on his knees, rescued i © gr number. Sands, a man of action as well as of millions, picked up the March sbrank fur- rner of the box, and dragged her pettivats ever closely until her .inmature larger gems. Mi ther into her seemed chiselled in tulle. the gems had been recoverei—except o range!” “After all,” said Griswold in a swift aside to Dorothy, “she has recovered the other gems, and even if she can- not find this one”—— “Don't you know?” returned little Miss March excitedly. “Dont you really know, Mr, Griswold?” “Know what, Miss March?” asked the clubman, “Why, the history of that stone! Don't you know Mrs, Missioner’s husband bought it from a Maharanee, that they brought it all the way from India? Don't you know ita the finest diamond in America?” Griswold shook his head, pursuing the search perfunctorily, It with faint interest that he saw eral swarthy faces ry through the crowd. Had his eyes been able to follow those faces, he would have seen them converse in the corridor behind the box—the box in which sat the Oriental with the face of a hawk. The hawk watched the Missioner box. So steadily did he direct his gaze at Mrs, Missioner that she was on the point of averting her glance when the stranger's flashlight gaze struck a spark from her memory, coolly as she began the inclination of her head, but in the end graciously. Her dark neighbor was satisfied with that dublous encouragement. “You are fond of your jewels as ever, I see,” ho said, in a low tone, as of one claiming a share in intimate ea. etracted air, She with a brief whisper. “These,” returned Mrs. Missioner, “are among my very finest diamonds. nothing to the Maha- But they ai ranes, and t A leaping fi 1s gone.” est. “You are brave,” was all he sald, “to wear (ir uf public. annez woman, save in her own . would content herself with the dupli- cates. ton ny too. Griswold, as he moved In the search, stepped backward with such abrupt- ness as to drive his heel sharply down upon something that slipped under his tread like a peach kernel. vory moment when Mrs. Missioner, in her talk with the Oriental, sald, with emphasis: “I leave imitations to others,” that plundering heel crushed through the velvet against the unyleldin the floor, what had been conspicuous diamond tn all the richly jewelled Gallarette--oruaned i Leied tiny heap of pallid powder la: WUE 8 cee t pat Sake had ipped from the pressure and re- melbed to betray what the little pile thee, save where a £1 ad been, othy. The widow paled. The light in the Oriental'’s eyes flared to a flame. With a smile as inscrutable as his thoughts, leaned across the low partition, ked up a pinch of the powder and he telltale flake and laid them def- Misstoner's out- erentially on e@pread fan. “Your maid is more cautioui eaid, his smile softening slightly, it may be, your jeweller has made a 0." he stopped him with a look. “Thie—this thing ts"—— She could Do more. pastel” thundered Sands» “1 Rave been robbed,’ A New York Detective Story “Different” rcoin B That Is (Copyright, 1910, by Moffat, Yard & Os.) CHAPTER I. In the Diamond Horseshoe. GIRL'S scream clashed with the soprano’s high note In the Jewel A Song, and in a moment the Metropolitan Opera House was in -o-oh!” exclaimed Mrs, Missiou- er, half rising in her excitement, “the largest of all is gone! The Maha- " ghe answered with an ab- harking back to days long gone, and evidently the recollection was not unpleasant. “I cannot blame you,” said the Ori- ental. “Every one knows you have the most wonderful jewels in the world—one of them, at any rate. Little Misa March listened wide- eyed. Sands bent toward Griswold in the Oriental’s ayes soon faded to a gleam of polite inter- “Duplicates!” There was unmis- takable contempt in Mrs, Misstoner's "T trust,” the Easterner continued, will recover the Maharanee, rpet, crushed, hardwood of exclaimed Sands. Maharanee!’ gasped Dor- rber Missioner in a stified voice. “Take me home, Bruxton. The conference that followed in the quiet of Mrs. Missioner’s library threw no light on the mystery of the Maharanee's disappearance. “Perhaps all the other stones are baste,” she hasarded. “I am going to see how many have been stole: She dropped to her knees before the steel door of the bank-like vault built into the wal nickel knob to right and left. The door, painted to harmonize with the Flemish oak of the wainscot, was ornamented with only the widow's held the others aw her gloved fingers whirled the little knob, Not until @ click announced that the bolts were thrown did Sands speak, ‘You are sure all the other stones are here?” he asked, picking up Mes, Missioner’s lorgnon bag, into which she had slipped the recovered gems on leaving her opera box. bt the widow replied, “but, Bruxton, the Maharanee, the beauti. | ‘anee diamond! I bg Ad how I prize it!” cae ee nees of many colored} slashed the comparative gloom oethe afe as Mrs. Missioner brought forth tray after tray from the jewel vault. ‘The steel box in the centre of the sa was an Aladdin's cave in miniature. It held stones of every sort in set- tings of every fashion, ranging from the product of twentieth century Jewelers back to the loved works of Byzantine — artificer: Little Miss March gasped again as the widow Spread the trays on the Persian rug. The widow's guests saw what few persons other than Mrs, Missioner had seen—all the Missioner Jewels at once, The gems were the collec- tion of a lifetime. Missioner, in the intervals of amaasing milli devoted: himself to gatherion” ee from the earth's four been his only hobby. corners, It had Mrs. Missioner, despite the hour's lateness, telephoned for Ranscome, famous jeweler. When he arrived, she showed him the diamonds she had collected from the broken neck- lace, Ranscome paled at news of the loss, “The Maharanee!” he murmured-— say, rather, groaned in an under- “A glorious jewel, a wonderful } & queen's jewel! Gone, did you say? Absolutely gone-not a trace of it?” With the flat of his hand, he spread the smaller stones on the table, stroking their gloss with sen- sitive fingers. He held threo or four to the light, then, with a disdainful gesture, smeared the glistening pile broadcast across the board. “None,” replied the widow. “And those? “These, Mrs. Misstoner,” the expert said, as if waking from a dream, “are the most beautiful imitations a I have ever seen.” Sands reached for the tajephone again. CHAPTER I. A Searching Examination. HEN Sande stopped talking over the telephone, he turned to the widow with an alr of finality. “I have taken it on my- self,” he told her, “to inform the De- tective Bureau. This is no time for Sherlocking. Thoro'll be a couple of detectives here in half an hour.” Donnelly was :. big man who turned out his toes as he walked. Carson was of middie age and non- descript. “We've come up here, Mrs, Mis- sioner,” saif Donnelly, addressing Miss March, “to find your diamonds. “Ob, thank you!” murmured the widow, sweeping toward him. “I am Mi Missioncr. Won't you be seated?” “Now, then, Mis’ Missloner,” said Donnelly briskly, ‘Who—huh—!—do you suspect?” There seemed to be a sort of astigmatism in bis breathing. Carson faced the group with an ex- pression that said bluntly he suspect- ed everybody. “L don't suspect anybody,” Mra, Missioner replied, resuming her talk with Ranscon, “Where were the jewels stolen from?" ‘1 don't know," said Mrs, Misstoner. “When did you miss them?" Again the Widow recited the inci- dent of the opera box. “Who was in the party?” Mrs, Missioner told him. She did not mention the Oriental tn the next box. it did not occur to her, “Isn't there anybody you can think ."" pursued the detective, “who could have taken them?" “Nobody who would," answered Mrs. Missioner, “Did anybody else have the com- bination of the safe?” “My secretary—Miss Holcomb.” “Oh!" said Donnelly, Carson's lips rounded in mute repetition, “L have known her many years,” said Mrs, Missioner quietly, adding with warmth, "She is a young woman of high character.” " returned the y 1 ask, ma'am, known her many Missioner, ted that the servants and he interrogated them in turn—learning nothing. Then he asked: ‘Are these all the servants?” ‘All at present,” answered Mrs. diamond—were rolling on gathering then on leave. Oh, yes, there's All. Allie the name of your maid’ No, Ali is @ man—an Indian. iene what's his job?” This aggres- sively, “He Js a courier. Donnelly was puzsled. “When I travel he looks after the transportation and baggage,” Mrs. Missioner explained. “Is tl thing el: any- “Yos, m, Mis’ Missioner,” he answered. “T think we'll talk to your secret ‘4 tary now,’ Reluctantly, Mrs. Misstoner sent for the girl. Elinor