Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-03-31
The DIAMOND SHIP
MAX PEMBERTON
Author of "Doctor Xavier" "The Hundred Days" etc
Copyright by D. Appleton g. CO.

and leaned back in his chair to survey
me with closer circumspection.
"The great DR.. Fabos of London"
he repeated, here in the house Of the
poor old Imroth! How I am ccmpli-
mented: how / am honored! The
great English doctor who has followed
q poor old man all round the world, and
ha come here to beg a favor of him
at lasti Repeat your question, doctor
ask me many times. The words are
music to me, / drink them in like wine
the words OF my dear friend the doc
tor; how shall I ever forget them"
1t was horrible to heal him cackle;
more horrible still to remember that a
single word OF his uttered aloud to the
men who watched us (for / believe hat
we were watched) would have cost me
my life upon the instant. How to con-
tinue / hardly knew. Long minutes
passed and found him still worming
and cackling in the chair as an old bag
above a reddening fire. | had nothing
further TO say-it was for him to pro-
ceed.
Yes, Yes, my dear" no continued
presently. And you would know the
story of little Joan Fordibras! How
small the world Is that we should meet
here in this shabby house. And so you
come to me after all for help! 1t is
irnrotil vino must put you to the bridal
bed; Imroth who shall save the little
girl for her lover. All, my dear, what
a thing is love, and what fools are men!
The great rich doctor to leave his home
and friends, his country, to spend the
half OF his fortune upon a ship-all
for love, and that he might see me
again. l have never heard a better
thing-it is something to have lived
for this.
He repeated this many times as
thnr1rh tha tary HtrprJg x,not a,J
drink to him. l began to perceive that
he was the victim of al inordinate
vanity. and that my own failure was
dearer to him than a gift of millions
would nave been.
do I want money! he asked pres
emily, turning upon me almost savage
~. Heaven hear me, 1t IS as dirt
beneath my feet. Do / want fine
houses, halls of marble, and gowns OF
silk2 Look at the rom in which l live.
Consider my circumstances, my fortune
ny riches. tho clothes upoa my back,
the s~ervant who wait upon mel
Money, no-but to see the great men
humbled-to strike at their fortunes,
at their hearts; an, that is something
I would die forl Here tonight
my reward begins. The great DR.. Fa-
hos comes to me upon his knees to beg
me the gift of a woman's heart. How
many have so come since / was this
doctors age-a young man., Spurned
by his people, a fool, living honestly,
worshipper in temples made by man?
And to all l have said, as l say to him
no q thousand times, no! Get you
gone from inc as they have gone. Admit
that l am your master after all.
Live to remember me-bear the brand
upon our heart. So I answer you,
DR.. Fabos. Such are my words to you
the last time we shall ever meet, who
knows, perhaps, the last day you may
have to i've
He leaned forward, and from his eyes
there seemed to shine a light OF all the
fires of evil that have ever burned in
human breast. No man, / believe, has
listened to such a threat as he uttered
against me this night. The very tones
ae eeaid esee2e the bleed at the
fiTaTt; the gestures were those Of one
who lusted for human blood with all
the voracity OF an animal. l will not
deny that / shivered While | heard
him.. Remember the remote farmhouse
the lonely marsh, the silence OF the
night, the stake at issue between us.
Who shall wonder if my words were
slow to come?
you threaten me-" 1 said with some
composure, and yet, 1 should have
thought the hour for threats had not
come, J am here to ask you 70 do me
~ Y lCSt hul ~ liiG SdlIlC liille To SuS-
gest an equivalent that might not be
unacceptable to you. Let us consider
the matter in a purely business light,
and see If we cannot arrive at an un-
Outstanding. You must be perfectly
aware that l do not come empty
handed
He interrupted me with a savage
cry. so startling that it amazed me.
Fool" he cried; II am h master
of the fortunes of kings. What can
you bring that is of n value to me? 2"
/ answered him Immediately:
1.-THE liberty Of your wife, Lisette,
who was arrested In Vienna this morn
ing!"
1t was as though I had struck a
blow at his heart. The cry that es-
capped his lips might have come from
the very depths OF hell; / have never
seen a human face Sc distorted by the
conflicting passions OF love and hate
and Gasping. a horrid sound
in his throat. he staggered to his feet
and felt n~ervously for the cudgel at
his side-the great hound leaped up
and stiffened every limb.