The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-05-06
FIRST EPISODE
on Wlndward Island.

sun fell low, riffied the shallower chan
mel waters and struck inland TO cool
the heat baked dunes OF Windward
island.
On the most westerly lip OF that
island. shaded by grove OF rustling
eucalyptus trees. a man and woman
stood staring across the beryltinted
sea-arm to where the shores OF South
Carolina lay low and dim in the dis
lance.
You were not made for life like
this" said the man, speaking with that
full-voweled softness peculiar TO the
Italian voice.
IT'S the only life I've known for
nine long years" she answered, with
out looking at him.
And it's the only life you ever will
know he declared with sudden bold
ness, III you refuse 20 wake up to the
Dict that your husband is mad | am
a physician, and know No sane man
brings a woman to an island like this,
to an island that's only 1T for CLAIMS
and seagulls, and spends the best
years OF his life-yes, and her life
looking for a nitrate mine that never
existed. and never could exist in such
a place"
But my husbands workmen have
found traces OF nitrate, protested
Mrs. Golden. fixed in her determine
ton OF loyalty.
Palidori. the Italian, laughed softly.
And that nitrate. dear lady. was
planted there by Golden himself For
your husband is deceiving you He's
searching for gold. yellow gold. mil
lions OF dollars worth OF gold But
that gold he will never find. for II
exists only in his imagination"
81 cannot listen to words like that, -
protested the azure-eyed wife: Il will
mott"
That's because you are afraid OF
the truth Why do you suppose Golden
has spent thousands and thousands in
saving his miserable island from the
ocean? Why has he put up seawalls
and dykes, and constructed great
levee like that 20 keep the open At
lantic from encroaching on these
precious sand fields OF his at every
high tide? Why. except 90 keep the
water back from that buried treasure
OF his? And what has all this mad
ness brought TO your
81 think I regret only the day that
brought you 20 Windward island, she
quietly replied. as their eyes met
And |. too shall regret that day
IL It means | must go away empty
handed"
Il think my husband would Kill you
II he heard you speak TO me like
this"
Palidori shrugged a shoulders.
He is al least watching US from the
porch OF the manor house there. an
nounced the Italian And that
must accept as a compliment.
Then we must go back, said the
woman, visibly alarmed
And you 20 back not believing IN
me?" asked Palidorl as he walked be
side her.
Il cannot believe you or believe IN
youl Even II what you say IL true
how should you know his maps anc
papers are worthless
If you doubt me / merely ask tina
YOU hand me your husbands keys
Then I will bring to you bag Of thii
Chilean nitrate that he keeps bidder
away in his inner study that he scat
tiers about in the plantation sands L
salt his famous mine with. You hest
tate. naturally But IN this is not true
why should that inner room be 81
iealously locked and guarded
1T is guarded only because the
Golden Jewels are kept there. wa
the triumphant retort. Jewels woru
a kings ransoml"
Yet his loveliest jewel Is not KEEP
under lock and key murmured Pal
dori. Unless you tell me you vii
bring that key Go the shrubbery b.
yond the manor house ! Will take yo
An my arms here. under your husband
eyes"
"stopl" cried the unhappy wife. a
he stepped closer To her.
win you bring the key for Pal
dori knew that jewels worth king
ransom we're also worth one final ei
fort.
she hesitated, white-faced, as he r.
peated the command.
yes" she gasped, as fairhaire
child of six ran lightly from the mano
house steps to meet her mother.
Palidori. lighting a cigarette. turne
careIess,y away and sauntered e
ward the shrubbery OF the easter
point Margory. the fair.haired chile
chartered and nuttered birdlike abor
her silent mother as she approache
the house and passed inside. But
the wide loggia Enoch Golden, ster
eyed and grim-lipped. paced back an
forth. scared by the fires OF jealou
.usp,cions. He wheeled about an
- strobe into the house