l‘

  

Joe Phenix’s Great Blue

.1

Diamond Cage!

13: m

    
 

 

 

9...: I :“¥“"1"1U'”ll‘l.‘|1\ wig ‘
w}: a}. “I [I .

       

Copyrighted. lam. u.) UHADLI‘. AND Aunts. ENTERED As SECOND CLASS MATTER AT THE Nlcw YORK, N. Y., Pun HFV‘YP". P‘wlr‘i‘n“? I . 1" l.

No.799.

GBeadzé   17(é)II,/)VZVI;S7LCI‘S, TenCentssCopr- V01 
o 0

Published Evory
9s WILLIAM STREET, NE .v YORK. “~00 3 Y0“-

Wednesdny.

 

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.

NEW YflIK Sllllfl HI 1011!] “WHEN

‘1 y }‘ |
(a / (“It '1‘, z! 1'
‘3.) 4”?!" , "

 

{V

l /

. .y  4/ I I,» (4/
/,.}/“ 9 J7 0/
v , ’ r: ' /1 /,‘~' r"n¢(%"%"
h / i 
I ,/,l x y ’l L .J/ 

' /,"’

r
,l
I

. / ///

~

I“ VI/y/I’x/Q/y
// r

,1 4 w,
 ‘
\~' \‘
.- “l
\
 ~ "
'1’/ f“.
-

//

 / 4.x n l 
— ‘ iy'*-““r:i/"VL//
‘t’ \E> ‘

._ )-

 

 

 

 

 

I'I' \\.\\ R01 RY .\lHl'N'l.\L\' .H\l.

“'l‘lHClih‘ “As 11mm Ml 1mm: harm," 'l‘IlL “51*an E1: (IUEI).

 

The Newest Sport 31: rag Branch.

v’. -" .‘ ~n‘

 

 

 

 

The’ilaw lurk Sport at Long Brandi?

 BLOCKING THE BURLnsQUn
 acrnnss's GAME.

‘ A Romance of the Great Metropolls.

   
   
   
 
  
 
  
   
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
 
   
    
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
     
     
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
 

 

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,
AUTHOR or " 'l‘lIE JOE I'HENIX ” DETECTIVE
TALES, “THE FRESH oi“ FRISCO ” 1(0-
MANCEs, AND TnE “DICK TAL-

BOT" SERIES.

 

CHAPTER I.
BY THE sounnnvo snA.

Lose BRANCH, on the New Jersey coast,

, the famous watering place which in the

time when Grant was President used to be

termed the “ summer capital ” by the brainy

men who wield the pen in the interest of the
great AmeriCan newspapers.

Long Branch is not quite so popular now
as it used to be in those great days of yore,
still, it is one of the loading American sum-
mer resorts, thanks more to its proximity to
New York than to the natural advantages,
which it possesses.

it was at the close of an extremely warm
July day that we transport the reader, in
imagination, to this guy summer city by the
shores of old ocean. , .

0n the morroaw the Monmouth Park races
were to begin, and already the hotels were
filled to overflowing.

The sports had come, who make a busi-
nest!~ of "following the races;" the horse-
owners, whose costly steeds were to contend
upon the oval track; the idle men of wealth,
both young and old, who come for the pur-
pose of passing away the time, which is so
often apt to hang heavy on the hands of

x ‘ 1 men who have so much money that they do
' not have to take upon their shoulders the
. cares of business, and sometimes do not
 '; really know what to do with themselves, and
' last, though not least, the bOokmakcrs, the
.pieasant, jovial gentlemen, without whom
the races would lose about all their interest,
 A for the average man goes to a race track for
' 515' A‘ ‘ the purpose of betting, and if ‘ he could not
 findaehsnce to risk his money would be
‘ "  very apt, in the ship; of the day, to declare
', that the affair was . G.
' The crack men of the press, too, were on
hand. for on the” marrow the Monmouth Cup
was'to be run, the great race Of the meet
i log, with half a hundred horses entered fqr
' the rich prize.

By this time, of course, it was understood

that only about a dozen of the fifty would
i , Start, and speculation was busy as to’who
' , would prove the winner, for there were
' some “dark horses" from the South and
;West, in regard to whose cambllities the
public at large knew but little. '
,.  {The news aper mom—keen, cunning
' . “blades-had one their best to ascertain
which horse was likely to carry off the rich
.stske. for it would be, a great card for any of
the enterprile "journals to say, with a

rest flourish o trumpets, the day after the
' ' r

a race:

, ~“ Aha! didn’t our turf prophet predict the
V , malt, and our readers w 0, follow the races
~ ' are 'in it,’ while the this aided unfor.

" _-,tunates who are weak enougi topatronizo

the other news pers are wee ing and be-

, caning their i 1 luck this morn ng. Moral;
“ u’ this ’ournal and you will beha pylf’ ,
.llpon the broad veranda of. the, est End
Hotel, the popular headquarters of the great
lacing men, a large crowd was conggegated.

The "basses were arriving from t s after-
noon,» train, and the people upon the veranda
16m engaged in scanning the new-comers as
, e alighted. ..

. V ere were'not chairs enough to accom~
imitate a quarter of the people On the
{spacious veranda. and so there was a con-
stant stream of humanity passing up and

.. Two well~dressed gentlemen encountered
etch other. , here was a glance of reeognt
tlon,‘,snd then the two greeted warmly. -.
One was a tall, rather stout man. well ad;
megd'in years—sixty orgsixtyiive, be
it!“ my "Sella! we!”

  

  
  
  

 

  

  

    
 
 

    

 

    

  

 

  
 

 

ringlets; his face was smoothly shaven. and
he had the air of a man who amounted to
something.

In his case appearances were certainly not
deceptive, for this was the well-known
writer, lrewster Kinsade, who under his pen
name of “ King Lear” had won a reputation
as being the foremost newspaper man of the

da '.

lie had been everywhere, and knew eVery-
body; from the presidential kmansion, the
famous White llousc, down to the humble
beer cellar in Park Row where the “ blamed
literary fellows,” as a plain-spoken, and
venerable “statesman” once termed them,
are wont to congregate, he was a Welcome
guest.

And it was no wonder, for a more agree-
able companion, or entertaining gentleman,
lived not'on the earth.

The new-comer who had accosted this
mighty dean of the newspaper guild was a
direct contrast to him in every res )cct.

He was a tall, slender young icllow, of
twenty-five or therealmuts, with an olive
hued complexion, dark hair and eyes, and an
expert skilled in guessing nationalities from
appearances would have set him down for a
Creole from New Orleans.

And this was the truth.

Jeflerson Clairhorne was his name. and he
was one of the young fellows who have
grown up since “ the war," and on the ruins
of his father‘s fortune, who had been killed
in the struggle, had succeeded in making
more money than an .of his long line of pro-
minent ancestors ha eVer possessed.

He was a fine specimen of the men of the
New South—those who have regenerated the
barren places, wasted b war’s unrelenting
hand, and made the lam to again blossom
like the rose.

“ This is Mr. Kinsade, if I am not mis-
taken?" the young Southerner observed as he
extended his hand to the other.

“ Correct, sir, and you are Jefferson Clair-
borne, of New Orleans?” the veteran news
paper man replied:

” Yes, sir; but, really, when I caught sight
of you I was in doubt whether to speak or
not, for I thought it doubtful if you would
remember me,” the young man explained.

“ My dear Mr. ()lairborne, it is part of my
business mum to forget a face, or a name!"
the other declared.

“ But we only encountered each other
once,” the Southerner reminded.

" I remember the circumstance perfectly.
It was at the St. Charlesllotel. Major Poin-
dexter oi’ the Picayune introduced us, and
then we had a mint‘julep together.

“ By the way, is that same barkeeper still
at the St. Charles—~11 little dark-faced fol-
low with a monkey look, but, oh! how he
could mix a juicp!"

And the veteran smacked his li as though
even now the flavor of the devghtful con-
coction was on his palate.

“ Tony ?”

“ Yes, that was the name.”

“ He is still there.”

