The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-02-23
the MaharaJah. 1t is at your disposal

|
His calmness reminded the Prince
Of his own Oriental origin. The We
hemence he had acquired In western
lands slipped from him like a loosened
robe. In an instant, under his out
ward seeming Of an English or Amer
lean man'about-town, he repossessed
the composure of his race.
Sorry" he said with a little forced
laugh. Rather bad, you know. to
take things to heart that way. but
this really is serious proposition,
and We mustn't fall down on it. As
we are so near success, ! will tell
you 1t is question not only Of piety.
but of politics. There is a dash Of
mild statecraft in 1t. The Maharajah
has a pretty well.rooted idea that tn
permanence of his reign depends on
restoring the diamond to the Temple. q
The sage looked at him inteTrpga.
lively.
Funny, I know" continued Mandy,
but, after all, 1t IL the twentieth
century, and the p, and Q. boati taks
some pretty gestless peon,A 20
Those busy-bodies have stirred up q
good deal Of discomfort in our part OF
the world, and my father is an OBJ
servant man."
Il had no thought of giving up the
quest" the Swami explained. "All
| wished to do was to move more de-
liberately. believe we can recover
the stone without great violence, and
incline to these Westerner's views
far enough to think it would be better
for our religion, for your father, and
for the brethren-to say nothing of
ourselves-if We could do so. The
easiest way sometimes really is the
best"
Il know all that" insisted the
Prince, but We have not the time.
This hunt is drawing close to hot
finish. You forget that We have the
cleverest detective in New York-one
OF the cleverest in the world
to beat. II he got the diamond, he
would not recognize our claim to It
for an instant. He'd turn It over to
Mrs. Missioner, and we would not
stand the ghost Of chance in any
court OF law. This Is a case where
We must help ourselves to our own.
Besides, there is Griswold. How do
we know he is not getting ready to
fee with the jewels tonight? They
may be In his possession. or he may
have given them to the woman who
signs herself Millicent"
The Prince paused, framed his fin.
gers tip to tip, and looked between
them at the note as If peering into a
crystal gazer's globe.
Il am convinced the woman has the
necklace" he went on. "Our men
have had time to search Griswold's
apartment from end to end, and the
other mems, too. If they found the
jewels in either place. we would know
1t by now. The whole question pre-.
sents itself clearly enough to my
mind. The old French proverb holds
good, cherchez la femme"
The Swami arose. As he did so, Ali
re-entered the room with more
salaams. and extended toward his
master a silver tray on which lay q
tiny scroll, written in minute hero
glyphs Of the Orient: The scholar
broke the seal and scanned the paper
swiftly. A slight exclamation be-
trayed that the information contained
In the little scroll broke through even
his magnificent reserve. His hand
trembled little as he handed the
paper to the Prince. A hurried read
Ing suhiced to destroy all Of that
young mans recently gained calm. He
fairly hurled himself into sealskin
coat, and thrust his head into an
opera hat.
Quick" he said, we have not mo-
ment to lose!"
It would have been we'll for Britz II
the young photographer had acquaint-
ed him promptly with the fact of the
disappearance Of the Millicent note.
The detectives acute intelligence
would have argued from that incident