Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

The Diamond From the Sky l^" n? rv\u ? -f* a rvnni v ^ oy kui u iucwvkucll ^ t Copyright Htt5, by Etoy L MtCimlEll (Concluded from last week.) only fiome that sweet Estner seemed fated to know, the boof3 of Hagai'g horse, that bore them both, splashed water on the face of what seemed the . corpse of a man In the sedge. And the face of the seeming corpse was the face of Arthur Stanley, son of Hagar! At Hagar's wild calls the gyp6les came running from their camp not Hagar Telia Arthur of His Parentage. from the river bank. The unconscious farm of Arthur was tenderly borne to Ha gar's luxurious van. But ere they rboxe him there Hagar's hand, feeling for his faint heart beats In the dusk, load closed about the diamond from the sky. Distracting Esther's agonized attention, Hagar had unclasped the great Jewel and hidden it In her breast unseen, scarce knowing why she did so. When Arthur recovered consciousness Sheriff Swain and his deputy had reached the camp tn their search and Inquired for the fugitive. No corpse hsii been found when the wrecked and >,. overturned auto had been dragged from the river bed, and the sheriff knew that Arthur Stanley, dead or alive, had floated wnflppn down the river. The sheriff fwflpri to find Arthur at the camp. It was with blazing eyes that Hagar confronted Arthur when he was strong enough to bear her fierce reproaches. "My sacrifice has been all In vain," she cried bitterly. "A ruined man and i r. Sandman Gomes You Drive Away J kiddies need no coax- dampn at bedtime ? for the all the ] section Heater ingwa made the room nice ?ten 1 c?zy- gallon < j Perfection keeps less, od Look for the Triangle Trader] Sold at all hardware and ( wherever you see the Perfect! Use AJaddin Security Oil or Diarr obtain best results in Oil Stoves, La STAND ^ i mmsmi IKhva. ?HH I ? niuimcxti, ,?vu uavti jmstea e^ery chance in life for which I bowed my head tn bitterness and sorrow. Better bad yon been bred tbo poor gypsy you were born, rather tban to be a fugitive impostor who has squandered a herrttl age that was not hisf" Arthur regarded her as though she were, what she seemed to him, an insane harridan, who raged at htm In half incoherent frenzy. Then Ilagar drew a brass bound bo* from its hiding place, and. opening it with a key from her bosom, banded him a sealed document, yellow and musty with age. i on the outside of which were the words: "To be opened only after my death In case my son, Arthur Stanley 2d. ; should prove unworthy of the name of 8tanley.M With trembling hands he broke the seal and realized the woman before him had 6pofcen the dreadful truth. t or mere, amxeo, \vus ice signature UI f Colonel Stanley, which he knew well, and also Dr. Lee's, also known to him, 1 as witness. 1 "Nothing belongs to you, not even your name, and much less this for which yon stained your hands with blood!" cried Hagar hysterically. And she threw down Into the open brass box with a gesture of disdain the diamond from the shy. "But I am not guilty of the death of Dr. Lee: he was my friend," replied Arthur hoarsely. "I did kill my supposed cousin Blair, and he now lies in a grave dug for another, but not for this," and he pointed to the baleful jewel. "I killed Blair Stanley because he spoke 111 of Esther. Why have you driven her out to reproach me with what I am not guilty? Tell me, tf I am not Arthur Stanley, who Is she? Is she my sister? I ask this, for by every wild deed of my reckless life In the past and Sot every good deed I hope to achieve I love herl" "No matter who she is, you are not good enough to breathe the same air with herf replied Hagar fiercely. "Make the better man of yourself that you boast you will! Make a name Cor yourself In place of the one you have lost and then return to me for a mother's blessing and to learn who Esther Is!" So saying Hagar, for she felt her fortitude giving way, walked "with dry eyes and head erect from the van. Arthur picked up the diamond from the sky. . In her agitation Hagar had forgotten it, and Arthur was of the belief that his Spartan mother had left It there that he might take It and make some temporary use of it to build his fortunes with. For Arthur believed that Blair still lay dead by Iris hand In the grave dug for another, and with him the last male Stanley save the old earl in England had perished. As Arthur passed from the van he saw Esther come toward him from Ha gar's side and was glad to note his fierce, stern mother made no attempt to stay her. And Esther had evidently been told as much as Hagar cared to tell her. She called trim "brother" and waited with him to the woods at the edge of the camp, and there they paused and made their farewells. "Be a good man, Arthur, my brother, find let me be proud of youi" Esther whispered tenderly. And Arthur folded her to Ms heart and kissed her and strode away. Quick when |j ack Frost p 2S3 and cold out of house. Gives glow- S| rmth to five minutes gS lours comfort on a ^ )f kerosene. Smoke- 0 lorless, safe, p5! nark. general stores, and gJ ion Cozy Cat Poster. p ? ?,TL S _ /VI Mt'i iona w nite un vj ,mp9 and Heaters. ||j ARD OIL CO. /I (New Jersey) / iALTIMORE > I gS ^ ^C.