Show SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP CHAP- 1 A J. feud ha bAA existed between Colonel Arthur AIthur Arthur Ar Ar- thur Stanley and hta his cousin Judge Lamar Stanley over an heirloom the diamond from the sky round found In to a fall fallen n meteor by byan byan byan an ancestor Also the lIu succession lon to the Stonier Stanley earldom In la England may come to tt toan an as American When a daughter IB la born borD bornis bornt t te is the colonel and aad the mother dies the ba buys bays a gy M Y boy and substitutes him Three years yeara later the gypsy mother haYIng bavin bad no part In this bargain stoats the girl sirl being reared In lD secret and leaves her bet au eon son undetected as the heir belr The gypsy gyp- gyp ff sy has des obtained po possession of DC the diamond from the sk sky and a document with the Stanley secret When Esther Is grown a beautiful young girl Hagar now gypsy gypS queen returns to Virginia with her ber Dr Lee the late Colonel Stanley's Stanleys friend adopts adopt Esther Father Arthur Stanley son SOD of oC Hagar falls alts In love with Esther and so 80 does doe his hta companion and cousin Blair Stanley rightful male wale heir of oC Stanley In stealing the diamond linmond Blair causes ses the the- death of oC the doctor octor and tries later to put the blame crt on Arthur who takes taken the diamond dia dla- dla- dla mond mona from him Arthur Stanley eludes his pursuers and Joins Hagar who reveals his identity and upbraid him him liliu for kits bis wild life lite Needing money he pawns the diamond In la Rich RIch- mond At R a ball at which a supposed New York belle Vivian Marston larston Is to the guest of honor Arthur and Blair find the diamond on the Ute vI visitor She is an adventuress adventuress who has hau borrowed It Luke Lovell Hagara gyp gypsy y guard steals the diamond and to avoid detection drops It Into a mall man box Arthur leaves Richmond and goes to the west weL The diamond diamond dia dla- mond passes Into a mall mail bag picked up by bT organ grinder monkey steals tho the diamond Hagar takes Esther to Stanley y baILom halt hall Tom om Blake a detective of oC Richmond sheds is b hired by Hagar Hacar produces finger to f Blair Hagar propose proposes as the price of a end EB cra cre 8 being received In fJ ag t I down Ha- Ha gar 3 and i Jt steals b. b bo no o Luser l ier ere prints leaving the gyps e The diamond Is found by a negro boy and Is la later stolen etolen from a Chinese den Hagar Is la again with Esther among the gypsies Marmaduke Marmaduke Marma- Marma aduke a- a duke Smythe lawyer arrives to announce Arthur la Is heir to the deceased Earl Karl of Stanley Learning Arthur Is a a. fugitive he seeks Blair Instead To win Vivian Blair teals steals the diamond later lter marrying beland her bel herand herand and leaving for the west Their train is le robbed Vivian losing the diamond which a slain laiD tram train robber drops In the desert The he stole Is found by Arthur now known as oa John Powell sheep herder Vivian deserts Blair telling him he be must regain the diamond tor Cor her ber Luke Lovell driven from the camp after atter learning Hara Ha- Ha sare ra secret leaves leana to seek Blair Hagar HagarIs Hagard Is d under treatment and Esther Is la In Richmond society of oC Mrs Stanley Stanley Stan Stan- ley leT who suspects her real name and of or lira tu Randolph Abe Bloom gambler who know knows Blah Blair's guilt covets conta the diamond and can calls It the price of his secrecy Blair wUl will not listen to Lovell and Dd Arthur also Insists on his silence allenee Blair Blab returns to Richmond and Instigated by his mother pays paya unwelcome co court rt to Esther l Mrs Stanley asserting Vivian had bad been married before betor The diamond Is picked up by an Indian woman roman Dr Lee Arthur learns leorns died of heart disease Becoming very rich he be buys buy Stanley hall haU sold at auction through Blake and also provides for Harar hagar Ha- Ha gar pr and aud has haa money left kit secretly In Esther Esther's Esthers Esthers Esther's Es Es- ther's ther room roon Luke Lovell buys the diamond dia dla mond from the squaw but loses It In a fight on Santa Barbara bay the gem sink sink- trig big Vivian desiring aid to ensnare Arthur Arthur Arthur Ar Ar- thur sends ends for Blair Esther and also ago Blair go to the tho California mines mince to seek Arthur Blair to learn the whereabouts of the diamond for Vivian Smythe la Is sent ent west by Blako Lovell Loven repairs the coach In which Esther and Smythe ride catches a fish with the tho diamond In Its gills but a pelican pelt pell- can bears bear off ort the gem The coach rolls rolla down the mountain but Esther and the lawyer escape unhurt Meanwhile returns and he and Esther elude Luke and Blair Vivian Marston Mamon Is I. rescued from drowning by John Powell who tails falls In love with her bel Marmaduke Smythe shoots a frog frol and finds the diamond Blair and Luke Luk Intercept the backboard buckboard The driver Is 18 shot Esther and escape and are joined by bT Marmaduke Smythe who gives Esther the diamond to d deliver to Arthur Blair and Luke go goto to the yacht In Arthurs Arthur's absence and find Esther Estber with the diamond To escape them the ho Jumps s overboard CHAPTER The Tho Charm Against Harm ABBA In the rowboat