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tfUC Copyright. 1913. by A nove'iration of the photo play's snltted to th? scenario department of contest during December and January, came from rnsny sections in the United es well . ?? * n-'sands of amateurs toek This instalment of this romantic novel anrl absorbing narrative will be shown in motion pictures at The Casino Theatre on Thursday afternoon and night. $10,000 For 1,000 Words or Less For an Idea For a Sequel to "THBT DIAMONDFROM THE SKY" The American Film Manufacturing Company's Picturized Romantic Novel In Chapters. This contest is open to any man, woman or child who is not connected, directly or indirectly, with the Film Company or the newspapers publishing the continued story. No literary ability is necessary to qualify as a contestant. You arc advised to sec the continued photo play in the theaters where it will be shown to read the story as it runs every week, and then send in your suggestion. Contestants must confine their contributions for the sequel to 1,000 tucrds or less. It is the raco that is wanted. SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS. A feud has existed between Colonel Arthur Stanley and his cousin. Judge Lamar 1 Stanley, over an heirloom, the diamond from the sky, found in a fallen meteor by an ancestor. Also, the succession to the Stanley earldom in England may come to an American. When a daughter is born to the colonel ar.d t':o mother dies, the colonel buys a gypsy boy and substitutes him. Three years later the gypsy mother, having had no part in this bargain, steals the girl, being reared in secret, and leaves her son undetected us the heir. The gypsy has obtained possession of the diamond from the sky, and a document with tho Stanley secret. When Lather is grown a .beautiful young girl. Hagnr, now gypcty quc-en, returns to Virginia with her. Dr. Lee, the lato Colonel Stanley's friend, adopts Esther, but demands that llagar turn over to him tlie diamond from the sky. Arthur Stanley, son of llagar, falls in love with Esther and so does his companion and cousin, lllair Stanley, rightful male heir of Stanley. In stealing the dia mond Blair causes the oenth of the doc- ! tor. Outsido iu Arthur serenading Esther Blair, escaping, infers that ho has left i Esther's room. Arthur forces him to fight a duel in which Blair is only stunned. He tries, with tho aid of his mother, to p'ace the hl'?me for t''e murder of Or, j,('6 11)10)1 Ai taur, v. 4.0 now has ti?e MitLYnond. The sheriff attempts to take Arthur, but ho elude*; his pursuers and joins Ha gar, who reveals his identity and upbraids him for his wild life. Needing money, he pawns the diamond in Richmond. Blair is in IVchmond, and he, too, is forced to visit t awnshop. Tho two agree to stand by < \\ other. At a ball, at which a supposed New York belle is the guest of honor, they are stunned to find the diamond on tho visitor She io ; an adventuress who has borrowed it. I While Uugur is telling the "l?< lie's" fortune Luke l.ovell. Hagar's gypsy guard, steals the dlainot d and to avoid detection drops it into a mail box. A sheriff tries ' to at rent Arthur on the murder charge 1 lie escapes from Richmond on a freight train. The diamond passes into a mail bag, which Is lost from a wagon and is 1 picked up by (^uahha, an organ grinder i Quabba's monkey steals the diamond and leaves It in a nest in a tree. Arthur is robbed by hoboes, who have him In tatters. lie seeks work at a farm, llagnr tnk(? Esther t:? live at Stanley hall An old time tournament is held Arthur attends in disguise, proves himself the best knight, defeating Rla r, but is betrayed by the latter to the sheriff. Quabba, in Jest, handcuffs the sheriff and Blair. By, daring horsemanship Arthur escapes. I.at- J er he leaves the farm. Tom Blake, a de- ! tective hired by Ilay^jr, produces fingerprints proving Blah 7,uilty of the death of Br Lee. Blair and his mother quarrel about Vivian. Ilngni proposes silence to Mrs. Stanley as the price t?f liagar's and ; Esther's being teeeived in Fairfax society. Blair strikes il.nvn Ilagar and steals tlie 1 fingerprints and money from his mother, j Tlie diamond is found by a negro hoy and , Is taken by a tramp. The latter is mur- i dered by Hung Li. who hangs the gem on his idol. Thence It is stolen Just as a Slumming party enters Hung Li's den Ilcwrnr 1 ?