Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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p sot _ j The Diamoi Fr By RGYL. Copy rig >tc r? 1915, by Roy L This instalment of this romantic novel and absorbing narrative will be shown in motion pictures at The Casinc mi i mi........ ? ~ f*. . lUVitirt uii luumuujr u>i tei xiuun and night. $10,000 For 1,000 Words or Less For an Idea For a Sequel to "THE DIAMOND FROM THE SKY" The American Film Manufacturing Company's Picturized DAm XI i i_ ri i wiiiiuiiu^ nuvci in vuapicr?> 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 -y. No literary ability is necessary to qualify as a contestant. You are advised to the continued photo pl.^y in the theaters v. here it will be shown to read the story as it runs every week, and then send in your suggestion. Contestants mujT confine their contributions for the sequel to 1,000 tc>ords or less. It is the tdea that is wanted. SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP TERS. A feud has existed between Colonel Ar thur Stanley and his cousin, Judge Lame:Stanley, over an heirloom, the diamond from the sky, found in a fallen meteor b> an ancestor. Also, the succession t<? lite Stanley earldom in JCnglanU may come to an American. When a daughter is b'.v : to the colonel and tlio mother d.ts. th. colonel buy* a ft.? |?sy boy und substitutes him, Three years later the gypsy jnothcr. Jhftvlng had no part in this bargain, steaks the girl, being reared in secret, an 1 leaves jlier son undetected as the heir, 'i ..e gypay has nbta'rcd possession of the diamond from tiie cky, r.;.J a> document vith the Stanley secret. Whet. Esther is grown a beautiful young girl, Ilagar, now gypsy ^ueen, returns to Virginia with her. Dr. Lee, the l?.te Colonel Stanley's fi Send, .adopt* Ksther, but demands that ilagar turn over to him the diamond from the eky. Arthur Stanley, son of linger, fobs in love with Ksther and so dot*., his Companion and cousin. Illair Stanley, rightful male 1^1" of Sfc?ilevt ]n stealing the dig. tnond iiiair causes the death of the doctor and tries later to put the blame oti Arthur, who takes the diamond from him McCARDEL . McCARDEL of dissolution. Vaguely ho hoard far ?>tT tlit? shouts 1 of nion and tho reverberations of burrlod footsteps along tho wooden cause^ way of the dock. Kor a few brief moments of anguish. 1 torture and fatigue the reckless gypsy, crawling up from the sea. cared little whether he lived, died or fell into the hands of Ids enemies. Ihn with re turning hreath and life came fear. Loved knew that in the murky waters beneath the moon a brine strangled corpse heaved with the tide. What II IISWUP h;lft ho t?? flv.i t<> Iilo .. 11,, I > > i.... regarding this dead accomplice or his living self? There had heen m strii.trgle in the boat, n death combat in the water, a cry across the night. a gurgling. hideous cry and then siience. And now the shouting crowd upon the pier was searching with eager eyes across tho waters for the living or the dead. And the diamond from the sky? It was now the diamond beneath the sea! It seemed plain now to the terror stricken mind of the half drowned gypsy that no evil hand could hold the diamond. In hands alien and evil, the diamond would not abide, and with all the terror of the night upon him Luke Lovell felt relieved that this talisman of woe lay at the bottom of the bay. lie * (i now. no rose to his foot and staggered away in tlio darkness, as lie realized tho pursuit was coming in Ids direction. Let the diamond stay with the dead; let the living answer the enigma of the struggle and cries in the night upon the waters as best they might. LuUe Lovell resolved on flight and distance hot ween himself and the diamond now in tin? deeps. Sunrise finds him far hack in the mountains, and such is the influence of the great fear that has been upon him < that in the desperation of his acute if not chronic reformat i- n I.like Lovell asks and seer.res work in the capacity of blacksmith*# helper at a forge sit the mountain mines Now while he works and works well, for all gypsies are t'nkers and smiths when they do or wiil work, let us see what has become of the others whose destinies are concerned with the gem. Arthur, known as .Joint Powell, since striking oil lias