The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-01-31
The Robinson
Diamonds
An Audacious Hazard Of Nikolai, Independent Agent, as
Related by His Lieutenant, Summers
BY III. M. EGBERT
copyright. 1913. by w. C. chapman)

W. q. Chapman
ing him. You've had too much cham
payne"
The ship vas rolling heavily in the
trough of the seas. It was the end of
tha tenth day; on the next we might
look for land. AS l turned into my
cabin l fancied that l smelled smoke,
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 hearing the
sound of hurrying feet above us. The
next minute Nikolai was shaking me
by the shoulder.
Wake up" he cried. THE ships
ahre."
l sprang to my feet in panic, and as
I did so l heard confused cries and
shouting outside; then screams of wo-
men wakened from sleep by that most
dreadful Of sea tragedies. AS 1
opened the door a cloud of acrid
smoke rushed in. Nikolai closed the
door and restrained me with one
hand.
Take your time, Summers" he
said. IT'S still below decks; there's
plenty of time. They aren't even get
ting out the l~ifeboats yet"
I dressed in a hurry, threw my over
coat over me and FASTENED out with
my companion. We had to fight our
way through the smoke, and the floors
were noticeably warm beneath our
feet. On the deck l cannoned into Sir
Julius.
What shall l do?" he whimpered,
clutching at my arm, and l saw that
his face was gray with fear. "The
ships afire. We shall all be drowned"
There's plenty of water to put it
out" said Nikolai sardonically, look
ing down at the heaving sea. "By the
way, where are those diamonds, Rob
~inson?"
They're here" gasped the million
aire, placing n pudgy hand upon his
breast. III give you all if you will
ave my life" He had nothing over his
pajamas but a long macintosh, COW
ering him from throat to knees, and
carpet slippers. At his side stood Van
Aam, perfectly cool and collected,
smoking a cigar. He was as spruce
as though he had just dressed for din
ner. All around us women were hud-
died upon the deck; beneath us the
steerage passengers kept up a con-
slant cutlery. The officers were guard
ing the lifeboats-which were being
p~rovisioned. From the a~fterhatch a
dense black cloud rolled up.
Your first visit to the States?" said
Van Aam to me, coolly. Yes? You'll
enjoy these parts. l own an interest
in a summer hotel on one of the Geor
gian islands. We can't be far from
shore. Look at Sir Julius!"
81 thought you were a South Afrt
can" l said.
II am" he answered. But I've
spent several summers in America of
late, and Sir julius is coming for the
first time under my escort. By Jove,
look at Miss Boyd"
I say Mary Boyd descending the
gangway. She was completely dressed,
and, save that her hair was unfastened,
she might have been preparing to go
ashore at port. AS she passed us,
calm enough in the face of the ever
increasing danger, I heard Nikolai say
to the millionaire:
you will give all your diamonds II
1 save your life?"
Yes, yes" cried the millionaire
who was leaning, with a sea-sick ex
preston, against the rail, obviously
watching the nearest lifeboat. How
a you do 1t? Can't you get me q
special lifeboat, with a crew, and
come with me? We four-and ny
man. Surely the captain will do thai
for me-"
Nikolai took him by the shoulder
and shook him IS a terrier shakes 6
rat.
You hound!" he roared. do vol
want to leave the rest to perish? Dc
you think a man will enter the boati
before the women are safe? Robin
son" he continued, more kindly, "oul
chances are desperate ones Do {
just act before you die; restore those
diamonds to Miss Boyd
I looked round. Mary was standing
QuASlly DSSlu0 uu6s
But how do you know we won
be saved after all?" asked julius cum
ningly. The law can't touch me.
my poor fellow, there are othe,
kincs of laws where you are going,
Nikolai answered. And even as tn
words left his lips there came a roar
ing sound, a squirt Of flame, and thu
a~fterhatch disappeared in a geyser o
fire.
"All hands mar the boats!" roare
the captain; fifty sailors sprang fol
ward and began to swing the boat
free from their lashings. There wa
a universal cry; men started forward
the officers drew their revolvers an
the towards skunk back again.
Let him keep his stones" sal
| Mary with quiet contempt. II hav
? no need for that sort of restitution.
l "But If he gives them freely" b.
gan Nikolai.
II viii not take his gifts"
But if he barters them or sell
them to you
Mary looked at him doubtfully. !
lane was formed in front of us an
: the women were passed into the boa
! The men followed. The millionaire
, Van Aam, Mary and / found ourselve
: together in the bow. 1t began to d.
" nE " "