-.. I aiiriiiun v Wiiiiiii.llM'CH iiv 1 >i?i 11 f blow, Is again with Esther anions th< gypsies. Mannnlukc Smythe, lawyer, arrives to announce Arthur i? heir to the deceased IOnrl of Stanley. Learning Arthur Ik a fugitive he seeks TJlalr instead. Vivian asks the diamond of Hlair as the price of consenting to marry him. CHAPTER XVII. "A Runaway Match.* MRS. BURTON RANDOLPH, society Vender, sank back in the taxicab petulantly resolved to have a real good cry tttul a thoroughly enjoyable nerve crisis as soon as she reached her residence ?iud could give way to her "poor nerves" with all the comforts of home. "I don't believe you have any nerve* at all. Vivian!" she whimpered to her guest "1 think you have the fortitude ??f a cowboy or something of that ?a?rt, and 1 shall uevcr forgive Blair ; /sor L,. Alt CARDBLL "Roy L. Mc Car dell looted n? .the best in over 19.000 subthe Chicago Tribune in a $10,000 prize The manuueripte in this competition I States and Canada. Authors of note part. .. ror deserting us and sending lis home alone! "As for that Detective Blake, I tm sure if It were I he was depending upon for an.v na.v for takhur us to such dreadful places as that Chinese den he would never got his money. He at least should have seen us home if Blair Stanley was not gentleman enough to do so." "But the diamond," murmured Vivian Marston. "Didn't you see how it blazed like a coal of tire under that swinging lamp and on the idol's breast? They named it right when they called it the diamond from the sky." "I believe you are as crazy about that dreadful diamond as the silly Stanleys are." whined Richmond's leading society light. "It may be worth millions, but I would not touch the dreadful thing! Nor that I aiu superstitious, but it is bad luck, everybody says so. And that idol?ugh! I won't sleep for a week for thinking ??r the horrid thing!" lint Vivian Marston. engrossed in the intense ami desperate desire for tlie great Jewel that had obsessed her since the day she had lirst beheld it. said nothing more. l>ut bit her lip and clinched her hands until the nails marked her palms. She was impatient to reach Mrs. Iiandoiph's house and be alone with her desire for the diamond. Arriving there, she turned her tottering friend over to the ministrations of her maid and llew to her bedroom. Pile donned a peignoir, stood by the window and looked out across the sleeping city. It was after midnight now. Who would get lite diamond? There had been no use to further discuss the diamond with her silly hostess. The diamond from the sky was a jewel to be worn by """women who dared aspire to it, a gem to bo wrested from the weak by men who cared for no consequence except to gain it. Who would gain it now? It Blake I got it as agent of Abe Bloom and his' brother, the pawnbroker, would she be I able to cajole it from these astute1 Hebrews? She doubted this. But if j Blair Stanley got it. Vivian knew it j would be bet's without dispute. Cunning as Detective Blake was and as astute as were the Blooms. Vivian : Marston felt a supreme confttlenee it: ! the daring unscrupulous determination of Blair Stanley to get the stone to gain her love. The diamond from the sky, crime stained as it was. had never boon sul lied by the hands of traders. Since the day. according to its legend, it had fa 1 Ion to earth in a meteor and had been gained by the lirst Arthur Stanley, gen tleman adventurer of colonial Virginia three hundred years agone. It had g'vn: been cheapened or debased by being in the hands of little men who bough! and sold its gleaming glory and ap praised it at a price. It. had no price: it was a jewel t.> adorn beauty at the hands of daring. This beautiful woman of bold bear; did well to rely on the desperate young man who had reached up from the knees of murder already for the dia mond front the sky. Now further in cited by bis infatuation for her. sin knew lie would not fail. After Blake and be had sent Mrs j Randolph and Vivian Marston home. Blake had sought a telephone and notified Abe Bloom that the diamond from the sky was on the neck of the Chines idol. Then it was that Blair Si nicy had stolen away and had seined the diamond by swift and dar.ng action in climbing the lire es ape at tin* back of the den, snouing the window and snatching I'm diamond. We have --eon how the frenzied f'hi nese tong leader. 