The Washington times., 1920-09-19
By May Xohe Gady Francis Hope)
CHAPTER XII.
Continued from Last Sunday.)

Copyright international SERVICE
Asst week promised to tell to-day of the entry of the
Hope Diamond into that mysterious region known
49, the Imperial Sera, the harem of the Sultan of
Turkey. Already have told how the diamond into
the possession of the Sultan Abdul Hamd after Lord
Francis sold it, through Simon Monthardes the agent of
Seim Habib, whe court eweler to the Sublime Porte
We of minds do not like to admit that we believe
in the legend that cut Of India with the Blue Da
mond then called by Louis XIV that the devil
of the Hindus had imprisoned itself in the marvellous
stone. 1t is this devil the superstous tradition runs,
that brings tragedy all who touch the stone It is its
revenge for the theft of the sacred gem from the temple
of Rama Sta.
Yet how do aught else but pause and think
when consider that every who has owned the stone
has suffered great grief if indeed, life itself has
not been sacrifcedi
Simon Montharides acted only broker in purchas-
ing the stone from the Frankels of America after that
house had gone into bankruptcy Immediately after the
diamond came into its possession. Monthardes who
wealthy and happy with beloved wife and two lovely
daughters, had the diamond in his possession but few
weeks He took it to his house and kept 1t in his safe,
with special guards watching the safe day and night.
Then it was taken away by Selim Habib.
Montharides set out to return to Greece. He made
pleasure trip of it, in celebration of his profitable ransac
ton with the Hope Diamond But the pleasure turned to
tragedy-just week after the gem had left his hands.
In Switzerland he thrown, with his wife and
daughters over precipce in the foothills Of the Alps,
and all were killed At the time remember, there
considerable discussion about the accident. 1t
mored there evidence that it not accident
ALL but that mysterious Hindu who had been staying
with several associates in Berne had been to climb
the foothills early in the morning of the day set aside by
Montharides for his outing. He seen again,
but there footprints where the family tumbled
to death which identified resembling those of this
strange Oriental.
In view of my experience with a Hindu in Paris,
who frankly said he devotng his life to the task Of
recovering the gem from the outraged idol from which it
stolen should not be surprised if the accident
deliberate and vengeful murder
Before Co. with the Turkish friend who told me the
details into the haremk of the Sultan and watch the
Of the diamond there want to tell also Of the
Selim Habb who delivered the diamond to Abdul Hamd
lie earned fee for his part in the transaction,
and remained in Constantnople to entertain his many
friends there One night he disappeared from his rented
palace. There great TODD among the officials OF
Consanope his disappearance but search as they
would they could find no trace Of him.
1t was week later that his body washed up with
the tide from the straits Of the Bosphorus How he had
fallen into the water whether he had been thrown in or
whether he had committed suicide whether accident
had bcfallen him. none could tell, has told. He
was just another victim of the strange fate which
Ia come inevitably to all who brave that legendary
devil" in the Hope Diamond
Zubayda the beautiful Crcassian girl, who had been
presented the Sultan in celebration Of his birthday by