|^ ^ | ^ || ^ J He looted baca" cmce flno saw ner leaning agntost a greet tree and weeping. But neither he nor the weep tog ~ -?? . .1. .L . ?i. A r_k. i tisiner Deueiu cue uiixis. im.-v ui uuac ; Lovell peering fit them through the I shrubbery. It was not until nest morning that ' Hagar sought far the diamond and found tt missing. Again her rage at Arthur burned high. Hagar hated the ' Stanley name and despised-every Stanley possession, but she was resolved since all the Stanley line was near at end that Esther, defrauded of every other birthright, should hare the diamond from the shy. i Hagar had not wholly believed Arthur guilty of Dr. Lee's murder, even when she had first learned of his being ' suspected from Esther's Hps when she had ccme for Esther to Fairfax the t day before. Hagar resolved to gp to i Richmond, the nearest big city, feeling sure Arthur would be there In hiding, in the hope of finding him and securing the diamond from the sky for Esther, even If it were necessary to give Arthur, her own son. up to the law. She telegraphed from the nearest railroad station, from which they took train to Richmond. This telegram was to the Blake agency, and It was sent to recall Tom Blake, the head of the concern, from Fairfax to Richmond. No suspicion In the slightest had been directed at Blair In connection with the doctor's murder, nor did any living soul In Fairfax, save Blair and his mother, know of the encounter Blatr had bad with Arthur In the doctor's dooryard nor of the grewsome duel across tne open grave ax mKmignctnar had followed Blair's wild rose to defame Esther's good name that Arthur might not suspect him of murder and robbery, the real guilt Blair felt the burden of. But in order to be eafe, and at his mother's suggestion, Blair Stanley had gone to Richmond, his mother giving the excuse that he went to attend to urgent matters brought about by the doctor's sudden and tragic death. Esther, too. was gone from Fairfax now. and this, with the flight of Arthur and the presence of the Richmond detective, made the countryside of old aristocratic Fairfax county ring with rumors and the revival of old, long forgotten tragic and mysterious happenings among the Stanleys. In Richmond Arthur Stanley, giving himself the name of John Powell, found humble lodgings awaiting oppor tunity to slip from Richmond when the hue and cry after hlzn bad died down. It was necessary for him to have funds. To obtain these he resolved to pawn the diamond from the shy, believing that no living person save Hagar knew of its existence. In eighteen years the diamond from the sky had almost come to be regarded as a myth In Fairfax county. Some xmesb wpt?- who claimed It had neveT "Be a good man, Arthur, my brother!" existed at all and others who believed it had been a bit of old trumpery that Colonel Stanley had found valueless and destroyed. It was only when he came out of Ms hiding place after several days that Arthur dared buy and read a Richmond paper. There were no further accounts from Fulrfax of the death of Dr. Lee and the flight of his supposed murderer. a rt hrtr nby came to the conclusion that tho death of Blair staniey auu uu being found shot through the head In a now grave intended for another had also ceased to bo a three days' wonder in the Richmond newspapers. Tn Fairfax, like enough, the whole countryslde was still agog at this double tneedy. Arthur reasoned, but hero In Richmond the papers gnvo no mention to it now. Their one absorbing topic was tbo ball to be given by Richmond's society leader, the wealthy Mrs. BuHod Randolph. CHAPTER VIII. The New York Society rBolie." Meanwhile, desperate cmd fear stricken, Blair Stanley was endeavoring to forge: his peril, present and prospective, In wild and reckless indulgences In Richmond. While his fugitive cousin lay In humble lodgings, Blair Stanley lorded It at a lino hotel, and ewery night found him gambling at the exclusive establishment of Abe Bloom. In desperation, finding himself Cleaned