The Washington times., 1915-02-14
1x.Asxnoesis or THe MYSTERY STORY
@QDIDGD@N
W HAROLD MAc6RAtH
EPISODE TWELVE.
"A Bag Of Diamonds"

~ D8k OI
The fight for the possess on Of the
"Zudora'' mine between Nine. Dutal
! and Zudora, commences In earnest in
the newest chapter Of the history Of the
young girl detective. The odds seem all
Ito favor Nine. Duval and her band OF
shrewd criminals for they arc In pos-
session Of the will left by Zudofa' g
father, as we'll as all the dstals OF the
mine. ..,.,
The girl knows practically nothing OF
her affairs and It is only through the
shrewdness Of JOHN Storm assisted Dy
Jim Baird and Tom Hunt that che is
able to set in piecemeal-a very little at
time-the facts Of the situation. with
{ the piece of burned paper in Their pos
session which they found in Zudora' g
J rooms, the friends of the g.rl believe
the have an important clue.
The paper was originally note from
Zudora's father III which he tells OF
bequeathing the mine to his daughter.
The three faithful friends take this as n
clue upon which to work.
They do not know that the original
will is in tnc possession Of Madame
Duval and her band, nor that news has
come to this clever adventures OF y
rich strike, In the Zudora diamond
sons of her own this dangerous woman
has designs on the safety Of zudorn.
and for this reason a constant watch is
kept on her movements.
news % the strike IS ail-important.
II the stake was worth playing for lee
fore. it has become a veritable bonanza
now. Apparently. all the cards are in
BRUCE, her able confederate. has con
vinced the mine superintendent, Henry
Howard that the mine has been sold
to his cheftainess, and 1t Is to her that
Howard reports.
tNnen he receives a letter from Mad
aine Duval. however. directing him to
bring the mines output to New York,
the superintendent grows suspicious.
while in that city and learn the truth
from her.
1t happens that when Howard arrives.
ne Is taken at once to Madame Duvars
Of the strike" which wifi mean mil
lions to the owner Of the Zudora mine,
and turns the diamonds he has brought
with him over to his fair hostess. Tom
the house. sees and hears all. and speed
lily communicates what he has learned
to Jim Baird. when the reporter relieves
him In keeping guard over the head
quarters Of the conspirators:
Meanwhile. Captain Radcliffe. beconh-
ing suspicious after Howard has left
and It may be a trifie jealous OF the
impression he has made on Nine. Du-
val-decides to drive back across the
ocean.
He sees to it that Howard receives
the secret warning Of the band-the sign
Of the heart and dagger"-but Howard
is made Of sterner stun and decides to
stay.
Once his decision is made known to
Nine. Duval. that resourceful woman
determines to avoid all chance of dis
covery by having the stones he has
brought cut at once. In pursuance OF
this plan they are entrusted to Bill and
Ike. two rascally members of the band,
who are sworn under the organization's 8
mystical oath to deliver the gems to a
lapidary.
The bag is then given to another of
the gang. who, with these worthless. as
bodyguards. sets out for the diamond
cutters: He has not gone far when
Jim Baird, who has been on watch and
suspects what IS happening. holds him
up and relieves him Of the jewels.
Then cleverly eluding the sunman's 8
bodyguards. the reporter sets out for
Mrs. Ramsey's, where he triumphantly
delivers the stones to Zudora.
News of this daring coup Is brought to
Madame Duval. who realizes tina: ir
further knowledge of the mine gets out
It will mean ruin to the band, Through
frantic with rage. she is swift to act.
Acting under her directions g number
of her most trusted agents seize How
ard and overpower him.
The mine superintendent Is taken to
certain sanatorium. resort con-
Quoted by one DR.. Israel Mum. an un-
scrupulous uuack. and there he Is kept
under close guard.
Madame Duvars next move is to get
possession of the lost diamonds or Zu-
dora. SO 1t happens that after a happy
evening with his sweetheart. John
Storm Is startled to learn the next
morning that she has disappeared in
the night. He takes counsel with Baird
and Tom Hunt. and after a weeks un-
tagging search. Zudora is located. She