The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-10-09
PROLOGUE.


The moonstone had first reposed In
the forehead Of a n Indian idol. As cen
turtles went by. Ill luck following It. 1t
passed into Mohammedan hands, but
always through the ages three Brah-
man priests kept secret watch over 1t.
John Herncastle. ar English officer.
during the storming Of S~eringapatam
stole the stone, killing Its guardians.
Gabriel Betteredge, house steward for
Julia Uady Verinder). explains how
the stone came into the house in which
he serves. Master Franklin Blake, a
nephew Of Lady verinder, had been
sent abroad to be educated. On the
day he was expected home Penelope,
Betteredge's daughter. observes three
Indian jugglers acting suspiciously.
Franklin arrives earlier than expected,
having eluded a dark stranger follow
ing him In London. Franklin has the
diamond. which has been willed to his
Cousin Rachel as a birthday gift by
Colonel Herncastle. He puts the stone
In a bank The jugglers make a secret
visit to the house. Rachel receives the
moonstone on her birthday. Among
the guests Is Mr.. Muthwaite. al In
dian traveller. The next morning the
diamond Is missing. Superintendent Of
Police ~Seegrave Is called In to investi-
gate. and the three Indians are impris-
oned. Suspicion also falls on Rosanna
Spearman. n servant, and others. Ser
geant Gun. a London detective, is re-
tanned and begins his work. He e
checked, however, when Rosanna, who
Lady Verinder admits has had n prison
record. refuses to have her room search
ed. 1t develops that Rosanna has WIS.,
tied a neighbor. Mrs. Golland. and bor-
rowed a tin case. This Sergeant Cuff
suspects she has buried in the swamp
secured by two dog chains. also Dor
rowed. Rosanna shows signs Of nerv-
n Sergeant Cuff asks that Miss
Rachel be kept at home. He later Wis
Its ~Frizinghall to interview the three
Indians. On returning he sees a note
In which Rosanna tells that the quick
sand has become her grave. Sergeant
Cuf suspects that Miss verinder and
Rosanna had a secret between them
relating to the moonstone. He wants
to question her. but Lady verinder OBJ
5ects. offering to do the questioning
herself. She writes to the sergeant
that her daughter and Rosanna had
had nothing between them. at the same
time dismissing him. Mr.. Septimus
Luker, dealer In gems. and Mr.. God
frey Ablewhite are victims Of an out
rage. Both had been bound and gag
ged by evident thieves. Rachel admits
she knows who took the diamond.
Rachel becomes engaged to Godfrey
and at the sudden death OF Lady Verin-
der inherits the verinder fortune. She
later breaks her engagement without
apparent reason. Solicitor Bruff relates
how he was visited by one of the In
dians. Franklin Blake ~narrates how he
found his nightgown hidden In the
~qnicksand by Rosanna Spearman be-
fore her suicide: also a note of explana-
tion. Solicitor Brun gives Franklin n
key. enabling him to meet Rachel. The
young woman accuses Franklin of TAX
Ing the precious jewel. She says she
saw him take II. Franklin is informed
that he had been secretly drugged with
opium by Mr.. Candy and Is not respon-
sible for his actions. Franklin con-
sents to undergo the opium d~rugging
again under exactly the same condi-
lions as before. but with witnesses
present, In order to clear himself.