The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-12-02
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP.
TERC

A bitter feud has existed between Colo
mel Arthur Stanley and his cousin, Judge
Lamar Stanley. The feud has been en-
gendered in family jealousy over an heir
loom the diamond from the SKY, that
was found In a fallen meteor by an ad-
venturer ancestor Also, the succession
to the Stanley earldom in England may
come to an American Stanley. When
a daughter Is born to Colonel Stanley OF
the eldest branch Of the Stanleys IN
America and the mother Of the child
dies at Its birth, the chagrined colonel
buys a newborn gypsy boy and subst-
tutes him as heir. Three years later the
gypsy mother, having had no part In this
bargain, steals the colonePs little daugh-
ter, being reared in secret, and leaves her
own son undetected as the heir. The gyp-
sy mother has also obtained possession
of the diamond from the sky and docu-
ment containing the secret OF the false
heir, She rears the little girl, Esther
Stanley, as her own and grows to love
her. When Esther Is grown q beautiful
young girl, Hagar, now gypsy queen, re-
turns to Virginia with her. She has
wild plan that DR.. Lee, the late Colonel
Stanley's old friend, may now adopt Es-
ther, as originally intended. Her hope also
Is that her son. the supposed Arthur STAN
ley I'd, may fall in love with Esther
and thus the innocent girl may become
by marriage what she is by birth-mis-
tress Of Stanley hall. DR.. Lee adopts
Esther, but also demands that Hagar turn
over to his custody the diamond from
the sky. DR.. Lee also informs Hagar
that her son, the supposed Arthur stan
ley I'd, Is profigate and not worthy OF
Esther, but Hagar hopes for the best and
with her people departs. Arthur Stanley
does fall in love with Esther and so does
his boon companion, Blair Stanley the
cousin who would be the rightful male
heir Of Stanley were the Stanley secret
known. In stealing the diamond Blair
causes the death Of the doctor. Outside
Is Arthur, serenading Esther. Blair, es-
Gaping, insultingly infers to Arthur that
he has left Ether's room. Arthur forces
him to fight a duel in which Arthur Is
victor and tumbles Blair into an open
grave. He searches Blair and takes the
diamond from the sky. Blair Is only
stunned and tries, with the aid OF mis-
mother, to place the blame for the muir
der Of DR.. Lee upon Arthur. The sheriff
attempts to take Arthur, but after
thrilling drive In high powered motor
car Arthur eludes his pursuers and Is
thrown into the river after smashup.
His body Is seen floating down the river.
Arthur is revived by Hagar, who reveals
his identity and upbraids him. Needing
money, he pawns the diamond In Rich
mond Blair is in Richmond, living riot
ously, and he, too, Is forced to visit the
pawnshop. After explanations the two
agree to stand by each other. At ball,
to which Blair has invited Arthur and at
which a supposed New York society belle
is the guest Of honor, they are stunned to
find the diamond on the breast OF the
New York visitor. She is an adventures
who has borrowed the diamond for the
evening. Hagar attends the ball as a
fortune teller, accompanied by Luke Low.
ell. While Hagar Is telling the "belles'
fortune the diamond Is snatched from her
breast. Luke Lowell Hagars gypsy
guard, has stolen the diamond and to
avoid detection drops 1t into mail box
At the ball sheriff tries to arrest Ar
thur on the murder charge Arthur es-
capes and leaves Richmond on freight
train. The diamond passes into a mail
bag, which Is condemned, lost from
wagon and picked UP by Quabba, an Or
gan grinder. The monkey Of the latter
steals the diamond and leaves 1t In
birds nest In a tree. Arthur is robbed
of his clothes by hoboes, who leave him
in a tattered outfit. He seeks work at
farm