Graham guardian., 1912-02-09

which Is that none OF those unhappy
captives ID to see the light Of day un-
til the diamond is returned to its place
In Buddha's forehead. The temple
was draped In the mourning colors Of
the east, and those colors still deck
Its lonely wallis. No true believers
foot may be seen within It's portals
while the great stone Is missing. The
brethren Of the priesthood languish
in dungeons. hoping against hope that
Buddha may manifest his mercy by
causing the gem to be regained and
replaced upon his brow. INTENDED,
unworshiped. the god sits upon his
throne within the shrine, waiting for
the restoration OF his own"
Mrs. Missioner was thrilled by the
narrative. She was somewhat at q
loss. however, to account for the depth
of the Swami's interest In the recap
ture OF the great diamond. Uatil he
unfolded his story further. she ala rot
know how personal that interest was.
How does this affect your" she
asked. why should you be at such
pains to hnd and restore the diamond I
And to return these other stones to
mef"
You will need no further explana.
tion. madam" said the scholar, with
utmost courtesy, when tell you that
the priests who lie IN that Eastern
prison are my brethren. -
But how il It you are not among
them!"
by special dispensation Of mercy
on the part OF the Maharajah," he an
swered. when flve years, as you
count them, had flown and still the
diamond was missing when all the
other servants Of the kingdom had
searched India. the rest Of the Orient,
and even Europe for It, His Majesty
relented far enough to direct that
the imprisoned priests choose one Of
their number to girdle the earth Ia
quest Of the stone. I. being the young
est Of the priesthood, was selected for
the task. For the priests themselves,
though prisoners OF woe, are moro
concerned to have the stain wiped out
than to return to the world from
which they have been exiled. They
chose the youngest that the searcher
might have as long a time as nature
permitted to carry out the quest"
The Swami paused an instant, and
then continued:
80 you Gee that not only do q hun
dred human lives hang upon the re-
turn Of that single jewel to the place
whence 1t was stolen, but that the
faith, the religion. the very hope OF
eternity Of millions Of persons, are
equally dependent upon 1t. Until the
gem CLEANS again In Buddha's brow,
no prayer for redemption can be
breathed with any hope Of response
In the most remote part Of the
Maharajah's kingdom. Can you won
der that I would sell life itself to
achieve this taskf.
Mrs. Missioner did not wonder. She
clasped between her hands the packet
containing the other stones Of her
necklace. and gazed dreamily into the
fire.
"What is It. then. you wishf" she
asked. What can ! do for you? ID
It question of reward?"
mot In that sense" said the Swami
quickly. T want no recompense for
returning to you that which belongs
to you. Those stones are yours. It
you'd be as wicked for me to keep
them, according to the light OF my
faith. as In the moral intelligence Of
yours. But do want reward In q
way. ! ask Your permission to return
to my native land. and request that
you cause all further efforts to re-
cover the big diamond to end at once. |.
How can do that?" inquired the
widow.
The matter is now in the hands Of
the police. You can say truthfully
to the police" the Swami replied,
that your diamonds have been re-
turned to you; that you are satisfied
with the explanation OF their .disap-
pearance that accompanied their
restoration, and that you wish all
further activity on the part Of the
authorities to cease"
II will consider It,"
i trust your consideration will not
cover many hours" said the Swami.
rising. If you come to decision
quickly and favorable one. you will
avert very strong possibility Of
bloodshed."
Mrs. Missioner started.
"The Maharanee diamond, as you
call 1t. is in the keeping OF my col
league" the Swami continued. "That
man Britx. the detective from Head
quarters, who has been most active
In the hunt for your necklace, is close
upon his heels. It Is impossible for
my comrade to escape from the city
unless you express desire to have
the police Gordon now surrounding us
withdrawn. He will not give up the
jewel while he retains the slightest
spark Of life with which to fight for 1t.
And neither will he stop at what your
phase OF civilization would call mur-
der, II 1t becomes at all necessary for
the defense OF the stone"
A little shudder ran through Mrs.
Missioner.
II will come for your decision at
noon." said the Swami. "Tt is the
safest time for me to pass through
the streets, as they are then at their
busiest. Think well upon my request.
II you please. madam. Let not the
sacred stone 60 back to its shrine with
Western blood upon It."
traverse each hour. It II one mile In