The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-22

but quite helpless, and with Knox,
she started for the gates, where the
car was waiting.
However. they were not destined
to reach II, for before they had gone
twenty PAGES from the house. PEARLS
eyes lighted onlth figure Of a man
crouched in the shadows by the side
Of the path.
Look" she cried, clutching Knox's
arm. what q suspicious looking
man! Maybe he has something to do
with the Violet Diamond"
Knox turned and the man rose from
his crouching position, revealing him
self. It was one OF abe Arab worship
pers OF the Violet God.
so am being followed, am IT,
cried Knox.
"Yes. You need Watching" retort-
ed the Arab grimly. Your mission
concerns the diamond, not the girl"
Between the Arab followers of the
order and Knox there had never been
any very cordial feeling; and this
sneering insinuation was too much
for the hot-headed soldier of fortune.
He darted forward to seize the Arab.
The Arab lodged and ran. Knox
drew his revolver and hred after him.
as he started in pursuit.
Knox II Overcome.
Mortified, Pearl stood motionless;
but Aunt Matte. hearing the re-
voIver shots In the hallway inside.
and fearing for PEARLS safety, seized
a battle-ax from the collection of
weapons nearby and dashed 10 her
rescue.
Meanwhile, the Arab was making
all speed to rejoin the High Priestess
and her attendants. who were also
In the grounds nearby; but as he
drew near to her. Knox threw him
self upon the Arab and bore him
to the ground.
The other Arabs. however. ran to
Bis assistance, beating Knox un-
conscious And as Pearl recovered
her wits and followed Knox through
the hedge, she found him lying I'M
conscious on the snow.
As she bent over him. the high
priestess and the Arabs fled.
Just at this moment. Aunt Mat
tie arrived, armed with her battle
ak and followed by the servants
Leaving Aunt Matte to look after
Knox, Pearl and the servants gave
chase to the High Priestess and the
Arabs. but as they reached the rear
gate, the three strangers drove OF
in a limousine.
Realizing that pursuit was out OF
the question. Pearl returned to the
garden to ind that Knox was still un-
conscious.
She ordered the servants to carry
him into the house, where he was
placed on a couch and carefully at
tended. As he did not at once return
to consciousness, however, and as she
was not at all certain how badly lie
was hurt. Pearl had his pockets emp
tied on the chance that she would
learn his name.
She did. Among other things. she
found visiting cards with MIR Nicholas
Knox" engraved upon them. And in
the same pocket with the cards, she
found the ring. Its strange, mysteri-
GUS hieroglyphics interested her.
As she turned II between her fin
gers. studying It, Knox came to- The
frst thing that he saw was the ring
in PEARLS hands. The next thing he
saw was the head of one of the Arabs.
peering in again with a sinister
glance.
give that to me! Give II to me-"
he cried hoarsely, sitting up.
Knox Disappears.
Delighted at his recovery, Pearl
turned
rs this the ring of the Violet Dia-
mond?" she asked. What do the
queer signs mean"
Without replying, he sprang from
the couch, snatched the ring from
her fingers. and dashed for the door.
Aunt Matte was relieved at the
burglars sudden and strange disap-
pearance. and she devoutly hoped
they had seen the last OF him. But
Pearl knew that as long as he want.
ed the Violet Diamond and as long
as he thought she had II. she could
count upon his turning up again.
And In this she was not wrong.
Abandoning resignedly all thoughts
Of attending the masquerade ball that
she had been anticipating so long.
Aunt Matte retired to her room, but
Pearl was by no means ready for
bed. Five minutes later she was
knocking on her aunt's door TO tell
the old lady that she was starting
for town to have a look among her
fathers things for the diamond. And
Aunt MattIe--determined never to
fail In any duty toward ker niece.
grimly put on her bonnet and coat
and accompanied Pearl
For three hours. after they reach
ed the Fifth avenue dwelling OF the
standish family, Pearl rummagsd