b by the QUAnnA bottom of or the yachts yacht's companionway compan compan- J heard the struggle upon the deck deck between between Blair and Luke an and the scream of ot Esther as as to escape them both she plunged over o the side It seemed eternity to ba and a voyage vo to the gates of death deuth to the strangling girl ere her ber head bead came tame to the surface She Instinctively ely clutched the rail mil of the boat ro and drew her In lie ne headed beaded the boat straight for the beach for Cor he saw the Railing sailing master on the wharf stairs bringing back the crew from their leave lene to the waiting launch To all aU who are strangers are ene ene- enemies mies mlee and he be headed In to a straight ht line Une for tor the beach and the breaking surf a 4 half baIt mile away On the deck the struggle between I i I Blair mill and Luke Luko ty t I. one 1 of vicious ferocity leOC I ity p la iu which tb the clothing of both Is f torn Both joy Jov In the tune battle buttle and tb the few Cew half balf drunken f aboard tumbling tum turn bling out from the forecastle are wild with excitement and delight at nt the splendid smashing scrap between the l I burl burly heavy built Luke and sud n the lithe mid active Q Blair I hey Floy Bill um cries orles one into tIO of or the Ibe sailors anon Its It two old friends with n a grudge e for fU Kur t I II I should I worry It my 1113 limiting limit float I ing Inn palace alar they are uro mussing up exclaims ex- ex claims the other mariner And Aud be lit spoke In one oue ease lor or like mu maddened mud mad It III the two Iwo men tore at each ach other oilier and th the snowy d dork deck k of the yacht wax was stained with blood which flowed profusely from imin both combatants Against the paneled mahogany of ot the cabin side the fi fighters rushed crashed smash lag IllA and glass and wood work And Arad then in sheer beer tearing rage combining t all ull their strength th to dash oath each other to Insensibility and antl death they plunged the smashed cabin side lit nt the center to the tho stanchion rail At the heavy Impact of oC tb the two strong bodies flung Bung against It the Uw rail mil bent out outward am and the snapped snap snap- pod ped ed like stems pipe and the two men locked hi In death grips went over the side und and Into the water kicking thru thrusting ting cursing In the water more active Blair lair loos loos- loosened i cued ened hol hold and aud dived under Coming to the surface he waited for tor the gypsy's gyp sy's head to appear and when Luke ruke rose to the surface bubbling and gasping gasp Sp ing tag for tor breath Blair Blah struck him bins a n smashing blow between the eyes mid and swam to the companionway Half Halt stunned and half halt strangled Luke screamed reamed In Inarticulate insanity of or rage and hate bate Then through his dull mind came a realization rel that Blair a as friend of the owner of the yacht and andas andas as 88 a gentleman would have the aid and assistance of ot tho the sailors Leaving the matter for tor another da day dayto to settle Bettle for tor Luke was of ot a nature that loved to nurse and cherish his enmity the gypsy turned and swam strongly and doggedly to the shore Blair Blab lair panting water soaked aud and disheveled leaned leant over the rope rail rail- Log lag of ot the e companionway und looked after Luke also wl with h that respect one good fighting man has for tor the other Hurt sir a sailor asked Only a u little scratched said ald Blair noting noUng with some satisfaction that th the tho cold sea Bea water had checked tl the bleed bleed- lag bag of ot leis bis wounds The poor fellow must have gone roaring mad mad added Blair In tion We had been lIeen lost In the woods for some days and be he must have bave got gothold gothold gothold hold of ot some whisky and have gone clean crazy for the first thing thine I 1 knew he be sprang sprung upon me fighting like a mad doer dog It It was this some same explanation In hr extension extension ex ex- tension that Blair Blah made to the sailing master when the latter returned to the launch with the sailors Bailors front from ro their othell shore leave far forthe the two sailors daltoN l left ft In Inthe inthe the tho forecastle had bad not seen or known Hof f pf Esthers t er hoarding boarding oar the e J vu acht ht lt In ha search earch or oI rl ut-or ut h Her bet vs vi id ld leap from It when fac faced d by Blair and LLe L Nor had the sailing Railing master j. bl bJ men at the end nd of ot the street leading to 0 the wharf at the Esthers Esther's leap IMP known of her presence aboard the yacht The sailing master had seen the rowboat with and anel Esther headed straight for the beach s 's fi j. j h I I t m ff- ff JT V M I r 4 1 I 1 9 f The Fight on the tho Yacht but the he rowboat was too far tar away for tOl even keen sailor eyes to note that the girl was wet and weak I r b have ve heard beard of sailors Bailors getting homicidal homi d. d ts t.'s said the sailing master mastel but I r never ne knew a landsman to get getem getem em that quick The two sailors who had witnessed tl UK the titan combat grinned for tor It had been Jeen about n II bout to delight the eye cye But nut Just thell then the sailing master gave a sudden cry crr Look at that tool What is be he doIng do- do trying