Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-10

come to earth for a look around, you
wouldn't be quite so ingenious"
'But she says In this note she will
have to sell some of the Jewels" the
Swami persisted. THAT certainly in
dicates they are still in her posses
sion"
"On the surface 1T does" said
Mandy.
But the woman when she wrote
1t could not have supposed it was to
be read by anyone save Griswold."
How do you know she didn't in.
tend to deceive him." asked Kananda.
It's good thing you chose the schol-
ars lie In early youth, my friend.
AS society man, you'd make an ex-
ceedingly interesting. but distressing
~ hopeless innocent abroad"
Mandy had learned his philosophy
OF femninity in one of the swiftest
sets of Cambridge town; In the most
exclusive London clubs; in the Olymp
ian gatherings of Heidelberg stu
dents. and in the most fn-de-siecle
circles OF the gay capital. Whatever
his theory, there was nothing hest
tant about 1t. He held in regard to
the sex only the most settled opin-
tons.
1T seems to me- said the Swami,
that your conclusions are pretty far
fetched. But | bow TO you, prince in
the matter of social law Perhaps
know a little more about the higher
mysteries but when it comes to coul-
Ions, you take the baccalaurcate de-
gree"
There may have been a shade of
Eony in his words ii so, Kananda,
for all his subtlety, failed to notice it.
Il think you are ciouding the ques-
ton needlessly when you take it for
granted the woman who wrote this
note is not true to Curtis Griswolds
Interests" And the Swami tapped
the table meditatively with the scrap
OF paper the man with the glistenng
eyes had tllched from the camera
board in Burdens workshop.
rect" said the Swami ito continue to
take it for granted she is sincere-tbat
she received the jewels from Girls
void, that she still has them, and that
she will not part with any of them
until the clubinan has refused to com
ply with her request for money!"
Yes, Kananda admitted. Well
work along that line for the present
Now. then, where's the woman?"
He turned to Ali with a piercing
look. The servant saiaamcd.
"EXcelency," said he, we have
verified the address heading the sec
ono note. She is there"
TT is we'll" said the prince CURLY.
Co"
He turned to the Swami and, stand
ing with one foot on his chair, raised
his elbow to his knee and lowered his
chin to his hand.
Il believe we're close to the end of
our quest" he mused. Il have a feel
Ing we must get the Maharanee to-
night, If we are to recover it at all.
We have played a waiting game for
many months, and it is time now to
act. Are you prepared?"
Il am prepared"
you will not stay your hand when
It comes to the point?"
The Swami did not answer. He sat
with folded arms staring at the docu-
ments on the table. 1t was in an al
tered voice that at length he spoke:
Prince" he said, already the sa-
cred gem should be ruby red with the
blood that has been spilled for It.
There IS something in the air of this
strange land that makes it distaste-
full to me-the thought of further
bloodshed. Regain the Jewel we must;
but | would it could be done without
new sacrifice Of life"
An expression of demoniacal scorn
overspread Kanada's features until he
confronted the sage with the face Of
a gargoyle.
And the brethren" he asked angri-
~. Can it be you have a thought
for these western dogs when your
own brothers OF the faith are suffer
Ing the shame and pain in which we
left them? Has your heart turned
TO water?"
The Swami did not answer. Still
with folded arms, he kept his gaze
on the papers, his features set in quiet
determination.
Are you afraid" pursued the
prince. Does your soul shrink, your
hand draw back, now that the APP
pointed hour is nigh? Are you true
believer and master Of the faith, or"
and he almost screamed, AN apes
tate?"
The Swami's copper face turned a
Iarker shade. A fash OF fury scared
his eyes as he raised them to those
Of the prince. He lowered them
again. however, and said, stolidly;
Il am unable to conquer the feeling
brothers to wade through blood as
did our fathers for possession of what,
after all. is simply stone. | know
what it means to the chosen ones-to
have that stone taken back to the
Temple. | feel more keenly than
you can feel the yearning they send
across the seas for the success OF our
mission. But, prince, the Maharanee
diamond, In its journey across the
world, has been purged perhaps OF the
scarlet stains that were upon it. Can
we not take it back in all its present