become possessed of the touch of Midas, lie prospers, and waxes in riches and power and is intoxicated with his own success. It is not that ho hits lost thought and hopes and a fleet ion for Esther, but Esther is far away, and be Is young, and tbo adulation that jimp render? , and women, too?Is sweet to him. Already in the oil fields of California lie In known as "lite golden man." lie The sheriff attempts to take Arthur into custody, but l;e eludes his pursuers and Joins llagar, who reveals his identity and upbraids him for his wild life. Needing money, he pawns tho diamond in Richmond. At n ball, at which u supposed Now York belle, Vivian Marston. isfc the guest of honor, Arthur and Blair find the .diamond on the visitor. She is an adventuress w ho has borrowed it. Luke Lovell, llagar's gypsy guard, steals the diamond. M I to avoid detection drops It Into a m ox. Arthur leaves Richmond and goes to the west. The diamond passes into a mail hag, p.^.ed tin by Quabba. organ grinder. Qunbb.i's monkey steals the diamond. Ihgar takes Esther to Stanley hall. Tom Bla"ke, a detective of Richmond, who is hired by llagar, produces tin .mi prints convicting Blair, llagar propose.; silence to Mrs. Stanley as the price ot llagar's and ICsthcr's being received in Fairfax society. I.hiir strikes down llagar and steals the finger prints, leaving the gypsv demented. The diamond i> found by a negro boy and is taken by a tratnp. Tlio latter is murdered by IItin-; Id. It is stolen just as a slumming party enters Hunt; la's den liagar Is aga.n with Ksther anions tlio gypsies. Mnrmnduke Stnythe. lawyer, arrives to annottin e Arthur is beit to the deceased Karl of Stanley. Learning Arthur Is a fugitive be seeks I'lnir instead. To win Vivian, Hlair ' steals the diamond, later marrying her and leaving for the west. Their train i? robbed. Vivian losing the diamond, which a slain train robber drops in the desert The $100,000 he stole is found by Arthur, now known as John Powell, sheep herder Vivian deserts I'dair, telling him ho must jegain the diamond for her. Luke Lovell. 'driven from the c?.mp aft"r learning J''1 gar's secret, leaves le *oek lilair. ITagar Is tinder treatment and Ksther is in Iticiimond society, protege of Mrs. Stanlev. wbn misiiO'lv t r?,nl i.amn ainl ttf Mra. Randolph. A he Rloom, Rambler, who Knows liiair s guilt, covets the diamond and calls it the price of his secrecy. Blair will not listen to I.ovell, and Arthur also insists on his silence. Blair returns to Richmond end, instigated by his mother, pays unwelcome court to Esther, Mrs Stanley asserting Vivian had been married before. The diamond Is picked up by an Indian woman. Esther, resolving to find Arthur, leaves Richmond with t^uabba. Dr. I^ee, Arthur learns, died of heart disease. Becoming very rich lie buys Stanley hall, sold at auction, through Blake, ana also provides for llagar. I.uke Novell'buys the diamond from the squaw, but loses It In a fight on Santa Barbara bay. tlie gem Kinking. At the auction Smytlie buys a mounted drei head. -CHAPTER XXV. Ths Man In the Mask. UXpETt the moon and with the boom of tho snrf falling dullj on his ears, spent, punting, chilled to the bone, Luke I.ov ell drew his dripping bulk up on Unwind and for a few anguished, aching moments felt all the qualms of death t?re yet cutiles the dulling penecfulnes*I ~ dreams of empires, as Cecil Rhodes dreamed and realized in Africa. His money is not hoarded, his mind is upon mines, fruit farms, vast cattle ranches, manufacturing plants and all forms of financial and commercial activities. The quiet lanes of Virginia. the turmoils of his reckless youth that enlivened them, seem far away. Since he found the outlaws' plunder in the desert and made it the lever with which he moved poverty and hardsl#. from his way money has become to Arthur a mighty thing. in his ambitious plans and activities Arthur deems that money will do all lie sends money to his agents, the secretive Richmond detective. Rlake, thinking he does well and that this money will aid Ksther and Ilagar, while lie plays with time and destiny at high stakes in far California. And ever the dark eyes of Vivian Marston are on him. Rut she keeps aloof and bides her time. Here at hist is a prev worth waiting the hour to strike