"it is almost worth a trip to
drink one of Tony's julepsi , ‘

" But 1 am glad to meet you, Mr. Clalr~
borne!” the veteran continued. “ You did
the honors in the South and now I Will have
an opportunity to return the favor," the
nfwspapcr man remarked, with courtly dig-
nt . '

‘XI am pleased to meet some one I know,

forthis is my first visit to the North. and

3 far, until I encountered you, I had not
on a fa iliar face.”

“I sba i be very glad indeed to show you
around," Kinsade declared. " And I can as-
sure you, Mr. Clairborne, ,ou might find a
far worse guide than I wil prove. ’

“ I do not doubt that in the least, and it
is my thOughtv that I would bow to go far
to find a man who is as well-posted as your—
self." the Creole reioined. '

, " Much obliged or the cempliment," with
a courteous bow. ,
,“But. to use the common saying, I be‘

Orleans to

' have 1 do "know the ropes’ as wellasany of

the boys. ,I.suppose you mine down to see,

the races?" _ _ .x ‘
"Yes, I take a particular interest in this

 
    

theetin im- I have, a horse entereda” ‘
N“ " '8" ' , 33,1 remember now, Souths
, ,  ,n , 

 

 

 



noted that entry that it did not recall you to
my mind, particularly when I knew the horse
was from the South, and was said to carry a
gem] deal of Southern money!"

“Well, even Jove was said to nod, some-
times,” the Southerner observed with a smile.

“Very true, and 1 don‘t doubt that it is a
fact, too.

“ Well, how is your mare getting on? She
is looked upon as one of the dark horses. and
the ‘talcnt,’ as the men who make a living
by following the races, and picking the win-
ners are called, seem to be considerably exr
crciscd over the animal, for although, as a
rule, they contrive to find outall the'particu-
lurs regarding the beasts entered in the big
races, yet they appear to be all at sea about
your mare.” .

The Creole laughed.

“I do not wonder at their being puzzled
for I don’t really know how good an animal
she is myself. She is only athrec year old, you
know, and has started but once this season,
then the track happened to be a perfect mud-
hole and she is one of the horses who cannot
run in the mud, so she finished away back in
the ruck."

“And she did not run many times as a two
year old?”

“ No. she only started once, at Lexington, 1
Kentucky, and won in good company in a
cantor; but. after that race, she went amiss
and I was obliged to turn her out. " i ,

“She is literally then a dark horse; but, .
by the Way, here are a couple of chairs, so, 5 i
let us seize upon them!”

CHAPTER II. f i 
THE TALE or A orwnn YOUTH. 1 ‘ "

THE keen eyed quill-driver had noticed a
couple vacating the chairs, and was prompt
to take possession of them.

After he and Clairborne were seated the
conversation was resumed.

“ As I was saying, the talent are all at
sea in regard to this cup race, for there
are halfadozen dark horses in it, and it
does not seem possible for the keenest Ii
‘touts’ to get a line on them,” Kinsadc re- ‘
marked. .

“ Yes, lam aware of that fact, but it is ..
owing to the horses being from the South
and West, and the most of them, like my . L»
mare, have shown one or two good races, "
but have not done enough to allow any one
to judge 'ust how good, or bad. they are.” a i

“ But noticed' that your Southern Girl 
started in, the betting at 50 to l, and now f,
the pencilcrs are not willing to do better than , l .
20 to 1 against her,” the newspaper man ob- - -

 
 

 

 

 

 

served. . 
“That is on account of the Southern 
money coming in to back her," the Creole .3‘

explained. “ When the booknmkcrs start-
ed to oil‘er such odds as that I was prompt
to put in all the money thatl could get
them to take.”

“1 don’t wonder at itl". Kinsade declared.

“It you had an idea that our mare .
stood any chance to win, acce ng odds o
50 to 1 was like picking up mo ey. .r '

“ Yes, all I could et on was a thousand,
and 1 used a great‘ iii of strategy, too, in
placin the money, putting it on in small
sums tiroug‘h other parties; but it did not
take these sporting gentlemen long to dis-
cover that some one bad faith enough in '
Southern Girl to (put up money on her. and
the rice tumble to 20 to 1 immediately.

“ y tonight I will have another thousand
on her at those odds, and if the bookmakers
are willing to give more than, 5;.0 1 to mor-
row I shall be astonished,” the young man .
continued. , ~ g ‘. .

“You stand a chance then to, land
sevent thousand dollars if the more wins,”
Kinsa ecomputed.  'a ' - - . ‘

“ Yes, and all 1 rl  is two thousand; but
Ishall put a couple of thousand more on
her to-morrow,xthougli, if, I can get as good
as five to one, and if the more wins it will
look a good deal like a hog killing, as the
gulch; say," the Creole announced, with 3
aug. ,»   

‘f Doldale is the favorite, Van Courtlsnd‘t's  3*
horse." the veteran remarked ' it a   .

“Yes, five to four is” the best" that, ‘_ '  v
betti men will give, and I don’t woods . r
it, for, ldale is a good perf’or 
shrewdl bookimahers‘ so eti ~

         
      
 
      
    
    
    
    
    

..~<
a

   
   
   
   
   
   

\ ‘ -

    
        

    

333*‘~'x:aly.x.'~§«.

    

, Irv}

  
        
   
  
  
     
        

      
   
  

  

      
   

   

l

1‘s.

    

_‘ v,i-A",.y,.A 5 <.

a» 'E'é rain-ti

.-‘ satin}:

‘4‘... .mi<¢a-' w,»

.. r.‘

43mm. ~ .: A» 5

\

 

'~ ~ -:.h¥6w"mw~u ~ . r, w

 

‘25.;  1‘  m

‘3

\



 

‘ .

 

» 
'l

M— r ~..’v A-
w _ . . . .   3A.: 7“.- 

,_,v. h... ....~,.__. . .. _.
..1‘ » w' I ’</.-," , putt, .-

 

and his sire and dam, are all milers, while

’ every man, woman and child is interested in

', father, and about the time he had mana ed
'10 et through the money his mother
-.an

certainly born with a golden spoon in his

‘ :mous sum, upo ‘Dolda’le. being sure that his
horse will win t ecup. that, if the horse loses -

rsesses upon a single event," the Creole re-

7boy and he is anything but wise,“ the news.

' muons fellow wit the heart of a prince, a

out. taking into consideration all the circum-
stances," the Southerner observed.

“ You are quite correct in that statement,”
the newspaper Veteran assured. “ Book-
makers are only men, at-d are sometimes car-
ried away by .heir imaginations."

" That. is my argument.” (Ilairborne ad-
mitted ' Now in this case of Doldale,
there is in doubt that he is the best three-
,year old of his year, but he has been cam-
paigned pretty hard, and the best of horses
will go amiss if he is kept on edge for too
long a. time."

“ Ah. yes; how true that is.’

“‘ And then, Doldale is carrying the top
‘wcight, one hundred and thirty pounds, giV»
lugr my mare thirty pounds, for her weight
is only one hundred, and the (,‘up Course is
a mile and three-quarters and I tell you,
Mr. Kinsade, it takes an extra good horse to
carry a big weight like that fora mile and
three-quarters."

“ Very true, very true indeed.” the veteran
declared. “ An animal might manage to
carry a crushing weight for a mile, or even
a mile and a half, but-when it comes to the
extra quarter it breaks their heart.”

“That is my calculation. Then here is
another point which must be taken into con-
sideration. Doldale is by the Emperor, an
imported English horse, very highprieed, of
excellent breeding, and a good performer at
short distances in England, but in this
country he never ran, as he went amiss in
trainin and was sent to the stud. ‘

“ Do dale’s mother was a Glencove mare,
another speedy beast at a mile but worthless
at any great distance, while Doldale himself
has never shown that he could negotiate a
mile and three quarters with the case with
which be can cover a mile.

“ You observed my argument: Doldalc,

 

7

my mare traces directly back to Lexington
by both dam and sire: to Lexington, the
champion four miler, and the best horse at
that distance that ever trod on shodden hoof
in this or any other country!”

“ I appreciate the force of your contention;
your mare can stay the distance while DOI-
ilale cannot with the weight he is forced to
c rr .” '

“ That is my idea, and I think it is asound
one.” ’

“It certainly seems to be so. I see that
you go at this thing in a scientific way in-
stead of rushing ahead blindly as thcaverage
man certainly does."

