The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-10
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP


A feud has existed between Colonel Ar
thur Stanley and his cousin, Judge Lamar
Stanley, over an heirloom, the diamond
from the sky, found in fallen meteor by
an ancestor. Also, the succession to the
Stanley earldom in England may come to
an American. When a daughter is born
to the colonel and the mother dies, the
colonel buys. a gypsy boy and substitutes
him. Three years later the gypsy mother
having had no part in this bargain, steals
the girl. being reared in secret and leaves
her son undetected as the heir. The gyp-
sy has obtained possession of the diamond
from the sky. and document with the
Stanley secret. When Esther is grown
beautiful young girl, Hagar, now gypsy
queen, returns to Virginia with her DR..
Lee the late Colonel Stanley's friend,
adopts Esther. Arthur Stanley, son OF
Hagar. falls in love with Esther, and so
does his companion and cousin, Blair
Stanley, rightful male heir of Stanley. In
stealing the diamond Blair causes the
death of the doctor and tries later to put
the blame on Arthur, who takes the dia-
mond from him.
Arthur Stanley eludes his pursuers and
Joins Hagar, who reveals his identity and
upbraids him for his wild life. Needing
money, he pawns the diamond in Rich
mond. AT a ball, at which a supposed
New York belle, Vivian Marston, is the
guest of honor, Arthur and Blair find the
diamond on the visitor. She is an adyen-
turess who has borrowed it,
Luke Lowell, Hagars gypsy guard,
steals the diamond, and to avoid detection
drops it into mail box. Arthur leaves
Richmond and goes to the west. The dia-
mond passes into a mail bag, picked up
by Quabba, organ grinder Quabba's
monkey steals the diamond. Hagar takes
Esther to Stanley hall.
Tom Blake a detective of Richmond,
uhn 10 nv Ha0ar yrn6ITooC finger
prints convicting Blair. Hagar proposes
silence to Mrs. Stanley as the price of
Hagar's and Esther's being received in
Fairfax society. Blair strikes down Ha-
gar and steals the finger prints, leaving
the gypsy demented. The diamond is
found by negro boy and is later stolen
from a Chinese den. Hagar is again
with Esther among the gypsies. Marina
duke Smythe, lawyer, arrives to announce
Arthur is heir to the deceased Earl of
Stanley. Learning Arthur is fugitive he
seeks Blair instead To win Vivian, Blair
steals the diamond, later marrying her
and leaving for the west. Their train is
robbed, Vivian losing the diamond, which
a slain train robber drops in the desert
The 100000 he stole is found by Arthur,
now known as John Powell sheep herder
Vivian deserts Blair, telling him he must
regain the diamond for her. Luke Lowell.
driven from the camp after learning Ha-
is under treatment and Esther is in
Richmond society, protege of Mrs. STAN
ley, who suspects her real name, and of
Mrs Randolph. Abe Bloom, gambler, who
knows Blairs guilt, covets the diamond
and calls it the price OF his secrecy. Blair
will not listen to Lowell, and Arthur also
insists on his silence Blair returns to
Richmond and, ,instigated by his mother
pays unwelcorne court to Esther, Mrs.
Stanley asserting Vivian had been married
before. The diamond is picked up by an
Indian woman DR.. Lee Arthur learns
died of heart disease. Becoming very rich
he buys Stanley hail. sold at auction,
through Blake, and also provides for Ha-
gar and has money left secretly in Es-
theirs room. Luke Lowell buys the dia-
mond from the squaW, but loses it in a
fight on Santa Barbara bay. the gem sink
ing. Vivian, desiring aid to ensnare Ar
thur, sends for Blair.
Esther and Quabba, also Blair, go to
the California mines to seek Arthur, Blair
to learn the whereabouts of the diamond
for Vivian. Sinythe is sent west by Blake.
Lowell repairs the coach in which Esther
and STnythe ride. Quabba catches a fish
with the diamond in its giIls, but peli-
can bears off the gem.
The coach rolls down the mountain, but
Esther and the lawyer escape unhurt.
Meanwhile QuabBa returns. and he and
Esther elude Luke and Blair. Vivian
| Marston Is rescued from drowning by
John Powell. who falls in love with her.
MarmnduKe Sfnythe shoots a frog and
finds the diamond.
Blair and Luke intercept the blackboard.
| The driver is shot Esther and Quabba
escape and are joined by Marmaduke
Smythe, who gives Esther the diamond
to deliver to Arthur. Blair and Luke go
| to the yacht in Arthur's absence and find
Esther with the diamond. To escape them
she jumps overheard.