Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1912-01-25
CHAPTER SSiIL
Mrs. Mlssloner's Visitor.

Mrs Missioner. after the ball. took
in the tagend OF a bridge party and
STAYED so late that when she returned
10 her home the east vas striped with
dawn. and the maid Who had waited
un Tor her was sleeping souudly In a
chair The widow Was not vet DIS.
posed for smmbo- Il had been an
exciting night Her fancy had been
stimulated So greatly by her brief
talk with the Swami 10 the ballroom
that she was unable 10 turn II from
the mysterious oriental history ot
the Maharance diamond She knew
no more OF the Jewels past than she
had related 10 the sage. for her bus.
band had not acquainted her with all
the details connected With his acuulsi.
ton OF It Something in the Swami's
manner caused her 10 regard the stone
with more or less aversion She be
gan TO doubt the purity o' rs record.
Fond though she was OF gems. even
20 the point Of being jewel worship.
or. she was American 20 her fnger.
tips. and would shrink IN terror from
anv hauhle that came 70 her stained
with the tiniest drop Of human blood
She had loved her husband in q
way. AZ any rate. she had always re.
spected and admired him L seemed
impossible he would be \ party 10
wroaedoinc Yet she could not shake
on a sensation OF dread Whenever she
remembered how intimately the level
had nestled In the SHOWS ~ her throat.
and rIvalcd the brightness Of her eyes
Could f he she had worn a gem whose
fire was more suited 20 the glow Of an
inferno than 10 the Eden Of good
woman's loyelincss.
Drawing about her shoulders = soft.
warm shawl she took a seat al a win.
dow in her b0uioir and sat gazing into
sky pink and gray with davhreak
regard 10 the recovery OF the Mahsra
nee diamond She was in the midst
OF her meditation when she heard the
faint ringing OF a bell at the other end
OF her big house In a little while
a footman raped on the door Of her
boudoir II awakened her maid. and
| the girl her eyes swollen with sleep
approached the widow with card
bearing no name, but inscribed with
/ the message;
1T is important that I be permitted
| to see you al once"
Al such an hour Mrs Missioner
was astonlshed by the request Who
/ could her early visitor be? Surely nc
| one In her own circle OF acquaintance
would venture upon such a liberty. II
| Il we're a question OF life or death
there was still the telephone Secre
CIV was indicated by the attempt Of
the person 70 see her face % face
Haste breathed In every word of the
scholarly scrawl Mrs Missioner wa,
not Unconventional but the request
for an interview at that time OF day
an hour that almost might be called
:
OF even her liberal views However
| curiosity conquered as IL has been do
ing in the cases OF women, jewels. and
apples since the world began, and she
! informed her maid she would see the
visitor in the library,
She controlled her eagerness tol
| understanding OF the request. never
theless. SO we'll that when In leisure
" way she reached the big room or
the main floor, the visitor was already
within t. He stood at window look
ing into a street and shielding him
self behind curtain from chanc,
chances. As his head was bare. II wal
not until the second glance that sh,
recognized the Swami. She was no
only astonished. but startled by tn,
recognition What could this mysteri
Gus student OF the occult want will
her7 What could possibly b the oh
iect OF his visit to her home as suri
an hourf lie was an old acquains