The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-18

" - AMMOTH is a lawleSS COM
At munity, and Peter Huff, the
den keeper, is one Of its most
lawless arbiters. But he has
the gamblers temperament. The de
struction of his gambling hall is the
adverse turn Of a card to him. The
diamond from the sky, since Durand
has told him of it, now fills the mind
of Peter Huff.
Joint keepers luck" he calls it.
Easy come and easy go! In gamble
for a fortune, in a play for stake
worth half a million, | lose a dump
worth FIVE thousand. The odds were
worth it even to loser says Mr.. HUFF
Then he turns to the late insurgent in
mate Of his den and says gruffiy, We'll,
En-, you pulled fine bone for your
boss when you started this scrap over
your young lady friend there
Here Pete looked keenly into the
white face of the fainting Esther. Pete
was not altogether lost to the higher
humanities. why, she's only kid, .
he said, and she's all in. Take her
to your place and fix her up. We've
S6Ak 1OI lie 1OELOIs wv II ACGu I4C COl-
oner, too-and the undertaken he
added.
II am a DOCTOR said Durand, who
had been STOPPING over Arthur and
thrusting aside several of the rough
group who had gathered around the
stretcher. There are other people to
help besides this one," remarked Du-
rand to these. ''Husae; I'll take care
of Mr.. Powell
You think he'll liver asked Huff.
Are you really doctor?'
He is badly injured internally" re-
piled Durand Several ribs are bro
ken and one of his arms. He should
be taken to a hospital, as | think an
operation is necessary. Yes, / am a
doctor. have Heidelberg degree to
prove it, but you must excuse me if |
haven't it with me to clear up your
| doubts"
"Oh, don't be sore at me" retorted
| Mr.. Huff. II don't care whether you're
a boss doctor, human doctor or no
doctor. But as Mr.. PowelPs death may
mean the stopping Of these works you
use your own judgment as to whether
we will try to take care of him here
or get him to Los Angeles. You had
better attend to him, and I'll stick
around here and search everybody. liy-
| ing or dead, and dig in those ruins
when they're cool enough for that big
stone you say is called the diamond
from the sky. Don't worry about me.
/ I'Il be on the square,
"Of course you'll be on the square, .
replied Durand testify. How could
you dispose of it without getting into
the penitentiary unless you handed il
over to me lie you find it? Don't worry
about being square with me. Worry
about me being square with your
And thus, having thoroughly subju-
gated Peter Huff, Durand turned to
i minister to the unconscious Arthur
again.
/ 1t was no idle boast of Durand's that
he was a physician and the possessor
! of a Heidelberg degree His skill had
been marked in his profession, and had
he chosen to devote himself to it Du-
rand would have been famous both as
| a physician and surgeon. Mixed in
several scandals, he had been forced
to fly from New York. Paris and Wen
na But of recent years he had wholly
| abandoned the dealing in illicit drugs
for the more exciting and desperate
| profession of international gem crook
sensational success in this line having
secured for him the pseudonym of "the
king of diamonds.
| Arthur was badly injured, how bad
" Durand had surmised at his first su
perfcial examination. But Durand
had also surnised that his patients
youth and strong constitution would
enable him to stand hurried journey
] to Los Angeles ere the reaction from
shock set in. Then. too, a daring
scheme was already formulating In
II Durand's mind. Arthur, crushed and
helpless John Powell. the millionaire,
as Durand knew him-Was wholly at
his mercy. Surely when John Powell
recovered strength and consciousness
common gratitude would impel him to
retain the services of the physician
who had saved his life by Fastening
with his shattered form from the vii
derness to the care and convenience OF