The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-01-16
The Empires Dream
Amazing Adventures of a Gang of Thieves
Who Stole a World-Famous Dia-
mond of Fabulous Wealth.
"A wedding present. Mr.. Drawn

"A wedding present. Mr. Drawn;
what do you mean?"
Jaw, it's a lump o. liquid light, a
bonny diamont, missy, an / Travelled
all the way from Australia to sell 1t to
him. It's one o. the finest in tire
world"
my father bought a diamond?
What for? / understood that he was
in poor circumstances"
"Haw! haw! that's good. An old
gentleman In poor circumstances pay
in sixty thousan' pounds for a dia.
mont"
Sixty thousand %pounds!"
Jaw, yis; an the Empires Dream
Is worth double, an more, but Joe
Drawn amt the boy to haggle. An so
we're goin' home to the old gentle
man? Sure an I'll be seem somethin'
of We. The country down there so took
my fancy that I've taken a little place
quite close"
II am very glad to hear this, Mary"
said Miss Dauncey. II was afraid that
you father had met with some finan-
c1dI Misfortune.
81 am glad to hear 1t also: but here
Is my train. / hope you will call and
see me soon, Mr.. Drawn"
saw, yis, sure an | will. am
coming down later on in the day.
must have a long talk with Katie, my
old sweetheart, first"
"You will let Godfrey know, Miss
Dauncey?"
II am going to send to him immedi-
ately; so good by, dear. have NO
doubt you will see him tonight"
As the train left the station Mary
Brent leaned out of the window and
saw the leonine form of Joe Drawn
brandishing his huge cudgel in fare
well, as he lowered above the slight
figure of Miss Dauncey.
The journey to Stallie'd was une-
ventful, and Mary had mu1h to occupy
her thoughts. She knew that her
father had a reputation for eccentric
ity, but of his habits and disposition
she knew less than any stranger. Kept
at Miss Dauncey's school. she had
been allowed money without stint, and
she could not reconcile his letter of
the morning with the fact Of his pur-
chase of the Empires Dream"
Tired of this puzzle, she turned her
thoughts in the pleasanter direction Of
Godfrey West, and found comfort in
the fact that she was loved by the
man to whom she attributed every
manly virtue, and whose very name
thrilled her heart with Joy.
Arriving at Stallfeld she looked for
some one to meet her, but the station
was empty save for a sleepy porter,
who looked at her %curiously when she
asked to be directed to John Brent's
house.
Half a mile from the station stood
a simple cottage Of three rooms, sur
rounded by a tiny garden. In response
to Mary's knock, John Brent himself
opened the door. He was a little. old
looking man, with a clean-shaven,
parchment-like face, and wisps OF
white hair hanging round his neck. He
opened the door wfth shaking hands.
and greeted his daughter In q Queru.
lous voice:
"Ah! So you've come at last! Time
you looked after your poor father.
Hired help is SO expensive-yes, very
expensive. Come Income in!"
He turned his back on her and led
the way into the poorly-furnished
room.
mot q palace-no, you won't find
this q palace: but good enough, Ell? 1t
is comfortable and cheap"
"But, father, why DO you live in such
a poor place as this? I always under.
stood you were wealthy. or why did
you allow me to spend SO much money
at SCHOOL,"
"Ah! I was spending my capital.
my dear. But 1t is all gone-gone!
We must economize now"
But is 1t fair to me. father, to
bring me up al a lady and then plunge
me suddenly into poverty?"
"And this is gratitude for spending
my hard-earned money, Ell? I am
poor now-very poor"
How can you say you are poor,
when you can afford to purchase a
diamond like the Empires Dream?s"
The old man turned upon her with
his face livid with passion.
The Empires Dream!' What dc
you know about It? Speak, girl
speak! How do you knows Tell me
tell mel"
Il heard 1t from Mr.. Drawn. He
says you gave him sixty thousand
pounds for It."
"The fool-the fool! l am ruined!
He will tell everybody. and they will
think I am rich. l must go, / must ge,
away, tomorrow. 1t Is not safe
Thieves will be here. and I am only
an old man. The fool-oh. the fool!
And you-why did I bring you here
! was SO happy alone, and now-now
-"
Muttering 'n~coherently the old mar
plunged up the staircase and locked
the door Of his bed room leaving
Mary dumbfounded at the storm hel
words had raised. and sick st hear
at the cold welcome to her new home
A few miles from Stallheid station
the evening train from London stood
side-tracked. BY some ~fortuitous cir
cumstance the engine had gone
aniss, and the impatient passengers
had already waited over an hour foI
the arrival OF a relief engine.