at. She resolves to play the game boldly and well. She has need of helpful assistance. Her thought turned to Rlair. She knows that for some strange reason, inexplicable to both Rlair and herself, Arthur Stanley had suerilieed himself, borne oven the onus of murdor, confessed by Might. murder ho know himself guiltless of and Blair implicated. p?u why? This she did not know, nor i * 9 dill she Cairo. She only know that Arthur would not hot ray Blair and that Blair would not betray Arthur. She know that, while Blair secretly, yet with intense bitterness, hated Ids supposed cousin, Arthur had eagerly sacritlcod himself for Blair. And now that Arthur, as John Powell, was indeed a golden man. Vivian remembered his strange attachment for Blair and thought 1t well to apprise Blair of the change in the fortunes as well as the name of Arthur. Stanley and have Blair come out to the west as a willing and valuable accomplice in her designs to strip the golden man of all his gold. In Fairfax Blair was surprised to reeeivo ;? brief but amiable letter from Vj\ inn; The let tor .read : I.os Angeles, Sept. 4. ,V \ 1>i?nr Uov ? Am sorry \v<? parted In i iImiim i' ? dhimoml Arthur StanI u*>. (i"o. i , t'.io i: iino of John Powell, J hi's vtiijoi; it rb-h in nit henv You hotter I o.ii :;i#> ;iri.| i?>t hvicnnes lw> bygones. I,ov| mJ; VIVIAN, "i ji- if'j erii?!t<?(| tin* note and woni i t' . it i Ik* | rr.-itMii'i* of \ ivluii Blair .\'i : > n m ill under a loxie spell. Hut THE HORRY HER Luke Lovoll Work* as a Blacksmith':! Helper. ho remembered with bitterness her light Mini scornful dismissal of him She had married him. given herself t<> hitn for the diamond from the sky. He had risked his life for it and hor. Vet when the train robbers Imd despoiled them of the great gem she had thrown him aside and mocked liiin. And now she needed him and sent for h'm. Blair was young, fill! blooded ami evilly unscrupulous and passionate. The sweet and beautiful development of Esther's character and person, now that he was relieved of the intoxicating presence of Vivian, had roused in Blair's breast a longing for Esther that lie thought was love. Was it true, as Abe Bloom, the gam Itler. had hinted, and Abe Bloom hail known the lady of old. that Vivian Marston possessed several husband and that her marriage, secret and hasty, to Blair in Richmond previous to their Might with the diamond was null and void? Blair's mother had taunted him wit!; ims ;m:ii 11:111 nuimy dismissed tin thoughts of Vivian and lIk? marriaur from her 111 iin 1. It was I>lair's 1110 Inn also who constantly inspired him wit! 1 t lion-hts of I'sther. The very day tin lei 1 or had come from N'ivian to I?lah J hair's mother had reoeived a lotf<-t Vivian Marston Thinks of Blair In faraway Virginia. I'roui Lawyer Hunter, the legal adviser to tiio Stanleys, and who its referee in hankruptey had charge of the sale of Stanley hail when it went to Detective Blake as highest bidder for some unknown client. In this letter from Lawyer Hunter, a letter in reply to some queries Mrs. Stanley had made, the lawyer had written: l>ear Mrs, Stanley?on reply to your Inquiry the diamond from the sky is legally tho property of any sole heir of the late Colonel Stanley, whether a son or dauiffhter, irrespective of family tradition reaardiiiH; it and the earldom of Stanley, etc. Very truly, RALPH HUNTER. SR., Attorney at Law. .Mrs. Stanley had shown this letter to Blair. , "You know my suspicions," site remarked. "1 have reasons to believe I ll:lt I It Ik trirl l/.ut 1ia>* 1V I<v la <1... ? * >* 0>I I| MUVIIVI 14UI \1INS, 111 III?; real ami only lielr to all that Colonel Stanley died possessed of. We have no proof of this, but 1 believe the gypsy woman, llagar Harding, possessed such proof, and the girl now has it. "Whatever this proof is, it can be assumed that the girl carries it with her, especially now that she has disappeared. She would not be likely to leave ALD, CONWAY, S. 0. so important a document in any biding place. "We cannot move in the matter legally. for auspicious are not evidence,'* Mrs. Stanley weut on. "Any lawsuit might mean the return of Arthur Stanley to tell the truth so far as he knows it regarding the deatli of Dr. Lee. You would be implicated, and the gambler. Abe Blooui. and the detective. Tom Blake, evidently i>ossess proof of your guilt. "For while the gypsy woman, II a gar, who has been an imbecile since you struck her, had only photographs of the incriminating thumb prints, it is evident that Blake and the Blooms have the originals?the thumb print on the bad check and the thumb prints you left In the doctor's study on the cashbox and elsewhere. The price of their silence is the diamond when it comes to light. "If this girl Is the rightful heir of Stanley, the diamond Is hers, and if Arthur Stanley is an Impostor, the earllift!