The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-10-15
PROLOGUE.

PROLOGUE.
The moonstonc had first reposed in
the forehead of an Indian idol. AS cen.
turtles went by. i'll luck following it, it
passed into Mohammedan hands. but
always through the ages three Brah-
man priests kept secret watch over it.
John Herncastle, an English officer,
during the storming Of Se%ringapatam
stole the stone, killing It's guardians.
Gabriel Betteredge, house steward for
Julia (Lady Verinder), explains how
the stone came into the house in which
he serves. Master Franklin Blake. Il
nephew of Lady Verinder. had been
sent abroad to be educated. On the
Betteredge's daughter, observes three
Indian jngglers acting suspiciously.
Franklin arrives earlier than expected,
having eluded Il dark stranger follow
Ing him in London. Franklin has the
diamond, which has been willed to his
Cousin Rachel as a birthday gift by
Colonel Herncastle. He puts the stone
In a bank. The jugglers make Il secret
visit to the house. Rachel receives the
''ooAolOAlC III Ilel DIttliuIN. IilIlOIIS
the guests is Mr.. Muthwaite. an In
dian traveller. The next morning the
diamond is missing. Superintendent Of
Police Seegrave is called in to investi-
gate. and the three Indians are impris-
Oned. Suspicion also falls OH Rosanna
Spearnan. Il servant, and others. Ser
geant Cuff. a London detective, is re-
tained md begins his work. He q
checked. however. when Rosanna. who
Lady Nerinder admits has had a prison
record, refuses to have her room search
ed. 1t develops that Rosanna has WIS.,
tied a n%cighbor, Mrs. Golland. and Dor
roWed q tin case. This Sergeant Cuff
suspects she has buried in the swami
secured by two dog chains, also bor-
rowed. Rosanna shows signs of nerv-
BUSINESS. Sergeant Cuff asks that Miss
Rachel be kept ut home. He later Wis
its ~Frizinghall to interview the three
Indians. On returning he sees a note
In which Rosanna tells that the quick
sand has become her grave. Sergeant
Cuff suspects that Miss Verinder and
Rosanna had a secret between them
relating to the moonstone. He wants
to question her. but Lady Verinder OBJ
lects. Offering to do the questioning
herself. She writes to the sergeant
that her daughter and Rosanna had
had nothing between them. at the same
time dismissing him. Mr.. Septimus
Luker, dealer in gems. and Mr.. God
frey Ablewhite are victims of an out
rage. Both had been bound and gag
ged by evident thieves. Rachel admits
she knows who took the diamond.
Rachel becomes engaged to Godfrey
n ut the sudden death of Lady Verin-
der inherits the Verinder fortune. She
later breaks her engagement without
apparent reason. Solicitor Bruff relates
how he was visited by one Of the In
dians. Franklin Blake narrates how he
found his nightgown hidden in the
quicEsand by Rosanna Spearman be-
fore her suicide; also a note Of eXplana-
ton. Solicitor Bruff gives Franklin a
key, enabling him to meet Rachel. The
young woman ccuse Franklin of talk
ing the precious jewel. She says she
saw him take it. Franklin is informed
that he had been secretly drugged with
opium by Mr.. Candy and is not respon-
sible for his actions. Franklin con-
sents to undergo the opium druggins
again under exactly the same condi-
tons as before, but with witnesses
present, in order to clear himself
The Test.
M ISIS vERlNDER drew me aside
and reverted instantly to her
II all absorbing interest-the
interest in Mr.. Blake.
How Is he nOw?" she asked. lis
he nervous? Is he out of temper? DO
you think it will succeed? Are you
sure it will do no harm?'
"Quite sure. Come and see me meas
ure it out"
zone moment! 1t is past II now.
How long will it be before anything
h"ppens|
1T is not easy to say. An hour per-
haps."
II suppose the room must be dark
as it was last year,!
"Certainly."
II shall wait in my bedroom just rs
! did before. l shall keep the door Il
little way open. 1t was Il little way
open last year. l will watch the sit
ting room door, and the moment it
moves l will blow out my light. 1t all
happened in that way on my birthday
night, and it must all happen again in
the same way, mustn't it?'
One look at her face told me that l
could trust her. l addressed myself
again to Mr.. Bruff.
II must trouble you to put your pa
perS aside for j moment" l said.