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Show mwm ... --a a a aai ft n i '"v-j.- i a i jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaja a i . iT' Jk. r- -' rial' j J. - aSfaV 1MA8CIN BARBER , a tYNOPIIi. the patrolman from what would undoubtedly have been a foolhardy act The atnnr enans with a TMni from of courage. Hastily breaking his reIn the cpr bo vf Mm. volver ""Dorothy Mart-iopen, ha made a swift examwidow. It la Mtaalonar, waalthy ination of the cartridge, saw that Its whan Mra. Miaalunar'e uraaka, teiurln tha diamomla all ovar rim waa not denied by the hammer, the fluor, t'urtia UrttuU and Urum-In loye with Mr. and, concluding an accident for which hand, aorMy man up Ilia fama. Uriswnld the shell was not to blame had pregather ta ba Ilia atapa on what la auwa"l Maharanaa and cruahas It. A Hin- vented an explosion, set the chamber t nhl. d doo dactaraa It was not tha ganulna. An latar rwimuni'a all Ilia atunaa auiwiltulra for tlia original. Una of tha dlamonda la fuund In Ilia roomn riilln( eompan-IoKlinor ItulciiinU, ronnli-nlia- J of of Mra. Miaainnar. Hha la arraatad. not withstanding Mra. Mlaalonar'a balU-- f In bar Innocrnf. lalat;Uva llritl takaa f Ha aaka tha . rp theHieaa. In running li, Klltior'a flam-laarna that down tlia rani rrtminal. Ilrlll of Mra. Mlaalonar'a dlamonda duplicate wrra made In I'arta on ilia onlr of Klinnr Hulromb. Whlla walhlna. Ilrlll IIla Ud. bound and doaartedby Hindoos. Iioiii. but la Imprlaiinad In a an Urlli tmakra hla ha brliavr whom diamond xptt d Manila or wan amplovad by allhar to make counterfoils of tha Mlaalon-- r irama. Two Hindooa Imritlnrlaa tha hntua of ndn Mid ara raptured by Brits, flnda a not" lnri (in onMillli-an-off thrm liamhlrvaanl to "t'lirtla." and by wonmn namrd MllUrenl Hrlts bHatra I lelurorhe, la whom Urlawold haa been marked atttnilona. Tha Hwaml a bull at Mra. MlMlomr' homa, but nthlnK further about tha dlamonda. Hrlta dlaKUlm-- aa a thief, vlnlia I In Ha flnda a of Mlilli-en- t. apnrtmi-n- t ilia bos that one rotitaltwd tha tnlMlnft 'monda. but It la empty. Tha deia'-tivtonrludra that tha Hindooa tmva entlol-tmt- d hi in In tha r'ovrry of tha jewrla. anil has an Ha vlalta their quartrra with a anuka. once more, and fired again. This time a crack followed. The great cobra shot Into the air, and then fell squirming to the floor. Its colls unbent as at full length It writhed In Its death agony. Hrlta leaped to the far side of the table, seized a heavy book and hurled It on the serpent's head. That soon ended the reptlle'satrug-gles- ; but the doctor, brave enough under ordinary conditions, was not content until with a dagger-likpaper cutter he snatched from the table he severed the snake's head from Its twisting body. Hrlts, Kltcb and the patrolman took deep breaths as they stood on the porch. The detective lost little time in recuperating, though, and after hurried Instructions to the bluecoat, he and the doctor Jumped Into the coupe. The uniformed patrolman climbed to the box, turning the horse's head westward. He drove the weary brute at high speed to a taxlcab stand, where the detective and physician enCHAPTER XXII. Continued. A Metallic Click Broke the 8uspense. tered a horseless vehicle In which i were' whirled to Headquarters, I they Tha Tmia a a MV AriAiieh I mv fifth tiiilli! hud where Hrltx had a short but imporrilUIBH sloner had not cultivated In this part Is so far from being Impossible that naasetl between the Raping Jaws of tant conference with the Chief. It Is the strict truth. Nor was the of the world. he reptile and taken off the greater He waited until she was close to theft the only crime of which the man art of that darling acarlet thread CHAPTER XXIII. the hearthrug before he turned, and was guilty. In stealing that Jewel, he is neatly as a sharp Instrument could committed a dreadful sacrilege." said with a profound bow: nuff a candle. While the wound Mrs. Missioned Visitor. Mrs. Mlssioner was so overcome by loubtlt'ss caused agony to the snake. "Madam, my Intrusion Is excused Mrs. Mlssioner, after the ball, took by the fact that I can restore your her emotions that she was obliged, In did not lejinen Its ancer. The of a bridge party, and Jewels." spite of her Intention, to sit down, fangs remained In Its In the fag-enand therefore to extend to her visitor iiouth. and the cutting off of Its stayed so late that when she returned "Is it possible!" she exclaimed. "It Is more than possible. It Is a an Invitation to be seated also, before xingue swelled Its fury to the ultimate to her home the east was striped with dawn, and the maid who had waited fact accomplished." he answered. she