Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1916-02-10


toward the cabin to make another
change In his attire from Arthurs
yachting wardrobe.
Hes a cool one" said the sailing
master admiringly as he looked after
Blair, who walked in his dripping
clothes across the deck whistling. 'Pll
bet he is a Yirginian, that lad. He
says he is Mr.. Powell's cousin. and
Powell Is another lighting daredevil
Just like him. They breed good men
In the west, but there's nothing wrong
with the fighting strain they raise In
old Virginia"
Luke gained a deserted part Of the
beach unobserved, shook the water
from him as a great dog might have
done and strobe of Luke Lowell had
no use for the town Far away in the
Sierras the Lady Veronica mines and
other prosperous and busy diggings
called him. By train and on foot lie
made his way, and by another day
Santa Barbara was far behind him;
but, though he went for work and 10
get away from his very hate OF Blair
Stanley, Luke Lowell had not deviated
one iota from his set, sullen purpose.
|. He had seen the paper that Blair
Stanley had pursued and prosecuted
Esther to obtain. Then, too, Luke
Lowell had beheld the diamond from
the sky. Luke clinched his hand and
looked down, as though he had expect
ed to see the great gem he had thrice
grasped as his own only to lose still
burning balefully In his brOnzed and
brawny grasp. But the diamond was
gone, and he clutched at the empty
air and trudged on, resolved that the
purpose OF his life would be to have
1t. But he would have no more Of
Blair Stanley; that he was resolved.
Esther, after being thrown upon the
beach from the overturned boat with
Quabba, thanked those who rushed I'M
to assist her and her companion and
assured them It had been Just an acct
dent Of small consequence. Her spirits
rose again In thankfulness. and. fol
lowed by poor Quabba, who half hvs-
terically accused himself of every crime
under the calendar In his humiliation
at having imperiled his young mistress.
Esther reached a quiet part of the
beach and from there had Quabba sum-
mon a conveyance which took her TO
the quiet hotel On a side street. where
she had secured quarters for herself
and her servant
Egfhaf hx.
Santa Barbara or any other city She
would fight Blair Stanley fearlessly
along the lines the Stanleys had al
ways fought in their feuds-among
themselves. True, the Stanleys, even
In their feuds, had seldom fought wom-
en-. But Esther, knowing she had fin.
protection Of Arthur's love and having
every confidence In the strength. Wit
and courage Of this handsomest of ALI
heroes In her eyes, felt as though Blair
was overmatched when all was said
and done. Had she met Blair I'm the
streets of Santa Barbara she might
even have bowed to him with a mock
Ing smile.
She sent message to John Powell.
president or the Good Hope OH com
pany, Los Angeles. 1t read:
Came here to see you urgent. Wire In
structions. EITHER
You will probably have an answer
In an hour or So" said the clerk, and
Esther murmured her thanks and said
she would be back and 80 went shop-
ping In the interim, while Quabba lurk
ed al respectful distance.
In the woods and In the wilderness.
on the dangerous waters, he could
come close to cherish and protect his
beloved young mistress. But In the
built up town, where romance and de-
yotion seem strange and out OF place.
convention required the pathetic yet
faithful Quabba must keep aloof. Es-
Their had not asked this. but she knew
the proximity Of the queer looking
follower who served her so faithful
ly would In a town. bring upon her
attention and questioning.