" It comes naturally to us Southerners to
handle horses, I believe,” the Creole assum.
ed.

"Then, too, though! was born in New Or-
leQns l was brought up in Kentucky in the
beautiful blue grass region, where almost
horses. " ' ; '

“ Do you know Van Courtlandt, Doldale’s
owner?” Kinsade asked.

“No, I never met him.”

“He is one of the notable men of New
York, a young fellow of five-and—twenty,
“th inherited a million of dollars from his

icd
left him another million." “
“A lucky fellow!”

” Oh, yes. one of the kind who was most

mouth; but they say that he has thrown away
lus money so lavishly. and bet such an enor-

the race, Van Courtlnndt 'will be a ruined

man ‘ t
" A man is not wisc.to stake all he p034

marked with a grave shake of the head.

' "Ah. this Alex Van Courtlandtis a gay

paper man vowed. " Personally he is a jolly
stmdfellow, bright «and intelligent, it splen-
id companion, and if heyhad been born-a
poor man undoubtedly would have made a
name in the world, but his wealth has been
his ruin." .
hr‘ He doesn’t know the value of money,’
e I", q ‘
“'That is it exactl ; though as he isa noble. .

_ or nature's nobleman. if there everwas
 ~ 1 - ed chasedd‘ !

 

 A The New York Sport at Leng

l

, his money is

indulging iua most expensive amusement,"
the veteran (Explained.

“Are you much of a theater-goer?” Kin
Sade asked, abruptly.

“ Oh, yes,” Iam Very fond of the theater,
and always attend when I am in a large
Cit '.” .

“Possibly then you have heard of the
famous English burlesque actress, Dolly
Ragsdalc'!"

“Yes; I saw- her half~a-dozen times last
winter when she played in New Orleans, a
really charming creature! Half the men in
Orleans were over head and ears in love with
her. "

The newspaper man laughed.

“ Ah, yes, that is the way it usually goes!”
he declared.

“ She is a fine type of the buxom English
girl, not much of an actress, no great shakes"
of a singer, only a fair dancer, yet she man-
ages to rake in a goodly harvest of American
dollars,” Kinsade continued.

“ Well, to come to the point, when Miss
Ragsdalc came to this country with her
burlesque company a little over a year ago,
one of the first conquests she made was Alex
Van Courtlandt; and ever since that time he
has been her most devoted admirer. In fact,
it is commonly reported, and generally be-
lieved, that Van (lourtlandt would marry the
lady to-morrow if she would only consent to
have him."

" He certainly must be infatuated then,”
the Creole remarked. “ For althou h I be-
lieve the girl bears a good reputation, yet
for a man in Van Courtlandt’s station to
marrya woman of this kind would be simply
an act of folly.”

“ Oh, yes. no doubt about that, and it is
an hnmistakahle fact that Van Courtlandt is
completely infatuated with the girl. and
has squandered his money on her in the most
lavish manner.

“ Why he even named his horse afterther.
Doldale isa compound derived from-Dolly
Ragsdalc."

“Ah, yes, I see."

“ If you like I will introduce you to Van
Courtlandt this evening, and then you can
piecier yourself'just what kind of a fellow

a s.

“ I shall ‘be glad to make his acquaint-
ance," the Creole replied. '

The gong rung for dinner at this point
and interrupted the conversation.

The two went in together and erjoyed the
meal. the veteran pointing out the notable
people to the Southerner.

CHAPTER III.
is Tun GAMBLING-DEN.

AFTER the meal. was ended the two re-
paired to the piazza again and lit their cigars,
“We ought to run across Van (Jourtlandt

 

.‘ Wffl. fifth—A...—  _v,;t W4, 4,.  e» rs» v

 

pretty soon,”~_Kinsade remarked

»“ He makes this hotel his headquarters, al-
though he spends about half his time at Miss

gsdale‘s cottage.”

“ Has she a cottage here?" ,

“Oh, yes. and keeps open house for her
friends after the style of a woman who is
worth a million; rumor says that Van Court-
landt is paying the bills. ,

“You see heis honest in his idea of marry-
ing the girl, and like man another man
thinks he can win her heart y lavishing his
mbuev upon her.

“ Sometimes it is a mistake to go ahead in
that fashion." the Credie asserted. .. ‘

“ Yes, if the woman is at all on the siren
order, for she will lead a man, on, and after
gone then she has no further
use for him." ‘ ’

Just then a friend of Kinsade came along, .
another newspaper «nan, and the veteran in» -
puiécéd if he had seen anything of Van Court-

an . ‘ .

“ You will find him over at the Virginia
Club-house," the other replied. “ I heard
him say that he was disgusted that the book-
makers would not do any better‘than 5 to 4
on his horse. and as he had a couple of thou- 1
sand dollars. he didn‘t know what to do '
with. hie was going over to break the bank."

. " More likely that .the bank will Z bretk
him 2’! Kinsade surmised, at whichJihé other »
latlehingly,assented' ' ado  
- ‘ The ’~ vets "

‘3

.with the Creole's father, for before the be”, '

"rid of, and the California man prom fly‘

 

mayo"

 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
   
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  

v

3

Branch. K

 

Weekly, who bore the reputation of being
the boss New York sporting man.

“ Peter is a very nice fellow," the news-
paper man explained. “And no one from
his appearance would ever take him to be a
sporting man; but suppose we go over and
take a look at the place," Kinsadc sug-
gested. '

“ I shall be pleased to do so, ' the Creole
assented.

“ Peter and I are on good terms," Kinsade
explained. “ I have known him for over
twenty years, and have always found him it!
be a good, square fellow.

“All the attaches of the house know me,
and I walk in and out as if I had an interest
in the place. '

“ You understand, I presume, that the
doors of this club-house are not open to every
one who applies. Peter runs a big concern;
he does not care. for the sumll fry, and no
one can gain admittance to his club-house
without being properly introduced.

“ IIe treats his guests in the most lavish
manner. At eleven o‘clock each night a mag-
nificent game supper is served; the finest of
wines and liquors are always displayed on a \
sideboard, and each guest is at liberty to
help himself to all he wants. just the same as
if he was in his own house.” ;

“ I comprehend; a really first-class institu-
tion of tke kind."

“ Yes, decidedly so; and there is no obli‘
gation for the guest to play unless he feels
inclined.

“ Now take myself, for instance. Inever
ventured a dollar in the house, and when I
happened to say to W'eekly race that it
wasn’t quite the cheese for n e to drh k his
wine and eat his supper without iislzirg a
dollar or two in order to give him a (let us,
to get the pay for it, he replied, ‘ ()ld fellow.
I don't want you to play. You are. no‘ Lig
enough game for me. i don’t run this place-
to catch fifty or hundred dollar men, for, new;
rule, such men cannot. afford to lose their
money; but the men who blow in five hpn~
dred or a thousand are wealthy fellows who
can stand the pressure." a ,

“Yes, yes, I comprehend, and I should
like to see what the place is like," Clairs .
borne observed.

“ Come on, then."

And the two started. _ -

The club-house was only about ten minm. 
utes' walk from the hotel, and it did not take  g
the two long to cover the distance. . " t 

The muscular negro, dressed in a . full 3.
evening suit, who guarded the door, .re-  ”
ceived the newspaper man with the utmost 
cordiality. Evidently he was an honored, _,
guest. . , ' “ 
As Clairborne ,had ant-ici ted from Kin,» ‘
sadc’s description,‘the club- ouse was fitted“
up in the most elegant manner; and when
the proprietor espied the newspaper manfihe’ .
left the gentleman with whom he was 0013"
versing and came forward to greet him. .

