The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-20
THE GIRL AND.
| HER S
Cronkite Watches a Transaction In
Diamonds In a Deserted
Country House.

QfdmonoS IN a OeSCfteo
Country Houe.
Giving no thought to the trihing Incl
dent, which in no wise concerned him
Abe Cronkite went from the little way
station to the house and delivered the
sealed package to Peter S%turtevant.
From Judge Marcellus,' he explained
with his usual terseness. He said that
you would understand
The tall old gentleman. standing dig
nifedly by the library table. swayed
q little.
Bless my SOUL" he unused, Ahow time
flies! Have the twenty years really
expired? Yes; this is the very date;
the Judge, as ever. Is on the dot
He paused, gazing doubtfully at the
thickset, stolid faced man before him.
@Do you know he asked. ,
'The Judge said 1t contained valua-
bles. Jewels Cronkite replied. "a be-
quest growing out Of the Van Diemen
inheritance. / am to bring back this
receipt. signed"
Mr.. Sturtevant read over the legal
form: Receipt is hereby duly aoknowl-
edged Of the two certain Brazilian dia-
monds known as Castor and Pollux,
bequeathei to Mrs. Sally Van Diemen
by her late husband, Sebastian Van Die
men. sea merchant. and now coming
into my possession by the terms Of her
last will and testament
aII.-a hn-a. ,,aa n-nnkly-u he want
on. The Judge is more reliable and OK
acting than the Bank Of England; and
for that reason I suppose both he and you
would prefer that I should verify be-
fore l sign
He cut the red tape: unwound the stiff
parchment; opened the ebony boz. From
a downy nest he picked out a stone the
size Of a pea. 1t glowed sombrely In
the yellow light like a polished pebble.
From everlasting to everlasting
unused the old man awedly. while the
millions who worshipped you, while the
millions who mourned you have withered
into dust. while the passions you infamed
have smouldered and grown cold-I hope.
1 pray
Il don't think much Of 1t. SIR inter-
posed Cronkite bluntly. Il have seen
more life and sparkle from PASTE
sLck now said Mr.. S~turtevant.
He picked a mate Of the stone from the
box. With one in his right hand. with
the other in his left hand. he brought the
two stones nearer and nearer.
1t was as II an electric current united
them. The two diamonds shone brill
iantly. flashing a thousand rays from
their iridescent facets.
How m~arvellously beautiful cried
Cronkite. his poise shaken. u have
never seen gems 80 mutually responsive.
as x with proximity o COMMON soul
awakes. like twin stars
They are twin stars, my man. agreed
Mr.. Sturtevant. found. centuries ago,
in a matrix that yielded nc others. in a
matrix thousands Of miles from where
diamonds had ever been found before.
But look, again. look. look
He placed one stone o. top OF b other.
The myriad s~cintillations combined into
a single orb of Respondent light.
Twin starsi" he repeated. Yes. and
more. They form a constellation. No
wonder the natives adored them as divine
brothers. No wonder the Portuguese
freebooters who snatched them from
their despoiled and dishonored temple
called them Castor and Pollux. No won
der that Hello. what was that2'
Mr.. %Sturtevant hastily caught up the
ebony box, forced down its cover over
his breast. A shadow, II seemed. had
fitted by as the two heads we're bent in
examination. =
Cronkite swung open the veranda
window.
1T was nothing. sir he reported doubt
fully, uneasily conscious OF something not
yet definite. "A heavy cloud rolled up
is brewing. l should already be gone to
catch the s o'clock train"
There is another train to town at 1
in the morning. Mr.. Sturtevant suR-
gested. Il should be glad Of your COM
pany at dinner and this evening. though
I must admit the subsequent discom-
1T isn't that replied Cronkite smil.
ingly. We have an Important trial
on in the morning, The Judge. will
expect me at his breakfast table with the
papers. I had better GO. You've got a
pretty good safe there. slr-four letter
combination, chr That's the way to do
IT, as his host enclosed the box In an
and twirled the knob. Fright and tight
II you would sleep sound
With an anxious glance around the
horizon Cronkite stepped out briskly,
passing through the old fashioned garden
In the rear and cutting across fields.
Already the western clouds shrouded the
heavens. Already their shadows were
becoming a murky darkness. Down the
mountains rushed the storm, with whirling
cavalry OF dust in front and then the
infantry Of rain solidly advancing under
the cover Of the thunder's artillery.
Even as the detective passed a decayed
and ancient archway the landscape was
blotted out, and he was glad to stagger
blindly under the clashing plane trees to
the old granite house, evidently deserted.
he had noticed on his arrival. As he
reached its grim and boarded front the
whistle OF his departing train cut the
rlction mockingly.
Cronkite was too philosophical not to
accept the inevitable. Since here he
sentable, here he would remain.
He circled around the house. guided
by feeling, deeming himself lucky when his
hand touched n side door that yielded
from It's rotting hinges: A,vigorous push
and he was within, under shelter.
As he closed the door noiselessiy from
habit a surprising glimmer sent him
Just as noiselessly into the hall closet.
Then TO him. crouching, intent, came
sounds that recalled the trifing incident
at the station and made more definite
the something that had puzzled him at the
library window.
II.
cronL;ta vajtad until the soupde md