The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-11-24
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In all that electric sparkle, no
gems outshone the Missioner jewels,
of which the necklace Mrs. Missioner
wore that night was the masterpiece.
For 10 its center blazed the famous
! Maharanee diamond.
II think we've found them all"
said Sands, rising and emptying his
cupped hand into the miniature noun
tain In Mrs Missloners lap.
Sands and Grtswold returned to
their chairs. Reluctantly realizing
the thrilling little by-scene was at an
end, the other members Of the audi
ence 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
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 tho 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 hysterjcal quest Of the still
missing diamond. Griswold. nearly
as excited as the women. recon-
meneed 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 q thumb
against an electric button.
1T can't be In the box" he said de-
cisively, and when 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 un-
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-
You'd their most arrogant demands,
was in tears because she had lost
diamond.
But such a diamond Its prisoned
fire held the history of an alien race.
AFTER ALL" said Griswold in swift
aside to Dorothy. she has recovered
the other gems, and even II she can
not ind this one"
Don't you know" returned little
Miss March exgitedlys .QQnt yep
Ssslly know, MI GrssN1pid Sc.
80 Know what; Miss Marchi'' asked
the clubman.
why. the history Of that stone!
Don't you know Mrs. Missioner's hus.
band bought 1t from Maharanee,
that they brought 1t all the way from
India? Don't you know it's the finest
diamond in American"
Griswold 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 ebbing interest of the audi.
ence, the departure Of hundreds by
twos and threes 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
behind the box--the box in which sat
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
when the. strangers fashlight gaze
struck a spark from her memory. She
bowed, coolly, as she began the incli.
nation of her head, but in the end gra-
ciously. Her dark neighbor was sat.
isf1ed with that dubious encourage
ment.
you are fond of your Jewels as
ever. l see," he said, in q low tone.
90 Of one claiming share in intimate
memories.
"Yes," she answered with an ab-
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 Orientaps
eyes soon faded to CLEAN of polite
interest.
"you are brave" was all he said,
ITO wear then, In public. Many a
woman, save In her own ballroom,
would content herself with the dupN-
Gates"
'Duplicates!" There was unmis.
taxable contempt In Mrs. Missioner's
tone.
81 trust" the Fastener continued,
you will recover the Maharanee,
too"
Mrs. Missioner had no time for