Then, when Clairborne was introduced.“
after a brief conversation, it was discovered '
that the old sport had been well acquainted“

ginning of the war Weekly had kept a piston; "
in New Orleans, an so the sport was able‘to‘
tell the son a great many things in regard iii:
theiather, which he did after they wenttnf '
Weekly’s rivate rlor, then the convent
tion turne upon 1 8 great race whichm'ns to.
take place on the marrow, and it got was
eleven o’clock before either of the three 
any idea of it. ‘ t _' :f- M

“ By the way," the newspaper. manna,
marked after, making the discove 'of 1am -
time had floWn, I came over to the err-’1‘
press put of introducin ,Mr. Chairman
to Alex an Conrtiandt, as heard that'Vim
had started for the clu ” ’ , g

“ Yes, he is. here tap-stairs in one of theL
poker reoms having a regular duel st tar-dis
with an old California gambler, Jim Mona;
tain. familiarly called Rocky Mountainlin. -
the old sport explained. -  

“Van Courtlandt happened to remarkm
me in Roc'ty‘s hearing that he had a 
of thousa dollars thathe wanted toga

 

plied that he was in the same .tlxt truce _,
and'proposed a little gamete! poker; the Ne ,
Yorker accepted. and they have been 

tit ever’sincc. I presume. Ityou
taken look, at "their: ad

    
 

.... a.» nun-:4
) u -. -

- 4

.1» 37.25m".'wdyh‘brm 4- i. can.» (mi.

The others signified their approval of this
proposal and the three went upstairs to
the rooms set apart for the accommtxiation
~ of “ short card " players.

é. As the veteran had expected the New
Yorker and the old California gambler were
hard at it.

There was a great contrast between the
two men. Alexander Van (‘ourtlaudt was a
typical representative of the swell New
Yorker. lie was a tall, goodvlooking fellow,

4 with regular features, clear blue eyes, blonde

' hair and a small mustache of the same hue.

The only bad thing about the face was the

 mouth and ,chin, which seemed to indicate
weakness and indecision. ‘

The Californian was a tall. lathy sort of a

1: fellow, a man of fully titty, with athin face.

“a which was smoothly shaven, and from his

ecullnr rave look a stranger would have_

n muc more likely to take him to be a“

minister, or a school-teacher, than an all
around sport,

There wasas much contrast in the way
the men were dressed, too, as in their looks.
Van Courtlandt's appearance showed that he
was an extra good customer of some fashion-
able tailor, While the Californian wore a sober
black suit. _

" How goes the game, gentlemen?” Week-
ly in uired, as he entered.

“ eli,I am about cleaned out,” Rocky
,' Mountain Jim answered, shaking his head in
' a melancholy way. “ This gentleman has

been too much for me tonight. and if he

takes this ‘pot’it will end my fun.”

” I think I have got the cards to do it,”

. Van Courtlandt announced. “And as an

" ‘ earnest of what I am going to do I will put

A ' up a hundred.”

“Well,I have got fair cards this time,
but 1131 have not got the wealth to come
back at you the way I would like to doI
will 'sec’ your hundred, which exhausts
my pile, and ‘call’you. What have you.
got?" the Calfornian asked.

“Four tens!” Van Courtlandt replied,
displaying the cards.

“ Good-enoughl” the other cried in a dis-
gusted way, throwing his cards on the pack.

“ Hard lines, my noble lord!" he continued
“I started in with three jacks, and had
ho of either catching the other jack, or a
par in the ‘draw,’ but it didn't work that

 

 

t

I

C’

 

 

Wa .

“yin fact, I think 1am justified in saying

that a man doesn't often run up against a
' harder streak of luck than that which I have
been playing in for the last couple of weeks." i

“Are you cleaned out, Rocky?" the old

ntbler asked.

“ Yes, I am about down to the bedrock,
and I don’t believe I would have a Cent left
if I had not taken the precaution to give the
clerk of the hotel a hundred to put away in
the safe for me, and I gave him strict orders,
too, not to allow me to have it until tomo’r

r _ row no matter how urgently I might ask for
it” '  ‘ it," the Californian announced.

' “ That is a good idea," Weekly remarked.

. “You are an old time sport yourself. Peter.

and you know how it is," Rocky Mountain

Jim assumed. “ Things have not been eom~

.i‘ng my wa for two weeks now. When I

landed in ew York I could have cleaned up

a good ten thousand dollars. for I had been

havin as gbod a run of luck its—any man
g ; w’ouh what; then, all of a sudden, things .
*3 changed right around, and Ieouldn't win a

' ' , stake, no matter how hard I tried."
3 " Luck will work that way sometimes,”
' the old sport observed
, “I am not inclined to be superstitious, but
, Ihave a sort of an idea that Igot my bad
, {luck from a young Englishman whom .met.

' v f‘ He was a wild blade and had the next room
i}.  "to me in the hotel. It is my notion that he

 thought Iwas a flat," with a sly chuckle.
“ for he bantered meinto playing poker with
"him, and. of course,I cleaned him out in

- short order. '
“,We get through the game about mid-
' night, and as I noticed that he seemed dread-
-fully discoura edI oil'ered to lend him a

, stake if he ha gone broke."

 “Acting like a true s ort," Weekly add-

;- -'ad “The man in our i he, who knows his

business, will never take a man's last dollar,
I and let him go out into the world without a
» a cent for food and shelter," he continued.
: u 
that

 

‘51”3 W
.i V - . .

i  New‘Y/ork Sp

 

 

“8‘ l8"

_ aur- no- v, mm». _

ort at Long

- AA ,

“Well, this young fellow thanked me for
my offer, but said he was so fixed that he did
not need any money, so I bid him good-night
and marched off with my sporls.

“I went down-stairs and got a drink as .a
night-cap, you know. Then came up to go
to bed, and, just as i got to the door of my
room I heard groans coming from the room
of this young man. lie had not locked his
door so I got in without trouble.

“ lie lay in the bed, deathly pale, and a
little vial, which stood on a tahle by the bed,
told the story.”

“ Suicide. eh?" Weekly asked.

“ Yes; and as soon as ldiscoVercd what
was the matter I told him, as he was still
conscious, that I Would run fora doctor. but
he replied that it was no use, for he had
taken such a dose that all the doctors in the
land could not do anything for him.

“Besides, he did not want to live. The
otlicers of justice were after him, he said.
and that was the reason he got me to play
cards—he hoped to win money enough to
enable him to get to some foreign land where
if, would not be possible for the bloodhounds
to get at him."

" Well, he was a bad egg!’ Weekly
opined.

" lie was so weak that it was as much as
he could do to speak, but he managed
to tell me that he had been a grand ras-
cal, plundering; people right and left, but all
that remained of his spoils wasa blue dia-
mond ring, which he hOped I would take
and return to the owner.

“Then he managed to get it out of his
pocket—4!. was in this case," the Californian
exfilained, producing a small jewel-box.
" e laced it in my hand. gave a gasp, and
pas over the Great Divide, as we say in
the Mountain region.

" Quite a romantic tale,” Van Courtlandt
observed.

“Oh, yes, just like a novel. Well, I held
on'to the sparkler, forI suspected from the
fact of his telling me he had only been in
America a couple of days when met him
that he had got the diamond abroad, so it
was not likely the owner was in this coun-
try. and it was my opinion that I would be
more like] to get it back to the hands of
the origina possessor by wearing it, so peo-
ple could see the jewel, than by surrender-
ing it to the hands of the police."

" Yes. you were right; I think I would
have acted in that way myself,” Weekly ad-
mitted. , J

“But, here is the jewel,” and the Cali-
fornian ppened the box.

CHAPTER IV.
Tm; BLUE DIAMOND.

ALL four gentlemen uttered a cry of sur-
prise as the 'cwel met their eyes.

It was a d amond, but not clear white, or
even with a yellow tin re, as the precious
stones sometimes appear, at with a decided
bluish cast. "

It was fully as large asafllbcrt and “ cut ”
in the highest style of the jewelcr's art.

At more magnificent stone no one of the
party had ever seen.

“Upon my word, this goes a little ahead
of anything in the diamond line I have seen
for some time," Weekly averred. “ Why,
this stone must be worth a good five thou-
sand dollars!”

“Yes, it is easily worth that, I think,"
Van xCourtiandt rcmarkedl with the air of a
man who thought he knew something about
such things.

“ I fancy from what the Englishman said
that he ot this stone in India, as he told me
that he rad come from Calcutta by way of
California, for, according to his stories, he
had, been about all over the world, and I
fancy 'from what little'he let slip that he had
played the shark for some time." ‘

" I should not be surprised if this sto‘ne
bad a history,” the newspa or man now in-
t'er' “Blue diamon s are very rare.
an a jewel of this size and beauty would be
highly prizé'd in India, where the native
rulers. the rujahs and begums, go in heavily
for this sort of thing. " . ,

“ I made up my mind to wear it, knowing
it would excite attention, but Ihave always
made it a rule to dress so plainly that I
rather shrank from displayin r such an ele-
. jewel as this 'onmy ngcr," the old

' ' t I will

0

 

I

Branch.

