The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-13

thronging toward the lobby for the
usual visits between the acts Il was
with faint interest that he saw sew
eral swarthy faces weaving through
the crowd. Had his eyes been able
to follow those faces, he would have
seen them converse in the corridor
behind the box-the box in which sat
the Oriental with the face OF hawk.
The hawk watched the Missioner
box So steadily did he direct his
gaze at Mrs. Missioner that she was
on the point of averting her glance
when the strangers fiashlight gaze
struck spark from her memory she
bowed, coolly, as she began the incli-
nation of her head, but in the end gra-
ciously. Her dark neighbor was sat
isfied with that dubious encourage
ment.
You are fond Of your Jewels as
ever, see," he said. in a low tone,
as of one claiming a share in intimate
memories.
YES" she answered with an alb
stracted air. She was barking back
to days long gone, and evidently the
recollection was not unpleasant.
Il cannot blame you" said the ORR
entail. Every one knows you have
the most wonderful jewels in the
world-one of them, at any rate"
These" returned Mrs. Missioner,
"are among my very finest diamonds.
But they are nothing to the Mahara-
nee, and that is gone"
A leaping fash in the Orientals
eyes soon faded to a CLEAN of polite
interest
you are brave" was all he said,
ito wear them in public. Many a
woman, save in her own ballroom,
would content herself with the dupli-
Gates"
"Duplicatesl" There was unmis-
taxable contempt in Mrs. Missioner's
tone.
Il trust" the Easterner continued,
you will recover the Maharanee,
, too"
Mrs. Missioner had no time for
| more than another slow bending OF
her head wnen the usher who had
zone to the orchestra hurried into the
box
I've looked thoroughly, sir" be
said to Sands, "and | can't find the
diamond anywhere"
The millionaire slipped banknote
into the mans hand.
TRY again" he said quietly
There's a good deal more than this
in 1t for you If you find IT,"
Griswold, as he moved to let the
usher pass, stepped backward witt
such abruptness as to drive his hee
sharply down upon something tina
slipped under his tread like a peact
| kernel. In the very moment wheI
Mrs. Missioner, resuming her tall
with the Oriental. said, with empha
| sis, 81 leave limitations to others,
that blundering heel crushed into ant
through the velvet carpet. crushed
against the unyielding hardwood o
the floor, what had been the most cor
spicuous diamond in all the richl
ieweled ollarette-crushed 1t unit
only tiny heap of pallid powder la
there, save where great flake ha
slipped from the pressure and remain
ed to betray what the little pile o
dust had been.
THE Maharanee!" gasped Dorothy
The widow paled.
The light in the Orientaps eyes fial
ed to a fame. With a smile as in
scrutable as his thoughts, he leane,
across the low partition, picked up
pinch OF the powder and the telltal
fake and laid them deferentially o.
Mrs Missioner's outspread fan.
Your maid is more cautious" h
said, his smile softening slightly, "oi
It may be, your jeweler has made
mistake"
Mrs. Missioner did not faint. Sh
only clutched the soft hand OF littl
Miss March so tightly that the de
butante with difficulty suppressed
scream. This time there was silenc
in the Missioner box, for GriswolC
even as he began to stammer an apo
ogy for his awkwardness, let tn
words die on his lips as he saw tn
cruel pallor Of the widows face. TIL
silence of Sands was grim. that {
the Oriental suavely self-efecing.
"Then," said Mrs. Missioner at las
in a low, tense tone, this is-tr
is"
Not the Maharanee diamond" T
piled the Oriental" "In a sens
madame, | congratulate YOU"
She stopped him with look
"This-this thing is" She cou
say no more.
Paste" Numbered Sands.
81 have been robbed" said MI
Missioner in a stified voice. "Tal
me home, Bruxton."
CHAPTER II.
, The Man Of Action.
Tho ron rapapca fhaf fnIIoWad N 4