** i?? I o mniwo vvfin in ajii^inirvi v/m .1, "Wo are bound to silence owing to your rash and reckless acts. We must make tlie most of the situation. If a stranger lias bought Stanley hall the sale is not legal, and if this girl Esther is the real Stanley the estates must be restored to her. and the diamond from the sky rightfully belongs to her. What will she care for the family traditions if it ever comes about that she is able to prove or desires to prove her claim? l>oubtless she is keeping silent our of regard for Arthur Stanley. "There is one simple thing to do. Klair: you must marry this girl. Then you will have a clear claim to the title, and you will also possess Stanley hall and the diamond from the sky. Xo matter where the diamond may be. It must ultimately come to light. You can then choose whether you will surrender it to the r.looms as tin* price of their silence, as is now arranged, ot buy them off from the wealth that I'omes to you as the Karl of Stanley in England." CM A PTE [\ XXVI. Blair Seeks the Document. t r . i i fr |M ^ 1 1 I, I t'CMCSS. UOsperMle .'111(1 Milm scrupulous ;iin csli r, ill.* 1 i!': t Arthur Stanley, who had foun 1 the diamond from the sky in the fallen meteor dU> ye is n.aon \ had a worthy deseeinlani in the equally! reckless, desperate and unscrupulous Mlair Stanley. It is to he doubted if Mlair Stanley anve any thought of the threat wrona lie miaht do the jxentle I.stlier in the furtherance of the coil ambitious schemes of his mother and his own im pulsive lawless ones. lie cared not a u hit whether if he should uia.ry lis ther such an alliance would he loan molts end shameful in case his mar riaae with Vivian should prove subse fluently Irani ami bindina. To act list her and to .act the diamond by such means, not to speak of tin. Stanley earldom in Iinaland. appotfle 1 ' to Iilair. The thouaht of Vivian htfkt ina for her ri.ahts as the consort of an v.'.r 1 t'ppvilled to Miairs eyniee.l sense ol hill.. ... With a meekness almost puritanical in its sleek hypocrisy he had answer 1 pel his mother to the effect that he would do as she desired. lie prepared himself, at his mother's suaaostion. to return to Richmond and make amends with the disarr.nlled relative and so "km v iciKirr. .mi's, r.r.non Knndoipn. for .Mrs. Ihindolph had developed an un-ellish fondness for Mstlicr. Meanwhile Ksiher had boon received with open arms hy the gypsy people when she had returned with Quahba when hist setting out in search of Arthur with the loyal hunchback. An oilier search of Hagnr's van at the cm nip had been fruitless. There was no trace or evidence of any wealth that it had always been supposed that II"gar possessed. Kslher announced to the trypsins that, while llagar gave evidence of eventually recovering. it was necessary that she (Ksthen must journey far to seek a friend who could aid her in these days of trial. The generous Komanys of the tribe pressed their little hoards of money upon Fsther, whom they acknowledged their princess. I'.ut Fsther refused to accept. The more canny and practical Quahba. however, accepted all tributes of this kind, unknown to Fsther, and secreted them against coining days of need. Followed far from the camp by the kindly gypsies, and even the little gypsy children who lbv? <1 list her with the loyal devotion of their elders, Quahha and Kslher set out upon their way. Quabba was further gladdened 1 ?y a royal gift of a large street piano and cart and pony to haul it. Starting west and north upon their quest for Arthur. Ksther and Qunbha with their (plaint equipage took their way. They halted at the farm of Farmer Smith, where Arthur had worked, and proceeded on, intending to skirt through Michmond