South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-22
The Duchess Diamond
Disappears
b. Robert Carlton Brown
By Robert Carlton Brown

7 naming Roman candles and picking
his way to the bow. steadied himself
In the rocking boat. grasped a stick
OF punk from Mr.. Van wendts hand
and touched Of all the candles in a
bunch.
He lurched awkwardly with a dip
, Of the boat and a shower OF sparks
; scattered over Constance Van Wendt
My dress she cried. cringing
back. frantically lighting II the
sparks.
A dozen hands few 70 her aid and
tie sparks were instantly extin-
guished. Be,ascc Sowcn apologized
sincerely and no harm icing done.
returned 10 Naviag RS candles over
the water cut IT harr.s -.ay.
Constance Van Wendt vas excit-
eddy arranging her attire with the
help OF her s0,lcitoUs mother.
Your diamond The Duchess Dia-
mond." cried Mrs. IAN Wendt sud
denly. Where is it,"
Miss Van 1Frndt's hand went 10
Ter throat gcoping for the chain on
With NsAE Aaat"tAE EtA4AlA AltA0 ~ uIE.
why. it's gone she felt among the
frills OF her dress. ner ace anxious
y lined and ghastly white i'm zine
glare Of Bowcn's falling rockets.
The deck ms searched. Miss Van
Wendts clothes were shaken lut
and when the launch Yves anally
moo-ed al San Marco the whole par
~ fell TO examining the ioor plani,s
for crevices. But nothing cam 20
light. until Belasco Bowen. beside
himself with anxiety FOR .luy.ng in
directly caused the loss. caught a
CLINT Of gold on the sInwnaIe and
found the chain hanging down. on
the outside. almost touching the wa
ter.
Van Wendt grasped the thin chain
and jerkcd It off.
The stone sid into the water,
; Constance hc cried. holding up the
inely linked chain. Its gone. Down
90 the bottom of the Grand canal"
7 must replace it" cried Belasco
Bowen anxiOus,y. 1t was my stupid
.-0kwardness that caused it all. In
lighting the ARE someone must have
accidentally toyn il from her throat
"Ths chatu was specially made,
there Us p piaunum wire running
5 through It," explained Van Wendt
ID holding II up. L thought il was
safe" lie passed it into the hand
OF Christopher Poe. who had intro
duccd himself as Hardy. See, il
5 must have caught on something. Al
awful wrench. Didn't you feel Il
/ Constance"
In the excitement and every
thing" she murmured. L don't know
what 1 felt"
The party. already having dwin.
died 10 a dozen. filed sadly into a
cafe for a final supper. i've heard
Of the stone. it is worth a hundred
thousand. Van Wendt is the Chica-
20 grain operator, you know" whis-
pered one of the college youths "a
the patriotic party took seats.
5 All the madness of celebration haC
fickered out and the remaining
; tourists sat lowering ove ices
b Van Wendt.
There is just a chance that some.
e body might have picked up tbs
stone" suggested Bowen, ~glancinl
. about the table thoughtfully.
{ No. there is no chance. the chair
was trailing in the water; / SHOULD
5 have had the stone fastened TO il
but the jeweler sai it must slide
I and 1 let him have his way. But
S come, don't let this put a dampe'
on us. Let's all have a night-caI
D and break up" Van Wendt's forced
a cheerfulness chilled them all and tn,
night-cap was mechanically drUnl
1 in silence.
Half an hour later there remained
at the table only Belasco Bowen an,
. Christopher Poe.
. (To Be Continued Wednesday