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

| upon MS brow now that the danger
was past.
Nicholas Knox II Chosen.
And his horror passed to Nicholas
Knox. who was now directly in the
lizards path. Slowly It came on to-
ward him, nearer and nearer. His
blood seemed to surge up into his
head, making his ears ring. Then II
receded, leaving him cold. He knew
| that IL the lizard chose him there
would be no escape. He must recover
} the stone, by fair means or foul, or
he must meet swift punishment at
the hands of these cold blooded, mer-
CHESS. barbarians to whom pity was
/ unknown.
The lizard still came on. He closed
| his eyes, but the rattle OF its claws
upon the tin told him that the sus-
pense was ended. II had crawled into
| the basin before his chair. He was
chosen by the Violet God through its
emissary to recover the sacred dIa-
mond OF the ring.
Nicholas Knox" said the priestess
| gravely, you will set forth this night
| to bring back the Violet Diamond.
Three days are allotted you in which
to accomplish it. II these three days
pass ant you have failed in your mis-
sion you shall meet death by violence!
This is decreed,"
Knox staggered to his feet and
gazed around at the company DULY.
/ To protest against this sentence-to
escape-was impossible, he knew.
| For years, ANN had fed before the
| followers OF the outraged god-but
he had fallen into their hands in the
end.
Il accept" he said slowly. but re-
member this: 1t is my job. and my
risk-and ! want none OF your yellow
crawlers wriggling in my tracks.
Understand"
He glared around at the dark-skin-
ned Arabs a-out him, and they start
ed toward him wrathfully-but the
priestess waved them back and said:
Free to DO As He VIII.
you shall be free to act as you will.
But you shall have no chance to es-
cape or to evade us. Our eyes shall
be upon you. Co."
He turned and passed slowly out OF
the room. out of the temple into the
clean night air to minGle with the
crowds that thronged the streets.
And though he seemed free-though
he looked back without seeing any
one following him, he knew that
someone was there!
As Pearl and Aunt Matte descend
/ ed the stairs on their way to Carle-
sons fancy dress ball. Nicholas Knox
dropped off the veTanda roof and hur-
Tied through the garden toward the
| front door to meet them. Consequent
~ the house door had scarcely closed
behind them when Knox appeared
out Of the shadows with his revolver
leveled and called commandingly:
Hands up"
with a cry Of terror Aunt Matte
complied. nearly fainting as she re
garded the masked man with the gun.
But Pearls eyes lighted and she drew
in her breath eNcitedly as she threw
protecting arm about her aunt.
Thank heavens, Some excitement
at last she cried deIightedly. Are
you a really and truly burglar"
Il am" replied Knox grimly, and
mean business. want the Violet
Diamond Of Daroon-quick"
Violet diamond?" repeated Pearl
wonderingly. why what do you
mean? / have no violet diamond. |
never knew there were any violet dia-
| mondE,"
At that moment the butler opened
the door again, sensing that some
thing was wrOng-and his jaw drop
ped as he found himself staring into
the muzzle Of a gun.
Don't fool with me. want the
Violet Diamond and I'm going to get
it," cried Knox.
But ! assure you | never heard Of
IT," cried Pearl. You can come in IL
you like. however. and tell me about
IL. 1t sounds interesting"
An Unusual Request.
She beckOned invitingly toward the
house. Both Aunt Matte and the but