The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-07-28

and has stepped from the side to the
front Of the house, hoping it is Esther
who comes In answer to his serenade
and to receive his cOntrite pleadingS
for forgiveness. He reaches out to EN-
brace the gentle girl, only to find he
has clasped the stalwart, struggling
frame OF a man. The moon breaks
through n cloud as his prisoner strug-
giles, and its rays illuminate the face
of Blair Stanley.
"What are you doing here, coming
out of DR.. Lees house at this hourF'
whispers Arthur, tensely.
Keep quiet, you fool" Blair Stanley
Kisses, like a snake. "A girls good
name is at stake
As Arthur staggers back in horror at
the shameful inference, Blair Stanley
with a rapid movement draws his re-
volver and fires. He would do double
murder and win an earldom and the
diamond from the sky, II he can escape
without detection. But the quick arm
Of Arthur throws up the pistol and as
Blair fires he wrenches the weapon
from him. To avoid the shame and
scandal, even of the inference of the
base speaking Blair. tLAe frenzied Ar
thur drags him down the pathway and
down the silent village street, as the
cocks are growing. presaging the com
Ing of the dawn. Painting and strug-
/ CLING, the cousins stumble of the vii
lage highway and into the little village
graveyard Their feet sink into a
mound of soft earth. by an open and
1 In .
and facing each other with rage and
hate in their hearts and on their faces,
the young men pause moment In their
mad struggle. Then Arthur brings out
his own pistol and the long white silk
handkerchief that protrudes from his
breast pocket.
For what you have said about
Esther, either you or l must die.
Arthur says. Take one end of this
handkerchief and stand across this
open grave. Hold the handkerchief il
your left hand, as l hold this corner of
it. Now take your pistol, and when !
count to 'Threer raise and fire, and the
one of US left alive will pull the dead
man into the gravel
Arthur counts one" when the now
fearful murderer essays to ire. But
the watchfIII Arthur is too quick FOL
him. His pistol speaks first. anu, IN
stinctively Juggling the handkerchle
as he fires, Arthur drags the bleedini
Blair into the grave, prone on his face
Arthur leaps into tie grave after hi
fallen foe and tears open his SHIRT [,
see if the heart still beats, and t.ere
on the breast of Blair Stanley, gleaEl.
in the moon rays the eva glitter OF tn
diamond from the sky.
Arthur Stanley had known its ever.
aspect, for the Stanley archives ar
full of it. in print and manuscript. pic
tured and described. SO there IL IA
been, in the keepi = OF my cousin b
mutters, and hardly realizing what IA
does, except the baleful gem is his b.
every right. he tears il from the nee
= of the figure in the grave and Chamber
- out and stumbleS on his way.
II Beside a cross, white and majesti
in the moonlight. he halts The moo
shines on the diamond in his blood
hands as he stands 10y the grave wher
II lies. aS he believes, his saiutel mOthe
Then. feeling the brand OF Cain is @
his brow. Arthur Stanley p stumble
Oh. still cIut-hiIg tie diamond iFuI
the sky IN His bloody hands
In the new dug grave BLAIR Stauie
moaned and stirred. The wound
his forehead had been glaucius on
only sufficient 10 stun him. and M
As he came TO Consciousness in u
clammy depths Of the grave his fir
= impulse was 10 clutch wildly At Il