,‘rr-r-‘r‘  "P

x.

i make the boys on the race-track open their

eyes, for 1 will display the head-light.”

“ It is magnificent." Weekly exclaimed,
in deep admiration. “ A. handsomcr stone I
never saw.” »

The others echoed the opinion.

" Maybe wearing this elegant ornament
will change my luck,” the Californian
hinted. “But I am a little doubtful about
it, for it is only since it came into my pos-
session that thiugs have have been going,r su'
badly, and as lam inclined to be a little-
superstitious, like all men in my line, the:
thought came to me that the diamond may“
be ‘hoodooed,” and that is why] haven’t
been able to do anything since I had it ”

All laughed at this conceit. which the old
gambler advanced with perfect seriousness

“Well, I’ll tell you what] will do, Rocky,”
Weekly remarked. "I will take the dia-
mond off your hands, and givs you three or
four thousand for it, any time you like, and
risk the had luck.”

“Oh, I wouldn‘t sell it!" the Caiii'orpiuii
protested. “ Besides, it wouldn’t really l e a
square deal to take your money. for the
rightful owner may put in a claim for the
diamond at any time, for Iconld not gin:
any title to the thing, you know."

“That is true; I didn‘t think of that.

"Well, gentlemen, I must be going.“ andl
the Californian arose as he spoke. “If 1
take astreak of luck at the races tomorrow. I‘
shall look to you, Mr. Van Courtlandt, to give
me my.revenge as soon as possible."

"Certainly, of course, I shall be de—
lighted,” the New Yorker replied.

Then the Californian departed.

After he had gone Kinsade introduced the'
Creole to Van Courtlandt, when all went’
down-stairs and took a glass of wine with
the pro rietor.

Van urtlandt happened to look at the
clock.

“Hello! it is getting well on to midnight,"
he exclaimed. “I must be going, for I
want to get up early in the morning.

“ Where are you staying, Mr. Clairborne?"
he asked.

“ At the West End,” the Creole answered.

“I have quarters there, too, so chan
proceed in company, and you are there also,
arn‘t 'ou, Kinsade?” ,.

“ es, the West End is my old stamping»
ground!’ I

The three bid the proprietor goodnight.
and started for the hotel.

The club-house was situated on one of the
cross streets running from Ocean avenue:—
as the main drive along the sea—Long
Branch's great thoroughfare is called—in»
land, and as it was in a rather retired spot,
the road was a somewhat lonely one after—
nightfall, as there were only a cw houses
for a good sixteenth of a mile.

Then, too, the roadway was fringed with
trees, and although there ‘rasa full moon yet
the way was dark on account of the shadows
thrown by the leafy wood monarchs.

The three went on their way, chatting as
they walked, when they werestartled by a
cry of alarm from down the road in the
direction of the village.

“ llello! what is that?” the newspaper man

,dcmanded.

 

 

l

“ Sounds as if some one was getting hurt!”
an Courtlandt replpd. '
“ Decidedly sni”,the Creole assented,

The three haltedxwhen almostimmediately " ,
‘0

there came the sound of two shots.

“There is mischief afoot for that was the
short, quick bark of a pistol!” Kinsade cried.

And, actuated by a common impulse, the
three hasttned down the road as fast as they
could run.

A half thousand yards awa they came
upon a man prostrate by the s' e of the way.

The two started in astonishment as they
halted. st, tied b the sight.

It was Rocky filountain Jim.

“There has been murder done!" the re-
porter eried. ‘
‘ lie was evidenth badly hurt, but was still'
able to speak, and recognized the three as
they bent over him.

Two dueling pistols we're on the ground.

one near to the prostrate man, and from this

fact the newcomers guessed that it was he
who had tired the shots.

“ I have been aSsaultcd and robbed," he,
gas ed. ” A fellow was lying for rue-in th
3 

bus es-he jumped out as I ale

t

 

 

 

 

“extant-«.‘kxf an“

a. 1.5“.
as

 

 

 

    

 

 

«- nhsnrla-Iw—u‘ ‘

 

«I. n; .1»: ..—*":‘ ;" ‘>-‘-‘-.- "i. J is,“ ‘. ., .. _

 '= v. i.
_:.um.....1~a~ ..

‘..-i-I‘~."L1"B 'I'" ..~4'.-

.r‘ur

 

\-

i‘d'én .

 

~f >4...,v _..

“"‘N' m-m‘_mm_:au

*? "(5314b 'fiih’fium ~ g. 

 tunate rascal paid dearly enough for the

  
  
  

. ; ,-‘ I. Augie»... .. ‘ . 3-..-”
. grainy,» .1  ’

s- v". .2 v», a If

'.'*“' 
' ".1'

' The New York Sport at Long Branch.

M.~_mm~w~mruuw' n—n-r-uu-un. .mwsvmm 
..  s’0y V. ,-~ ~.» 3.1-; y. - v; .  , I t A . .z, . ..« .- .

. .m—c—n.

5

' u

 

 

 

gave me an awful clip on the head: for the
moment I was nearly stunned, and I went
down; then the galoot went through me and
,got the diamond, but, as he started off I
managed to get out my guns. I missed him
i 'ie first trrne but the second I think I plugged
hizn for keeps.

" Out on the Pacific Slope a man has got
1 i be quick on the ‘draw,’ and a good shot
u ith a gun in order to hold his own in my
'h‘n-iness; it was reckoned that I wasn't any
slouch, and unlessI have made a big mis-
ta‘:e I ‘got‘ my nran all right!"

There was a deal of grim satisfaction in
the. old gamblers voice as he spoke

“ How are you—badly hurt?" Kinsade
asked, as he bent over the stricken nran.

“ ()1), yes; I reckon I have got my ticket
for the happy hunting-grounds,"the aged
sporting rnan replied. faintly, and as he
spoke it was evident that he was growing
r;.ueh fainter.

“ lut, take a look at the rascal," he eon- ,
tinned, speaking with considerable force. l
“ He got my diamond, but I got him.” I

“Look for the blue sparkler-and if you
find it, take the jewel, Van Courtlandt. and
wear it until you conre across the rightful
owner.‘

“(,‘urse that Englishman! I wish Iliad
never seen him, for I have had nothing but v
bad luck ever since—curse him!"

And then the strength of the stricken man 3
seemed to suddenly fail him, for he closed -
his eyes with a moan of pain.

“ lie is hard hit!” the newspaper man de l
cidcd, his experienced eyes quickly deteet- 5
ing the truth. ‘ l

“I reckon he was about right when bcl
said that he wasn't long i'orthis world. I"
was through the war as a newspaper our ‘1
respondent, and I have seen too many men
shutlle off this mortal coil not. to be able to ‘
detect the approach of the grim king of.
terrors when he comes in all his awful ma-
Jesty.”

“ It is that-an awful tragedy,” Van Court- ‘
landt added, in a hushed yoitre.

“ Yes, I fear he is beyond ‘all mortal:
help.

“ But, let us take a look at the man who
did the deed," the newspaper man urged.
“for yonder he lies under the bushes, I
think. At the same time we can keep our
eyes opened for the diamond."

The three hastened to the apparently sense-
less forrrr, all doubled up under the bushes.

CHAPTER V.
A surnrrs'rr'rrox.

Tim man’s body was half in among the
bushes brrt his head protruded, and the face, v
up-turned, so that the rays of the moon-
light fell upon it. was ghastly white.

He was a rutflanly- coking young fellow
of twenty-five or thermbouts. rly dressed,
and still clutched in his ban the “ life-pre-
server.” with which he had dealt the blow
which had laid the Californian low. The
“ life-preserver," to give the murderous i
weapon the name by which it is comrnonl ‘
known in England, from which country ti
originally came, was a ball of lead, about as
big as an English walnut, with a strong
handle composed of a stout wire, the entire
thing being covered with leather. A more
eflectlve weapon for—the highway footpad.
who lies in wait in dark corners for his vic- !
tim, corrld hardly be devised. '

. "/rhis is the centrivance which did thel
damage," the veteran journalist remarked, .
pointing to the culiar club. .

