The Delta independent., 1911-08-11
barch ia true to-day

bench is true to-day.
Now, do you know" said Britt. vi
yaciously "all this interests me very
much. and will make a cracking good
story for The Times Fancy a whole
people-how many millions did you
ay?--so wrapped up in gems that
would not fill a showcase in Maiden
Lane jewelry shop, that they are will
ing to sacrifice their very lives for
-hem!"
Britt threw all his skill as a Ques-
tioner into drawing from the Swami
descriptions Of the more famous jew
els of India. deity keeping the line
of his interrogations on the subject
If diamonds The Hindoo, his entire
personality an eloquent expression OF
he Incidence of the East, was alike
uxuriant In his narghileh and in rem
niscences of the sacred gems that had
.dorned the temples Of his faith from
Delhi to Benares. Slowly, dreamily.
uystically, stories came from his lips
Of greed and piety. deeds of daring
nd romance. statecraft and intrigues.
Until Britt became SO interested that
or time even his trained. vigilant
mind lost sight of the purpose that
had animated all his actions since the
day he learned that the famous Mis-
sioner necklace was missing.
When the fastener ended his string
Il tales, many of them replicas in
miniature of the Arabian Nights, and
of still more thrilling Oriental legends.
~
haustive knowledge Of all the great
diamonds in the history of Hindostan.
Your marvellous gems are not
proof against imitation" he said In
luiringly.
The lesser of them are not" said
the Swami But the Kohinoor, the
Light of Calcutta, the Dawn of the
World, and similar stones defy the
5est efforts of your artificers. In then
glory no human plagiarist can repro
duce."
Not even in Parish" inquired the
visitor. There Is a good deal of talk
Just now, you know. about the theft OF
a society woman's diamonds. You
know she discovered that paste dia-
monds were substituted. and under
stand the central jewel was one
Of exceptional size"
Neither Paris. nor Venice, nor yet
STEAMBOAT can manufacture colorado
limitations OF such a stone" insisted
the Swami limitations, that is to
say. that would deceive anyone with
the crudest knowledge"
But the Maharanee was undoubted-
ly copied" pursued Britt. "If you have
read the newspapers. you know It was
through the discovery OF that fact that
Mrs Missioner learned her necklace
had been stolen"
All the cordially Of the Swami van
ished. He seemed to wrap himself In
the impenetrable dignity Of his caste.
and he dismissed the subject with the
conclusive remark Of his race. II have
spoken" In spite Of the most adroit
efforts of his visitor. and despite inter
rogations direct and indirect. he could
not be induced to discuss the subject
again.
Britt, somewhat lafled. finally led
the conversation into other channels
by bethinking himself OF his role In
time to ask the Swami the purpose
and probable length Of his stay in
New York.
Il have no objection to telling you.
answered the priest. that I am here
to spread the propaganda, to turn the
lamp of the true faith upon the gloom
of your Western civilization" He con
tnued. Yes. am making prose
lytes! 1 am conducting gatherings OF
seekers after the Light. and | am In
structing all who come to me with
open minds and honest hearts"
Britt picked up his hat and coat
with a reluctant air. and took leave OF
the Oriental with not over-profuse ex
pressions of gratitude for his recep
ton. The scholar struck the gong
the Hindoo servant appeared In the
farther doorway, and in a few seconds
the faint echoes of the visitors foot
steps ended in the quiet closing Of the
street door.
Kananda, with a carriage akin Il
the swagger OF the English Guards
man, re-entered the room and looked
at the Swami quizzically.
You need not put yourself to thu
trouble Of looking through the Sunday
papers," said the Swami There will
be nothing about this interview II
The Times
Nor" returned Kananda. Il heart
the reporter way he wanted the fact
for the next issue of his Sunday sup
plement."
HE is not interested in supple
ments." replied the priest. sequel
are his specially. When he interest
himself in a story he begins at tn
continued line. He Is not q report
orv