tall, graceful, gray-eyed, od framed between crimson portieres like a Velasquez portrait. Her ment differed from Mrs. Missioner’s climatically, but, despite the polaric oppositeness of their coloring, there was a resem- blance between them. Mra. Mission. er’s eyes turned to her apologetically. “L regret to disturb you so late, Elinor,” she said, “but these gentle- men insist on seeing you. I suppose you were sleeping?” “T was dozing, I fear,” smiled the bed be pending.” She held an cklace with the Maharanee diamond is gone,” the widow ex- plained, “and paste jewels have been put in thelr place, This is Detective Donnelly, of the Central Office, and this is Detective—ah”—— “Carson, ma’am,” said Donnelly, Carson himself had been about to usual, speak, but his big colleagi talki hastened to do thi “I'm sure I'm Donnelly and Mr. Carson, since there has been a robbery,” said Elinor easily. She moved softly to the centre of the room and stood looking at the Headquarters men. “A uu eure the real diamonds are gone Mrs, Missioner made a gesture to- ward the safe and indicated the heap of false gems on the table. “If the detectives have any quea- tions to put to Miss Holcetub, I sui gest that they waste uo time, ds, "There can't be much to o, there isn't much, Mr. Sande,” orted the large Central Office man, I'd just like to ask the young lat who she thinka took the diamonds,’ myner poe, ammaned “How shou! ow juerted, Titated by the man's abrupt- pess. ‘his is the first I've heard of the robbery.” “The very firet?” inquired Don- nelly pointedly, Miss Holcomb was standing close of her face to the detective as she answered decisively: “The very first. “Then maybe you'll explain, mise, why you didn't’ come in with the other—huh!—that is, why you didn't appear before?” “I have told you I was reading in my room,” she replied. “LT knew nothing of the robbery, nor even of Mrs. Missioner's return from the opera, until the housekeeper knocked _on my door with infor- mation Mrs. Missioner wished to see me in the Mbrars “L really regard this as wholly un- necessary, Mr, Donnell: eaid the widow, with slow insistence. “Mii Holcomb {8 not only my secretary, but my truated friend, Her elder sister was in my class at Smith, I have known the Holcombs many years You may think you know them, ma'am," Donnelly persisted, “but my experience is you never can tell who you know in a case like this, Me and my side-partner have been sent here to recover your jewels and locate the thief, and if you don't let us do it in our own way, we can't be held re- sponsible.” “I'm afraid you'd better not inter- fere, Dori sald Sands. “Can't expect results if you do,” observed Griswold, It was difficult for him to hide his enjoyment of the turn the affair had taken. He watch- ed Elinor as if he revelled in her dis- tress. Missioner, “My own maid ts away ‘Besides, ma‘am, if you'll pardon ‘ « By Robert Minor rae shouldn't be tre: even though he c sald Donnelly, “the case ia out of your hands now; it's in the hands of the Detective Bureau.” well,” Mra. Missioner sub- few moments, then he unlocked the “But I know you're wasting bo: Holcomb could e’d tell all she room, took a box of rare lacquer and fitted a key to it. He stopped to Kaze gearchingly at Miss Holcomb for a x, “T hate to pry into any young lady's little keepsakes,” he said in & pon- derously patronizing manner, “but as asn't been to Maiden Lane in such a long time, I know sho won't object. Now, this little box, of Contains nothing but trinkets ds and ends—jove-letters, may- Fitnor'’s heart sickened at the leer in his fac to Dorothy's loving little face, and clung to the debutante’s hand, nelly, fumbling with while, opened the lacquered box. “Just what | said, you see,” he ex- trinkets and other little souventrs—huh!