Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-09-01

wore that night was he masterpiece
For in its center blazed the famOu!
Maharanee diamond.
81 think we've found them all,
said Sands, rising and emptying hi'
Cupped hand into the miniature mOun
tain In Mrs. M~issloner's lap.
Sands and Griswold returned tC
their chairs. Reluctantly REALIZING
the thrilling little by-scene was at al
end. the other members OF the audi
ence again focused their attention or
the stage. Mephisto befOoled Dame
Martha, Faust won Marguerite, anc
the curtain descended on an operate
triumph, only to be raised and low
! cred and raised again as boxes, or
Chestra and balconies recalled the
singers for their need of praise.
AS they passed, bowling and smiling
before the curtain, a low cry came
from Mrs. Missioner's throat.
"O-O-ooh!" she exclaimed, half
rising in her excitement, the largest
Of all is gone! The Maharanee!'
Instantly the turmoil was renewed
Dorothy sprang to her feet and, be
fore either Of the men could antici
pate her, began pushing the chairs
about until all save Mrs. MissiOner's
were grouped in a corner of the box
Then the little debutante, regardless
Of her fluffy frOCk. raked the floor with
her fan, with her free hand, her feet
IN almost h]ysterical quest of the still
missing diamond. Griswold, nearly
as excited as the women, recon
menced his own search.
All the action in Sands leaped tc
the fore. Stretching a long arm across
the bent backs of Griswold and little
Miss March, he thrust a thumb
against an electric button.
at can't be In the box" he said de
c~isively, and when a breathless usher
raped on the door, the millionaire
tore it open and whispered: "Rur
down to the. orchestra and look every
where around this box. A diamond
has fallen over the rail"
Dorothy Dorothy, I cannot go I'm
til we find it," sobbed Mrs. Mission
er. The m who, with a sweer
of her pen, could summon all the
artists who had sung their souls ou
on the stage to sing as soulfully II
her salon, who, with another pen
sweep, could recompense them be
yond their most arrogant demands
was in tears because she had lost
diamond.
But such a diamond! It's prisoneo
fire held the history of an alien race
after ALL" said Griswold in a swift,
rrtI, 20 TN~-~tIr, a,hn no., ponr,NnrnT
the other gems. and even If she can
not find this one"
Don't you know" returned little
Miss March excitedly. Don't yor
really know, Mr.. Griswold?"
Know what, Miss March," asked
the clubman.
why, the history of that stone!
Don't you know Mrs. Missioner's hus
band bought it from a Maharanee
that they brought it all the way from
India? Don't you know it's the fines
diamond in American"
Griswold shook his head. He was
pursuing the search perfunctorily. His
hands were busy, but his yes rovec
over the house. Idly he noted the
slowly ebbing interest of the audi
ence, the departure Of hundreds BY
twos and threes and larger groups, tn
thronging toward the lobby for the
usual visits between the acts. 1t was
with faint interest hat he saw sew
eral swarthy faces weaving through
the crowd. Had his eyes been able
to follow those faces, he would have
seen them In the corridor
behind the box-the box in which sa'
the Oriental with the face of a hawk
The hawk watched the Missioner
box. So steadily did he direct his
gaze at Mrs. Missioner that she was
on the point of averting her glance
wLcc the strangers haShiiSht sal;
struck a spark from her memory. Sht
bowed, coolly, as she began the incl
nation of her head, but in the end gra
ciously. Her dark neighbor was sat
isfied with that dubious encourage
ment.
you are fond of your jewels a.
ever, | see," he said. In a low tone
as of one claiming a share in intimate
memories.
YES" she answered with an alb
stracted air. She was barking bacl
to days long gone, and evidently thu
recollection was not unpleasant.
II cannot blame YOU" said the ORR
entail. Every one knows you havt
the most wonderful jewels in the
world-one of them, at any rate"
These" returned Mrs. Missioner
ARE among my very finest diamonds
But they are nothing to the Mahara
nee. and that is gone"
A leaping flash In the Oriental
eyes soon faded to a CLEAN Of polit,
interest.
You are brave" vas all he said
Ito wear them In public. Many
woman, ave in her own ballroom
would content herself with the dupli
Gates"
'Duplicates!" There was unmis
taxable contempt in Mrs. Missioner
tone.
II trust" the Fastener continued
you will the Maharanee
too"
Mrs. Missioner had no time 70
more than another slow bending O
her head when the usher who ha