The Huttig news., 1912-04-06
much to a woman" "

Some jewels mean more. Mrs. Mis- sioner. said the swami saavely "I thoroughly understand the sense Of loss-in fact, the bereavement that came upon Yon when you found that beautiful necklace was not what you had supposed it to be.
 T rather imagine" Mrs Missioner returned, that you are not unfa miiiar with the fact that it was tho loss of ore stone among the many which really arieved me.
 You are right my good friend. '' returned the Swami T will not pre- tend 10 be ignorant Of the value yo :. attached 10 the central gem-the Ma halanee diamond You are not alone He checked himself abruptly. "It wa stone which well might command sf lection from it's poseessor. Time was when devotion would have been the word'
 They were strolling across the floor as they talked, and in a corner dis tant from the music the widow seated herself on Louis Qdinze chair ana said. almost ooaxingiy.
 T feel pretty sure you krow more about the history Of that jewel than do"
 @lndeedts was the swami's only con. cession.
 Yes, indeed and indeed said the widow with a gay little laugh "Oi course. sage cannot be expected te occupy his thoughts with anything SC frivolous as a diamond. however beau tiful. Yet am convinced that if you were to untend from your meditations of the occult long enough to scan your memory, you would recall facts in connection with il that would Be very interesting 10 me
 May inquire your reason for so thinking, dear madam"
 Fl is a reasonable request on your part. she replied T remember my husband told me he stone had come rom the treasure casket Of the most beautiful queen in India-is not that Rhy il is called the Maharanee dia mond?"
 "It would be difficult to explain the name of every great diamond in Hin dostan. said the Swami eYasiYely Since Your husband gave you his iory of the stone. surely you cannot doubt its authenticity. ."
 "Oh, of course not" said the widow II is not ill regard to its more recent history that I am questioning you. | think you know not only all the tra- ditions hinging upon il, but that you are also cnnyersant with its journey. ings through your native land before 1t became the possession of the Ma haranee from whom my husband bought It"
 Really. Mrs. Missioner replied the scholar, sg can imagine nothing more deleetahle than to carry out your slightest wish. but We Of the East have things on which 10 concentrate our poor intelligences that are too grave to make room even for so inter esting a diversion as historical study among precious stones
 Come. now,. urged the widow. Please search your memory again Unbend. Mr Philosopher
 Lest you think me churlish, l. do recall that your famoas diamond at one time was regarded with religious reverence by a large number O. m, countrymen Naturally. ing Prab min, am not in sympathy with idoi atry Therefore. cannot tell you what degree Of sanetity attaches 10 the stone in the eyes of those to whom il once belonged" "
 Had anyone been standing immedt ately tehind Mrs Nissioner's g chair in such position as to look into the depths of the Orientaits eyes, insteat of gazing upward at them and so missing the angle of truth as Mr. Missioner from her position coud onlN do, he would have seen in thoge inky depths a gleam that be1ied the snave disclaimer of the priest Mrs Mis- sioner did not see it. and it was with no sensation of discomfort. therefore that she returned the Swami's bow as he moved away to join group of people.
 Mrs Missioner, in the most comfort
 
 on the arm of Curtis Griswold. and recrossed the floor to make up set of lancers. She would have been un comfortable. indeed. and even the self centered Swami would have had dim sense Of something unusual, had thev known that every word they exchang ed was overheard by another swarthy man in Occidental attire who stood behind screen. The second Eastern CT, he of the screen. gazed after Ms. Missioner menacingly, and fixed his eyes the next moment on the broad i back of the Swarai with a lock freight cd with suspicion He shrugged hi shoulders after the manner of a l Frenchman toned by long contact with 1 Saxon restraint. and unpretendously made ha1f-circle of the room unti; i at distance of few yards he faced the turhsned scholar His eyebrows fitted. The unspoken question was ] answered by an unnoticeable shake of i the Swami's head Further questions i and answers flashed telepathieally be- tween those two pairs Of vividly black
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