Bismarck daily tribune., 1915-10-14
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP.
TIERS,

TIERS.
z A feud has existed between Colonel Ar
thur Stanley ana his cousin, Judge Lamar
Stanley, over an heirloom, the diamond
from the sky, found in a fallen meteor bJ
an ancestor. Also, the succession to tn:
Stanley earldom in England may come tt
an American. When q daughter Is borr
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 a
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-
lnond Blair causes the death of the doc
tor. Outside is Arthur serenading Esther.
Blair, escaping, infers that he has left
Esther's room. Arthur forces him to
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 pursucrs 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 a ball.
at which a supposed New York. belle is
the guest Of honor, they are stunned TO
find the diamond on the visitor. She is
an adventures who has borrowed it.
While Hagar is telling the bellies for
tune Luke Lowell, Hagar's gypsy guard,
steals the diamond and to avoid detection
drops It into mail box A sheriff tries
to arrest Arthur on the murder charge
He escapes from Richmond on freight
train. The diamond passes into mail
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 a nest in tree. Arthur is
robbed by hoboes who leave him in tat
ters. He seeks work at 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, defeating Blair, but is betrayed
by the latter to the sheriff. Quabba, in
jest, handouts the sheriff and Blair. By
daring horssmanship Arthur escapes. Lat
er he leaves the farm. Tom Blake. a de-
tective hired by Hagar produces finger
prints proving Blair guilty Of the death
of DR.. Lee. Blair and his mother quarrel
about Vivian Hagar proposes silence to
Mrs. Stanley as the price Of Hagars and
Esther's being received in Fairfax society.
Blair strikes down Hagar and steals the
1ingerprints and money from his mother.
The diamond is found by a negro boy and
is taken by tramp. The latter is mur-
dered by Hung Ii, who hangs the gem
on his idol. Thence it is stolen just as q
Summing party enters Hung LIS den.
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 a fugitive he seeks Blair Instead.
Vivian asks the diamond Of Blair as the
price Of consenting to marry him.