—of old romances, perhaps, be a summer girl, Miss Holcomb, If only you had jewels like Mra, Mis- sioner’s, you'd shine with the best of us in any wa; know without being questioned.” Sands broke the ten: suddenness that fairly shouted his Rising eo abruptly and you'll be gett Chief wants to se CHAPTER 111. The Brownstone House. HILE Elinor, heipless in the reaction from her grief, was speeding to Mulberry Streot in a taxicab with Donnelly and Carson, a ewart, man—evidently an Oriental—giid>1 out by the servants’ door of the Mis- sioner home, Hailing a cab, he gave the driver an address. the vehicle stopped in front of a brownstone houne, The Ortental dismissed the cab, re- mounted the steps of the house and Presently was shown into a@ soft-lit rooin, fitted out in E.stern fashion. At the door he bowed. A man aitting cro: divan at the other end of the room murmured an acknowledgment of the salutation, Slowly the visitor strat ened himself and looked at the divan, without raising his eyes to the faceot the man upon it. “The peace of the Immutable One be upon you,” he sald in hie harsher “Your servant All comes \u report upon his mission.” “Peace be to you, faithful one,” an- Not until then did Miss Holcomb hi whole character. that bis chair fell backward wit! crash, he strode to the telephone and seized the instrument savagely. Ho was calling Police Headquarters be- fore either of the detectives recover- ed from his surprise. “What are you going to do?" visibly anxtou: to have Manning call the key for a the big sleuth, “I'm gol “He's sent the wrong men. This jan't a Tenderloin case.’ “Now see here, ‘led Donnelly threatening! 'm seeing straight enough,” re- “I asked the Detec- tive Bureau to send up on an !mpor- tant case, and the wires crossed be- easage got to the Chief. Somebody told him it was a China- town holdup. Now I'm going to talk h, it's great to A little later beauty, that necklace, If the imita- tion is so pretty. He atirred the contents of the box Nothing else remained He felt baffled and sorely irritated. lexmed on a At the thought of failure, he thrust his fingers into the box violence that everything it held fell Carson stooped to pick » placing It in Donnelly's hand to be returned to After recovering several te of Jewelry he laid in hia big col- greedy clutch « small, round object wrapped in silk tissue, What's the matter with that num- ber?" “I think we would better let them have their way, Bruxton,” murmured Mra. Missioner, the light of admira- tion in her eyes in contrast to her “Mr. Donnelly knows Miss standing now. He will re- Donnelly didn't know precisely whi he was expected to remember, b realized gentler tactice were toward the widow's secretary Sands was around. Donnelly, rolling the fairy parcel be- tween finger and thumb, “You won't mind {f I peep in the paper, young Jady? Of course you what the mis- It did not escape his observation that neither Ranscome nor Griswold anything in Miss Holcomb's defense. Donnelly waa rapidly recovering his place on the pedestal, deep in his pockets, he rocked on his jd heels and looked at Elinor piercingly with his little eyes, The girl, interval between sobs, raisi A She detached her- Mise March, awered the other, All look his master in the face, The master seemingly did not wear the evening dress of the Occident in he had appeared in the opera box adjoining Mrs, Missione slender, well-knit figure wae awathed in the clinging garments of the East garments of silken stuff that fut- tered and rippled with every move- ment, that seemed to rustie in echo Even Carson was startled into’ echoing “Oh!” and the three won almost screamed, the folds of twinkling in the insistent green glow of the vacuum lights, flashed a dia- unmistakable which Mrs, Missioner and Dorothy and Elinor recognized as one of th n Hands wrist- For, nestling in self gently from lit! and lifting that higher, even hi ure as startling a: been her losa of control, “If you have anything more to ank, ir,” said Miss Holoomb in a low tone, “I will try to answer.” Lane tho oaner day?” naked De lane the jer day?” aske: nel) to Miss March, She turned only part ah: F necklace—much Maha of an ordinary stone. was a@ diarnond even a novice could tell was genuine. All the blood left Elinor's face. muscles of her throat knotted as if she were sti swayed for a moment, t long step toward the detective an trembling, covering @ little thoughtful tugs at ultant breese Stirred the smoke wreaths from his leaped and Was not in Malden Lane, I haven't been downtown in week: time I went south of t district was more than a month ago.” “That ia true,” aid Mra, Miasioner “Miss Holcomb went to Battery Trust Company for me.” “Was that the di nd diamonds to Tiffany's big detective quickly, of the small stonea made tighter, you holding the diamond to the light about to speak—in what words, what “Swami, [ did not. Your servant is , but he has done his bes ho man on the divan watched his rough slitted eyes misery in the girl's attitude struck , the triumphaut grin from f and there was momentary compaasi ol in the tone In which he sald: “We'd better go back to the library, T guess, Will you go with my partner, Miss Ho! be Carson's adv side was checked which she whirled toward sioner, again with outstret This time the widow was slower {i meeting the appeal by the detective's discovery, finer sensibilities of her womanhood Astoniahinent, larie and compelling. was all she could fe for the moment imploring hands ou took the “To have ore Miss Holcomb's disdain had given Place to dull wonder, man got his misinformation? Could it be he really thought—but, no, Bhe felt as if some- closing about to the secretary's place a falne self wings and r wit of your ser- vant is completely wr waa impossible, thing suffocating wa: She lifted her hand to her throat to force back the sobs that would t him he had of the false Ma- She was stunned were benumbed “I guess Miss Holcomb isn't ready to tell all she knows—yet," said Dor- “While we're wait- ing for her to steady her nerves we'll Just have a look in ber room." Mrs, Missioner w tive the suggestion, but a glance at Elinor'’s shaking form stopped her. “Since they are going to search my said the girl, in a chok- you would all vome I feel that—won't she took Ell- nelly meaningly, girl's passionate itreaty not to be lieve the evidence of her eyes, not to believe her kindness raged In such a way, that Elinor for all the jewels in the mines of the world could be tempted from the high honor in which she ha t about to nega- not to believe there with me. you all come—please?” It was a charming little boudoir into which Donnelly's spreading feot and Carson's flat tread carried the de- to telephone the Sands with as thought advisable. one of our easiest cas “What does all this mean?” Sands ly from the divan From a drawer in Elinor'’s Chip- pendale secretary Donnelly, after a brief search through the rest of the silken turban remained on his he respects he dressed like a Wall Str “It means,” rasped Donnelly, “that oS The Gun Runner | ae rae Le | feet, drawn beneath his robe as he the way along the hall, out the door Pi ton broad couch, had not and down the brownston shown the patent leather shoes in Then, when he had walked quici ly which they were encased. He light- to a point eral houses on and his ed a European cigarette and puffed face was well out of the angle of us if he enjoyed the change from vision of the conventionally ocur- the pungent Kastern tobacco, tained windows at the front of the He walked softly to a door at one strange dwelling, a peculiar expres. sido of the room, and opening It @ sion spread over his features. Once little way, called aoftly: round the corner, he wheeled and “Kananda.” gazed piercingly toward the house he A man of mature yeara came in had quitted, as if his eyes could uietly and looked inquiringly at the penetrate the intervening walla. Swami. “He was of poruiy build, but “Is thy servant a dog?’ he said hie vigor ati] showed traces of the under his breath m athletic training he had followed in acingty. English schools and colleges, His Western inanner and excellent’ Eng: CHAPTER IV. lish were not in surprising contrast The Third Degree. to hie Indian swarthiness among those who remembered the vogue British education had among Indi ILICE HEADQUARTERS~ the old headquarters of Mul- petty princes in the reign of Victoria, berry Street—was one of the Queen and Empresa. architectural monstrosities Prince Kananda had been one .° of New York. the best batsmen on the Cambridge — y, eleven, His popularity among the Visttors to the Detective Bureau en- democratic young aristocrats of to tered @ dingy room, approached by a period had sprung from the day when narrow hall, on the Mott Street side [he remarked it was not his fault 1:4 of the bullding. Its most conspicuous ’ r t it 1 father wae & Manarajan, and inet lt turnishings were several bras raile* jdn’t live it down, Which crossed one another in bewilder- Nandy, as they called him on the ing fashion. Half-open doors led baldly banks of the Cam, was voted a good sort. ‘The classification had stuck to ‘to other offices, as tf to dispel the him wherever men foregathered, from “tmosphere of secrecy that hovered the Strangers’ Club of the Straits perpetually over the place. Two uni- Settlement to White's and the Union formed lieutenants of police were con- bape heed stantly on guard at oaken desks backed “What's the row, Your Reverence?” he anked. On the surface he took the *alnst opposite walls. On the morn- faith of his fathers lightly, Oriental !ng following the Misstoner diamond though he was in the marrow. » FPobbery, the two guardians were busy raneo has disappeared.” sorting piles of documents eattered nl. returned Kananda, “It “Guee ite time for the line-up,” that blessed atone isn’t the Wande:- remarked one of the leutenants, jing Jow of jewels! How long has tt iy entered the adjoining been missing this time?” square chamber, in “which ‘the lar, “Nobody knows, unless it be its rays ‘trom clusters of electric bulbs present possessor, Moreover, Prince |, wi You are, ruler you may be, but { can- TyAgled with the pale, sbivery light not overlook your levity in connection °'«iters's the list,” he called to the with 90 sacred 3 Leong ™Y desk lieutenant, ‘at the same time friend, remem! ie bre’ Nandys bs ‘serious ime | fanaa @ bundle of documents to mediately, > | Masaefl against the wall in “I wasn't exactly poking fun at the listiess attitudes were or sixty de- Maharanee,” he apologized, “and they tectives, their faces covered by long who suffer are never long absent from masks. my thoughts, It's a Western habit, ‘The opening of the door at the rea this filppancy—comes from trying to of the room brought the waitin: graft a Hindu sprig on a British oak, tectives to attention. stiffened to military erectness, thelr are of the Orient,” said the manner became watchfully elert. Swami, still rebukingly. “We should “Good morning,” greeted Chief of not copy the barbarisms of the Occl- Detectives Manning. The men saluted return. in return. The roll was called and the dent. we know who took Mra, Miasioner’s “There's little to teil,” the Swami Mi wd diamonds, and all we've got to do jere’s littio process of lining up the prisoners be. now 4s to find the rest of ‘em, I guess that won't be hard. Where there's one bird the flock won't be Miss Holcomb, we ig downtown, The went on, himself dropping into the gan without further ceremony. easier epeech of the West as his com A line of bedraggied, evelled panion stopped smiling. “The great men and women, thelr eyes bleary diamond 1s gone and Ali has no idea from a night of wakefulness in nar- of ite whereabouts, Night and day row, ill-ventilated cells, shuffied into on the watch in the woman's home, he the room. | Noonan,” droned the Lieu- has nothing to tell further than that = «Mioh: the jewel has disappeared and an er- tenant. rest has been made.” 4 An emaciated, weak-faced man, the “So they've caught the thief?” wretchedneas of his lot emphasized by “Perhaps. The bungters of thie un- the frayed clothing that hung in couth country may have stumbled jooge, broken nes from bie fora, upon her by ohance, he's in CUuB- ptepped forward. A look of dull mis- tody, anyway.” was stamped on his countenance, Nandy aiid from the table and bal- 9 ‘hopeless disregard of the fate in ed himself on his toes. 7 store for him showed im Bis mtanner. ‘A womnn, eh? Good-looking?” “Take a good look at this crook.” “Mra. Missioner’s secretary,” the commanded the Chief. “Never was Swami told him. “A close friend of pinched before. Caught with the hers, too, says All.” goods on, however, by Wiggine and Kananda's whistle wan expressive. Wolf, Swipin’ lead pipe from a half- “In there evidence to convict?” he finished house.” asked interestedly, The eyes of the detectives bent on “A paste necklace was substituted the human wreck as he shrank beck the Mahar- into line. 5 1. ne of One crook after another was the real diamonds was found in the brought forth for thot aepestion. prisoner's room, Every condition of obliquity ‘Now, that's funny,” @ald the was represented in that shifting line Prince. “Very funny! And they took of prisoners. There were youths, still her in tow for that?” in the formative period of their crim- Tho priest nodded. inal careers, vying with the old-tim- “What rotters these American po- ers in the forced bravado of thelr de- licemen are!" snapped Kananda in meanors. Others there were, s! the slang