to ascertain Ilagar's condition ere going west. Journeying to Itiehmond. Blair Stanley beheld Qunhba and Father and the pony and organ cart, as Ids train passed by them. The recklesa Blair had no patience to wait till the train reachI ed the next station. lie pulled the airbrake cord, alighted, and as the train pulled out he idd hy the roadside hy the track, and after Father and Quahba i had toiled past him on foot by their pony organ curt, he stealthily trailed them to the outskirts of Richmond. From here be hastened to Mrs. Randolph's, and made his peaco and enlisted her sympathy, and co-operation in regard to Esther. With Mrs. Randolph he hurried to the sanitarium where Ifagar was, and as he had surmised, they found Esther, i The appeals of the good hearted Mrs. i Quabba and Erther Set Out Upon Their Way. ({audolph h:i f 1 no off cot in dissuadimr I'stlier from her wild plan of soar liinu for Arthur. journeying even across the continent on foot with a .irypsy hunchhack to do so. until she appealed to her throuuh her love for linear. "Suppose your mother recovers anil needs youV" said Mrs. Randolph ear nestly "Stay wi! 11 me. and he my lit tie adopted daughter ajraln till yotsr mother recovers. Yea can see she is improving. Let your tfypsy servant je > and seek Arthur Sianiey. I am sure I do not know what strau.ee reason actuates you in your desire to liud him If ln? cared for you lie would let you kiicw wihtc he is it ho is m>t of mtirdnriii;: dear old I)r Loo why sliouLl ho run :i\vuy? I ><?iri you soo. :i nice younir ?irl ojin't do suoh do Ii;r11(1'111. romantic things'/ li s ;i11 riaht In hooks, my dour Lstlioi. Inn in real life a youn^ uirl uroin^r across iho world (o soi l; :i sweot heart without a < hape roti w?.u!d lio laikod about." To bo "talked about" was Mrs. Itandolph's idea of mundane damnation. Ksthor realized the sonso and siimer ity of .Mrs. Randolph's kindly pleading \ m k 1i+ I ^mt-i i' I % rii Wammmammm?^mmmmm?mmmmmmmmmamammmMmmm?mammmmm^mmrn Quabba Was Struck and Hurt. niul agreed to abide by her advice. (Quabba took tip his lodgings in the part of (lie town of Richmond he was familiar with, preparing to start shortly in ids search for Arthur, ami Hsther returned to Mrs. Randolph's. Willi Ids rising fortunes in the west, Arthur kept ids secret agent in Richmond. Hlake, the detective, well suppi led with funds, though cautioned to silence, a caution hardly necessary with the taciturn Hlake, the man be hfcid tlio scone, who seemingly was at the bidding of all and yet was ever th? master of his own deep methods. A bootblack, a well grown youth 01 twenty, loitered by the Randolph man slon the day of Esther's return wltl Mrs. Randolph and Blair Stanley. / bootblack hastened to the private office of Detective Tom Blake and breath lessly reported the presence of Est he and of Blair in Richmond. Blake tool | half a dozen banknotes of large do ! nomination from his wallet and in i closed them in a large plain envelop! i I with a note tlint road. "Sent bj Ar11:::i* to be used as necessary." Twenty minutes Inter the bootblack/fe furtlvo'y climbed the wistaria vine to list Iter's window and a immient later 1 dropped unseen down beside the Kan' dolpli mansion and hurried away. \ little later Esther found on her bureau by tiie window tlte large envelope with the banknotes and the mysterious met** I I Esther kissed tiie note beenuse It I seemed almost tlte personal proximity I of Arthur. The money, which was I ' oob. hardly concerned her at ail except I that she realized it would smooth the : path of Quahha to the west In seeking Arthur. That Arthur knew where shewas and had strong though secret inllucnccs working In her behalf was all well enough perhaps to his muscullne manner of thinking. But in Esther the eternal feminine manifested itself in the desire to be near the one she loved. Nothing else ^5 mattered. W .lust then Mrs. Itundulph's muld, the sinning mil. cnteml with a vase of Ehtlior's favorite roses, chattering her happiness at seeing Esther again. Ehtlier. who had secreted the note and the money at Fill's knock, asked the maid to place the flowers In the winIt was the old signal for Quahba, :m<l when that faithful soul sioitw through the street on the watch for' some sign from his young mistress he saw (lie signal, and Clarence, the inon- <A|^| up the wistaria for IN- I , Clarence clambered down again witl*" half the money that had been in th-*mysteriously placed envelope and with ,( ;i scri! ihled i::< age request ing Qua h- * ha to go at on? e to Los Angeles to lorate Arthur, where Esther had last <11rectly hoard of him. Quahba smiled, ^-flj kissed Ids hand and doffed hi* cap to * ^9 his fair young mistress at the window JW and hurried away. Hut much was to happen ere Quahba left Ki hmotid. Some teasing bovs at- a . ^ . #s.