The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-31


She Had Known for a Long Time That
Sands Was In Love With Her.
from the treasure casket OF the most
beautiful queen in India-is not that
why 1t is called the Maharanee dia-
mond?"
ut would be difficult to explain the
name Of every great diamond in Hin
dostan," said the Swami evasively.
Since your husband gave you his
tory Of the stone. surely you cannot
doubt its authenticity.?"
"Oh, of course not" said the widow.
1T is not In regard TO its more recent
history that am questioning you.
think you know not only all the ira
ditions hinging upon II, but that you
nre also conversant with its journey
lngs through your native land before
It became the possession Of the Ma
haranee from whom my husband
bought It."
Really, Mrs. Missioner" replied
the scholar, IL can imagine nothing
more delectable than to carry out your
slightest wish; but we of the East
have things on which to concentrate
our poor intelligences that are too
grave to make room even for so inter
esting a diversion ss historical study
among precious stones"
Come, now" urged the widow.
please search your memory again.
Unbend, Mr.. Philosopher"
Lest you think me churllsh, do
recall that your famous diamond at
one time was regarded with religious
reverence by n large number OF my
countrymen. Naturally, being a Brah-
min, l am not in sympathy with idol
airy. Therefore, cannot tell you what
degree OF sanctity attaches to the
stone in the eyes OF those to whom 1t
once belonged"
Had anyone been standing immedi'
ately behind Mrs. Missioner's chair in
such a position as to look into the
depths of the Oiicntars eyes, instead
of gazing upward at them and so
missing the angle OF truth as Mrs.
Missioner from her position could only
do, he would have seen in those inky
depths a sleam that belied the suave
disclaimer OF the priest. Mrs. Mis-
sioner did not see It, and 1t 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
able way in the world, laid her hand
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 a. dim
sense of something unusual. had they
known that every word they exchang-
ed was overheard by another swarthy
man in Occidental attire who stood
behind a screen. The second Eastern
er, he of the screen, gazed after Mrs.
Missioner menacingly. and fixed his
eyes the next moment on the broad
back of the Swami with look freight
ed with suspicion. He shrugged his
shoulders after the manner OF a
Frenchman toned by long contact with
Saxon restraint, and unpretentiously
made a half-circle of the room until
at distance of few yards he faced
the turbaned scholar. His eyebrows
lifted The unspoken question was
answered by an unnoticeable shake OF
the Swamis head. Further questions
and answers flashed telepathically be-
tween those two pairs OF vividly black
eyes, and a little later the men them
selves paused for an instant In pass
ing-an instant that was not too short
for an exchange Of words.
"As l told you, Prince" said the
Swami, "she was not party to it."
"Your proof?"
"She believes her husband pur-
chased It from Her Royal Highness-
its namesake."
"And the other?"
'IIe Is here"
Watch him!"
"Assuredly."
Are the disciples at work."
"They must be finished by now
expect the signal at any moment"
1T is we'll"
Grisw old should have had ono OF
the most enjoyable evenings of his
life Uncertain of her hearts atti
tude toward Sands. eagerness to avert
the problem for few hours made
Mrs. Missioner seem more willing tc
be monopolized by the clubman than
she would have been under any other
circumstances. Who so debonair as
Griswold when he led the beautiful
| widow through the mazes OF the
square dance. or foated with her
about the room to the melody OF the
Gitana waltz1 Who more worthy oil
the homage due a conquistador as ne
paraded the wealthy woman's acquhes
oence to his open wooing the length