1111 ii^r LI. had. in ;it ! tempting i*? maim the despoiler. sever I oil the nook of the idol and ? nt down the swinging lamp before the idol just j when the detective, Abe and Ike I doom, supplemented by t lie Lnglish lawyer. Sinythe, had arrived on the scene. In a shed by the Chinese den lllair. in his quick exploration and approach, had stumbled upon a motorcycle. In the excitement that followed the tire he had dropped from the last Iron lad der at the hack of the den and had 1 whirled away through back alleys and j streets to where he knew Vivian .Mar- i ston would wait awake for him and the diamond. lie had the diamond and he would have her! He felt the great gem and the luxurious woman were worth till he would dare for both, and that was much. Arriving lieside the Randolph man sion long after midnigh', he saw the light gleaming from Vivian's window, toward which a wistaria clambered. | He drew himself up the gnarled and tenacious vine. Vivian came to the window at the first swaying of the; vine. Blair showed her the diamond. "Give it to me." she whispered. But Bialr was resolved upon the only price he would accept for this proud posses slon?the favor of a woman he loved. "I will wait for you!" Blair replied tensely. "We must marry and leave Richmond tonight. Blake will l?e hot / THE HORRY HERJ ' J . Jm V: %ww?i *. ?<.&. Vivian Marston and Blair Stanley. a ft or us!" Vivian nodded, and Blair slid down the wistaria and hid the stolon motor cycle in the thick vines at the fide of the house. In 11 few minutes Vivian had Joined him. A few blocks Crom the Randolph house they hailed a belated taxi and were driven to the home of the Rev John Gray, noted in conservative Richmond as "idie marrying minister." Meanwhile, driven out by the flames, of which the Chinese den was now a seething mass. Detective Blake, with the Blooms, got their taxicab and hurried away to avoid einbarassing questions from the police and firemen already heard hurrying to the scene. The frenzied Chinamen, pouring from the place, were too excited to stay them. The bewildered Knglish barrister. Smythe. his respectable gray high hat and his equally respectable frock coat on lire, was brushed aside by De tective Blake and the Messrs. Bloom. They were not interested in the legal representative of the Earl of Stanley or his search for the fugitive heirs tc I : v;, I? SjjS He Drew Himeoif Up to Vivian's Win- ! dow. the Stanley title? and estates In War J wicksfiire. Their minds were a!) upon ( the lieirlooi.i ??!' the American Stanleys. | the diamond from the sky. "Possession is nine points of the I law," panted Mr. Abraham l?loo?i "The law is that a pawnbroker ain't responsible for a pawned article except to the value of the sum lie has advanced on it If we Kft hold of litis diamond them Stanleys can whistle for it, eh, IkeV" Hut Isaac Bloom, pawnbroker, had on actual crisis of nerves such as Mrs. Burton Randolph had never been able to effect, in the words of his more hardened and experienced brother. "Ike was all in." Ue moaned In the turiiei ui ins laxirflD a Ml DCggeU to bo "lot out of this thing!" "It ain't your tire, you should worry," sneered his brother, the cynical gambling housekeeper. "For my lire, when I have it, I have got an Insurance," moaned the unhappy Isaac Bloom. "But to see a Are in which a diamond goes as big as i your flat worth $1,000,0001 A Are by which you almost lose your life, as we did?well, words can't say it, and I want that you should let me out at my pawnshop!" After leaving the collapsed Ike Bloom \ i ILD, CONWAY, 8. 