could get herself well enough In Irgree. A Hrlti dropped the plntol on the chir-vnlup for her was sleeping soundly In a Taking from an Inner pocket a pack- hand to follow the Swami's narrative and thrust both hands In his chair. The widow was rot yet dis- age In silk tissue, be extended It calmly. It had been an toward her with the words: poned for slumber. "That diamond," continued the sage, I "Up a tree for fair." he said. "Noth-ti- exritlng night. Her fancy had been "You will find in this parcel, madam, "once blazed In the forehead of the more doing In the artillery line." stimulated so greatly by her brief all the diamonds of your necklace, great Buddha, in the Temple of Delhi. .... .orlrlilva" . .1 ...5- - ' "Tk.l talk with the Swaml In the ballroom with the exception of the largest lUOl v.. It was revered by thousands, hundreds UL flow JIIUI In.t Brits bent his bead affirmatively. that she was unable to turn it from .the Maharanee." of thousands, by millions, as the most In expression of slow wrath gathered the mysterious Orientnl history of "Put the big diamond of the whole sacred work of the god; for tradition orce In the Headquarters man's face, the Maharanee diamond. She knew necklace the Maharanee!" cried Mrs. says It was the undisputed property is he stared at the swaying serpent no more of the Jewel's past than she Mlssioner. "How did you find these of Buddha himself when he walked tuch a short distance below. One bad related to the sage, for her hus- and not find that?" the earth In his latest incarnation." :ould see he was angry enough to band bad not acquainted her with all Mrs. Missioner's lips were parted. "I have not said that I did not reake the desperate chance of spring-s- the details connected with his acquisi- cover it," said the Swaml. "On the Her eyes were fixed upon the Orienfrom bis perch and trying to tion of Something In the Swami's contrary. I confess to you that I tal's in the Intensity of her Interest. itrlke the cobra with his heels, or, manner caused her to regard the stone gained possession of the Maharanee "One night," the sage went on, ailing that, seizing It by the neck, with more, or less aversion. She be- at the time when I got these; tut It "when a band of militant priests asIt. The Instinct of gan to doubt the purity of its record. must not, cannot, be restored to leeklng to throttle you." signed to guard the shrine of Buddha . In n ' VnWAVAl. t van Fond though she was of gems, even " j "I am grateful for what you have In the great Delhi temple relaxed its uuw!oi, to the point of being a Jewel worship- done," the widow said itronger than rage. Hrltx was willing gently; "but I vigilance, a sacrilegious wretch on nough to risk his life In the fulfill-n- g er, she was American to her finger- am unable to understand your atti- whose head be all the curses, of all of his duty, so long as the risk tips, and would shrink in terror from tude in regard to the stone. the centuries! made his way Into nann o flvhtlnv rhpnrft to him. He any bauble that came to her stained Why should I not have missingtoo? It that, the heart of the sacred building, and was too sensible absolutely to throw with the tiniest drop of human blood. is mine." wrested the diamond from the brow lis life away, and something told him She had loved her husband in a "Madam," said the Oriental, In. the of the god. That he was not blasted .hat In spite of all the courage In the way; at any rate, she had always re- courtliest way, "I would not for the In bis tracks by the lightning of divine n'orld, no man would have an apprecl-ibl- e spected and admired him. It seemed world say anything to disturb your wrath proves that the mind of the percentage of opportunity In a Impossible he would be a party to faith in your husband. There Is no god at that moment was shrouded in wrongdoing. Yet she could not shake need of doing, so. Your faith is war- meditation for the benefit of his chilattle at close quarters with so a serpent Yet he must get off a sensation of dread whenever she ranted. Mr. Mlssioner. when he said dren. The stone was missed at dawn. 5ut of that house. He felt he was the remembered how Intimately the Jewel that, thought he was telling the truth. Within the hour, armed men were nly man on the police force who had nestled in the snows of her throat. Unfortunately for you, as well as for scouring the city for the apostate and rivaled the brightness of her eyes. many others, he was not speaking the thief. No trace of him was found. ould be sure of heading off the In that very moment they Could It be she hnd worn a gem whose truth. The renegade who sold that The Maharajah of that kingdom, lax