Evening star., 1925-05-10

table a commissionaire stood at at
| tention.
| Close to the table chair was pro-
vided for his highness. His highness
| was pleased, in more than one sense,
to be seated. Some Of the guests
| thought he was going to be Ill. But
now Sir Benjamin, at the supreme mo-
Inent Of his life, saw nothing he did
not wish to see. His pompous cough
was repeated several times. and then
| he proceeded to deliver his short but
carefully prepared speech.
| Ladies' and gentlemen, l am sure
! I need not attempt to tell his high
ness, Prince Lorenzo, how deeply hon.
| ored we are by his presence today.
Why my poor house should have been
singled out for his highness' favor
| l cannot conceive. When l had the
honor of being presented to his high
ness at Mentone, two years ago,
| little thought that on q future day
l should have the privilege and graft
fication of Offering his highness hos.
pitality and entertainment. But the
happy day-the happiest day Of my
| life-is here, and / cannot let ii pass
away without some little expression
of welcome in the presence of my
| friends, who share in my delight and
satisfaction. And / am sure I speak
for every one here when 1 express
the hope that this gracious visit OF
| Prince LorenZo's, though in a sense
of a private nature, may yet further
cement the cordial friendship that
| already exists between our beloved
! country and the ancient and important
| state over which his highness holds
| sway"
Sir Benjamin waited until the ap.
plauSe had spent itself.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he re,
| sumed, "a few words more and have
done. Prince Lorenzo has come and
we have done what we could to make
| him welcome. And ere Prince Lo.
renzo DEPARTS trust he may not
have to leave us yet awhile-I would
like to offer his highness a trifling
souvenir of his visit" Here Sir
Benjamin turned to his guest. your
| highness," he said, deftly lifting up
the white velvet, and exposing the
gorgeous gem flashing under a shaft
OF sunlight admitted by skillful ar.
| rangement of the blinds to that one
spot in the room), prince Lorenzo
would beg your highness' gracious
acceptance of the Steinway diamond
as remembrance Of your visit to
my poor house." With these words
he lifted the gem in it's ilk-lined case
and placed 1t in the trembling, prince
ly hands. amid much applause.
With great effort the recipient
rose to his feet. "Sir Benjamin, IL
thank you," he said, hoarsely, hest
tated, wavered, and sank back into
| the chair. Pardon me-" he whis
pered. but 1 am little overcome
by the heat"
The collapse was not little disap.
pointing to Sir Benjamin, who had
several reporters in attendance for the
purpose Of taking down the prince :
reply as well as his own speech. But
| the princes bodily welfare was OF
prime consideration. Within q couple
of minutes the room was cleared, the
! guests trooping out by the French
window and door, and Sir Benjamin
was ministering to the prince with
brandy and a japanese fan.
IF I might be allowed to remain
here quite alone for few minutes, u
said the highness family, relinquish.
ing the empty glass. 'I am subject
to these little attacks, but they soon
pass. Pray go to your guests, my
dear Sir Benjamin, and I will rejoin
you in very short time"
| X X + \
CIR BENJAMIN, while exceeding
~ 10th to go, could not venture to
disobey prince. Begging his high
ness to ring for anything he might
desire, he departed reluctantly to the
garden.
| After furtive survey of the room
Mr.. Groten sat up. His indisposition
had not been entirely natural, though
he had taken advantage. so to speak
Of his physical weakness. The faint
ing turn had formed part OF Roland's
instructions. yet terror had made It
almost q reality.
But now the worst was past. The
diamond was in his possession, and
why, the case. closed by Sir Ben
janlitl, was still in his hand! He
opened it and for a space gazed at
| the glory within. He sighed, and,
swapping the lid, put the case care
fully into an inner pocket. A thou.
sand pounds-one thousand pounds
he deserved more. Yet what could
he himself do with such a diamond +?
He sighed again: Only a thousand
ing for it but to keep to his bargain
the better. Why delay? All he had
to do was to ring the bell, have his
host summoned, express regret that
he felt no better and order round the
car, which Roland was driving.
First, however, he would have an
other drop of brandy. The tray had
been thoughtfully left on the velvet
| covered table.
| But, even as he reached for the
decanter, some one entered by the
French window. His arm dropped
and he turned to see girl. pretty
and tall and smartly gowned. More
over. she was pale and apparently In
| trouble. She came straight toward
him. finger on lip. He made to rise.
| Don't move." she whispered. "Only
listen, and don't speak. All is known.
You are discovered. The house is
ksurrounded. You will be taken
you cannot escape-unless you re-
turn the diamond. Then you will be
allowed to CO." She paused, her hand
| to her heart.
He gasped. "Who are your" He
was sickIy white; his teeth chat
| tered.
Hush! / am private detective.
Sir Benjamin has sent me to you.
He wishes above all to avoid a scan
dal. He offers you your liberty and
this"-she showed him q tight little
hundle Of whita, cfta sAper-4 you
: VII. give M tho djApnond ana ~ am-