ing-trying Ing trying to commit suicide And the master pointed to the beach bench where the rowboat with the tired un unskilled hands of or on the oars was negotiating negotiating ne ne- the surf Shall we lower a boat sir asked one 0 of the sailors There was a woman woman wo wo- woman man trilled from the boat with that Ird rd landlubber ThA sailing lIIn master shaded his eyes with his bis hand band and then said 1 By Dy w George Gcorge the girl rI can cu swim wlm all nil right rIgid I She 1 Is u cu helping th the landlubber They're nil all right See The fellow ft her i s asking some one to tu save tb the boat bont There U Is quite a 1 little bunch hunch of people people- jn In a the beach now And our om crazy friend sees 8 th them m to tole toI ant and evidently evi i evidently dently does not desire to be questioned for lor he is ls striking off to land laud farther down th the beach And ind be lie pointed to the bobbing bobbin head bend of oC the strongly sw sWim sWim- m- m suing minI Luke a mere speck above ahoe the water halfway II to tb the shore The people on the beach dont don't e even eleo acc see my late lute friend of ot the woods woodi remarked re r- marked Blair with a c cynical smile I Oh Olt well let the poor fellow tellow go o. o The cold water will bring him to his fie senses DS t And Blair turned a and ad d went wentA A r rv v s A 4 a t h. h a J. J t Lx y 4 r ss' ss f f Esther Esth and In Santa Barbara toward the cabin cabla to make another change In hi his attire from Arthurs Arthur's yachting wardrobe I Inos Hes nos a cool one said laid the t sailing master admiringly aa as he be looked after atter Blair who walked In La his dripping clothes across the deck whistling Il I bet lIet he be Is lB a Virginian that lad He lIe says he be is Mr Powells Powell's cousin nn and Powell Is another fighting daredevil just like him They breed good men In the west but theres there's nothing wrong with the fighting strain they raise mise In old Virginia Luke gained a at deserted part o of th the beach bench unobserved shook the water from him aa as a great dog might ha have done and strode off Luke Lovell had hat no use for the town Far away in th tb the Sierras the Lady Veronica mines and nd other prosperous and busy diggings called him bun By train and on foot b he be made his way and by hy another da WV Santa Barbara was far behind him Mm but though be went for tor work und nad to set get et n away awny vay trott h hit very i of a Stanley Luke Lovell oell had bad t. t deviates deviat t one Iota from his set sullen pi He had seen the paper that Blai Stanley had pursued and p. p persecuted Esther to obtain Then too Luke Lule Lovell had bad beheld the dian diamond nd from the sky Luke clinched and aUl and looked down as 8 though he had bad expect expected ed to see the great grent gem thrice grasped as his own only t ti to lose still sUII burning balefully In La his br bronzed brazed and brawny grasp But the diamond was gone and he clutched at the empty empt air and trudged on on resolved that the purpose of ot his life Ute would b be to have haveit It But he would have n no nomore more of ot Blair Stanley that he be was resolved resolved Esther after aCter being upon thrown the beach from the overturned boat with thanked those who rushed up to assist her and her companion and aud assured them It had been Just an ac ned acci accident l. l dent of ot small consequence Her spirits rose again In thankfulness and followed followed fol tot lowed by poor who half halt hysterically hys hys- accused himself of every crime under the calendar In La his hla humiliation at having Imperiled his hla young youn mistress Esther reached a quiet part of the beach and from there had summon summon sum sum- mon lOon a conveyance which took her to the quiet hotel on a n side street where she had secured quarters for tor herself herselt and her servant Esther knew she was safe enough in Santa Barbara or any other city She would fight Blair Stanley fearlessly along the Lines the Stanleys had al always always al al- ways fought In their feuds among feuds among themselves True the Stanleys evenIn even en evenIn In their feuds had bad seldom fought women wom wom- en cn But Dut Esther knowing she had the protection of ot Arthurs Arthur's love and having I every confidence in the strength wit I and courage of this handsomest of ot all nil heroes in her ber eyes felt as though Blair muir was overmatched when all was said I and done Had she met Blair Blah In La the tune streets of ot Santa Barbara she might even en have bowed to with him-with a 11 mockIng mockIng mock Ing smile She sent flent a n message to John Powell president of the Good Hope nope Oil OU com corn company company pany parry Los Angeles It read rend Came here to see you urgent Wire In In- ESTHER You will probably have hare an answer In La an hour or so so said tb the clerk and amI Esther murmured her thanks and said eal l she would be back and so went vent shopping shopping shop shoJI ping in the interim while lurk lurl lurked lurked ed at nt a respectful distance In the woods and in tile the wilderness on the dangerous waters walS he be could come close to cherish and protect hl his beloved young mistress But in tic the built up town where romance and devotion de tie l' l loUon t seem eem stran strange and |