“And from t e fact of the man sessing
a weapon of this kind it is lain t at he is a l
regular professional, probaiil an importa-
tion from across the water. should judge
so from his looks, for he has the appearance
of an English crook." ‘

Clairborne knelt by the side of the pros-
trate man and placed his hand on his pulse

V“Looks as if he was stone dead," the
young man announced.

" I would be willing to iet a good round
sum that the old sport drove a ball right
through his heart, although the fellow had
his back to him, and was running away as fast
as possible," Kinsade declared. “ The actor '

 

 

 

 

ondi

‘Bnt, by the wit , where is the
' thalamus , ~
. a,“

 

jewel?"

. box which had been forced from the hands

of the thief by the violence of his fall, when
the revolver bullet had so suddenly pierced
his heart.

“Aha! there is the boxi" but when the
newspaper man picked it up the discovery
was made that it was em )tyl

“Hello! the diamond is gene!" “But it
must be near at hand!" he continued.

“There it isl”, Van Courtlandt exclaimed,
“ See where it sparkles in the middle of the
road."

” Yes, lying there for all the world like a
common pebble, but pebbles worth five or
ten thousand dollars are not to be met with
every day.

“ Pick it up. Van. and here is the case,"
the journalist ordered. “It is your pro-
perty now, for both (dairborne and I bear
witnesses that liockv Mountain Jim left it
to your care until the original owner
should but in an appearance.”

“ \Vz'll, I presume I might as Well accept
the trust. and then, if the rightful owner
does not put in an appearance I shall be so
much in pocket," Van Courtlandt remarked
as he took up the beautiful stone from its
bed of dust. ‘

“ That is so! no doubt about that, not if.
as Rocky Mountain Jim supposed, the Bug-
glisbman came from India, and got the
stone in that faraway country. the odds
are about a thousand to one that the. owner
will never come to claim it," the old news
paper man suggested.

“This fellow is gone so there isn’t any
need of our troubling our heads about
him," ()lairborne spoke, “ but we had
better take a look at the old sport and see
how he is getting on."

Van Courtlarrdt put the diamond in its
case, and then all three returned to the
Californian.

He was lying in the same position, not
having moved since the three left him. and
the moonbeams were playing full upon his
face.

Kinsade was, in the advance and got a
good look at the pale face of the veteran
sport.

“By the everlasting hills; gentlemen, I
am afraid that the Pacific Sloper is a
goner!" the newspaper man exclaimed.

It was as they suspected. Rocky Moun
lain Jim had played his last card, cashed in
his last cheek, and the game of life inter-
ested him no more.

“ Let the see now how we had better pro.
coed," Kinsade remarked, reflectively.
“ One of us ought to warn the police while
the other two remain to see that no harm
comes to the body." ‘

“ Suppose' I go and give notice to the pot
lice,” Van Courtlandt suggested. “I am
personally acquainted with the chief, and
will be pretty sure to find him at the West
End Hotel, for he is a great racin man and
handvin- glove with all the bookma ers."

“ All right," Kinsade assented. ” And
while on your mission Mr. Clairborne and I
will keen watch here." ‘

The New Yorker hurried away.

The two watched the oung man until his
figure vanished in the 3' 00m, then the jour-
nnlist spoke:

“ It will be a good half an hour before we
will be relieved under the most favorable.
circumstances, so we may as well repnre to
make ourselves comfortable here is a
forty bank over there on the'other side of
the road which will afford us a seat." "

“A flood idea." and the two crossed the
Boat; an seated themselves upon the sloping

an . .

“ Well. I haVe seen some strange affairs in
my time. but this is about as peculiar as any
that ever came under my notice. which is say-
ing a good deal, Mr. Clairborne.”

“I agree with you: it is a remarkabl
strange circumstance," the Creole coinei -
ed, “and possibly you may think lam in
clined to be superstitions, but if 1 were
Van Courtlandt I should not care to ac-
cept the charge of this blue diamond."

“I understand; the some thought has oc-

, curred to you which came to me. and that

is to the effect that this , blue diamond is
an unlucky stone which will bring misfor-
tune to whoever peerless“, it," the old
newspaper man admitted. “The idea may

  
  

  
 

    
 

 

 

.I was brought up in the very bet-bed of
IIoodooisrn, lsrrppose Iam rather inclined
to attach more weight to a matter of this
kind than it really deserves."

“ Well. a large number of great men have
been much given to superstition if history
is to be believed, and we need not go
back to the dark ages to find the record
either," Kinsade remarked.

“ Take Napolccn for instacne. No man of
judgment will accuse him of being weak-
miuded; yet he was extremely superstitious
in regard to certain things. putting a great
deal of faith in signs and omens."

“I am aware of the fact, and quite a
number of other distinguished men have
belith-d in supernatural warnings," Clairw
borne asserted " Take the men in my sec
tion I am acquainted with,a number of
sober, level headed buisness men who are
firm believers in luck, and decidcly super-
stitious, and although I never thought] was
much given that way, yet owing to tire
peculiar chain of events connected witlrtbis
hlue diamond I am rather inclined to the
opinion that. it brings bad-luck to the person
who had it."

" It would certainly seem so, for here are
three men who have met untimely deaths
with the blue diamond in their possession,"
Kinsade ailirmed. “and I am just foolish
enough to bet all the money I can raise
against Van Courtlandt‘s horse tomorrow,
going on the idea that the blue diamond
will bring him had luck, too.”

“ Well, I shall be inclined to follow your
example," (,‘lairborne admitted, “but don’t
you think we ought to tell him our ideas in
regarvl to this matter?" .

“ Yes. that will be right, although he may -
laugh at us for our pains," Kinsade re~
plied

 

CHAPTER VI.
A wanxme. _

THE approach of a couple of gentlemen,
who had been trying their luck at the club-
house, interrupted the conversation.

The pair were startled by the sight of the
dead body, with its white and ghastly face
staring up at the round, full moon.

As it happened, the veteran journalist was
acquainted with one of the gentlemen. and
so ire took pains to relate all the particu-
lars. and by the time that Kinsade finished
the recital, the sound of a carriage. ap-
proaching at a rapid pace from the direc-
tion of Ocean avenue, came to their ears.

“I should not be surprised if that was
Van Courtlandt, with the chief of police,
now," the journalist remarked.

Kinsade was correct in this conjecture. '- i

It was the New Yorker and the police super-
intendent, in a coach.

“ A very bad business, gentlerden," the
chief remarked, after taking a look at the
bodies. ‘

“I had an idea that this rui’fian, who
came to his death so suddenly, mi ht be
one of our local toughs," he continued.
“We have, unfortunately, a few hard cases
in our town, but this man is a stran 1'.”

"He has the appearance of an go fish-
man. and the peculiar weapon he used In the
favorite tool of English crooks, a life'pre~ .
server, they call it." 1

“ ‘ou are correct in regard to that; buttit’x v
does not matter much about the man's pedi- '
gree, now that he is beyond the reach of all »
earthly tribunals,“ the official observed. v ,, ,

" If one of you gentlemen will give me n 4
hand and assist me to place these bodies in .
the coach, I will be much obliged.“ ‘ M

It did not take long to place the bodies in
the coach; then the chief said: .

