The Springdale news., 1915-10-08
The Diamond From the Sky
 By ROY L. McCARDELL Copyright, 1915, by Roy L. McCardell
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP.
 TIERS.

A feud has existed between Colonel Ar thur Stanley and his cousin. Judge Lamar Stanley, over an heirloom, the diamond from the sky, found in a fallen meteor by an ancestor. Also. the succession to the Stanley earldom in England may come to an American. When a daughter Is born 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 document with the Stanley secret. When Esther is grown beautiful young girl. Hagar, now gypsy queen, returns to Virginia with her. pr. 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 da- mond Blair causes the death of the doc tor and tries later to put the blame on Arthur. who takes the diamond from him
 The sheriff attempts to take Arthur into custody but he eludes his pursuers and joins Hagar. who reveals his identity and upbraids him for h!s wild life Needing
 
 mond At ball, at which a supposed New York belle, Vivian Marston, is the guest of honor, Arthur and Blair find the diamond on the visitor. She is an adven- turess who has borrowed it.
 Luke Lowell. Hagar's gypsy guard, steals the diamond, and to avoid detection drops it into a mail box. Arthur leaves Richmond and goes To the west. Tie dia- mond passes into mail bag, picked up by Quabba. organ grinder. QuabbaS monkey steals the diamond. Hagar takes Esther to Stanley hall.
 Tom Blake, a detective of Richmond, who Is hired by Hagar. produces finger prints convieting Blair. Hagar proposes silence to Mrs Stanley as the price of Hagar's and Esthers being received in Fairfax society. Blair strikes down Ha- gar and steals the finger prints. leaving the gypsy demented- The diamond is found by a negro boy and is taken by tramp. The latter is murdered by Hung Ii. It Is stolen just as summing party e..tcrs Hung Lis den. Hagar is again With Esther among the gypsies. Marma- duke Smythe, lawyer, arrives to announce Arthur is heir to the deceased Earl of Stanley Learning Arthur is a fugitive he seeks Blair instead. To win Vivian, Blair steals the diamond. later marrying her and leaving for the west. Their train is robbed, Vivian losing the diamond. which a slain train robber drops in the desert The s100,0o0 he stole is found by Arthur now known as John Powell, sheep herder Vivian deserts Blair telling him he must regain the diamond for her. Luke Lowell, driven from the camp after learning Ha- gar's secret. leaves to seek Blair. Hagar is under treatment and Esther is in Richmond society, protege of Mrs. Stan ley, who suspects her real name. and of Mrs. Randolph. Abe Bloom, gambler. who knows Blair's guilt. covets the diamond and calls it the price of his secrecy. Blair will not listen to Lowell. and Arthur also insists on his silence Blair returns to Richmond and. instigated by his mother. pays unwelcome court to Esther. Mrs. Stanley asserting Vivian had been married before The diamond is picked up by an Indian woman. Dr. Lee Arthur learns. died of heart disease. Becoming very rich he buys Stanley hall sold at auction. through Blake. and also provides for Ha- gar and has money left secretly in Els ther's room. Luke Lowell buys the da- mond from the squaw. but loses it in a fight on Santa Barbara bay, the gem sink ing. At the auction Smythe buys mount. ed deer head. Vivian, desiring aid to en- snare Arthur, sends for Blair. The latter is worsted in an attempt to take the Stan ley document from Esther, defended by Blake and Quahba.