0. In the haven of his pawnshop. Detective Blake and Abe Bloom were driven to the latter's gambling house, and i from hero fco the resldeuce of Mrs. Burton Kandolph. society leader. *LAs you say there Is $.">.00(1 In It for mo If 1 get the diamond for you. I will tell you my theory," said the detective to his gambler client. "Blair Stan ley. who passed the bad check on you. with his thumb print from the leaky fountain pen on it. has got the diamond. It belongs to Ills family, you know. If this Arthur Stanley, who has also tied (but 1 can tell you now he is guilty of no clone that 1 know of), dies the diamond belongs to Blair Stanley. "But Blair does not want it for himself; he wants it for thut fair friend ; of yours from New York. Miss Vivian ! Marston. Blair is crazy about that j dame and she is crazy to get the din ! motal. We'll find them nt Mrs. Ban- { dolph's if we are not too late." But they were too late. Their insistence forced the presence of Mrs Randolph herself, and just when she was dropping otT In a sweet sleep after ' having enjoyed her nerves with all the eomforts of home. Thus aroused. Mrs. Randolph was quite Indignant at the detective and also at the presence of Mr. Abe Bloom, Richmond's notorious gambling bouse keeper. "Tlu* idea," she murmured indignantly. "the idea." But when the f.vnieal Mr. Bloom intimated that Mrs. Randolph's guest, the vivacious Miss Marsion. was a friend of bis. Mrs, Haudolph sensed another impending scandal and "came down off her ptavrU." as Mr. Bloom afterward described it. She, led the way to Miss Marston's chum- 1 her. But the bird had down and the detective and gambler hurried away , leaving Mrs. Randolph inwardly re* i preaching herself that she had "taken up" an adventuress and had her as a guest on the strength of a Balm Beach intimacy Suppose this came out in the papers? CHAPTER XVIIt. A Runaway Marriage. Willi.10 Mrs. Randolph was Indulging in another luxurious nervous collapse at tills crowiiingeontretemps lhv tie- ' tective and gambler were 011 their way to the railroad station to head oil' the fugitives. Half way to the depot the ! front tire on the taxicab blew out with a loud explosion. Tom Blake looked at Ids watch. "Blair Stanley and tin? lady and (lie diamond can't get a train out *?t" Uichmond i*or over an hour yet.'* said the detective. "I have a hunch that they know this and I bet two to one1 they have improved the shilling hour by waking up Parson Cray. 'the marrying minister.' and getting spliced. I have a wedding present, a pair of bracelets?for the groom.'' Mr. Abe Bloom did not ask any qnes tions. lie realized there might be several reasons that such a piece "bf pun- i itive jewelry couid be clasped about tile wrists of Blair Stanley. | At the preacher's house, which was near by, neither Blake nor Bloom were surprised to see a waiting toxical). Blake questioned the driver briefly and mounted the steps of the parsonage Tlx? front door was unfastened and ho and Bloom glided silently into the ligided hallway. They could hear the voice of tlie Rov. .Irtlin llrnv ilrniitiifr "I ni>ii- a.>....11 w v .... ? ! Wiling. i ?IV/ *? I'M'UHiHiV.r you man and ivife!" Blair Stanley and Vivian?Vivian Marston no more? wore facing the minister and Blair was extending to his eager eyed bride tile jewel with which lie had won her. the diamond from the sky. Blake stepped forward and with a deftness acquired by long practice, snapped his handcuffs on the wrists of Blair, exclaiming. "We want the diamond. and 1 arrest you for the murder of Dr. Doe." Vivl.au did not scream, she clutched the diamond and drew it to Iter breast. Blair, roused to a frenzy of fright and rage at the thought of losing Vivian and of being haled off as a murderer, swung Ins manacled hands with all his strength. For once Tom Blake was caught napping. lie was knocked back over a chair and lay a moment stunned. Aba ! Bloom was next to feel the heavy : swinging double blow of the infuriated Blair. Vivian, quick as thought, pressed the button of the electric light switch near the door, and she and Blair rushed from the room. Blair pausing Just inside the hall to draw hack the sliding door. They dashed from tlie place and were in their taxicab and away before 1 the excited and irresolute minister had J thought to turn on the light. The do- j tecllve, still dizzy from his stunning fall, roused himself and hurried alter the fugitives from the house, followed I by the astounded Mr. Blooua. The taxicab of the newly married pair was gone. The detective and the lrambler ran to their vehicle i?? ti?? next street and. (hiding the burst tire had been replaced, ordered the driver to nialtc for the depot. On tiieir part, the