The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-03-15

cree was promulgated, the effect OF
which is that none of those unhappy
captives is to see the light OF day un'
til the diamond is returned to it's place
in Buddhas forehead. The temple
was draped in the mourning colors OF
the east, and those colors still deck
its lonely walls. No true believers
foot may be seen within its portals
while the great stone is missing. The
brethren Of the priesthood languish
in dungeons, hoping against hope that
Buddha may manifest his mercy BY |
causing the gem to be regained and
replaced upon his brow. INTENDED,
unworshiped, the god sits upon his
throne within the shrine, waiting for
the restoration of his own"
Mrs. Missioner was thrilled by the
narrative. She was somewhat at
loss, however, to account for the depth
Of the Swami's interest in the recap
ture Of the great diamond. Until he
unfolded his story further, she did not
know how personal that interest was.
Glow does this affect you?" she
asked. "Why should you be at such
pains to find and restore the diamond?
And to return these other stones to
me-"
"You will need no further explana'
ton, madam" said the scholar, with
utmost courtesy, when tell you that
the priests who lie In that Eastern
prison are my brethren"
"But how is it you are not among
" them?"
y "By a special dispeusation Of mercy
,e on the part Of the Maharajah'" ne an
N swered. "When five years, as yo'
IA count them, had flown and still tn
diamond was mlssing-when all tn
bv other servants of the kingdom ha
n searched India, the rest of the Orien
- and even Europe for it, His Majest
~ relented far enough to direct thu
~ the imprisoned priests choose one
IN their number to girdle the earth
NO quest Of the stone. l. being the youn
est of the priesthood, was selected Il
- the task. For the priests themselve
80 o. though prisoners of woe, are mo
-, concerned to have the stain wiped O
a.. than to return to the world ire
s ~. which they have been exiled. IN
vs., chose the youngest that the search
lon might have as long a time as natl
~, ~, permitted to carry out the quest.
" The Swami paused an instant, a
toa then continued:
ion. $50 you see that not onfy 90 a d
~. dred human lives hang upon the
'ss turn Of that single Jewel to the pl
w. whence it was stolen, but that
a. faith. the religion, the very hope
.una eternity Of millions Of persons,
40 equally dependent upon 1t. Until
, Vi; gem CLEANS again in Buddha's o'
az M prayer for redemption can
in.o breathed with any hope OF respt
anu in the most remote part OF
PROV Mahara3ah's kingdom. Can you
-. der that l would SCH 'Ao A'SS'
NV achieve this task?"
tne Mrs. Missioner did not wonder.
eo IA c,asned between her hands the pa
ehll' containing the other stones OF
law" .c necklace, and gazed dreamily into
,state fire. .,
's.at1 "What is 1t, then, you wish?'
= o' ~. asked. "What can do Tor you
;, ~ ~. IN. it question Of a reward!
- w '"Not in that sense" said the s.
'. ' ~ quickly, "l want no recompens'
e e.se returning to you that which be-
t uur' to YOU. Those stones are yours
-, A. would be as wicked for me to
- them. according to the light Q
faith, as in the moral intelligen
l 1f e yours. But l do want reward
WAN wav ask your permission to r
| mn to nv native land, and request
NV Won cause all further efforts
uAO cover the big diamond to end at
~ GLOW can / do that?" inquire
t. widow.
n "The matter is now in the hal
i !: 8: !; !; {" !: !;
/ " ma notice. You can say trut
MN to the police" the Swami r.
MN chat your diamonds have be-
NJ. turned to you; that you are sa
" with the explanation Of their
nearance that accompanied
restoration, and that you wis
\ further activity on the part
\ authorities to cease"
81 will consider IT,
. ~ trust your consideration '
w cover many hours" said tho
MN. rising. III you come to d
,lNNI III Quickly and favorable one. y
|VUnI avert a very strong possibil
MIIW bloodshed."
EI|NY Mrs. Missioner started.
YtIN "The Maharanee diamond.
l.: ca,l It. Is in the keeping OF
III. league" the Swami continued
RS man Britz, the detective iron
~ quarters. who has been mos
- IN the hunt for your necklace,
upon his heels. 1t IS imposs
. nv comrade to escape from
7 , unless you express desire
the police Gordon now surrou
E ! withdrawn. He will not CIV
C Jewel while he retains the
\ RkF1 shark of life with which to ne
MI MN And neither will he stop at v