The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-08
& The KING of :
DIAMONDS.
By Louis Tracy,

Author OF "Winss Of the MORNING." The Prlar O
Light" Etc.


THAT is odd" thought Philip. who
had witnessed both incidents In the
course of a six yards walk. He
glanced at the cabman and fancied the
man gave peculiar look of intelli-
gence toward a couple of fashionably
dressed loungers who stood in the
shadow of the closed public entrance.
The two men, without exchanging a
word to Philips hearing, went to a
brougham standing at some little dis
lance. They entered. Ths coachman.
who received no instructions, drove OF
in the same direction as the hanson,
and as If to make sure he was being
followed the cab driver turned to look
behind him.
Once In Laples Philip saw a man
stealthily following a woman down an
unlighted alley. Without a moments
hesitation he went after the pair and
was just in time to prevent the would
be assassin from plunging an uplifted
stiletto into the woman's back. The
recollection of that little drama flashed
into his mind now. There was sug
gestion of the Neapolitan bravo's air in
the manner in which these men stalk
ed a girl who was quite unaware of
their movements
He asked himself why cabman
should refuse one fare and pick up an
other in the same spot. The affair was
certainly odd. He would see further
into it before he dismissed it from his
thoughts. The distance to Mazda Ores
cent was not great
While thinking he was acting. He
sprang into the nearest hanson.
"A brougham is following a hanson
up Langham place. he said to the
driver. Keep behind them. II they
separate, follow the brougham. When
1t stops, pull up at the best place to
avoid notice.
The man nodded. Nothing surprises
a London cabman. Soon the three We
hicles were spinning along the Outer
circle.
1t was not a very dark night, the sky
being cloudless and starlit. Away in
front at point where the two lines
of lamps curved sharply to the right
and vanished amid the trees a row of
little red lights showed that the road
was up.
The leading hanson drove steadily
on. There was nothing remarkable in
this. When the driver reached the OBJ
struction, he would turn out Of the
park by the nearer gate; that was all.
But he did nothing Of the kind. There
was a sudden crash Of wood. WON
ans scream, and the horse was strug.
Cling wildly amid pile of loose wood.
en- blocks, while one wheel Of the cab
dropped heavily into a shallow trench.
simultaneously the brougham pulled
up, and its two occupants rushed to the
scene of the accident.
| Philips driver of course obeyed In.
| structions, but he shouted to his fare
as he jumped into the road:
THAT feller's either drunk or e did il
a-puppuss."
Philip was Of the same opinion. He
reached the overthrown barricade al.
most as soon as the two hurrying men
| in front, both Of whom were in even.
| ing dress.
| One of them held the horses head
/ and steadied him. The other was just
in time to help the young lady to leave
her dangerous conveyance.
II hope you have received no injury,
madam" he said politely.
"Oh not at all. I was frightened fol
an instant How could it have hap.
| pened? l saw the lamps quite plainly.
The man seemed to pull his horse de.
| liberately into the barrier"
The voice was singularly sweet and
we'll modulated. a neighboring arc
lamp Illuminated the girls face, with
its white, Implying radiance. 1t re.
vealed features beautifully modelled
and large, startled eyes that looked
wonderingly from the man who came
SO promptly to her rescue to the driver
| who had caused the mishap. Philip
behind the hanson, was unseen. He
remained a critical observer.
Il fear he is intoxicated was the
reply. Here. you! How came you te
make such blunder?''
Blind as an OWL" came the gurgline
| answer. II saw some red spots dancin
abaht, but thort it must be that larst
gill O beer
| Nevertheless the cabman extricatec
his horse and vehicle from their pre-
dicament with singular ease for hall
drunken man.
! Coin on. miss?' he grinned. There's
nothin' extry for the steeplechise."
mo. no. cried the lady. IT will
walk. I will pay you now"
Take my advice and pay him not Q
cent" protested the man by her side
Leave him to me. My friend here
will take his number. If you will &C.
cept seat in my brougham"-
The cabman began to swear and
threaten them all with personal VIC
lence. The lady, clearly unwilling te
avail herself of the accommodating Of
fer made to her, tried to edge away.
| The driver Of the hanson whipped his
horse on to the pavement By this
time he had turned his back to the
roadnenders' barrier.
The girl. angered and alarmed
shrank toward the gentleman, who
seemed to give her some measure OF
| protection from the Infatuated cause OF
all the trouble.
do step into my brougham." he said
cirilly. Victor. just grab the gee gee's
head again, and keep that idiot quiet
| until We get away. Now, madam, take
my advice. You Will be quite safe in.