“ There will be an inquest in the morning,
probabl somewhere around ten o’clock. and
you wi l have {to give your evidence in re- ‘
gard to this matter, but I will send on
notice of the exact time in ample season.’ ,

“All right: we will be on hand,” the .
newspaper man declared. , '

The chief mounted tothe box, by the side‘.
of the driver, and away the coach went. 5

Tire rest followed after—Kinsade pnr 7 "i, u
ly, loitering for a' minute or so. in 0' or to,
allow the two gentlemen to get a little ahead
of his party, as he wanted a chance to con-
‘°"i"§fi" tnk '1 ‘  ' 
9‘ t not e you, on to at the:  ‘
chief," the journalist remarked, “fie j , ,

 
  

  

   
  
 

     
  

   
   
    
  
  
    
   

 
 

~91” W'sz-‘w'eeq-war-v-w’“ M’- _
..1 n- r -'

n V; ‘

q .M ay-WW «v. WM’rmx now lawl- m

1.:wx‘, '

w .W numflammv— flan.” ,fl‘m‘IA . ,

 

 

.‘   at Long  (I ‘1

 

 

 

 
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
    
  
   
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
  
   
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
    
    
  
  
  
   
   
  
    
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
     

“I happened to meet him," Van Court.
landt explained.
was on his way to his home, and just asl
finished my explanation, a coach came along,
which the chief at once engaged, so that no
time was lost ”

“ Ah, yes. lsee: and, by‘theway, gentle
men, [do not think it necessary at the in
quest tomorrow for us to say anything
about the blue diamond," the newspaper man
suggesmaL

“ We are summoned to tell what we know
about the deaths of the. two men. The fact
that the Californian had a blue diamond,
which the ruiiian succeeded in stealing. and
which we recoyered, has no bearing on the
case.”

To which the others assented.

" The Californian gave. the diamond to me
to-‘hold in trust until the original owner
should make his appearance, and 1 am an
able to see that this matter comes within
the scope of the wroner‘s inquiry at all,"
was Van ()onrtlandt‘s view.

“ It does not; but should the coroner hear
of the diamond he might try to interfere in
the affair," the newspaper man intimated.
‘ I do not happen to know the coroner. nor
anything about; him. He may be a sensible
; I ' man, who would not trouble his head about
the diamond, for, clearly, it isn‘t any of his
business; then again he may be one of these
Country Dogberrys who would be delighted
‘to make a donkey of himself by poking his
nose into a matter which is entirelyout of
his province.”

“ I never gave the matter a thought. and
_ so did not say anything to the chief of
 policedin regard of it,'f the New Yorker ex

‘

ne . r
“ It is best that you did not, for although
‘, thechiefisa pretty good sort of a fellow,
yet if he knew there was a diamond, worth
‘ taro or three thousand dollars, mixed up in
, t is murder he might take Steps to get hold
. ,“ of the stone with the idea of returning it to
 , its ri htful owner,” Kinsade observed.
'- . “ oil. as turns that goes, Idon't think
 the chief of police. the coroner, or anybody
else can get the jewel away from me, the
real owner, of course. 1 except," Van Court
‘inndt remarked. “ There is an old legal say--
“ing about possession being nine points of the
3“ law, and when a man starts in with any such
’ fiiadvantage as that it is pretty hard werk to
 fy‘beat him." the New Yorker urged. “I do
} not pretend-to be much of a’ lawyer, but I
Shave sufficient legal knowledge to be aware
. , “that it Would almost be. an impossibility for
’  '. .3 any one to get the blue diamond away from
:"me until the rightful owner makes his ap-
pearance, and even then whoever sets up a
glaim must be prepared to back it with strong

proofs.
,- . ,yes, you are certainly right about
that." K nsade replied. .
> ;"‘You have the best claim to the jewel,
a audit will not be any easy matter for an
’ Quote get it away from you until you see t
surrender it. . ,
faint! now I suppose ym will but rhwhen
‘ you that Clairborne.» ere ant, myself
I, have come to the conclusion that the wisest
“ thingyoucouid do would be‘ to get .rid of
new ice dismand as soon as possible,“ the
ournallst Continued.
look of surprise appeared on Von Coim-
dendt’s face. . t '
,1.‘Get.-rid ofthe blue diamond as' soon as
sjpossiblet” he echoed. . .
g; “Yes, that is our idea,” Kinsade' replied.
{I‘M Clairhorne?” ' 't .
, that is certainly the conclusionto which
cam ," the Creole assured. , a 4 ‘
,‘Bu [do not understand how it isthst'
. initiate have an idea of that kind?”
[Courthndt remarked evidently very
astonished. ' , , ‘
cw.“ I said, I have no doubt on
gh-when [explain the reason," in»

 

a

  

 
 

.
as

  
 

 
  
 

   
 
 
  

    
  

  
 
 
 

linedt‘obo 'a little superstitious about this
{Sn titious?""

_ fled in his jovial way. v
ejact'is both Clalrhorne and I are in-

iflian jewel.“ _ V ;
a.” Van Courtlandt ex~
fates, thatiSthe truthl'illthe  row

 
    

But Ida not .comprehend!”. the Ne .
_ er declared. * ‘ ' w

“I;va
‘ .

“ He had left the hotel. and -

ot'theideaintoour mlé- b
We: M4 ~

 

ever is unfortunate enough to possess it,"
Kinsade explained.

Van Courtlandt did not laugh, but he cer—
tainly smiled and shook his head in an in-
credulous way

" You are not inclined to believe that?” the
newspaper man asked.

“ Well, gentlemen, candidly, I shall have
to admit that i do not. The fact is, you see,
the yarn is rather too tough for me to swal-
low." Van ('oui‘tlandt declared.

“ Have you considered all the circum—
stances of the case?" the journalist ques-
tinned.

"Just cogitate a bitabout the affair,"
Kinsade continued

“ The (,Ialifornian had the jewel; he got it
from an Englishman who committed suicide
because he got tired of facing a run of bad
luck.

“Then the (ffalifornian, according to his
own statement. lost the favors of fortune
and things went badly with him.

“ in his game with you tonight he played
in bad luck right from the beginning, didn‘t
he?"

" Yes, that is the truth. He certainly did
not seem to be at all favored by fortune,”
the New Yorker admitted.

when he (lid manage to catch a good band
I was always fortunate enough to hold a
better one" Van (.‘ourtlandt explained.

“ Then, after getting cleaned out of all his
ready cash he started for his hotel, was way-
laid, assaulted on the road and mortally
hurt; then the ruliian got the blue diamond.
and as he was making off with it was shot
dead in his/ tracks, making the third man
who had come to an untimely end with
this jewel in his possession."

A thoughtful expression came over Van
Courtlandt‘s face as he listened to this re-
cital, and he replied:

“ Well, 1 must admit that I did not see the
matter in this light before,” he said, slowly.
“ And I have no hesitation in declaring that
it is remarkably strange."

" Clairborne and I talked the matter over,
and although neither one of us is a supei-
stitions man et “'0 came to the conclusion
that terrible )ad luck had followed the pos-
session of the blue diamond.”

"I take no stock in the ideal” Van Court-
lnndt remarked. “It is aeoincidence, that
is all. These three men might havecome to
untimely ends even if they had never seen
this blue diamond,"

" Very true! they might, but they did
not!" Kinsade replied.
isn't anything in the idea, but if I was situ-
ated as you are, with abig stake depending
upon the result of the race ,to-‘inorro'w,
Would get rid of the blue diamond until the
race was run. " ‘

"Oh, nonsense!" Van Courtlandt cried,
lightly. “Iwouldn’t be weak enough to
give way to superstition! Iwill keep the

flue diamond, and what is more, I Will wear
it on my finger to-morrowns a deflaneeto
had luck!" I

The othei‘s shook their heads. and their

the conversation.

 

CHAPTER VII.
'riin nnosnn BURLESQUER.

'I‘iin morning of the day on which.the
great race was to take, place 'broke bri ht
and beautiful, and so a weight Was ta on
from the minds of those 8211510118 souls who
were afraid that a rain‘stOrm might spoil the
pleasures of the ’day. _
~ The people who he beat thelLong Branch
hotels are not early r rs anemic, andthe
j fashionable hour for breakfaiit is about nine.

Again we will ask the reader to go [with
us to the West End Hotel so that we may
directnttenti‘on to a gentleman, who, hav-
ing finished his breakfast, passed to the front
veranda‘a'nd stood. by ,
‘quill tooth-pick in' an abstracted manner.

He was a. man a little below the medium
.height, inclined to be stout, and, who looked

ears. older; ‘

_ tobe about forty,‘bntlwns probably fully

ten”

beneathe corn i :don gdsrk, which. gave the
  and ,thiswas addedto

   

  
 
  

 

“ As a rule he had miserable cards, lllld‘

” Perhaps there _.

arrival at the hotel at this time put an end to

the steps, chewing a»

' His face wasl-rntber‘long, with high cheek- ‘

 

   

straggling imperial, such as the French Em-
peror. Louis Napoleon, once made so fashion-
able.

