The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-11

The Diamond
From the Sky
BY ROY L. McCARDELL
Copyright. 1915. by Roy L. MccardeII
CONTINUED from Yesterday

Luke gained a deserted part of the
beach unobserved, shook the water
from him as a great dog migi& have
done and strobe off. Luke Lowell had
no use for the town. Far away in the
Sierras the Lady Veronica mines and
other prosperous and busy diggings
called him. By train and on foot he
made his way, and by another day
Santa Barbara was far behind him;
but, though he went for work and to
get away from his very hate of Blair
Stanley, Luke Lowell had not deviated
one iota from his set, sullen purpose.
He had seen the paper that Blair
Stanley had pursued and prosecuted
Esther to obtain Then, too. Luke
Lowell had beheld the diamond from
the sky. Luke clinched his hand and
looked down. as though he had expect
ed TO see the great gem he had thrice
grasped as his own only to lose still
burning balefully in his bronzed and
brawny grasp. But the diamond was
gone. and he clutched at the empty
air and trudged on. resolved that the
purpose of his life would be to have
it. But he would have no more of
Blair Stanley; that he was resolved.
Esther, after being thrown upon the
beach from the overturned boat with
| Quabba, thanked those who rushed up
to assist her and her companion ana
assured them it had been just an acct
dent of small consequence. Her spirits
rose again in thankfulness, and, fol
| lowed by poor Quabba, who half hys-
terically accused himself of every crime
| under the calendar in his humiliation
| at having Imperfect his young mistress.
Esther reached quiet part of the
| beach and from there had Quabba sum
mon a conveyance which took her TO
| the quiet hotel on side street, where
she had secured quarters for herself
| and her servant.
Esther knew she was safe enough in
| Santa Barbara or any other city. She
would fight Blair Stanley fearlessly
along the lines the Stanleys had al
/ ways fought in their feuds-amo
themselves. True, the Stanleys, even
| in their feuds, had seldom fought wom-
en-. But Esther, knowing she had the
/ protection of Arthur's love and having
every confidence in the strength, wit
| and courage of this handsomest of all
heroes in her eyes, felt as though Blair
was overmatched when all was said
and done. Had she met Blair in the
streets of Santa Barbara she might
even have bowed to him with mock
ing smile.
She sent message to John Powell,
president of the Good Hope Oil COM
pany, Los Angeles. 1t read:
Came here to see you urgent. Wire in
i structions. ESTHER.
"You will probably have an answer
/ in an hour or so, said the clerk, and
Esther murmured her thanks and said
| she would be back and SO went shop
/ ping In the interim. while Quabba Turk
ed at a respectful distance.
/ In the woods and in the wilderness,
on the dangerous waters, he could
come close to cherish and protect his
i beloved young mistress But in the
built up town, where romance and de
yotion seem strange and out of place.
convention required the pathetic yet
faithful Quabba must keep a1oof. Els
! Their had not asked this. but she knew
+ the proximity of the queer looking
follower who served her so faithful
" would. in a town, bring upon, her
attention and questioning.