night be beyond the city's limits, fire was more suited to the glow of an Jewel to your husband did not buy it though he had been In certain obtearing the booty he had pursued for Inferno than to the Eden of a good from a Maharanee. He did not buy it servances of the faith, was too true a e woman's loveliness? veeks. It was more than his from anyone. He stole It!" son of the Temple to let the careless could stand. He gave rein to "Stole It!" the widow cried, with a prfests go unpunished. By his order Drawing about her shoulders a soft, lis anger, and for the first time In all warm shawl, she took a seat at a win- little wail in her voice. "Impossible!" they were seized, a hundred of them, he doctor's acquaintance with him he dow in her boudoir and sat gazing into "Pardon me once more,' madam. It and thrown Into prison. A royal de- iwore bard and fast and long. His a sky pink and gray with daybreak, low of profanity stopped as suddenly trying to solve her real feelings in He drew one regard to the recovery of the Maharais it had commenced. land from his pocket, and slowly, as nee diamond. She was In the mldt 'f he hardly dared to trust his senses, of her meditation when she heard the leld up his fingers and looked at what faint ringing of a bell at the other end of her big bouse. In a little while, hey clasped. , Then he held the out triumphantly for the physl-Ma- a footman rapped on the door of her to see. It was a loaded cartridge boudoir. It awakened her maid, and 'orgotten when last he emptied his the girl, her eyes swollen with sleep, rockets of their supply of extra am- approached the widow with a card munition! hearing no name, but inscribed with "We'll make no miss with this one," the message: said the sleuth. "Don't you think you "It Is Important that I be permitted :an use it better, doc?" to see you at once." At such an hour? Mrs. Mlssioner "No," said Fitch, "I am not in your ';riaB8 when It comes to snuffing out was astonished by the request. Who erpents' tongues. You may fire when could her early visitor be? Surely no one in her own circle of acquaintances you are ready, lieutenant" Brttz grinned, shook the empty would venture upon such a liberty. If shells out of the revolver, slipped the It were a question of life or death, full cartridge Into one of the cham- there was still the telephone. Secrebers and twirled it until it paralleled cy was Indicated by the attempt of the barrel. Then, once more using the person to see her face to face. .his arm as a rest, he took careful aim, Haste breathed in every word of the nnd waa about to pull the trigger, scholarly scrawl. Mrs. Mlssioner was when the door was flung open and the not ultraconventional. but the request uniformed policeman stood on the for an interview at that time of day hreehold. an hour that almost might be called "Well." said the bluecoat, "excuse a time of night was beyond the scope me for butting in, but I thought some- - of even her liberal views. However, fining might have " curiosity conquered, ns It has been doFitch checked him with an upraised ing in the cases of women, Jewels, and hand, and the patrolman's eyes al- apples since the world began, and she most burst In their sockets as, lower- Informed her maid she would see the ing his gaae, he saw the visitor in the library. Ideath covered by the Headquarters She controlled her eagerness for Wn's pistol. For a second's space, understanding of the request, neverttone of the three men moved. Then a theless, so well that when in a leisureJnetallic click broke the suspense, ly way she reached the big room on ifinly to leave It In another instant the main floor, the visitor was already Jnore taut than ever as all three re- within it. He 6tood at a winddw lookalized the cartridge had missed fire. ing into a street and shielding himThe bluecoat's hand reached for his self behind a curtain from chance club. though he had glances. As his head was bare, it was been at first sight of the cobra, he had .iot until the second glance that she the pluck common to the humblest recognized the Swaml. She was not feiember of "the finest," and he plain- only astonished, but startled by the ly meditated taking the serpent from recognition. What could this mysterl-ou- b the rear. He would not trust to his student of the occult want with Revolver, lest his aim, spoiled by the her? What could possibly be the obLlim3 Intensity of the situation, should fly ject of his visit to her home at such A high and hit one of the two refugees a hour? He was an old acquaintMrs. Mlssioner Did Not Wonder. stop the chiffonier. But ttrltz saved ance In a sense, but one Mrs. Mis- - irl SXt