out" at Mr. Bloom's luxurious temple of chance, Blair had got that astute gentleman to cash his personal check on the Bank of Fairfax. Tn a few days this would bo returned marked "No funds," Blair well knew, but ho hoped meanwhile to recoup his losses and laugh In Abe Bloom's hawklike face as ho "made good the bum check" ont of the winning he expected to gatn at .Abe's own roulette wheeL But the $2,000 went the way of the $300 hts mother had given him-?hack Into the coffers of the gambling house keeper who had advanced tire money on the worthless check. One desperate chance was left. Blair resolved to pawn hts watch end with the proceeds Invoke the whetis of chance again and by a streak of lock, who knows, win back all and so square himself and the check viben it came back, for Bteto found Richmond to his ffklnj*. Then, too, he wuiTted over the mystertoos vteft to Fairfax of Tom Bloke, the detective Who bed hired Blake? There wns also the ball to bo given by hfre. Burton Randolph, who was a negative at his mother, and counted upon Blair's presence at her grand ball, the event of the soda! yeas In Richmond. Also Blatr thought of Vtvtan h!arston. Glorious VMan, luxurious Vivian! She had come to Richmond, sworn friend of MTs. Randolph, who had met her the winter before at Palm Beach. It was known of Vivian Marston that she was a wealthy and dnahlng young widow, high In the circles of JJew York's "four hundred.* Blair Stanley had met her at his mothers cousin's mansion, and Blatr had been first among those to fall victim of her charm* Arthur Stanley entered the pawnshop of Ike Bloom, brother and some said partner of the redoubtable Abe Bloom, king of the Richmond gamblers. The pawnshop was dlvicted fcato partition spaces. Arthur saw tge vulture eyes of Isaac Bloom gleam when they fastened upon the diamond from the sky, with its antique chain and curious setting. Only too eagerly did the pawnbroker hand over the $300 Arthur asked on It, and only too eagerly did he hide lfc In a drawer. Arthur was about to slip from behind the privacy partitions to the street when he heard a voice say, "I want $50 on this watch." He staggered, half fainting with fear and joy, against the partition. It was the voice of Blair Stanley! There could be no mistake. In a revulsion of feeling to find be was not a murderer and that Blair was alive and well Arthur threw himself around the partition and Into the arms of Blair. Somewhat surprised, but feigning Joy also, Blair repeated his supposed cousin's cries of wild delight Then he made haste to explain that Dr. Lee had called him to his study and had given him the diamond from the sky and that having done this, the doctor, who was greatly agitated, had fallen dead In his chair. "I was afraid I would be suspected of Ml ling him for the diamond. How eonld I explain when you caught hold of mer lied Blair glibly. "I did not mean any reflection upon Esther, as yon thought I did," he continued. '1 only thought any altercation at such a time and the doctor lying dead might Jeopardize her good name. I was too frightened to explain, and you were too angry to listen to me. "1 was only stunned and got homo all right But there has been a detective hired, and I believe he win find some clew, and your evidence would only tend to convict me, and I am innocent!" Arthur reflected that Dr. Bee had known he was the spurious heir and that the diamond did properly belong to Blair In consequence. He did not tell Blair the Stanley secret that he, Arthur, was but a gypsy changeling. But he resolved to stand by Blair and thus in reparation do what good he could until the time came when he might tell So for the time being be resolved to keep Hagaris secret?and his own. Blair was quick to take advantage of Arthur's Joyous and softened mood, "I never will be able to prove I did not kill Dr. Lee," he said, with affected sadness. "True, there would not be any proof to convict me, but the sus[ plclon of it would ruin me. Tou must stand by mo, Arthur." | And Arthur, In the foolish Impulsive I generosity of his nature, promised, j The relief he felt at seeing Blair alive placed him in the mood to promise anything that Blair might ask. Thon *rn~> wifh n n Inwnrrl shamp. would have this fare-well joynnce with ] Blair. [ ^ Blair took Mm first to Abraham g Bloom's private "club," and here, do- t; spite Arthur's wiser counsels, counsels j, the wisdom of which he now wondered at himself, Blahr plunged again at | a roulette and lost the money be had ; ^ got on Ms weicb at the pawnbroker"? s and half of what Arthur hal got from the same source on the diamond