The evening world., 1912-09-18
The Diamonds
By J. S. Fletcher
,>sI Romance OF Hoard OF Missing JesUeis |
"" and the Mystery Which Folioaped Them |


town. calling In at one bar after another
and having two or three glasses In saoh.
At 10 o'clock no returned to his hotel
and until l. sat In the smoking-room
drinking whiskey-and-sodas supplied 60
him by walter who secretly marvelled
at the strangers thirst. But he did not
grow sleepy nor feel the least signs Of
intoxicatlon: his brain was. II anything.
clearer than ever; no felt as wide awake
as . healthy man does after q nights
sound sleep.
At II o'clock ne felt that In all common
decency no ought to 60 20 bed. but no
knew that II he did no would not sleep,
and the horrors OF the previous waksful
night haunted and frightened him. He
wanted more whiskey. but was ashamed
10 ask Tor II.
Then fortune favored him. The waiter
went on duty; tho night porter came In
ana set out an array OF spirit bottles.i
lemons ana sugar. and similar tompta-
lions. on . taole At the end OF the room.
ana Hoilins saw . ohancs OF further In
duisence
lie oausht the night porter's eye and,
oeckoned INN to draw near. and he'
spoke 20 MIN conndeniaily.
Mnars . Cood thing Tor NIGHT
ing well ehsse last row nights-I should
think drop Of something hot now would
be the straight docket. wouldn't ;t7"
The night porter said chat was what
Q 5000 many gentlemen took last thing
OF night Some preferred rum and,
some whhkey-dinsrent gentlemen had
different tastss.
TN try rum" said Hotiins. perhaps
you.h nhx rf-An' make Il . stin 'un."
Isrxs rum-<hot-with sugar AMI
ismonf Vsry good. sir" said tho nigh
porter.
The nssot porter saw nothing unusual
IN THIS request and obeyed the GUS
toners order. Hollins tipped on tho
second glass and went TO bed. He fell
into drunken sleep at once. for the
hot liquor was acting on the multi
tudinous glasses of brandy-and-sodA ami
wniskey-and-sodA which he had taken
during tho day. and ne was conscious OF
nothing when his head touched the
pillow but gentle rocking sensation,
winch was by no means unpleasant, and
seemed 20 promise a soothing night
lie lay Ike a log In absolute uncon-
sclousness unri the gray dawn came
stealing through his windowA. and rhsn
ne suddenly woke with feeling Of black
horror and despair and Agonixin fear
"s ~" 'e""'"s NJ MS mozart 0 .rns3
ne sprang up and tried TO ma u
.sn,. inc instant that his feet touched
tne moor MS head whiried like O spin-
n'ng top and ne fell with a heavy crash
Inc fan sobered him; he picked himself
up ana sat quaking ana shivering on the
cage or his bed. staring at the gAthsrinx
hsnt'
toward morning. dropping baok on
the bed. no feu into ntfui sluusbss-A
ray or sunlight shot IN az last and
touched mis- face ana woke him from n
cream where Lloyd, with q crushed
ana bloody head hanging from nis neck,
was stalking him through the strests Of
kreN city.
Hoiiins felt sick. I'll. and miserable.
ne plunged his head into cold watAr:
no uied 10 pull himself togetheYt ct
last no was sufficiently master OF him
ser TO go down TO tho coffee room. He
TOOK the seat which the waiter held ont
Tor MIN and sazed with frowning syas
at the bill OF fare.
ordinarily no was q great eater, on
that particular morning he had no taste
for food. HIS mouth was parched. nj.
hands shaking. The waiter eyed haan All
over ana drew his own conclusion.
don't know" said Hoiiins. I'm
not Keeling 80 well this morning"
beg pardon. sir" said the waiter
ALLOW mo 20 suggest something. sir. A
few strips Of anchovy toast, now. ain. "a
begin with--a wonderful pick-me-up. Az
n properly made ana TN see 10 the
making myself. And some strong cofyss
SIR with hqueur brandy In itY'
AYE, that's the ticket" said Holm.
He leaned over the paper which The
walter discreetly unfoided for MIN. Tn
print swan before his eyes and ne ala