The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-26

'peOple-nOW many mllHOuS ulu Sou
say7--so wrapped up In gems that
would not fill a showcase in Maiden
Lane iewelry shop, that they are Will
ing to sacrifice their very lives for
theml"
Britz threw all his skill as a Ques-
tloner into drawing from the Swami
descriptions of the more famous jew.
els of India, dcftly keeping the line
of his interrogations on the subject
of diamonds The Hindoo, his entire
personality an eloquent expression OF
the Incidence of the East. was alike
luxuriant in his narghileh and in rem
iniscenccs of the sacred gems that had
adorned the temples of his faith from
Delhi to Bonares. Slowly, dreamily
mystically, stories came from his lips
OF greed and piety, deeds of daring
and romance, statecraft and intrigues,
until Britt became so interested that
for a time even his trained. vigilant
mind lost sight OF the purpose that
had animated all his actions since the
day he learned that the famous Mis-
sioner necklace was missing
When the Easterner ended his string
of tales, many of them replcas in
miniature Of the Arabian Nights, and
of still more thrilling Oriental legends,
the Headquarters man mad an eX.
haustive knowledge of all the great
diamonds in the history of Hindostan.
Your marvellous gems are not
proof against imitation" he said in
quiringly.
"The lesser Of them are not" said
the Swami. "But the Kohinoor. the
Light Of Calcutta. the Dawn Of the
World, and similar stones defy the
best efforts OF your artincers. In them
nature has wrought masterpieces of
glory no human rlagiarist can repro.
duce"
"Not even in Paris?' inquired tht
visitor There is good deal of talk
just now. you know, about the theft OF
a society woman's diamonds You
know she discovered that paste dia-
monds were substituted, and | under
stand the central jewel was one
of exceptional size
Neither Paris, nor Venice, nor yet
Stamboul can manufacture colorado
limitations Of such stone" insisted
the Swami. limitations, that is to
say, that would deceive anyone with
the cTudest knowledge"
"But the Maharauee was undoubted-
ly copied, pursued Britt. III you, have
read the newspapers, you lSro7' 1t was
tnro-sh the discovery OF mat fact that
Mrs Missioner learned her necklace
had been stolen"
All the cordlality Of the Swami van
ished. He seemed 10 wrap himself in
the impenetrable dignity Of his caste
and he dismissed the subject with the
conclusive remark Of his race. II have
spoken" In spite OF the most adroit
efforts Of his visitor, and despite inter
rogations direct and indirect, he could
not be induced to discuss the subject
again
Britt, somewhat bamed. finally led
the conversation into other channels
by bethinking himself OF his role in
time to ask the Swami the purpose
and probable length OF his stay in
New York.
II have no objection to telling you"
answered the priest. that / am here
to spread the propaganda to turn the
lamp Of the true faith upon the gloom
of your Western civilization" lie con
tinued. Yes, | am making prose
lytes! | am conducting gatherings OF
seekers after the Light, and I am in
etructfnp oil urbO ccr,a 20 roa with
open minds and honest hearts"
Britz picked up his hat and coat
with reluctant air, and took leave of
the Oriental with not over-profuse ex-
pressions of gratitude for his recep-
tion. The scholar struck the gong,
the Hindoo servant appeared in the
farther doorway, and in a few seconds
the faint echoes of the visitors foot
steps ended in the quiet closing Of the
street door
Kananda, with a carriage akin to
the swagger Of the English Guards
man, re-entered the room and looked
at the Swami quizzically.
you need not put yourself to the
trouble of looking through the Sunday
papers" said the Swami, There Will
be nothing about this interview in
The Times"
"No?" returned Kananda. 81 heard
the reporter say he wanted the facts
for the next issue OF his Sunday sup
plement."
"He is not interested in supple
ments," replied the priest, 'sequels
are his specially. When he interests
himself in a story he begins at the
continued line. He is not a report
er"
The Prince looked at him inquiring-
ly.
Nor is he the man Ali should have
searched" continued the sage He is
--one OF the cleyerest detectives in
New York-Britz. of Headquarters! :"
Britt, of Headquarters, did not
waste any time in gloating over the
result OF his interview with the Brah-
min. I'm the first place, he did not con
slider that he had scored anything
like a signal victory. He knew enough
OF the subtleties OF the Orient TO be