The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-12-09

from the shy:-and an earidom farther
away than even distant Warwick
shire?
The diamond from the sky and the
earldOm Were not for her. They were
never to be the possessions Of her son
either, it would seem.
Dead men lay between and living
man. wanGerer and fugitive, and
the earl, old and feeble helpless in
valid for years, still fingered on. And
Arthur Stanley, prescribed as a muir
derer though he was. bore charmed
life that stood between her son and
the earldom and the diamond from the
sky.
The diamond from the sky itself was
gone, vanished from the sight Of man.
AS for her son, that son was infatu-
ated with a worthless woman. Vivian
Marston would make a fit mate for
Blair Stanley, son she had borne and
reared!
But bitter as all these reflections
were, the Stanley pride was strong in
the breast Of Blairs mother. Bad as
he was, she thought, it were better he,
never possess the diamond from the
sky or the Stanley earldom with such
a woman to share these great posses
sions.
And then the judges widow saw
coming toward her Hagar Harding,
the present mistress Of Stanley hall.
At the sight Of Hagar Mrs. Stanley
stiffened, and instinctively all the old
hopes and all the old hatreds leaped
again within her withered breast. She
rose as if to enter her house and ignore
Hagar, but Hagar stayed her with
gesture.
do not go, Mrs. Stanley" said Ha-
gar in even tones. 81 have with me
the proofs that your son and not Ar
thur Stanley is guilty Of the murder
Of DR.. Henry Lee" And she indicated
with a meaning gesture the fat black
portfolio she carried, the same porto
Ito Detective Blake had brought from
Richmond.
"Hush!'' whispered the judges wild
ow tensely. Come insidew And she
led her strange guest within the por-
tails of her home and up to the living
room.
Here Hagar without a further word
showed her the photographs Of the
thumb prints left by the murderer In
DR.. Lees study and the photograph of
the returned dishonored check, with
the fatal inky thumb print Of Blair
Stanley resting against his signature.
as though he had attested to it.
II will get my son. He Is some
where about the housew cried Mrs.
Judge Stanley. What Is the price
you ask for your silence? I cannot
think you would come here except to
bargain"
My price is an easy one," replied
Hagar. Il ask that you and all your
friends receive my daughter Esther
and myself in Fairfax. / have only
this to say: Deem me who you may,
my daughter Esther is of as high birth
and blood as the proudest families Of
Fairfax"
What you ask can be arranged, l
feel sure" said the judges widow, re-
gaining her cold composure. "Wait
here till find my son."
Mrs. Stanley bowed and hurried down
to the porch. where she called loudly
for Blair, thinking perhaps he was in
the garden or at the stable.
Meanwhile Blair in the "Tory hiding
place" behind the chimney had heard
every word that had been uttered in
the room. In his hands he clutched
mass of bank notes. Thrusting them
in his pocket, he touched the spring
and pushed aside the swinging fire.
place noiselessly.
Hagar stood by the table, her back
to the fireplace, watching the door. In
her hands were the discriminating pho
tographs Of the thumb prints Of Blair
Stanley.
AS she turned at the sound Of Blair's
advance be struck her down with the
heavy iron poker, and she fell to the
floor as though lifeless. In a crumpled
heap.
AS Blair stopped to seize the photo
graphs Of his guilty thumb prints that
had fallen to the floor CLEAN Of steel
on the table caught his eye. 1t was
the sheriffs handouts that Vivian
Marston had brought to the house with
her and left for Blair, as she said
mockingly. las a souvenir Of the white
knights leap"
Hagar moaned and stirred. Blair
could hear his mother calling him In
the hallway now. He seized the hand
cuffs and clasped them on the unre-
sisting wrists Of Hagar.
Picking her up. he thrust her In the
''Tory's hiding place and hastily
swung the wall back In position, leav-
Ing the unconscious and manacled form
of Hagar imprisoned by the broken
open chest In the darkened niche.
At this instant he heard his mother
on the threshold and turned and fed
with the photographs and the stolen