The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-01-08

or al into Sylvia's heat-pale cheeks
as she turned abruptly away.
Il told you," said Charles, under
his breath. whatever it is still works.
Hes just a gigolo." Sylvia was scorn-
full and embarrassed.
He calls himself a mining engineer
Charles was suddenly serious. Name
Luis Raimundo-from the Argentine.
Been hanging around some time. I
gave him a visa yesterday to enter the
States on a visit. Got a bunch there's
something phony about him. He shook
and sWeated while he waited in my Of
flee, but his papers were perfectly
o. K. Couldn't turn him down on a
bunch. He's travelling next week on
your Ship-the Oratah. If he hangs
around, let him open up. You might
get on to something. I'm seldom wrong
and I'd be interested"
Sylvia Conquest turned her face into
her husbands shoulder as they stepped
to allow the inquisitive stranger to find
and search her eyes. She could no be-
lieve he was admiring her. WONDERING
about her more likely.
A week passed in hectic preparation.
Charles stayed On the deck of the Ora
tab till the last gangway was about
to come up. I'm sorry now that I'm
going" said Sylvia tearfully.
Don't be" he said co~urageously. 81
shall be looking forward from the
minute you sail to the day I will get
you back" Sylvia stayed at the rail till
Rosablanca faded in the distance to a
mere smudge upon the sight.
Luis Raimundo went straight to his
first-class stateroom the moment he
embarked. He was faint with relief at
getting safely out of the country. As
soon as he heard the welcome blasts
of the propellors as she got under way
he pushed the mosquito net aside, got
up off his bed and looked through the
port: Watched the lush and sinking
water front receding beautifully-un-
regretted and unloved. He kissed his
hand to it in hooking farewell, mo-
mentarily forgetful of the ordeal that
now lay before him. Then he remem-
pered-locked his door and opened the
package containing the diamond.
1t was an incredible stone that
emerged from the %wrappings. Two
thousand seven hundred caratS of solid
uncut diamond! And of superb color
Under its pearly unpublished hide the
blue-Whlte blaze of a star turned water.
And If news value meant anything, at
present the most famous diamond in
oAAC IL wac Glle UllSSlllS MdpO
Llma! That blood-drenched Jewel
named after the daughter of old Pedro
Lima, whose ~audacious capture and
brutal murder was news but six months
old. It was Ramon Martinez, alias Luis
Rafmundo, who had acted as armed
chauffeur on the way from the safe
deposit in Rio de Janeiro to the as
sayers, whisked the old mar into Wash
lngton kelly's clutches, and that de-
generate soaker had done the rest.
But though the treasure scared Raj
mundo, it never failed of its hypnotic
effect. It doped him like a drug. He
thrilled with its opulent promise OF
his future, seeing the world his for
the taking in the silver-veiled dazzle OF
its depths.
The procedure vas simple. He and
Kelly had got safely across country tc
Peru without once rousing suspicion
the hunted stone into New York. There
the crooked Dutch diamond worker
awaited them. He would split the Magds
Lima into seven or eight royal stones
and many little ones. Cut and polish
them. Market them. There would be q
third of a share for each. And all
their troubles-their poverty-theil
bounded misery-their demoralizine
fright and bouts of v terror
"OAAA VIC OtC4.
Raimundo wrapped the Magda Lima
in its chamois wrapper and concealed
the package very c~leverly in the life
jacket fastened to the wall. He shud-
dered, panicked suddenly because he
was alone, left his Stateroom and went
down to the Steerage to search fol-
Kelly. He found him without difficulty
hearing his whisky cough down some
fetid corridor. The sodden ruffian was
lying on his bed in vest and crumbleG
pants when Raimundo entered. "You
shouldn't come down here you fool, OF
hoarse whisper. you never know what
may happen"
Raimundo ignored this. IT don't like
that idea of yours about the woman
Wash. I tell you I'm afraid"
Thing Is if you got the woman tt
carry it through, you can fix before.
hand to make a getaway if there come:
any trouble. Seen the
picked?"
Raimundo spoke English with a:
American idiom and the Latin accen'
women fell for the wide world over
sure 1 have. Didn't I tell you I looked
her over at the Bolivar last week-ant
I'm still wondering why you pickec
her."
Kelly was angry. but he still growlec
in undertones. Yeah? Then take {
load of this. That's the ideal woman
sent by God. Disguised by that hellisl
place. Bored by her husband. Fed III
with life too near to the line. PAINTING
to get home. Goes every year I'm told
Hungry for a man-ripe for romance