The Ocala evening star., 1915-09-09

CIR W4lt4DN a~ lt4e Tram pulIeI out
THAT young fellow" was Vivian
Marston.
In the gypsy camp the proximity OF
the RomaHy people brought no return
OF mental health to the afflicted Hagar
In the trying days that followed the
devoted Esther would have given way
10 despair. but for the cheering pres
ence and loyalty of her new and faith
ful friend and servant. Quabba. the
hunchback organ grinder.
Sedition was ut work among Hagar's
tribe. Everywhere Luke Lowell was
whispering evil counsel. He had de
termincd TO wrest the reins of power
falling from the hands OF Hagar. Once
leader Of the gypsies. he felt IL would
be an easy thing to cOerce Esther into
marriage and thus be assured OF his
Romany kingship.
Hagar's wealth was proverb among
the gypsies. and while they loved Es-
ther, they listened TO Luke when he
whispered to them that now that Ha-
gar was bereft OF her reason her
wealth belonged To and should be shar-
ed by the tribe.
Quabba sought in every way to cheer
Esther. While Hagar sat in her van
moaning and muttering for a child. a
son that none had ever heard had been
born TO her. Quabba would take Esther
for walks upon the mountains. know.
ing Hagar was safe among the gypsies.
attended by the elder women waiting
and watching faithfully near by at
such times.
The favorite spot where Esther and
Quabba daily climbed TO talk of Arthur
and to wonder where he was and
when they would hear from him was
TO the mountains top, where a great
balancing rock swayed to the lightest
touch and had menaced the valley be
low for centuries
Upon such occasions they took field
glasses with them and would watch
the roads for miles away. wondering
If every distant rider were Arthur re
turning TO them.
Upon one such occasion Qua bba turn
ed the glasses upon the gypsy village
I'm the hollow at the mountains foot
There was some excitement i'm the
camp, IL was evident. The figure OF
Luke Lowell on an eminence i'm the cen
ter of the camp could he plainly seems
The gypsies had gathered around him.
and it was evident Luke Lowell was
haranguing them to some evil purpose
of his own.
Esther and Quabba ran down the
mountain, arriving breathlessly at the
camp just in time to find Luke Lowell
leading the gypsies TO Hagar's van TO
despoil It of Hagars 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 gyp-
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 ii contained only some pa
pers, yellow with age. These she had
not deemed il 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.
Il have the keyr' she cried, produc-
ing il from her bosom. And your" and
she turned an indignant glance upon
the gypsies-"if you have no respect
for your queen or for me and listen to
the words of Luke Lowell will open
the boxT'
She did so. and as she did Luke
thrust his knotted hand I'm among the
documents as if searching for coins or
gems. He brought out bulky. time
stained document, the seals broken. II
was superscribed, ITO be opened at my
death. in case my son. Arthur Stanley
2d, should prove unworthy OF the Stan
ley name"
Esther snatched at the paper. but II
was open in Luke LoveIl's hand. and al
a glance Esther and the sinister gypsy
both knew the Stanley secret
Quabba struck with his dagger men
acingly. and Luke surrendered the pa
per to Esther's eager grasp. But he
! grinned, secure in a knowledge that
was power and should be Che was re-
solved upon thisl wealth to him as II
udu DeeH 10 MS lOuB uedO c0leI. the
greedy Matt Harding.
Esther covered her eyes with her
hands, clutching the document all the
| tighter as she did so. Arthur was her
| brother-he was not the heir OF Stan
| ley. She tottered and would have
! fallen.
\ hOarse mUrmur Of rage rose from
\ the emotional gypsies. They loved
! Esther. and they loved the crazed Ha-
/ gar. who now came feebly from the
van and asked in a weak voice. What
/ is il, my children?'
Led by the enrage6 Quabba. the now
/ infuriated gypsies stoned Luke Lowell
/ from the camp and by this act ban
I Ished him from the tribe forever
/ On the far western plains the young
/ fortune seeker who called himself John
/ Powell, but who had been known IN
I proud Fairfax as the heir OF Stanley
/ found fortune hard To find. The hard
\ and lonely work of a herder was his
! On the very day that the Stanley secret
/ was revealed to Esther and Luke Lowell
! Arthur. or. as he is now 6nown. John
Z Powell, tastes new advenhIres.
A campfre's smoke behind a great
/ rock on his desert r1ura had lurad