fugitives had not proceeded to the depot It was the more subtle Vivian who suggested a daring scheme of escape from th?? oily. Dismissing their taxi near Mr. ike Bloom's pawnshop, they roused thut nervously dozing lender of money on portable property, lie was not loath to admit the fair Vivian for, awakened now, he was horribly frightened at the idea of hcing alone. But while chattering some excuse, the fair Vivian lavished her smiles i upon the pawnbroker, Blair stepped behind the unsuspecting Ike Bloom and throttled him with the chain of the handcuffs. Then they bound, gagged and blindfolded the unfortipinte and f/iglit enfeebled Ike Bloom. From his varied I I i ' ' $ ??IS % % Vivtan and Blair Staniay Board the T rain. and wonderful stock of goods in pawn tin* two ad venturers w^iq not long In selecting complete disguises. Vivian attired 11erst? 1 f as a natty youth, crown lug her disguise with a hoy's curly wig, "hocked" I?ut this same day by a stranded \audevillo actress. Blair arrayed himself in a somber flock coat, a silk hat, and a black cravat. Willi cosmetic from Vivian's vanity case lie darkened his visage and the two. taking dress suit eases, with their own and such other attire as struck their fancy, shut the spring lock door on the bound and indignant pawnbrok er. Wiiii the passengers that took the L5:1 o a. in. train north was a natty college boy and a bent gentleman of middle age of clerical aspect, evidently the collegian's fat lieu*. Blake had stepped a few yards away to get a view in the light of the faces vi <1 j will I i ll'u ('OUpie. IOU V111 g A I )(> Bloom to sean tlit* other passengers. "They didn't get on this train." spluttered Mr. Bloom, "but I wish' i had that .voting feller by the neck that dropped a cigarette in my eye from the car window as the train pulled out." "That young fellow" was Vivian Marston. ******* In the gypsy camp the proximity of tile Botnauy people brought ay return of mental health to the atllicteii linear In the trying days that followed the devoted list her would have given way to despair, but for the cheering pi\s once and loyalty of her new and faithful friend and servant. Qiiahbn. the hunchback organ grinder. Sedition was at work among* I ingot 's tribe. IOverywhere Luke Loved was whispering evil counsel He had de termined to wrest the reins of power falling from the hands of Uagar On.*e icutier or the gypsies. he r?*ij it would bo an easy t!!i11k to eoeree Ksther info marriage and thus bo assured of hiRomany kingship. llagur*s wealth was a proverb a iti'in?the gypsies, and while they !ovd L's titer, they listened to Luke when lie whispered to them that now that I la gar was bereft of her reason het wealth belonged to and should be slatted by the tribe. Quabba sought in every way to cheer I0sther. While Ilagar sat in her van moaning and muttering for a ehild, a son that none had ever heard had been born to Iter, Quabba would take IOsther for walks upon the mountains, knowing Ilagar was safe among rite gypsies, attended by the elder women waiting and watching faithfully near by at such times. The favorite spot where IOsther and Quabba daily climbed to talk of Arthui and to wonder where lie was and when tlioy would hear from him wasto the mountain's top, where a great balancing rock swayed to the lightest touch and bad menaced the valley below for centuries. Upon such occasions they took lick , glasses with them and would watel ! the roads for miles away, wondering | if every distant rider were Arthur re turning to them. Upon one such occasion Quabba turn ed the glasses upon the gypsy village | in me 1101 low >11 I he mountain's foot I There was some excitement in tin ' on in p. tl was evident. The figure ol Luke l/ovell on an eminence ill the con ! tcr of tiie camp could lie plainly seen The gypsies luid gathered around lilm and it was evident Luke Ixivell wni haranguing them to some evil purposi of his own. Esther and Quabba ran down tin mountain, arriving breathlessly at tin camp Just in time to find Luke Lovcl lending the gypsies to Hagur's van t< despoil It of Hagar's supposed wenltl and divide it. For this Luke was t< be made chief of the gypsies, kinf where Hagar had been queen am Esther princess. When Esther * and Quabba pushec themselves through the circle of gyp sies. Luke had brought out the sup posed treasure chest from the vai I without protest from the erased Hagai ! 