from Q the sky, of which, of course, Bhifr n knew nothing. jj Up to Efchmanxl this might of Sirs. Etandolplrtj boll came Hagnr? She ti brought with her Est ben from whom u , she was resolved newer again to be g( parted. Etftgar brought also as half s savant, half bodyguard her Iteotenant b In her gypsy qneenship, Laifce Lowell t! Tom Blake, the detective, returned to (] Richmond at her summons and met j > ner. 11 cook out cew inquiries wiuj j tbfc means at Blake's command to lo- o cate Blair Stanley, cutting & swath In c Richmond's gayest circles. It was with d surprise Hagar learned, and a happy e surprise, too, that Blair Stanley was alive and seemingly uninjured the tl while Arthur had believed he bad kill- ii ed him. a Later in the evening Blake brought her word that Arthur wag with Blair y under an assumed name and ic was f( evident was going to the Randolph ball ^ with Blair that night. R On many occasions the thrifty Hagar & had turned such fashionable functions ^ as the Randolph boll to good account ? She knew the Idle rich welcomed the diversion of the Impromptu appearance tof a gypsy fortune teller on such occasional As a gypsy fortune teller she determined to appear and confront Arthur and got the diamond ere he left Richmond to make his way in the world. .Meanwhile a fair vision was on the threshold of Abraham Bloom's private "club." This fair vision was none other than the stunningly attired and vivaclous woman of the world, Vivian Mars ton. Abe's "club" was on a quiet side street. The supposed "New York society belle" ran little risk of being seen by any of Richmond's "best society people" at 4 In the afternoon as she hurriedly passed from her waiting cab Into the double doorway of the "clubhouse." Abraham Bloom received the sup posea ".\ew iorK society leoaer wild an astonishing air of friendly familiarity. Vivian Marston may not have been a society leader In New York, as the rest of Richmond supposed, bat It was trne enough that she was a gay New Yorker, and Mr. Bloom had met her there on more occasions than one when he had visited the gay me- ; tropolls. "Surprised to see me In your town, v Abe?" asked Vivian gayly. "Well, I 0 met one of your society dames, Mrs. ^ Randolph, at Balm Beach last winter. f I made a hit with her, and I am here 1 as her guest ^ "She gives that big blowout you hear so much about tonight I want to pick 8 up some rich guy of Richmond and 13 marry and settle down among the [ southern aristocracy. I have got plen- t ty of fine clothes, but I had to hock s my ice in New York to get them and & get here. ^ "I want to beg, borrow or steal a e fine outfit of Jewelry, and I want you 8 to help me get the loan of some, un- 8 less you get enlargement of the heart and present It to me." "Nix on that generosity stuff, VI, old girl," replied Mr. Bloom. "Business Is bum. There's no money in Rich- st mon.ii except the old Confederate bills is they printed here by the ton during hi the war. But I got a brother who y, runs a hock shop"? "And you and your brother catch p fhom onmlncf and going." merrily Inter jected the New York society leader, so ^ called. "After you break the boobs ^ your hock shop brother gets their Jew-' hi elry." t "Never you mind about that, kiddo," 5( replied Mr. Bloom affably. "I'll give you a note to brother Ike to lend you all tho lee In the refrigerator. He'll y fix you out with sparklers till youH is look like a chandelier." rjj The lady departed from Mr. Bloom's B< establishment with a compelling note ti to his brother, the pawnbroker. The % best Mr. Ike Bloom had In the shon lo , ne realized mat mu.*r su ue \*as itu v ! lmi>ostor and stood in Blair's way, and a yet ho could not brim? himself to bo do- j c . spisod of Blair should bo tell him the j ^ Stanley secret. j a The spirits of Blair rose correspond-1 e ingly. With Arthur gene, suspicion would forever rest upon the hidden fn- j; gltive! Blair heaved a sigh of relief : v ( and then said to Arthur, "You do not j know my mothers cousin, Mrs. Bnr- : c ton Randolph, who gives the grand ball jj in Richmond tonight Come, let us y havo one fling, one good time together, j 0 in memory of the old days at Stanley ' v hall before you go to the west I will 1 Introduce you under any name you ; ^ choose. There is o stunning young' e New Yorh widow?lots of money and j a style about her?I want you to meet I She's Just my style and I want your! approval of her." ; tArthur hesitated a moment and then j * realized that if tho pursuit were still j e hot on his traO tho last piaco ho would j s be sought for would be at a high eoci-; " ety function. So