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


mond?"
TT would be difRcult to explain the
name of every great diamond In Hin
dostsn," said the Swami evasively.
since your husband gave you his
,ory of the stone, surely you cannot
doubt its authenticity.
oh, of course not" said the widow.
1T is not in regard to its more recent
history that am questioning you.
think you know not only all the ira
ditions Ringing upon 1t. but that YOU
are also conversant with Its Journey
ings through your native land before
1t became the possession OF the Ma
haranee from whom my husband
bought It,"
Really Mrs. Missioner" replied
the scholar. ~ can imagine nothing
more delectable than to carry out your
slightest wish: but We of the East
have things on which to concentrate
our poor intelligences that are too
/ grave to make room even for so inter
esting q diversion as historical study
among precious stones
Come, now" urged the widow.
Please search your memory again.
Unbend, Mr. Philosopher"
Lest you think me churlish, l do
recall that your famous diamond at
one time was regarded with religious
reverence by large number OF my
countrymen. Naturally, being a Brah-
min, am not in sympathy with idol
airy. Therefore. cannot tell you what
degree of sanctity attaches to the
stone in the eyes Of those to whom 1t
once belonged
Had anyone been standing immed'-
ately behind Mrs. Missioners chair in
such a position as TO look into the
depths OF the Oriental's eyes. instead
Of gazing upward at them and so
missing the angle Of truth as Mrs.
Missioner from her position could only
do he would have seen In those inky
depths a CLEAN that belied the suave
disclaimer Of the priest Mrs. Mis-
sioner did not see It, and It was with
no sensation OF discomfort, therefore,
as he moved away to join a group OF
people.
Mrs. Missioner, in the most comfort
able way In the world, laid her hand
on the arm of Curtis Griswold. and
recrossed the floor to make up a set
of lancers She would have been un
comfortable, indeed. and even the self
conferred Swami would have had a dim
sense of something unusual. had they
known that every word they eXchang
ed was overheard by another swarthy
man in Occidental attire who stood
behind a screen. The second Eastern
cr, he OF the screen, gazed after Mrs
Missioner menacingly. and fixed his
eyes the next moment on the broad
back of the Swami with look freight
ed with suspicion. He shrugged his
shoulders after the manner Of q
Frenchman toned by long contact with
Saxon restraint. and unpretentiOusly
made a half-circle Of the room unit
at a distance Of few yards he faced
the turbaned scholar. His eyebrow
lifted. The unspoken question was
answered by an unnoticeable shake Of
the Swami's head. Further questions
and answers flashed GEOGRAPHICALLY be
tween those two pairs Of wildly BLACK
eyes, and little later the men them
selves paused for an instant in pass
ing-an instant that was rot too shor
for an exchange of words.
AS | told you. Prince" said the
Swami, she was not party to it
Your proof"
She belieycG her husband puf
chased it from He, Royal Hishress-
its nameseke."
And the other?"
; He is here"
Watch HIM"
"Assuredly."
Are the disciple. az work."
They must be finished by now.
expect the signal at any moment"
1T is we'll"
Griswold should have had one O
: the most enjoyable evenings OF hi
life. Uncertain of her hearts att
q tude toward Sands. eagerness to aver
n the problem for a few hours mad
Mrs. Missioner seem more willing T.
she would have been under any othe
. circumstances. Who SO debonair a
" Griswold when he led the beautiful
n widow through the mazes OF tn
y square dance, or foated with he
!. about the room to the melody OF tn
:, Gitana waltz? Who more worthy c
G the homage due a conquistador as h
-. paraded the wealthy woman's acquiel
n cence to his open wooing the lengt
-, and breadth of the most brilliant an
exclusive ballroom in Fifth Avenue
- 1t was not TO be expected that Curti
under such conditions. could be an.
- thing but gay. He glittered. His col
-, versation sparkled like the receiver
a wireless instrument Little Doroth
March was so impressed by the e
q ceptional gallantry and animation
( the palpably delighted clubman-s
deeply impressed, in fact, that 1t W;
long ere the memory Of that evenir
T faded In more recent reoollections
chocolate nougats and Forrest Theat
matinees.
} Now, the question Is, would Curt
} Griswold have been as light-heart'
=, If he had known that letter address
n ed to him was intercepted at the do
VI of this same mansion In Millionaire
m Row by swarthy gentleman OF O
" entail aspect, who had dazzled the u
"A suspecting district messenger with
w tip Of cleaning gold? Whether