The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-10-30
By ROY L. Me CARDELL

For Blake knew, too, that Blair and |
vivian were In los Angeles. and he |
suspected them. Blake telegraphed
promptly: Answering your wire. Miss
Esther Harding is In Los Angeles Ha-
gar Harding continues to improve"
This telegram was delivered at the
offices of the Good Hope Oil company.
Blair In charge, received all business
and personal communications in the
absence of the injured Arthur Blair
opened the envelope cautiously mt the
suggestion of Vivian. who was pres.
ent. They were dumfounded for n mo-
ment, and then Vivian pointed to the
first line of the message, which was
typewriter.
There is a purple ribbon on the
typewriter over there" she whispered.
ut seems the same type of the machine
this telegram was copied on, in purple
also, If the word not were added ut
the end of the first line the message
would read
Answering your wire, Miss Esther
Harding Is not in Los Angeles. Hagar
Harding continues to improve"
"Vi, you are senius!" cried Blair.
They placed the telegram in the type
writer, Vivian firmly struck the keys
and the entire import of the message
was changed Then Blair carefully
sealed it in the envelope and sent it by
the Office boy to Mr.. Powell ut his
home.
THAT will convince him he is dippy.
for sure!" cried Blair. But he must
be pretty cunning ut that to get tele-
gram out TO Blake without Durand or
De VauX knowing of it. for they watch
him like hawks"
''Since the diamond from the sky
turned up so tragically at the circus.
Durand has forgotten his patient" said
Vivian. IL believe Durand might have
been on the level If it were not for one
thing, diamonds!'
"He certainly is bug on them" re-
marked Blair. Here is all this bust
ness-millions at stake-and Durand is
content that have full charge, and he
does not question whether | will cheat
or play fair when we divide. All he
| thinks of Is the diamond. He would
sell his soul for n diamond, big dia-
| mond like the diamond from the sky!''
"Who would not?" murmured Vivian.
81 have sold my soul, and you have
sold yours for the diamond from the
sky. And 1t has never rested in our
grasp"
But 1t Will" cried Blair fervently.
at belongs to us, TO you and me. am
Stanley and the rightful heir. and you
are my wife. AS for that smooth
swindler, Durand, and his shadow, De
| Vaux, the diamond from the sky shall
never be dirty spoil for them"
"You want to he careful and cunning
| and daring, then" said Vivian. ~
know Durand of old. He goes through
blood and fire for diamond of price.
| 1t is an obsession with him. He was
born so marked. His mother was II
] waiting maid to a French bankers
wife and murdered her mistress for Il
diamond necklace few months before
Durand was born. He was born In
prison"
Hes likely to die there" remarked
Blair grimly. "He had better keep his
hands Off the diamond from. the sky"
"And we had better get our hands on
it." said Vivian. What witchery is
on 1t? 1t comes and goes like the
DEVILS talisman."
1T will only rest and stay with true
Stanley" muttered Blair.
Vivian regarded him strangely, but
said nothing. If this We're true, why
had the diamond from the sky avoided
Blair as though 1t were II living thing
that wriggled from his grasp?
Arthur was clay in the hands of the
conspirators again when the doctored
message from Blake reached him. Ar
thur believed now that 1t was true, rs
those around him inferred-his obses'
sion that Esther was near-was n
symptom of recurrent insanity. He
shuddered and grew sick at the
thought.
"Oh, God, spare me from madness"
he prayed In agony. Let me recover
in body and mind to make n man of
----Ts,u, 20 vrrurn to Esther whole and
sound and clean and honorable, as |
promised her and my poor mother
would.
Base, unworthy, profigate as have
been, my gypsy mother sacrificed her
youth and every happiness in life, and
she now lies in madhouse, as l lie
mad In a mansion"
And then In his weakness and in his
strength he battled with the drug de-
sire that clutched him by the soul-he
battled and lost.
That afternoon the soft California air
OF late summer brought the spice OF
fruit and flower across the green lawns
OF the shining new Powell mansion
where dwelt the Golden Man. Luck
and fortune had been his, except an ac
cident from the injuries OF which, the
newspapers stated, his friends were
pleased TO learn he was recovering.
This afternoon John Powell. the
Golden Man" goes TO the races on his
, costly and shining tallyho. Four thor
, oughbred coach horses In gold mounted