Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1916-01-06
THE DIAMOND FROM THE sky
CHAPTER XVI.
Blair Seeks the Document.

/" HE reckless, desperate and I'M
scrupulOus ancestor. the first
Arthur Stanley, who had found
the diamond from the sky in
the fallen meteor 800 years agone. had
worthy descendant In the equally
reckless, desperate and INSCRIPTIONS
Blair Stanley.
1t is to be doubted if Blair Stanley
gave any thought of the great wrong
be might do the gentle Esther in the
furtherance of the cold ambitious
schemes of his mother and his own i'm.
pulsive lawless ones. He cared not
whit whether if he should marry Es-
ther such an alliance would be biga-
nous and shameful in case his mar
riage with Vivian should prove subse
quently legal and binding.
To get Esther and to get the diamond
by such means. not TO speak of the
Stanley earldom in England. appealed
to Blair. The thought of Vivian fight
ing for her rights as the consort Of an
earl appealed to Blair's cynical sense
Of humor.
With a meekness almost puritanical
in its sleek hypocrisy he had answer
ed his mother to the effect that be
would do as she desired. He prepared
himself. at his mothers suggestion. to
return to Richmond and make amends
with the disgruntled relative and so
ciety leader, Mrs. Burton Randolph,
for Mrs. Randolph had developed an
unselfish fondness for Esther.
Meanwhile Esther had been received
with open arms by the gypsy people
when she had returned with Quabba
when first setting out In search Of Ar
thur with the loyal hunchback. An
other search of Hagar's van at the
camp had been fruitless. There was
no trace or evidence Of any wealth
that it had always been supposed that
Hagar possessed.
that, while Hagar gave evidence of
eventually recovering. it was necessary
that she esther must journey far to
seek a friend who could aid her in
these days Of trial. The generous
Romanys Of the tribe pressed their lit
tie boards of money upon Esther
whom they acknowledged their prin-
cess. But Esther refused to accept.
The more canny and practical Quab-
ba, however, accepted all tributes OF
this kind. unknown to Esther. and Sc
creted them against coming days oil
need.
Followed far from the camp by the
kindly gypsies. and even the little gyp
sy children who loved Esther with the
loyal devotion OF their elders, Quabba
and Esther set out upon their way
Quabba was further gladdened by 6
royal gift Of large street piano anC
cart and pony to haul II.
Starting west and north upon theil
quest for Arthur. Esther and Quabbs
with their quaint equipage took theii
way. They halted at the farm Of
Farmer Smith. where Arthur haC
worked. and proceeded ON. intending t.
skirt through Richmond to ascertain
Hagar's condition ere going west.
Journeying to Richmond. Blair Stan
ley beheld Quabba and Esther and tn,
pony and organ cart as his train pass
ed by them. The reckless Blair haC
no patience to wait till the train reach
ed the next station. He pulled the air
brake cord alighted, and as the trail
= pulled out he hid by the roadside b,
the track. and after Esther and Quabb
had toiled past him on foot by thei
pony organ cart. he stealthily traile'
them to the outskirts Of Richmond.
From here he FASTENED to Mrs. Ran
dolphs, and made his peace and en-
listed her sympathy and co-operatio