Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-17

cree was promulgated the effect OF
which Is that none Of those unbannv
captives Is to see the light of day un.
III the diamond Is returned to its place
in Duddha's forehead. The temnle
was draped In the mourning colors of
the east and those colors still deck
its lonely walls. No true believers
foot may be seen within its portals
while the great stone Is missing. Tho
brethren Of the priesthood languish
in dungeons, hoping against hope that
Buddha may manifest his mercy bv
causing the gem to be regaIned and
replaced upon his brow. INTENDED.
unworshiped, the god sits upon his
throne within The shrine, waiting for
the restoration Of his own"
Mrs. Missioner was thrilled nv the
narrative. She was somewhat nj n
loss, however, to account for the depth
Of the Swami's interest in the recap.
ture of tho great diamond. Until he
rnfolded his story further, she did not
know how personal that interest was.
How does this affect you?" she
asked "Why should you be at such
pains to find and restore the diamond?
And TO return these other stones to
me?"
you will need no further oxplana.
ton. madam" said the scholar. with
utmost courtesy, when tell YOU that
the priests who lie in that Eastern
prison are my brethren"
"But how is 1t you are not among
them?"
by a special dispensation of mercy
on the part Of the Maharaiah," he an.
swcred. When five years. as you
count them. had flown and stu tho
diamond was missing-when all the
other servants Of the kingdom had
searched India, the rest of the Orient,
and even Europe for it, His Majesty
relented far enough to direct that
the imprisoned priests choose one Of
their number to girdle the earth in
quest Of the stone. |, being the young.
est Of the priesthood was selected for
the task. For the priests themselves,
though prisoners of woe, are moro
concerned to have the stain wiped out
than TO return to the world from
which they have been exiled. They
chose the youngest that the searcher
might have as long time as nature
permitted to carry out the quest"
The Swami paused an instant, and
then continued:
80 you see that not only do q hun.
dred humHl lives hang upon the re-.
turn of that single jewel to the place
whence It was stolen. but that the
faith, the religion. the very hope Of
eternity Of millions CT, persons, are
equally dependent upon It, Until the
gem CLEANS again In Buddha's brow,
no prayer for redemption can be
hreathed with any hope of response
in the most remote part Of tho
Maharajah's kingdom Can you won
der that would sell life itself to
achieve this task"
Mrs. Missioner did not wonder. She
clasped between her hands tho packet
containing the other stones of her
necklace, and gazed dreamily into tho
fire.
What is It, then, you wish" she
asked. What can I do for you? Is
II question OF reward?"
"NGt in that sense" said the Swami
quickly. 81 want no recompense for
returning to you that which belongs
TO you. Those stones are yours. It
would be as wicked for me to keep
them, according to tho light of my
faith. as in the moral Intelligence Of
yours. But / do want reward in a
way. ask your permission to return
to my native land and I request that
You cause all further efforts to re.
cover the big diamond to end o. once"
How can I do that" inquired the
widow
The matter is now in tho bands Of
the police. You can say truthrully
to the police" the Swan. replied,
that your diamonds have yeen re-.
turned to you; that you arr ,Aieaed
with the explanation Of their d:sap.
pearance th,t accompanied their
restoration, and that you wish all
further activity on the part of the
authorities to cease"
y will consider it."
Il trust your consideration will not
cover many hours" said the Swami,
rising "If you come to a decision
quickly and a favorable one, you will
avert a very strong possibility of
bloodshed
Mrs Missioner started,
The Maharanee diamond, as you
call 1t, is In the keeping Of my col
league" the Swami continued THAT
man Britt, the detective from Head
quarters, who has been most active
in the hunt for your necklace, Is close
upon his heels. 1t Is impossible for
my comrade to escape from the city
unless you express a desire to have
the police Gordon now surrounding us
withdrawn. He will not give up the
Jewel while he retains the slightest
spark Of life with which 10 fight for it.
And neither will he stop at what your
phase of civilization would call muir
der. IL it becomes at all necessary for
the defense of the stone"
A little shudder ran through Mrs.
Missioner.
Il will come for your decision at
noon" said the Swami. 1T is the
safest time for me to pass through
tho streets, as they are then at their
busiest. Think well upon my request,
10 h4
sacred stone go back TO It's shrine with