The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-08-04

IF / were betting man IwouId lay
you twenty pounds on it. Give me leave
to Telegraph to Messrs, NJ, and will
speak to my boy Ii Che"
Ii Che, q superior Chinaman in blue
silk, long pigtail, hands folded under his
open sleeves, in priestly fashion. and
with the hollow cheeks OF an opium
eater, was on duty in the Chinese court.
The two men turned in that direction,
and the soft footed Celestial glided up at
sign from his master. A few rapid orr
ders in pigeon English, received with
series of small mods by Ii Che, and
tho Chinaman followed at a short dis
lance, while the two Englishmen re-
turned to the spot from whence they had
seen the detective. He had gone. Sir
Meredith said:
Come and Apd your wife; he will not
be far off,
A minute later they saw the man,
checked in his progress by throng of
the rajahs guests marshaling about
royalty. His eaflow face had strange
withered look, his eyes were cast down,
but shot restlessly from side to side,
without corresponding movement of the
head. An almost imperceptible sign
from Sir Meredith sent Lii Che to dog
his steps. Col Cannock went to
search for his wife, and Sir Meredith to
dispatch telegram. Threading his way
in and out of the gay crowd streaming
in all directions, catching now the sounds
of the band in the distance, and now the
voices of Russian glee singers, Col. Can
mock looked for his wife, feeling uneasy,
half alarmed, by his friend Is strange asser-
ton. He said to himself that even Walton
might be mistaken sometimes, that he
had got into the habit Of deeming him.
self infallible and practicing an uncaned
for suspiciousness. He was presently
accosted by one of the raJah's suite, who
with profound bow informed him that
her ladyship Mrs. Cannock was waiting
for him in the Australasian court. The
dark face and jeweled turban bowed
themselves away again among the motley
throng, and Cannock hurried on in the
direction named to him. The cream
and silver folds Of his wifes train
caught his eye the moment he mount
ed the step into the court. 1t formed
the one pale spot against the quaint
background Of green foliage, dark wig
vans, brown savages gliding, or skill
fully seeming to glide, on the painted
river. A great mass of real foliage and
living palms had been added to the dec
orations, and the court was empty but
for that one moon hued figure.
sob, Moral" he began at once, for he
Axif RI al a
"Nora!" he repeated, dashing up with
one stride She remained immovable,
her head turned and resting against the
plush back Of the settee.
He bent down to examine her face
with sudden cramp of agonized appre-
hension at his heart. She was perfectly
still, her eyes open, but unseeing. He
tried her pulse, and when he had steadied
himself to attention found that it beat.
He laid her full length on the couch and
she sighed; consciousness was evidently
returning. Looking round for help he
saw some one coming down the vista of
greeaery and called out. Up strobe Sir
Meredith Walton.
II was in search of you" he said, then
fixed his eyes on the recumbent figure of
his friends wife, ''I'll fetch DOCTOR
he added, and without one question OF
remark was gone "like a lanplighter."
Even ut that anxious moment his
prompt exit provoked smile, recalling
many an exciting episode on both Eng
lish and Oriental cricket field to Col.
Cannock. Before he returned with
distinguished physician in his relentless
grasp Mrs. Cannock had recovered con-
seriousness, though not clearness OF recol-
lection. Her husband pressed her to tell
him what was the matter; all she could
say was:
81 really have not the least notion;
don't think am i'll.
Sir Meredith and the doctor appeared
in a very short time Tho latter stopped
down, picked up white handkerchief,
and said:
''This is the explanation. I'm afraid
it's case for the magistrate rather than
the physician. Mrs. Cannock, do you
miss anythinga"
Two voices exclaimed together, 1.-THE
diamond has goner
"This," said the doctor, sis what they
call in my part of the country pretty
kettle OF fish. OF course know that it
is the famous Orange diamond that is
gone. What can do to assist you, Col.
Cannoclz?''
Sir Meredith Walton vanished without
word.
Husband and wife gazed at one an
other. paralyzed for the moment by the
greatness of the disaster. The doctor
carefully folded the handkerchief
stepped in a strong anmsthetic, and cast
his experienced eyes slowly round.
Wigwam and canoeing savage did not
escaps his scrutiny, nor even the ma
hogany brown papooses sprawling In
close imitation of nature.
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