dlai-ovar- In-a- e Urla-wol- pln d expt-rleuc- J g g It ten-)mo- Orl-ntal- s. self-wis- . ob-le- n Hi -- Panic-stricke- n nil rree was promulgated, the effect of CHAPTER XXIV. which Is that none of those unhappy Brlti Shows His Hand. captives Is to see the tight of day until the dlnmond Is returned to Its place Following the talk between Hrlts In Buddha's forehead. The temple and Manning In the office of the chief was draped In the mourning rotors of of detectives, the lieutenant hastened the east, and those colore still deck to his own room, where Fitch waa Its lonely walls. No true believer's awaiting him. He excused himself to foot may be seen within Its portals the physician and entered a telephone while the great stone Is missing. The booth at the far end of hla office In brethren of the priesthood languish which he was accustomed to conduct In dungeons, hoping against hope that his more private wire conversations. Buddha may manifest bis merry by Through the glass of the silence particausing the gem to be regained and tion. Fitch saw the detective's eyea replaced upon his brow. l'ntendl. sparkle as he listened to what the unworihlped. the god alts upon hla man at the other end of the wire waa throne within the shrine, waiting for saying. While Brlti stlil was talking. the restoration of his own." Manning came In. glanced Inquiringly Mrs. Mlssioner was thrilled by the at the doctor, and settled himself in narrative. She waa somewhat at a a big rhalr aa If for a further and loss, however, to account for the depth more protracted Interview with hla of the Swami's Interest In the recap- able lieutenant, ture of the great diamond, t'ntll he "How does It look to you, do tor, unfolded his story further, she did not now?" said the Chief of Fitch, eyt lng know how personal that Interest was. him closely meanwhile. "It looked for awhile as If we bad "How does this affect you?" she asked. "Why should you be at such run Into a hornets' nest," Fitch anpslns to find and restore the diamond.? swered. And to return these other stones to "Pretty exciting experience you had me?" uptown, eh?" The Chief laughed. "Well. Just a little." said the doclor. "You will need no further explanation, madam." said the acbolar, with "One doesn't expert to encounter a utmost courtesy, "when I tell you that cobra In a well regulated brown-stonfront." the priests who lie In' thot Eastern "Think the hunt Is getting any prison are my brethren." "But how Is It you are not among closer?" "Brttz seems to think so. Ills opinthem?" ion carries weight with me " a "By special dispensation of mercy doubt. In your mind, he wlH, "No on the part of the Maharajah," be answered. "When five years, as you cntch the thief, then?" asked the' count them, had flown and still the Chief. "Thief, or thieves," said the medlcaT dlnmond waa missing when all the other servants of the kingdom had man quietly. "1 am convlnt ed he will searched India, the rest of the Orient, run them down soon or late. If they're and even Europe for It. Ills Majesty anywrere on the face of the earth." "Thank you. doclor." Brltx Interrelented far enough to direct that the Imprisoned priests choose one of rupted, coming out of the booth. their number to girdle the earth in "Your confidence Is not misplaced. quest of the stone. I, being the young- The thieves' are as good aa caught est of the priesthood, was selected for now." Manning looked up with an air of the task. For the priests themselves, though prisoners of woe. are more surprise. "Yea." continued Brlti. addressing concerned to have the stain wiped out than to return to the world from his chief, "I've JuHt been talking to whleh they have been exiled They Cordon. Had him out ell day on a chose the youngest that the searcher special trail. Turns out to be the right might have as long a time as nature lead. We know where the second batch of thieves can be found after permitted to carry out the quest." The Swaml paused an Instant, and the next hour or so." "Where are they?" asked Manning then continued: , "So you see that not only do a hun- eagerly. "I'll take you to them. Chief.': Brits dred human lives hang upon the return of that single Jewel to the placo replied "If you dont mind. Ill ask. whence It was stolen, but that the you to wait a little whlie until I can faith, the religion, the very hope of do so. Meanwhile, let's gather up the loose ends." eternity of millions of persons, are "Do you mean you have solved the equally deiendent upon it. t'ntll the gem gleams again In Buddha's brow, Mlssioner mystery?" Fitch Inquired, no prayer for redemption can be trembling slightly as he reflected breathed with any hope