Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-13
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER /.
IN the Diamond Horseshoe.
"A E1rl's scream claahed with the
sopraao's high note In the Jewel
Song, and In moment the Astropoli.
tan Opera House was in confusion.
The Org. hslf suppressed, broke the
spell peculiar to ;ssFAust" night The
somewhat portly Marguerite. her
voice soaring like Q case-born bird
suddenly freed, was decking her ma
ture person with the E1istening stage
gems left on her scenic doorstep BY
the suavest Of devils. AZ the singer
hung about her neck tho rope Of pearls
with which Mephisto planned to fet-
! ter her soul. Mrs. Missioner. swinging
her fan with q freer motion, struck
the slenderest part Of her diamond
! collarette. The blow was sharp. The
golden thread on which the choicest
Of the Missioner Jewels in their per
torated settings were strung. snapped.
Instantly most Of the freed drops OF
frozen fire that constituted Nrs. Mis-
| sioner's magnificent nscklace-the
one with the Maharanee diamond
were rolling on the door Of the box.
Mrs. Missioner, a. the little scream
broke from Dorothy March. q dsbur
tante she had taken under her wing
for the evening. clutched ct the few
diamonds that fell into her lap. Miss
March drew her skirts tightly about
her ankles and shrank into . corner
of the box. making room for the man
who sprang to Mrs. Missioaer's aid.
Before another moment sped, Curtis
Griswold was on his knees scoopinx
together the scattered jewels with
snow-gloved hands. Bruxton Sands.
slower Of movement, bent with moro
dignity to the task. In the next box.
separated from Mr.. Aissioasr's only
BY . low velvet rail. q man Of Orien-
tai features and complexion turned
to watch tho scramble for the jewels.
Though he did not stir from his place.
bis hawk.like face seemed to thrust
itself into the confer OF the excited
group.
"Coutinue! CONTINUED" the singer
urged, ~ she bent her gaze from the
box to the conductor.
Whats the matter! Go on! Go
on!" the stage manager cried In I'M
dertones from the wings Ushers in
tho back Of the house sought to cover
tho confusion with M-umed applause.
Tho moment was big with potential
tragedy. Ono cry Of "1lre!" might
have sent those Thousands q startled
women and msn battling along the
aisles In IN elemental fury Of self
preservation. Mere prolongatioa OF
the situation without that terri
BILE tocsin might have ended IN .
smaller panic But the liquid tones
Of the soprano soaring again IN the
pyrotochnIcs of TIE Jewel Song ~
claimed the attsation Of the audience.
The conductor. evidently eager to hide
his own momentary loss Of psise. fair
~ lifted his men through the intri-
cacies Of the accompaniment
Promptness Of action by tho stage
manager restored order behind the
scenes.
Nothing Of all those incidents struck
the sense Of anyone In the Missioner
box. All four Of its occupants were
concerned for the immediate recovery
Of the diamonds that had sprung from
Mrs. Nissioner's neck to her lap. and
then stampedsd ACROSS the door.
Griswold. still on his knees, rescued
the greater number. Sands. man OF
action ~ well o. Of millions. picked
up the larger gems. Miss March
shrank further into her corner Of the
box. and dragged her petticoats ever
moro closely until her immature form
seemed chisaled IN tulle.
Look In al the corners-look
everywhere" Mrs.. Missioner urged.
there's one behind the chair" shs
pointed.
There's another cried Dorothy.
pointing a4 0riswold's feet A glance
from tho dark stranger In the next
box directed the ssarchers toward
stu another part Of the floor. and
every move was rswarded By tho re-
covsry Of . cleaning stone. One BY
one. by twos, BY thrsss, tho diamonds
ware gathered. and still the search
went on. Fast - they scooped them
up. Sands and Griswold poured the
\ .glitterinS treasure into Mrs. Mis-
sionsr'S lap.
.Ars they III thsre7" asked the
Haillionatre.
mo. no." answered the widow.
There are several more. Please look
again-look everywhere. Dorothy.
help mo count Thorn"
0rigwold and Sands renewed their
search. Dssring Into the remotest cor.
nara mining chairs about looking,