Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-03-04

as for me, / feel deal easier In walk
ing about these days. And yet tnat
man was your uncle, flesh and blood.
Have you gone through the trunk yetT
mo"
"Well, then, let's take an inventory"
The two of them knelt down together
and dug out the ancient circus trap
Rings. Far down in a corner they came
! upon a little box. and Zudora opened
1t curiously.
"A diamond exclaimed Storm. And
a mighty good one, too. If ! don't miss
nv guess. Look, there is part of
letter under 1t! Let's see what II says.
The contents-or the half contents
of that burned sheet of paper affected
them strangely. 1t had originally been
a letter to Zudora's mother from her
father, and brokenly 1t stated that he
had struck IL rich in Brazil. He. or
his partner. had stumbled upon an ex-
ceedingly rich deposit of diamonds and
some day they would have plenty. 10
Zudora It was evident that this had
been written a few days before her
fathers death, after be had made the
strike In gold.
And Hassam Ali kept this a secret
from you!'
"Neyer mind now; 1t Is no longer a
secret" replied Zudora. She put the
little box aside and once more gave
her attention to the interior of the
trunk. She next resurrected locket.
This contained the likeness of her par
ents. my father and mother" she
said. her eyes filling.
lyon poor little chicken" He put
his arms around her. WED better
see what can he done about this dia-
mond mine. I'm sure there must he
a lot OF gems somewhere, But you
don't need diamond mine SO far as
I'm concerned. sweetheart: you're pre-
cious enough gem for any man."
Thank you. John"
Almost ut this same moment a great
liner pfowed its way westward across
| the Atlantic And TN board this liner
was handful Of diamonds which right
fully belonged to Zud0ra Keene.
There was passenger who went by
| the name Of Bruce. He was a SNUG.
suave Individual. hut was far deeper.
far more cunning. than he appeared
Outwardly. He was in his stateroom.
The door was locked. The bed was
pulled from the wall. The man him
self was between the bed and the
ships side. III wing Il hole in the vain
scOting From time to time he paused
to listen for sounds In the adjacent
staterooms. but he was quite satisfied
that the occupants were all on deck III
their chairs. When the job was com
pleted he lifted out the square piece
of board and laid 1t aside. Then he
drew a bamboo cane toward him. He
swiftly unscrewed the top and dumped
something into the palm OF his hand
Minute flashes of red and blue flame
darted ND into his eyes. These flashes
came from diamonds Of the. purest
white. He ,chucklpd inandibly. Next
he IIO,lrpd the gems into little chamOis
|. lag and thrust the bag into the hole
ia the wall. With extraordinary deft-
ness be replaced the squire Of vain
ScOting. and only the closest scrutin.
wOhId have told any one what mad
| taken place. : = .
After that Mr.. Bruce went up to the
smoke rO0p aud INDUCED In a stin
whisky and soda. Then he played
bridge until the second bugle call for
dinner, and In that period Of time more
| than made his expenses for the trip.
Mr.. Bruce enjoyed his dinner. enjoyed
his wine. tie coffee and partiga. Fhe
secret agertS could hear what they
pleased. and. they could search him and
all. his, belongings. and be would sub
NIT With the utmost cOmplacency.
Only fools were caught these days By
the AGENTS Of the United States Gus
toms. He had made some twenty vOy-
ages. and what had they ever found
upon him that was c0ntraband? Moth
ing, absolutely nothing. Tomorrow
they would dock. and that night be
would be able TO. cOnfde another sue
ress to bis confederates. II all de-
pended upon nerve and foresight But
there was one man with whom be had
ret 10 reckon.
J His name was Thomas Hunt and