of response what the answer might mean to the In the most remote part of the woman of his heart. "There Isn't any mystery now," Maharajah's kingdom. Can you won"There der that I would sell life itself to Brits responded cheerily. hasn't been any In my mind for sevachieve this task?" Mrs.' Mlssioner did not wonder. She eral hours." "Let's have It!" exclaimed the Chief clasped between her hands the packet containing the other stones of her Impatiently. Just for an Instant Brits stiffened necklace, and gazed dreamily into the under his excellently controlled exfire. "What Is It, then, you wish?" she terior. He believed In discipline. He asked. "What can I do for you? Is was known favorably to his suiriors from the commissioner down for the it a question of a reward?" ( "Not In that sense," said the Swaml obedience and respect he always them. But there lurked bequickly. "I want no recompense for showed his neath departmental sense of duty to you that which belongs returning to you. Those stones are yours. It the independence of a man who felt would be as wicked for me to keep he could always stand on his own two them, according to the light of my feet, and that he could work alone, if diffifaith, as In the moral intelligence of need be, to accomplish the most lastcult revolt His of task. impulse I But do want a reward In a yours. way. I ask your permission to return ed scarce a second's space, however, to my native land, and I request that and with a military salute that peryou cause all further efforts to re- haps was meant to remind him of cover the big diamond to end at once.". Manning's rank, he slid Into bis re"How can I do that?" Inquired the volving chair and looked Intently at first one and then the other of the e widow. "The matter Is now in the hands of the poHce. You can' say truthfully to the police." the Swaml replied, "that your dlamtids have been returned to you; that you are satisfied with the explanation of their disappearance that accompanied their restoration, and that you wish all further activity the part of the authorities to cease." n "I will consider it." "I trust your consideration will not cover many hours." Bald the Swami, rising. "If you come to a decision quickly and a favorable one, you will avert a very strong possibility of bloodshed." Mrs. Mlssioner started. "The Maharanee diamond as you call It. is in the keeping of my colleague," the Swaml continued. "Th-- .. man Britz. the detective from Headquarters, who has been most active in the' hunt for yourhecklace, is dose upon his heels. It is impossible for my comrade to escape from the city unless you express a desire to have the police cordon now surrounding us withdrawn. He will not give up the Jewel while he retains the slightest spark of life with which to fight for It. And neither will he stop at what your phase of civilization would call murder, if it becomes at all necessary for the defense of the stone." , A little shudder ran through Mrs. Mlssioner. "I will come for your decision at noon," said the Swaml. "It is the safest time for me to' pass through men. who waited tensely for words. (TO EE CONTINUKD.) bis How Artificial Furs Are Made. The raw pieces are frozen and the skin carefully shaved off, thawed and send to the tanneries to be made Into leather. The frozen fur which remains Is allowed to thaw slightly at the bottom, so that a small part of the hair is freed from ice. This thawed portion is then covered with a solu tion of rubber, which is allowed to set The result is that large seamless pieces of fur are obtained much cheaper than those which come with the natural skin. These same artificial furs are said to be more lasting e than the real, because they are from the attacks of moths. im-hun- Dumas' Quiet Rebuke. During Victor Hugo's exile. Dumas went to GuwnFey. where Hugo received him kindly, and took him to breakfast on a veranda overlooking the ocean. It did not take Dumas long to discover that Hugo was already posing as the proscribed prophet, and when the poet said, with an Olympian wave of his hand: "You see me, my dear Dumas, on my rock of exile like the proscribed one of antiquity." "Never mind." said Dumas, with his mouth full, "the butter is far better here than in Paris. There is no dis- puting that." In His Own Defense. The Prisoner at the Bar Now. I the streets, as they are then at their asks yer, gents of the Jury, if I'd busiest. Think well upon my request. got away with all that swag, like If you please, madam. Let not the they say t did. d' yer I'poso I'd have sacred stone go back to Its shrine with hired this here llttl $15 lawyer V defend me? Puck. Western blood upon it." |