Semi-weekly herald., 1911-09-11
friend. remember the brethren.


Il wasn't exactly poking fun at the
Maharanee." he apologized, "and they
who suffer are never long absent from
my thoughts. It's a Western habit,
this fiippancy-comes from trying to
graft Hindoo sprig on British
oak. you know"
"We are OF the Orient" said the
Swami, stin rebuking!y. I'VE should
aot copy the barbarisms Of the Occi-
lent"
Nandy's eyes twinkled as the humor
6 such an observation IN tho heart
,f Manhattan flashed upon him. In
moment. he WAS grave again. how
aver. He swung himself to n table.
lightly for one OF his bulk. and sat
kicking his heels RS he awaited the
Hindoo priests narrative.
There's little to tell" the Swami
went on. himself dropping into the
easier speech of the Wes: as his COM
panion stopped smiling. THE great
diamond is gone and All has no idea
of Its whereabouts. Night and day
on the watch in the woman's home,
he has nothing to tell further than
that the jewel has disappeared and
an arrest has been made"
so they've caught the their
Perhaps. The bunglers of this un-
couth country may have stumbled
upon her by chance. She's In custody.
anyway"
Mandy slid from the table and bal
anced himself on his toes.
"A woman. eh? Good-lookingy
Not without influence on his ideals
had he taken a postgraduate course
among London's Gaiety girls. He was
n connoisseur in the femininity of the
alls." Serious women bored him.
But surely young person clever
enough to get away with diamond
the size OF the Maharanee couldn't be
stupid?
Mrs. Missioner's secretary" the
Swami told him. "A close friend OF
hers. too, says All
Kanandas whistle WAS expressive.
is there evidence to convict?" he
asked interestedly.
"A paste necklace was substituted
for the one containing the Mahara-
nee" replied the Swami. "One OF the
real diamonds was found In the pris-
oners room"
Now, that's funny" said the Prince.
"Devilish funny. And they took her
in tow for that?"
The priest nodded.
What rotters these American po-
licemen are!" snapped Kananda in
the slang he had used as Mandy OF
Cambridge. Fancy any selfrespect.
ing Oriental doing that. Why, the
bulidoggiest little terrier In the Mika-
dos secret service wouldn't make
such break"
The Swami nodded again.
"Ali searched her room, of course,
before the detectives got there" he
continued. Soon after Mrs. Mis-
sioner's return from the opera, he
went straight from the hall outside
the library to Miss Holcomb's apart
ment and Investigated thoroughly"
Look here, old man." jerked ka-
nanda. IF Ali has the stone, it's all
well enough to put 1t over on"
He hasn't it." the Swami answered.
THE thing for us TO do now is to find
out who has It,"
Good old guesser!" grinned the
Prince. We'll, All knows his bust.
ness"
The Swami strolled back to the d.
van and lay at full length, his hands
pillowing his head. He blew smoke
rings at the punkah.
I'm not so sure Of that" he re-
torted. Il don't like his failure to
keep better watch Cd the stone"
Mandy swung himself back to the
table.
How longs 1t been sone?" he
asked
Il tell you nobody knows. Its abb
sence was discovered tonight"
You've just learned OF it?"
No and yes. knew about the Ma
haranee before All came" He
sketched the incident OF the opera
house in crisp sentences. Kananda
listened eagerly.
80 there's nothing left OF the bo-
gus Maharanee." he observed.
Nothing but this splinter palm
ed, returned the priest. 1T was
easy-elementary legerdemain."
Both laughed. The facility of Occi-
dentals WAS a standing joke.
We'll. we need more help on this
now" said the Prince. "Ali will have
to go back to the house.
Yes, Mrs. Missioner can't spare
her Oriental curio Just yet" the
Swami assented
Kananda reached for cigarette.
Il guess well have to put Ramset-
tee on the men," he mused. Don't
like to do 1t, for Ram isn't exactly
what we'd call an adept Now. would
WEI"
Hardly"
But Ali can't be spared from the
Missioner place. Sands and Griswold
can be watched by one man
"Oh. yes" replied the priest. II
wish the man were little brighter
than Ramsetjee. though"
Cant be helped-what?" anglicized
Mandy. 'Ill have an eye to them In
the clubs from time to time. You look
after the social end
Yes" The Swami smiled. They'll
hardly get away from me In society"
MY word, but you're coming on!"
cha fYad tho priuca ssRfuhf in tba