The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-09-23

Uncle SAM" snatches OF Dixie" and
other evidences OF patriotism, the gay
party wound up the Grand canal, set
ting of fireworks, making speeches,
singing and doing a hundred mad
pranks that shocked the staid respect
able Venetians plying back and forth
In their somber gondolas, and made
matter for ambitious reporters and cor
respondents.
The canal rang with uncorked pa
est from home were widest in their
demonstrations.
AS the gay ride drew to an end, be-
lasco Bowen gathered up the remain
ing Roman candles, and, picking his
way to the bow, steadied himself in
the rocking boat. grasped stick of
punk from M. Van Wendt's hand. and
touched OF all the candles In a bunch.
He lurched awkwardly with dip of
the boat, and a shower Of sparks scat
tered over Constance Van Wendt.
my dress!~ she cried. franticaIly
fighting OFF the sparks.
A dozen hands few to her aid, and
| the sparks were instantly extin-
| guished. Belasco Bowen apologized
sincerely, and no harm being done, re-
turned to waving his candles over the
water out Of harms way.
| Constance Van Wendt was excited
ly arranging her attire with the help
| OF her sOlicitous mother
your diamond? The Duchess Dia-
mond!" cried Mrs. Van Wendt sudden
| ly. Where Is it?"
Miss Van Wendt's hand went to her
| throat, cropping for the chain on which
| the famous stone had swung. "Why,
| it's gone!" She felt among the frills
of her dress, her face anxiously lined
and CHASTITY white in the glare Of Bow
ems falling rockets.
The deck was searched, Miss Van
Wendt's clothes were shaken out, and
when the launch was finally moored at
San Marco the whole party fell to ex-
aiming the loor-planks for crevices.
But nothing came to light, until Belas-
CO Bowen, beside himself with anx-
iety for having indirectly caused the
loss, caught CLINT Of gold on the gun
vale, and found the chain hanging
down, on the outside, almost touching
the water.
Van Wendt grasped the thin chain
and jerked it off.
"The stone slid into the water, Con-
stance!" he cried, holding up the finely
| linked chain. "It's gone down to the
bottom of the Grand CANAL"
| II must replace it," cried Belasco
Bowen anxiously. cit was my stupid
awkwardness that caused 1t all. In
fighting the fire some one must have
accidentally torn it from her throat"
"The chain was specially made,
there is a platinum wire running
through it." explained Van Wendt,
holding it up. II thought 1t was safe. !"
He passed it into the hand OF Chris
TOPPER Poe. See! it must have caught
on something. An awful wrench. Didn't
you feel it, Constance?"
In the excitement and everything"
she murmured, 81 don't know what
felt"
The party, already having dwindled
| to a dozen, filed sadly into cafe for
supper.
'T've heard of the stone," whispered
one of the college youths, as the pa
triotic party took seats. tits worth a
cool hundred thousand. Van Wendt
is the Chicago grain operator, you
know"
All the madness of celebration had
flickered out, and the remaining tour
lists sat lowering over ices, hushed,
hanging on the words of Van Wendt.
There is just chance that some
| body might have picked up the stone"
suggested Bowen, glancing about the
table thoughtfully.
mo, there is no chance, the chain
have had the stone fastened to 1t, but
| the jeweler said it must slide, and let
him have his way. But, come, don't
| let this put damper on us. Let's all
have nightcap and break up" Van
Wendt's forced cheerfulness chilled
them all, and the nightcap was me-
| chemically drunk In silence.
| Half an hour later there remained at
the table only Belasco Bowen and
Christopher Poe.
"Mr Hardy, what would you do in
| a position like miner" asked Bowen,
earnestly addressing the New York
banker, whose affected simplicity and
sincerity had won his confidence.
you see, am morally to blame for
the loss, but the stone could not be
duplicated. might send them another
anonymously to make up for it"
"Mr. Van Wendt seemed satisfied
that 1t was only an unavoidable acci-
dent; am sure he can stand the loss,"
replied Christopher Poe.
You don't think he'll harbor any
resentment toward me?"
why, no. 1t was all in the game.
He came along with US, and the acci-
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