'X / \ ft was n bras* tx>?vnd bbx. of which!NM.'i>r hod lately carried the key. lust her had s<mmi the box open and h-i'1 noted It cotitnihed only some pa H?rs. yellow with ago. These she had n. t deemed It her province to examine cm 11 Arthur returned ^ J Hut now she stepped forward, hacked J h.v the active and determined (Juabba, I and defied Level I to open the box. 'S | "1 have the key!" she cried, producing it from her bosom. "And you!" and she turned an indignant glance upon tiie gypsies?"if you have no respect for jour queen or for me and listen to the words of Luke Lovell 1 will open the box!" She did so. and as she did Luke I thrust his knotted hand in among the I documents as if searching for coins or geius. lie brought out a bulky, time stained document, tho seals broken. It wx^.s superscribed, "To lie ojiened at my death, in case my son. Arthur Stunley 2d. should prove unworthy of the Stau, ley uaine." 4 | Esther snatched at the paper, but It | was open in Luke Lovell's hand, and at a glance Esther and the sinister gypsy ^ j both knew the Stanley secret! ! Quabba struck with his dagger men ! ncltigly. and Luke surrendered the paper to Kst Iter's eager grasp. But he grinned, secure In a knowledge that was power and should be the was resolved upon lliis) wealth to him as It had been to his long dead chief, the greedy Matt Harding. Ksther covered her eyes with her hands, clinching the document all the^ i lighter as she did so. Arthur was her : brother?he was not the heir of Stan ley. She tottered and would have fallen. . A hoarse murmur of rage rose from "4Ihe emotional gypsies They loved }, Ksther. ami they loved the era red I lagar. who now came i'eehly from the \ van and asked in a weak voice. "What W* Is it. iuy children?" A ^ Led hy the cnrniref. (Jmihha. the now /k I infuriated gypsies stomal Luke Lovollf ' from the camp and by this act banished him from the tribe forever. * * * S * * On the far western plains the young ......I,.... ...I, ill. ..1 I. ! ....... I C I..I... iiiiir .^rr.xri i?w ? iiurii ni:il>l'S| . 1 < * ( I 11 1 'owoil. hut who liiul boon known In 1 proud !**ji i 1 Tii x :is die I it*;:* of' Stanley, i fouml fortune hard io ilml. Tin* hard and loiirly work of a hordor was liis. ^ (>n die very il.'.v dial liio Stanio.v secret was ivwii.i'il io Lsdierand Luke LovelL Arthur, or. as hi* is now known. John I'oweli. tastes now adventures. A compute's smoke behind a meat rov'k on his desert ratine had lured him near, Lour plotting "Ion;; riders" are behind die rock, and lie overhears them plan die robbery of die Overland Limited. lie mounts his horse and rides away. ^ The marauders rouse up and lire after him. lull ihey deem him to he a passi il;_r hupiisi;|ve herder, who has not been near enough to overhear them, and they depart i;i on their \ to Consummate the robbery It is a congress of tramps, in far* away Virginia, that plays a part in die next phase of our strange story. Lul:o l.ovell. the banished fjypsy, has fallen A ;'7^%E. " : ? j| 0 j? i ^ iss iflS mm*M v tJ?\:.ry \ . ? % k>X&& V ? 4 i Th# Gypsios Drive Luke Lovell From t th* Camn. in with this convention of seasoned ne'er do wells. lie arouses their criminal cupidity with his tale of gypsy ? wealth easy to secure if they Jet him. lead them in a raid 011 a nearby gypsy camp, defended only by a dozen timid gypsy men. After the incident of Luke's perfidy Esther resolved never to leave 11 agar or . * the documents again unguarded. Esther * had not nerved herself to delve further 8 Into ilagar's secrets. She waited for Arthur's return with impatient long8 ing. Every day she sent Quabba to 8 the mountain top by the great rocking 1 stone to %nui) for Arthur's coining. * It was on seutinel duty here that 1 Quabba saw the desperate tramps, a . ' ragged and brutal horde, flred by Luke jk ? Lovell's tales of treasure, raid the 1 gypay rauip. Quabba saw through the glasses the outnumbered gypsy * men tight valiantly only to be over" come. Through the field glasses ho could j dowry tho bulky form of T,nke Lovolt ' i druu kOsilior from iliv van, with llagar A