The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-08-26

Esther and QuabDa ran uown the
mountain, arriving breathlessly at the
camp just in time to find Luke Lowell
leading the gypsies to Uagar's van to
despoil it of Hagar's supposed wealth
and divide it. For this Luke was to
be made chief of the gypsies. king
where HaGar had been queen and
Esther princess.
When Esther and Quabba pushed
themselves through the circle Of gyr-
sizes, Luke had brought out the sup
posed treasure chest from the van
without protest from the craZed Hagar.
1T was brass bound box. of which
Esther had lately carried the key
Esther had seen the box open and
had noted it contained only some pa
pers, yellow with age. These she had
not deemed it her province to examine
until Arthur returned.
But now she stepped forward, backed
by the active and determined Quabba.
and dcfied Lowell to open the box.
i have the key she cried. prcduc-
ing it from her bosom. And YOU" and
she turned an indignant glance upcn
the Gypsies-''if YOU have 10 respect
fer your queen or for me and listen to
the words of Luke Lowell | will omen
the DOX!'
She did so. and as she did Luke
thrust his knotted hand in among the
documents rs if searching fer coins or
gems. He brought out Il bulky. time
stained document. the seals broken 1t
was superseded, ITO be opened ut nv
death. in ease my son. Arthur STANLEY
ID. should prove unworthy OF the Stan
ley name"
Esther snatched at the paper, but it
was open in Luke LOvell'S hand and ut
Il glance Esther and the sinister gypsy
Doth knew the Stanley secret.
Quabba struck With his dagger men
ac1nGly. and Luke surrendered the pa
per to Esther's eager grasp. But he
Sflnned, secure i'll knowledge that
was power and should be the was re-
solved upon this) wealth to him as it
had been to his long dead chief. the
greedy Matt Harding
Esther covered her eyes with her
hands. clutching the document all the
tighter rs she did SO. Arthur was her
Drother-he was not the heir of Stan
ley. She tottered and would have
fallen
n noarSe nlurmur of rage rose from
the emotional gypsies. They loved
Esther. and they loved the craZed ua-
gar, who now came fcebly from the
van and asked in a weak voice, what
is it. :ly chiIdren?''
Led by the enrased. Quabba. the now
Infatuated gyrsics stoned Luke Lowell
from the camp and by this act BAN
ishcd him from the tribe forever
On the far western plains the young
fortune seeker who called himself John
Powell, but who had been known i'll
proud Fairfax as the heir Of Stanley,
found fortune hard to find. The hard
and lonely work Of Il herGer was his.
On the very day that the Stanley secret
was revealed to Esther and Luke Lowell
Arthur. OF, as he is low known, John
Powell, tastes new adventures.
4 cumpfires smoke behind Il great
rock on his desert range had lured
hil1l near. Four plotting long riders"
are behind the rock, and he ovcrhcars
them plan the robbery Of the Over
land Limited.
He mounts his horse and rides away.
The marauders rouse up and fire after
him. but they deem him to- be Il pass
ing inGnisitiye heI'iier, who has not
been near enough to overhear them.
and they depart upon their way to cen
summate the robbery.
It is congress of tramps. in far
away Virginia. that plays Il part il the
next phase Of cur strange story. Luke
Lowell, the hanishod gypsy, has fallen