The Ely miner., 1913-12-26

across our paths just when we think
that we have put them out of our lives
forever. How else can one account
for the meeting between Sir Julius
Robinson and Mary Boyd?
1t happened aboard the Linlithgow,
one Of the older vessels of the Allan
tic passenger fleet. There were not
many of us, and we soon became init
mate. The man in my cabin was,
tancied, a Russian or Austrian by
birth: he called himself Baron
Nikolai and seemed possessed OF un-
limited wealth. Sir julius Robinson
and Van Aam were South African
diamond magnates about to pay visit
to America in order to float some COM
pany, and after the lights were turned
out in the smoking room the four Of
US played poker into the small hours
Of the morning in Sir julius cabin.
Nikolai always won; afterward, when
our association had become close,
learned that cards were one means
whereby he made his living. But that
Is neither here nor there; if he took
from the rich, he had supreme CON-
passion for the poor. Indeed, he
posed as a sort of Robin Hood, called
himself whimsically, a leveler of for
tunes, and claimed his own share as
niddleman in these transactions.
Sir Julius and Mary Boyd met on
the deck the second morning. l saw
the fat man grow pale; he put one
hand out to steady himself against the
rail of the ship, and as the girl swept
by, not deigning to notice him, he
looked after her with a scowl 1t
was Mary herself who told me of the
circumstances later.
1t was very simple story. Her
coverers of diamonds in the river
Vaal Robinson and he had been
partners; when BOYD fell sick of ty-
pho1d fever Robinson possessed himself
Of his claim through some legal Chi
canery. Boyd emerged from the hos
pital to find himself penniless. His
wife died in privation not long after
ward, and Mary was adopted by a
poor family of the district. She edu-
Gated herself, became school teach
er. fell in love with visiting Ameri-
can, and was now on her way to
Savannah, the terminal port of call,
to marry him.
Meanwhile Robinson, grasDing his
stolen prize, had flourished. He be-
came millionaire, was knighted, and
had put Mary Boyd out of his recollec-
tions.
When Nikolai heard the story his
eyes blaZed.
Il have learned one thing in the
course of my experience, Summers"
he said to me. mo man can sin and
get away with it. Somehow, some
where, Robinson will make restitu-
ton"
Who will compel him if the courts
can't?" | asked
Il will" he cried.
1t was on that same evening that
Robinson, insolent and flushed with
wine, pulled from the inside of his
shirt silken cord at the end of which
was hung a chamois leather bag. He
tossed it on the table and opened it, A
handful of brilliant pebbles tumbled
out.
DO you fellows know what these
are?" he hiccoughed
Uncut diamonds" replied Van Aam
sharply. Put them away and don't
be a fool, Robinson"
Why shouldn't be a fool if want
to-" demanded the millionaire Il got
the coin. amt 1? Can't | be a fool
II it amuses me? Yes, diamonds,
gentlemen; uncut, but worth a cool
half million. These are my samples,
and If l can't float the biggest capita
liZed company in the trade on the
strength of them, why I'll pitch them
into the sea. No, / won't either-I'n
hang them around pretty Mary Boyds
neck for love gift"
l longed to break his own neck.
Nikolai nudged me under the table
and, looking up, l saw him frown
slightly. l understood the warning; 1
knew that he had conceived some
scheme which l must not spoil by pre-
cipitate action.
Worth a cool half million, gentle
men," went on the millionaire, gather
ing up his samples. "Pounds-not
dollars. Sometime I'll tell you how
l jumped old man Boyd's claim when
he was sick. l s'pose Mary's painted
me as black as Satan to you; what?
Well, il / hadn't jumped his claim
he'd have jumped mine. Amt all fair
in business?" He took the last stone
in his hand and toyed with it thought
fully. I'D give this to Mary for one
kiss" he mumbled, "but l know she
wouldn't do it. She's bounded me for
years and hates me like poison be-
cause l wont be blackmailed. Shed
want more than one-two, l reckon" )"
Shut up, Jule," said Van Aam, kick
ing him You've had too much cham
pagne"
The ship was rolling heavily in the
trough of the seas. 1t was the end of
the tenth day; on the next we might
look for land. AS l turned into my
cabin fancied that l smelled smoEe,
but l. was dog tired from the long
play, and must have undressed and
tumbled into bed without knowing
what l was doing, for the next thing
that l remembered, after turning the
handle of our door, was ring the
sound of hurrying feet above us. The
next minute Nikolai was shaking me
nv the shoulder.