~^ si street corner annoying Clarence. llio jjja moid'ew :iii?1 <%>11:11 >I ;i. caused (lie lilt 1 oi* ^0 (o siei? iii ilie j!Is of a trolley car. immediately 11<? was struck and hurt, H| 1 ;it not badly. J Blair Stanley had seen Quabba turn H mind t!i > corner of the Randolph manslun and had joliowed linn sit a dis- H taniT, wondering what might be the hunebback's lesisim tor loitering near H where Ksther was. Blair. the trailer, H intent upon his own quarry, did not n<>- H tire that tie in turn wsts trailed liy a H liootIdaek. a well grown youth of twenty. When Quabba was knocked down H by the trolley ami bruisi d and dazed \ H (hair was among the lirsl to come to H his .assistance. Quabba was able to H give the address of his lacings and to H refuse to go to a hosp...:l. He stud I Clarence. the monkey, were placed in a H taxi and were driven olT. to the cheers I of the multitude, who regarded them H in the light of heroes for the dangers I they had passed. H It was Blair's perverse nature that saw hi the accident a reckless way to I trap Ksther and search for the Stanley I document his mother believed that Ks- I titer always carried with her. I He scribbled a note find, seeking a messenger, his eyes lit upon the boot- I Idaek. The note was to Ksther and H was written as though by a stranger I witnessing the accident to Quabba. It I gave the address Quabba had given. ^ after the accident and it requested Ks- I tlier to come to see the injured main reading as though Quabba had asked I the stranger to semi the word. I The bootblack bore the message I promptly to his employer. Blake, the I detective. That astute man behind the I scenes calmly assumed the bootblack's I guise and delivered the note in person. I Mrs. Randolph plaintively objected I to ICslIter's going alone to such u part . I of town as the address of Quabha's. ^ I lodgings. But it was broad day and ^ I Ksther laughed at her fears. I Meanwhile Blair Stanley had pro- 1 cceded to the lodging house and, aided I i?y the convincing argument of a ten * I dollar bill, had no trouble in convince J ing the landlady that lie was a detuc-* tive cxncctiiitf to Iran a Khonllfter. Blair proceeded to Quablm's room. | and. finding Quabba dazed with pain, hound and gagged him. it was an advent uro just t<> Blair's liking, lie had slipped on a mask before surprising and overpowering Quabba, and when Esther's light ste|> was heard at the door, directed by the landlady on the landing below, Blair, still masked, opened the door and dragged Esther within. a If Hlair had expected an easy victim \ he found lie had caught a Tartar. Estlier fought like a little tigress, and every effort Hlair made to search her for the Stanley document i\as repulsed. Blair's perverse nature rejoiced in this vigorous defense of the slight but wiry girl. Quabba struggled to free himself to assist Esther, but just then the door opened and a stalwart bootblack, who was none other than Tom Blake, the detective. Joined in the fray, lie owed Blair something on an old score, and right merrily lie proceeded to pay it off. Blair fought like n madman. And ' then Quabba tore himself loose from his bonds nn^, forgetting the bruises of his accident. Joined In the melee. Blair was young and strong. Physically he was a match for the detective, even v t though ttie latter was aided by the ac. tive and supple Quabba. ) The three sided fight boiled out of ^ Quabba's shabby room and down the i rickety old staircase. Halfway down the stairs, the balustrade on the upper r landing having already, given way, i the detective and Quabba. punching, kicking and shoving, pushed Blair out i against the rail. 1 The entire balustrade, banisters and all, broke out and fell over, and Blair %