The Elbert County tribune., 1911-11-17


grief that moved equally the man long
hardened to dissection OF the body
and the veteran crime hunter accus-
toned to vivisection of the soul. Few
things are more terrible than to see
an old man weep. It is dual sur
render. for tears are the prerogative
Of youth and womanhood. Britz and
Fitch with difficulty controlled their
own emotions just for moment, for
tears streamed over the ashen coun-
tenance of the broken amateur al
chemist, and his wasted form writhed
and rocked In convulsive sobs.
"I have had my punishment said
Martin when at last the tempest had
spent itself; "but, oh, the long years
the long years of remorse. Urged
by poverty. that enemy Of seekers aft
er truth and beauty, succumbed to
the temptation the stranger held out
to me. I made the great diamond as
he desired-and l gave 1t to him for
his gold,"
The doctor glanced swiftly at the
detective and started to speak. Britt
raised warning hand. and Fitch
checked his exclamation Seating
himself for the first time the Central
Office mantle prober of mysteries
laid his hand encouragingly on the
diamond-maker' shoulder. and said:
There now; don't let 1t distress
you so much. Other men have done
things far worse than that!"
Nothing could be worse" screamed
Martin, springing from the low stool
on which he sat and facing his visi-
tors in an agony of abasement. IL
sold the delight of my eyes. the light
OF my life. the star of my soul-the
queen of all Jewels. the purest, truest,
most beautiful diamond the world has
ever known!"
Yes" said the detective. but don't
forget 1t was yours to sell You had a
right to do as you pleased with It"
'I had no such right cried the al
chemist THAT diamond was the
product of my laboring hours.
brought it forth from the air. the sun
shine. the silver water. the milk of
the moon, as an Aphrodite is fashion
ed of dew and mist. 1t was not a mere
stone; it had thought and sense and
soul; 1t was a microcosm OF the
marvelous!"
Fitch could not hide his astonish-
ment at the learning and poetry the
fearfully agitated old man displayed.
Britz himself. had not his thoughts
been focused vigorously on his pur-
pose, would have stopped to wonder
at them AS 1t was he struck the iron
of the alchemist's remorse at white
heat.
What did the stranger want with
it?" demanded the detective.
81 don't know" said Martin. His
voice still trembled, his features
worked, hfs hands fiuttered and knot
ted themselves In the intensity of his
emotion He came to me a stranger;
he went away the same, and with him
went my queen of jewels, my beauti-
full. beautiful diamond of diamonds!
But will find him. he shrieked.
For centuries / have been upon his
path. He thought all things ended
between us when he lured me into
parting with my treasure. He said
because he had suggested the outline
and color of the stone he had a right
to make me give 1t to him for his
money; but 1t was IL who thrust
into the center of the glorious gem the
fire from heaven. I penned the sun
bursts In the priceless prism, and it
is mine. 1t is mine by right of crea-
toni"
This outburst excited the old man,
but In little while there was an
other outburst of his emotions. He
fairly shouted:
Il will have him, though. will
come up with him yet. and when do,
will give him back his money and
make him return the diamond to me.
He thought he left nothing to tell me
who he is. He thought / never would
be able to find him in this big town.
He felt sure the old curiosity dealer
would not venture far enough away
from his shop to track such a fine
gentleman. But he forgot one thing.
| l have kept it all these years, and
through 1t will find him yeti"
Abstractedly he thrust his hand into
an inner pocket and fished out bit
VI Soiuuodiu EACilculy ne WdVeu II
in front of the detectives eyes Brftz
resisted for moment the Impulse to
snatch 1t from his grasp, but ne
gripped himself sharply. Awaiting de.
velopments was one of the detectives
strong points. AS he expected, the
old alchemist was in state of mind
to share his knowledge with any.
{ body. After few more flourrshes
Martin laid In Britt hand a mans Wis
iting card, face down.
Studiously avoiding any appearance
! OF haste, Britz turned it up and read
/: the single line engraved upon 1t.
I, Without the tremor of muscle. and
with only one swift significant look,
he passed the card to Fitch.
The doctor. little less self-re-