The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-12-30
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP.
1ERS

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 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 a 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, but demands that Hagar
turn over to him the diamond from the
sky. Arthur Stanley. son Of Hagar. falls
In love with Esther and so does his com
panion and cousin, Blair Stanley. rightful
male heir Of Stanley. In stealing the dia-
mond Blair causes the death Of the doc
tor. Outside 10 Arthur serenadinS Esther.
Blair, escaping, infers that he has left
Esther's room. Arthur forces him to
fight a duel In which Blair is only
stunned. He tries, with the aid OF his
mother, to place the blame for the murder
Of DR.. Lee upon Arthur. who now has the
diamond. The sheriff attempts to take
Arthur, but he 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. Blair Is in Richmond, and he. too,
Is forced to visit the pawnshop. The two
agree to stand by each other. At ball,
at which a supposed New York belle Is
the guest Of honor, they are stunned to
find the diamond on the visitor. She s
an adventures who has borrowed It
While Hagar Is telling the "belle's' for
tune Luke Lowell. Hagar's gypsy guard.
steals the diamond and to avoid detection
irops It into mail box A sheriff tries
to arrest Arthur on the murder charge.
He escapes from Richmond ON a freight
train The diamond passes Into mall
bag, which is lost from wagon and Is
picked up by Quabba, an organ grinder.
Quabba's monkey steals the diamond and
leaves 1t in nest in a tree Arthur Is
robbed by hoboes. who leave him in tat
tiers. He seeks work at a farm. Hagar
takes Esther to live at Stanley hall AN
old time tournament is held. Arthur at
tends in disguise, proves himself the best
knight, OeIedIlES Dldil, ooe 10 cStAA' ~
by the latter to the sheriff. Quabba, in
lest handouts the sheriff and Blair. BY
daring horsemanship Arthur escapes. Lat
er he leaves the farm Tom Blake, de-
tective hired by Hagar, produces finger
prints proving Blair guilty OF the deatn
of DR.. Lee. Blair and his mother quarrel
about Vivian. Hagar proposes silence 10
Mrs. Stanley as the price Of Hagar's and
Esthers being received in Fairfax society.
Blair strikes down Hagar and steals the
fngerprints and money from his mother.
The diamond is found by negro boy and
is taken by a tramp. The latter is muir
dered by Hung Ii, who hangs the gem
on his idol. Thence 1t is stolen just as
Summing party enters Hung LIS aen.
Hagar, mentally unbalanced by Blairs
blow, Is again with Esther among the
gypsies. Marmaduke Smythe, lawyer, ar
rives to announce Arthur is heir to the
deceased Earl Of Stanley. Learning Ar
thur Is fugitive he seeks Blair instead.
Vivian asks the diamond Of Blair as the
price Of consenting to marry him.