The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-12-16
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP,
TIERS


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 a fallen meteor by
|. an ancestor. Also, the succession to the
Stanley earldom in England may come to
an American. When daughter is born
to the colonel and the mother dies the
colonel buys a gypsy boy and substitutes
him. Three years later the gypsy nsother.
having had no part Ia this bargain, steals
the girl Esther, reared in secret, and
leaves her son undetected as the heir The
gypsy has obtained possession of the dia-
mond from the sky, and document with
the Stanley secret. Years later Hagaf.
gypsy queen, returns to Virginia with Es-
Their. DR.. Lee the late Colonel Stanley's
friend, adopts Esther Arthur Stanley, son
of Hagar, falls in love with Esther and SO
Goes his companion and cousin, Blair
Stanley, rightfpl 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 gem.
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 ball, at which an adventur-
ess Vivian Marston, wears the borrowed
gem, Luke Lowell, Hagar's gypsy guard
steals the diamond. Arthur leaves Rich
mond and goes to the west. Quabba, or
gan grinder. befriends Esther. Hagar
takes Esther to Stanley hall.
Tom Blake, detective of Richmond
who is hired by Hagar, produces 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 queen demented. Marmaduke
Smythe, lawyer. arrives to announce
Arthur is heir to the deceased Earl of
Stanley. Learning Arthur is a 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
slain train robber drops in the desert
The 100000 he stole is found by Arthur
now known as John Powell, sheep herder.
Vivianedeserts Blair, telling him he must
regain the diamond for her Luke Lowell
driven from the camp after learning Ha-
CARS secret leaves to seek Blair. HagaT
is under treatment and Esther is in Ricn-
mond society. Abe Bloom. gambler. knows
Blair's guilt and coyets the diamond He
calls 1t the price of his secrecy.
The diamond is later picked up by an
Indian woman. DR.. Lee, Arthur learns.
died of heart disease. Becoming very rich
he buys Stanley hall, sold at auction,
through Blake, and also provides for Ha-
gar and Esther. Luke Lowell buys the dia-
fight Vivian, desiring aid to ensnare Ar
thur, sends for Blair.
Esther and Quabba, also Blair, go to
the California mines to seek Arthur.
Smythe is sent west by Blake. Vivian
MarSton is saved from drowning by Pow
ell. who is infatuated by her. Smythe
finds the diamond and gives it to Esther
to deliver to Arthur. Blair and Luke go
to the yacht and find Esther there.
Esther and Quabba escape while Blair
and Luke battle. Blair in the meantime
has Joined Vivian in Los Angeles. Du-
rand, liking of diamonds a crook known
cover the diamond There he meets Luke
Lowell. Esther and Arthur appear on the
scene. The diamond is lost in melee
Esther saves Arthur, who is injured, and
he goes to Los Angeles in care of the ply
sician-crook, Durand. Esther follows and
is refused admittance to see him. In the
meantime Smythe has hid the diamond In
a tree. 1t is later found by two bill post
ers, one of whom murders the other for
the diamond. Arthur is "doped" by Du-
rand, De Vaux and Vivian, although Blair.
who has taken charge OF Arthur's bust
ness affairs, protests.
The diamond passes in dice play from
the bill poster to Santley, circus owner.
who gives 1t to La Belle lion tanner.
Splinters, the clown, her jealous husband,
shoots -Santley as the lion strikes down
and kills the woman. The animal seizes
the diamond. Sankey, a stableman, seizes
1t and hides it in his stable. Blair and
Vivian falsify telegram from Blake to
Arthur, making Arthur believe he suffer
ed from hallucination In thinking. he saw
Esther. Esther tries to see Arthur. on his
way to the races. but the plotters prevent
her.