he shooh hands with : Blair and exclaimed heartily: "I'll go yon, Bhilrl Quo good fling; s beforo I go west to make my fortnna j J1 Ami if I mate it, Blair, I promise you j ttmt you stiall sharo it" ! For Arthur all his generous Impulses ' ? were now founded on the desire to i ; s recompense Blair for the heritage he ; ti had, unknowingly till now, deprived | j. him of. And AFthur was young. For j ^ him the strong, brotherly affection he I bore for Esther ami the desire In bis . ^ heart to do Justice to Blair were now j ^ the main motives of his life. And he i e vas the diamond from tne sky. in fatal moment ho displayed it to the >pulent looking lady friend of his irother, Miss Marston of New York, nd that dazzled young person had yes for nothing else. "That for me!" she cried, "und nothog else! It would be a sacrilege to rear anything else with thatP "Be very careful of it," warned the autious Bloom reluctantly. "I don't :now where it came from, but when ou wear that I know you are wearing ne of the finest diamonds in the ?orld r "They can't como too good for me, Ir. Bloom," said Vivian, as she gazed nraptured at the great Jewel in its ntlque setting. That night Vivian Marston, in all her axurlant beauty, set off as it was by ho diamond of the sky blazing on her all" bosom, was the cynosure of all yes at Mrs. Randolph's ball as she tood with her hostess In the receiving Ina. Arthur <ind Blair gasped at her beauy, but 6tnred as If turned to stone to ee the diamond from the sty gleaning on the bosom of this fair stranger i) Richmond. Hagar, admitted as soon as her appliation reached the hostess, happy to :ave the novel diversion of real gyp!es to tell fortunes at her ball, gasped, oo, to see the diamond flannted boldy by this dark, Insurious stranger rom the great city. She "thought Arthur had given this old faced beauty the diamond from he sky, and her heart again hardend to him, Esther, dazzled by the lights and the irury, clung timidly to Hagar'e armhe had never seen the diamond from he sky before nor had she ever beard a history. Outside Luke Love 11 loitered idly, watting to guard Ilagar and Esther ack from the ball when the function honltl come to an end. "Shall we have the fortunes first?' sked the hostess of her guest from lew York "B will be great ftm and elp Co get things started." Hagar hod given no sign of reoognl- ? Ion to Arthur, and ho in turn was reeved that his gypsy mother did not eem Intent on ereatfug any scene. Ho tood aloof with Blair and silent, and ofh of them gazed from afar as hough fascinated at the diamond from he sky blazing on the breast of Vrrlan larston. Bow came it here? was the thought f both of them, for In all their reconlllatlon they had sedulously avoided lscusslng the baleful gem of their anestor. "1 have a wondrous fortune to tell lis lady," said Ha gar huskily as she ldicated Vivian. "Will the lady go side and wait for me?' "What fun! You must trfl me all our wondrous fortune! Now, don't Drget!" exclaimed Mrs. Randolph as rivian Marston smiled and nodded asent to this and glided away to a seat y a low, heavily curtained window i the small tea room off the great Landolph parlors. Vivian had Just settled herself with be serene self satisfaction that she r i Strong Hand Clutched at Her Throat. ras the sensation of the evening, she nd the gTeat blazing gem opon her ireast Then she saw Elagar, leaving "sther to be gently patronized by Mrs. iandolph, coming toward her to teli ter fortune. She settled herself back In tbe low fit chair against the parted velvet tanglngs of the window, and then she elt ft strong hand clutch at her throat, hrottling her through the curtains so he could not shriek aloud Then a rawny forearm drew back her shapey neck, and the strangling hand loosned its hold on her neck and snatched ;way boldly the diamond from the ky. ^ (To be Continued.) Cougtis That Are Stopped. Careful people see that they are :opped. Dr King's New Discovery a rememedy of tried merit. It has eld its own on the market for 46 ears. Youth and old age testify to s soothing and healing qualities, neumonia and lung troubles are ften caused by delay of treatment, r King's New Discovery stops those acking coughs and relieves la grippe indencies. Money back if it fails. )c and $1,00 _ The fellow who kicks the cat makes ip hicorpst nnisp whpn hp himsplf kicked. id Quinine That Does Not Affect The Heed cause of its tonic and laxative effect, LAXA:ve BROMO QUININE is better than ordinary linine and does not cause nervousness nor lging in head. Remember the full name and sk for the signature of E. W. GROVE. 25c.