The Ocala evening star., 1915-10-07

crawling up from the sea. cared little
whether he lived. died or fell into the
hands OF his enemies. But with re
turning breath and life came fear.
Lowell knew that in the murky wa
tiers beneath the moon a brine stran-
!Ied corpse heaved with the tide What
answer had be 10 give 10 his enemies
regarding this dead accOmplice or his
living self: There had been a strug-
gle in the boat. n death combat in the
water a cry across the night. a Gurg-
ling. hideous cry and then silence And
now the shouting crowd upon the pier
was searching with eager eyes across
the waters for the living or the dead.
And the diamond from the sky: 1t
was now the diamond beneath the seal
II seemed plain now 10 the terror
stricken mind of the half drowned
gypsy that no evil hand could hold
the diamond
In hands alien and evil. the diamond
would not abide. and with all the ter
ror Of the night upon him Luke Lowell
felt relieved that this talisman Of woe
lay at the bottom of the bay.
Rested now. he rose 10 his feet and
staggered away in the darkness. as he
realized the pursuit was coming in
bis direction. Let the diamond stay
with the dead; let the living answer
the enigma of the struggle and cries
in the night upon the waters as best
they might, Luke Lowell resolved on
flight and distance between himself
and the diamond now in the deePs.
mountains. and such is the influence
Of the great fear that has been upon
him that in the desperation of his
acute If not chronic reformation Luke
Lowell asks and secures work in the
capacity of blacksmith's helper at a
forge at the mountain mines
Now while he works and works well.
for all gypsies are tinkers and smiths
when they do or will work, let us see
what has become of the others whose
destinies are concerned with the gem.
Arthur known as John Powell,
since striking oil has become possessed
Of the touch of Midas. He prospers
and wakes in riches and power and j.
intoxicated with his own success. Ii
is not that he has lost thought and
hopes and affection for Esther. but
Esther is far away, and he is young.
and the adulation that men render
and women, tools sweet to him.
Already in the oil fields of California
he is known as "the golden man." He
dreams of empires, as Cecil Rhodes
dreamed and realized in Africa. His
money is not boarded, his mind is upon
mines, fruit farms, vast cattle ranches
manufacturing plants and all forms OF
financial and commercial activities
The quiet lanes of Virginia, the tur-
moils of his reckless youth that enliv
ened them. seem far away. Since he
found the outlaws plunder in the des-
ert and made it the lever with which
he moved poverty and hardship from
his way money has become to Arthur
a mighty thing.
In his ambitious plans and activities
Arthur deems that money will do all
He sends money to his agents, the Sc
cretive Richmond detective. Blake.
thinking he does well and that this
money will aid Esther and Hagar
while he plays with time and destiny
at high stakes in far California.
And ever the dark eyes of Vivian
Marston are on him But she keeps
aloof and bides her time. Here at last
is a prey worth waiting the hour to
strike at. She resolves to play the
game boldly and well.
She has need of helpful assistance
Her thought turned to Blair. She
knows that for some strange reason
inexplicable to both Blair and herself
Arthur Stanley had sacrificed himself.
borne even the onus OF murder. con-
fessed by flight, murder he knew him
self guiltless Of and Blair implicated
But why? This she did not know, nor
did she care.
She only knew that Arthur would
not betray Blair and that Blair would
not betray Arthur. She knew that.
while Blair secretly. yet with intense
bitterness. hated his supposed cousin.
Arthur had eagerly sacrificed himself
for Blair. And now that Arthur. as
John Powell, was indeed a golden
| man. Vivian remembered his strange
attachment for Blair and thought it
| well to apprise Blair of the change in
the fortunes as we'll as the name of
! Arthur Stanley and have Blair come