The Huttig news., 1911-11-25
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Maharanee diamond.
Il think we've found them all"
said Sands, rising and emptying his
eupped hand into the miniature noun
tain in Mrs. Missioner's lap
Sands and Griswold returned to
their chairs. Reluctantly realizing
the thrilling sttle hy-scene was at an
end. the other members of the audi
enee again focused their attention on
the stage. Mephisto befooled Dame
Martha, Faust won Marguerite, and
the curtain descended on an operate
triumph only to be raised and low
cred and raised again as boxes. or
ehestra aud balconies recalled the
singers for their need of praise
As they passed. howing 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, bean pushing the chairs
about until all save Mrs. Missioners
We're grouped In corner of the box.
Then the little debutante, regardless
Of her fifty frock, raked the floor with
her fan. with her free hand. her feet,
in almost bystericsl quest of the still
missing diamond Griswold, nearly
as excited as the women, recon-
menced his own search.
All the action in Sands leaped to
the fore. Stretching long arm across
the bent backs of Griswold and little
Miss March, he thrust a thumb
against an electric button.
ut cant be In the box" he said de
cisiyely, and when a breathless usher
raped on the door. the millionaire
tore it open and whispered: Run
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 woman who, with a sweep
of her pen, could summon all the
artists who had sung their souls out
on the stage to sing as soulfully In
| her salon, who, with another pen
sweep, could recompense them be-
yond their most arrogant demands.
was in tears because she had lost a
diamond
But such diamond It's prisoned
fire held the history of an alien race.
After all, said Griswold In a swift
aside to Dorothy, she has recovered
! hA
not find this one
Don't you know?" returned little
Miss March excitedly. Don't you
really know, Mr. Griswold?"
know what, Miss March," asked
the clubman
Why, the history of that stonel
Don't you know Mrs. Missioner's bus
band bought it from a Maharanee
that they brought it all the way from
India? Don't Won know it's the finest
diamond in American
Griswod shook his head. He was
pursuing the search perfunctorily His
hands were busy, but his eyes roved
over the house. Idly he noted the
slowly ehbing interest of the audi
ence, the departure of hundreds by
twos and tbrees and larger groups, the
| thronging toward the lobby for the
usual visits between the acts. It was
with faint interest that he saw sew
eral swarthy faces weaving through
/ the crowd Had his eyes been able
: TO follow those faces, he would have
seen them converse In the corridor
kah ind he kox . ~ IL
the Oriental with the face of 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
when the strangers fashlight gaze
struck a spark from her memory She
bowed, coolly. as she began the ineli-
nation of her head, but in the end gra-
ciously. Her dark neighbor was sat
isfed with that dubious encourage
ment
You are fond of your jewels as
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 back
TO days long gone, and evidently the
recollection was not unpleasant
Il cannot blame you" said the ORR
entail Every one knows you have
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 fash in the OrientaIs
eyes soon faded to a CLEAN of polite
interest
You are brave" was all he said.
ito wear them In public Many
woman. save In her own ballroom,
would con5ent herself with the duplI-
Gates
"Dnplcates!" There was unmis-
taxable contempt in Mrs Missioner's
tone.
Il trust" the Fastener continued,
you will recover the Maharanee,
too"
Mrs Missioner had no time for