he had used as Nandy of faced and sad, overcome with re- Cambridge. “Fancy any self-respect- morse and praying allently ing Oriental doing that! myth ae nies or tae painful bulldoggiest little terrier in the Mi- others, old men and b young mea, spectators. for the one ntainti anes,” replied the B 5 ado's secret service wouldn't make regarding the proceeding with such a break!” difference of disinterested The Swami nodded again. And there were women, too, from the “All searched her room, of course, bedizened “badger queen,” ber hair before the detectives got there,” he and complexion as false as the jewele continued, “Soon after Mrs, Miaston- shimmering from her fingers and@ er's return from the opera, he went throat, to the tremulous, weeping res- atraixht from the hall outside the ll- taurant casbler accused of some petty brary to Miss Holcomb's apartment defalcation, At last @ wo her and investigated thoroughly.” head bent to her breast, her “Look here, old man," jerked Ka- unable to bear the weight of her frail nanda. “If All has the atone, it's all body, was halt dragged, half carried woll enough to put It over on"-——~ into the room. All the life seemed “He hasn't it,” the Swam! answered. to have drained out of her. Her hair “The thing for us to do now is to find hung disordered over her shoulders, out who has.” her hands swung ltmply, Uke loose "Good guesser!” grinned the pendulums, Well, Ait known his busl- | “Elinor Holcomb!” crted the Ldeu- enant. ‘The Swamt strolled back to the di- _ Donnelly and Oarson, each with as van and lay at full length, his bands on tote be shoulder, propped her pillowing bie head _He Blew smoke wetate your "i pil “I'm not so sure of that,” he re- ef. torted. ‘I don't like his fallure to The order fell on deaf eare. keep better watch on the atone.” Donnelly's hand flew to her chia, ‘andy swung himself back to the tliting her face upward. For an in- table, stant she raised her heavy eyelids; “How long’a it been gone?” he then recolled as from @ blow. The asked, crowd of masked spectators floated “I tell you nobody knows. Its ab- before her eyes like hideous epectres sence was discovered to-night.” of @ horrid dream. A low groan, like “You've just learned of it?" the Iaat lament ts tortured ‘soul, 4 you, 1 ki bout the came from j sketched the Incident of the opera “lamonds,” was the curt explanation . : es, Kananda of her presence, ee Al ale hands “Tt was late in the afternoon befor ¢ the bo. Miss Holcomb was eacorted ‘ thing left of the Bo- ito ihe inquisitorial chamber, ‘Nothing but this splinter I With a weak show of courage she Pri naiental tater eyed Manning resolutely, and the paln ank Into a soft leather chair close Kananda reached for a clearette. “T guess we'll have to put Ramset- [0 his desk. Donnelly and Carson oo- feo on the men,” he mused, “Don't bow. ike to do it, for Ram isn't exactly : aot, do with those what we'd call an adept, Sands and Sto blurted the Chief. : i Her lips framed a reply, but It di wold can be watched by one withcuraitarane ply, it died ho erted tmpatiently 1 eee “yp !Come, com eee nter “We don't want any acting he ” know you're only a tool in this m: As its ter. We've got the principal under t and I'm giving you a chance ive yourself, You turn State's nee against him and I'll see thar 1 the tiny hole in the floor abov rose cautiously from his crouching position and hastened downstairs, No harm comes to you, Next minute he was entering the 1ow we want to land, 1} yresence of the hiv just what you did with the jewels,’ Rendea wiih anatnan ’ In the midst of his outburst a door In measured tones the Swami, who opened silently and @ sharp featured, had resumed his Oriental robes, gave Smooth shaven man of middle age en 1 instructions to which the Hindu tered and seated himself in an ob- servant listened with intent respect, scure corner of the room, His form the Prince from tine to time em- seemed to merge into the shadow of phasizing the priest's orders with a the walls as he dropped noiselessly nod. into his chair, You may go, Ali," satd the Swamt Miss Holcomb did not see him in conclusion enter, Her increasing tc ror gave “L go, master,” the Hindu replied, her a fictitious energy and she lifted acking ch the, portteres, » her head with a sharp jerk. maldcained his resp bearing all (To Be Continued.)