The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-05
THE BLACK DIAMOND.

Know, but l m in fearful hole, and mus
get money somehow before this day
month, so if you could help me out
should be extremely grateful. By ths
way, Lord Nithdale has fallen hopeless
" IN love with that ugly little vixen
Dorothy Fleming, so there are nc posi-
biiities for Violet in that quarter at any
rate. Do you think some alteration
could be affected in Henry's beQuest.
It's absurd, lat clause about the title
the more so, now that Violet loves MIN.
dale and 1 don't believe anything or
earth viii persuade her that there are
as good hsh in the sea as ever came out
Of ii. OF course. she hasn't ghost OF a
chance, for the Fleming girl has cut hel
on from fortune and the man she loves
However, she has had an invitation 10 his
lordship's ball, which she foolishly be-
| heves might mean something. r. S. v
T. as soon as possible. Yours. etc.
FRANK RAYNE."
Although Rayne and his only daughter
Violet were among my best patients. !
failed to see lis reason for writing TO me
In this strain. He had never even limited
at such q thing as a loan before.
II.
| There was not the slightest doubt that
Violet Rayne was the belle OF the even
ing Her beauty caught ard fascinated
/ every one.
"Hullo old fellow. how are You Glad
/ you've come"
Good evening. Nithdale," I replied.
Come along, I want to introduce YOU
! to great friend OF mine" He led the
way, and 1 followed him through the
t brilliant throng as he endeavored TO find
/ the person alluded 10. Il suppose she 8
! in the ante-room, looking 81 the black
/ diamond, ne added.
What black diamond?"
"Ohl haven't you seen it? 1 don't ex-
pect you have. It's just about a fine
] stone, I can tell you. I picked IL up in
| Brazil for a mere song. considering that
I've been offered $4,000 for it since my
return, 1 believe the Raynes are the
only people here who saw it before this
evening, for 1 only had it brought from
the bank a few days ago. in order that
my guests should see that Dorothy Elem
ing isn't going to marry a pauper at any
rate"
We entered a small chamber where
bevy of smartly dressed men and women
had gathered round the case that held
the stone glanced over their should
ers and beheld what 1 Leneved TO be the
most magnificent gem had ever set eyes
upon, as it lay under a glass lid with the
electric lights playing athwart its many
facets.
The evening passed all too quickly, and
night began to merge into morning. Once
1 caught a glimpse of Rayne, as he hur-
ried by me, and throwing a cold glance
at me he turned away. Now, as the band
struck up the nnal Oance. Nithdale came
into the room. CHASTITY pallor on his
face, and rushed to where l stood.
Come quickly-the black diamond-it
is stolen he gasped, and without reply
ing I hurried after him into the adjoin-
ing chamber There stood the case, but
the glass cover had been broken in and
the stone was gone.
Send for the police at once" he called
to a footman>who was standing open
mOuthed by the door.
A few minutes later Nithdale reappear-
ed between the heavy curtains that
shrouded the door he was Immediately
assailed, as I had been, by an eager
crowd.
7 am sorry to tell you," he began in a
clear voice. unalloyed by any suspicion
of emotion, that a thief has visited this
house tonight. The black diamond has
been stolenr'
Exciamations Of horror ran around the
guests followed by a volley of questions.
''All the servants have been searched,
but without success ne continued, when
the murmurs had subsidized somewhat
Therefore. can any one assist the pO
lice and myself by informing me when
the stone was last seen in the case?"
Il was there half an hour ago. and the
stone was still in the case" volunteered
Rayne
But I've been there since" broke in
Dorothy Fleming. II left my handker-
chief on the table and went back TO
fetch it. The stone was IN the case, but
my handkerchief had disappeared. In
its place was this one, though to whom
it belongs l cannot say. for there is no
name upon it, She fumbled in her
pocket and produced dainty piece of
lace As she drew II out something tel |
to the floor and rolled between NTH |
dale's feet He stopped down to pick it |
up, and then recoiled with an exclama-
ton of horror.
Great heavensg' he cried. cit is the
diamond.
It would be futile to endeavor to de- |
scribe the scene of confusion that fol- /
lowed. Miss Fleming tainted and il was /
while I administered restoratives 10 her /
as she lay on the couch in the library /
that Rayne entered.
where's Nithdale; do you know?" I
asked, under my breath.
Cant say on his head. I should
say, after such an affair as this. By
the way, Provost your practice must
grow rapidly. if you treat all your pat
tents # you treat all your patients as you
did me when I asked your attendance
upon my daughter. Your response that
you considered too great one to ask IS,
| should think, unique in the annals Of
medicine.
Before I could demand an explanation
he had vanished from the room. Early
the next morning. however as I sat in
ny study, tired alike in mind and limb,
realized for the first time that the let
ter had received had come into my
hands by accident. It had been put in
The wrong envelope.
A conviction OF the innocence Of Dor
lthy Fleming became so strong that 1
'elt somwhere should ind evidence to
prove il. Accordingly, in the evening, /
ordered by carriage and drove over 70
Nithdale hall
7 found my friend at home. and when I
entered his study he was sitting alone in Z
IN arm chair. gazing intentiy at the fire.
Look here. Sithdale, do you believe .
Ter TO be guilty2 I asked. gripping his
'.Nyo. Heaven knows I don't"
Where is the diamond? / want % |
zee it"
He rose ianguidiy. and unlocking a !
abinet produced the stone
I looked at il carefully. Lifting aside /
BE blind. I drew the edge Of one 81 the /
aeets across the glass while Nithdale
watched me In astonishmeut- The gem
would not cut: theref0re-it was glass.
I took Nithdale by the shoulders and !
orCed him into a chair.
Vow. then. tsfce pen and ink and write
vhat I ten you; but before you begin 1 s
nay as well say that this is not the MISC
ag stone Ready We'll write 70 Rayne
nd request his presence here. at once.
when he had finished he rang the beil
nd handed the letter 70 a footuao. in-
tructing him 70 deliver Il Immediately
nd wait for q reply. Before half an
our had passed the man returned. 2
Il vas Just as I had expected Rzyne
aid he was unable 70 come. as Violet had a