Semi-weekly herald., 1911-10-09

sayY---so wrapped up in gems that
would not hll showcase In Maiden
Lane 1ewelry shop. that they are will
ing to sacriAce their -ery lives for
them!"
Britz threw all his skill as ques-
tioncr into drawing from the Swami
descriptions OF the more famous jew
els OF India, deftiy keeping the line
of his interrogations on the subject
of diamonds. The Hindoo, his entire
personality an eloquent expression OF
the Incidence OF the East, was alike
luxuriant In his nnrghileh and In rem
iniscences Of the sacred gems that had
adorned the temples OF hi- faith from
Delhi to Benares. Slowly. dreamily,
mystically. stories came from his lips
Of greed and piety, deeds of daring
and romance. statecraft and intrigues.
until Britt became so Interested that
for time even his trained, vigilant
mind lost sight OF the purpose that
had animated all his actions aince the
day he learned that the famous Mis-.
sioner necklace was missing
When the Fastener ended his string
OF tales, many of them replicas In
miniature of the Arabian Nights, ami
Of s;ill more thrilling Oriental legends.
the Headquarters man had an ex-
haustive knowledge OF all the great
diamonds in the history of Hlndostan.
"Your marvellous gems are not
proof against imitation?" he said in
quiringly.
- tl.,. - a
the Swami. But the Kohinoor. the
Light OF Calcutta, the Dawn of the
World and similar stones defy the
best efforts Of your artificers. In them
nature has wrought masterpieces of
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
society woman's diamonds. You
know she discovered that paste dia-
monds were substituted, and uader-
stand the central Jewel was one
of exceptional size
Neither Paris, nor Venice, nor yet
Stamboul can manufacture colorado
limitations of such a stone" insisted
the Swami limitations. that la to
say. that would deceive anyone with
the crudest knowledge"
But the Maharanee was undoubted-
ly copied" pursued Britt. III 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, Il 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
Britz, somewhat bafied, 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
II have no objection to telling you"
answered the priest, that am here
to spread the propaganda. to turn the
lamp OF the true faith upon the gloom
OF your Western civilization" He con
tinued Yes. ! am making prose-
lytesi ! 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 reluctant air. and took leave of
the Oriental with not over-profuse ex-
pressiops OF gratitude for his recep-
ton. The scholar struck the gong.
the Hindoo servant appeared in the
farther doorway, and In few seconds
the faint echoes of the VISITORS foot
steps ended In the quiet closing of the
street door,
Kananda, with a carriage akin to
the swagger of the English Guards
man. re-entered the room and looked
at the Swami quizzically
You need not put yourself to the
trouble OF looking through the Sunday
papers" said the Swami. There VIII
be nothing about this interview in
The Times"
MOI" returned Kananda. Il heard
the reporter say he wanted the facts
for the next issue OF his Sunday sup
plement."
He is not interested in supple
ments," replied the priest "sequels
are his speciality When he interests
himself In story he begins at the
continued line He is not Il report.
err"
The Prince looked at him inquirins-
ly.
Nor is he the man All should have
searched continued the sage "He H.
one of the cleverest detectives In
Sew York-Britz. OF Headquartersl
Britt. OF Headquarters, did not
waste any time in gloating over the
result of his interview with the B-ah-
min. In the first place, he did not con
slider that he had scored anything
ike a signal victory He knew enough
OF the subtleties of the Orient to be
aware that such grains OF truth as
mad come to him In the Swaimi's an
swers had been merged into voluIn
nous fabric of mendacity-well. call
II diplomacy-and that to winnow out
the few facts vouchsafed to him was
a task for the cloigtered seclusion of