A man not much skilled in readingr charac-
ters would have been inclined to take the
gentleman for a Frenchman, but an expert,
after a glance at the prominent fleshy nose,
the high checkbones. the thick lips and
double-chin would haw immediately de
cided that the man was a dew-vmlant of
the“ chosen people," an English .lrw, de-
spite his foreign appearance.

The gentleman was elaborately dressed——
in fact ovei'~(lrcssed, for although liewore-
dark clothes, yet he sported an extremely
gay necktie, and a great profusion of
jewelry, his stubby fat fingers being plenty-
fully adorned with, rings, in particular.

The man had an insinuating. oily way
with him, and as he glanced around it was
with the air of a man who felt extremely well
satisfied with himself.

And it was no wonder, for this over—
dressed gentlemen was one who occupied a
prominent position in the world‘s eye.

The name which he had inscribed upon .
hotel register was J. Mortimer Filminnriee, ,
and any well-posted man—like the veteran "
journalist, Kinsade, for instance-iionld
quick] have informed a seeker after knowl—
edge 1 int this was the name of one of the
most prominent speculators in amusement
affairs in the country. ‘.

lie was an English importation—having
come to America with a comic opera com-
‘pany, and had prospered so well that lie-
had taken up his residence here.

He did not manage a theater. but engaged
troupes and traveled them about the country,
playing them in the different-cities, so he
was a recognized power in the amusement
world.

After the gentleman chewed his took
pick for a few minutes he consulted his
watch. I '

“Let me see," he murmured, “it is ten
minutes past nine. Her cottage is about ten
minutes walk from here so that will bring-
me there at about ' twenty minutes past
nine.

" 1 know from my old experience \\illi her
that slieis not an early riser, but she surer 4
ought to be up by this time. ‘ ,

" Well, if she is not, I can wait until she 
,is, so I will-be off.”

, Then the gentleman descended to the‘street i
and proceedcdvup Ocean avenue. ‘

He went on, until be mine to a charming,
little cottage. hidden amid a mass of slirub~'
bery and cliiiging vines; about as prett a
place as con bc'found from one on of
Ocean avenue to the other.

The occupant of this dainty house was
one of the “lions” of Long Branch, and all
the hackan who drive strangers around on
sight-seeing expeditions. always make it a
rule to halt in front of this charming retreat
and vouchsafe the information:

“That is where the burlesque actress
lives, Dolly Ra'gsdale, the. Queen of the
Blondes.” ‘ , , - .

And this was the truth; -  ' x ' 

' The famous En lish burlesque actress who
had made such a it When she appeared in
New York at the head'of a troupe of En lish

iris, und‘er‘the management of J. Mortimer

itzmaurice, had taken this vine-clad cottage
for the, season and with her horses, her dresses.
and her diamonds had been exciting a great
"deal of attention. - ,

All the gilded youths—and some men to
whom the term “ gilded” could be well ap-

lied, but who Were no longer young—had

een “tumbling over themselves,” to  w »

 

yr, .

  «new..- 1. .

v r

u w .. . w _- ..
, ». < ,. ..._..,_  . .
-... c we) guitar. A... .. -- ! my: “:('~rr .w... . , , _..  . .

#3. a; way. a...» 3‘

~. ;. 36.2. n.

 

 

Vassar-529%“ ..:fl‘a;.et~a,. Jr; A..." .‘

    
      
    
   
 
        
 
     
        
     
     
 
 

the cant iilirase, to procure an invitation‘to .
visit the eautitul actress'iri, her lonely re-
treat. ’ ' ~

    
   
 

But it was not every man who could,
procure the pleasurcof Miss Dolly Rags.
dale‘s acquaintance, for she was as partie
nlar about who she admitted to her pres-
ence as any grand dame of fashion could
possibly be, , . . ‘ . .
True, she, was an actress—a blonde' bur- t ‘

lesquer as her brothers and sisters of the-‘7 i '
mimic life irreverently termed her, a woman
who displayed her fair proportions on the  -
stage to'the admiring gaze of‘the-auilichoe "

in a very enerous mannerpja-nd ’witl .  
tremely itt e clothing. "  »
But on thestageand 011‘ V L,
ifl’erqntth ‘ ' 

 
  
     
 
    
       
 
   
 
 

  
 
 
  
 
 
   
   

       
   

 

m;
y

1’  New  Sport at Long Bra

. :3!-

ch.

 

 

 

he paid her extremely well for her labors;
but in private life she was a lady, and people
‘ must not imagine that she was any common
woman because she was on the stage, she

and eVery Tom, Dick and llarry was not
welcome to visit her cottage.

And it must be admitted that Miss Rags
dale behaved wuh perfect propriety.

It was true that she was one of the best
dressed Women at the “ llranch,” wore mag-
nilieent diamonds, had a stunning turn-out,
with eoaelnnmt in livery, putting on as much
style as the wife of a millionaire could possi-
bly have done, and when she appearedat the
“ hops" at the leading hotels no woman in
the room was better dressed.

She was always accompanied by her
brother, Mr. Thomas Ilogsdale. an under.
sized, typical Englishman of the cockuey
style, who had a habit of taking a great
many liberties with his “haitches,” and al
though there might be a dozen cavaliers
dancing attendance upon her during the
evening, yet as it was her brother who
brought her it was her brother who carried
her home.

There was a great deal of gossip in regard
to the attentions paid to the dashing actress
by Alex Van (‘ourtlandt, and it was very

‘ apparent to all that he was a prime favorite
with the lady, but the pair conducted them-
selves in such a way that the tongue of scan-
dal could not find an opportunity for cen-
sure.

Then, too, it was earnestly reported and
generally believed, that Alex Van Court.
landt was so infatuated with the blonde bur-
lesquer that he was willing to marry her at
any time, but the lady was coy, and this
was a great mystery to the World at large,
for people couldn’t understand how it was
that a woman who depended upon the stage.
for her livelihood would not be glad to marry
a man of Van Courtlandt's wealth and
standing.

When Mr. Fltzmauriee arrived at the
cottage he rung the bell and presented his
card 3 the footman—Miss Ragsdalc had a
full r_ one of servants, just like any grand
dame with a million at her hack—with a re-

1. quest for an interview with tlre burlesque

queen. _

In a few moments the footman returned
 and requested Mr. Fitzmauriee to follow
 him.
4/ The manager was conducted to a cozy
apartment on the second floor, where the
 actress was taking her breakfast while her

brother read the news from one of the morn-

. ing newspapers to her. ,

, Dblly Ragsdalc was reallv a‘beantiful wo.

gush, of the golden-haired, blue-eyed English

ype. I - . t . . .

She was above the medium height, mag-
nificently formed, with regular features and
a lovely clear red-and white complexion.

“ Aha! my dear Fitzy, is it there ye are?"
she exclaimed, putting on an Irish brogucas
the manager made his appearance in the
doorway. '

:62. “ Yes, my dear Miss Ragsdale', here I am,
iargeas life and twice as natural!" the man-
lger‘respouded with another elaborate bow.

," Come in and help yourself to a chair!"

' I, the actress exclaimed.

' “Will you have some breakfastt—can‘t

I offer you much, for I always havealight

  _ v breakfast, never having-an a etite in the

 ! morning, but. if you would ' c a cup of

-  coffee and some deviled kidneys, with a bit

 of toast,they are yoursto Command. ”

 “Thanks, awfully!" Fitzmaiirice replied

i; , r' with another bow as he helped himself to a

,‘ A a comfortable easy-chair.

 

 

“tradrvzwfism .awnmm. =1:- .‘ah‘ .

   
  

I 1." 1’ p ",I am ever so much obliged but I will
. . not tree ’38 upon your kindness on this oc-
ti; \ Casino] he. continued. “I made. a very
,r hearty breakfast at the hotel this morning

and soreally couldn't eat another morsel.”
“You know Tommy, m '. brother, I be.
lieve?” the-actress remarkc , nodding to her
brother who grinned in a good-natured way.
attire manager. v I
‘. “ Oh es. I'have
.' meeting r.‘ iii:
‘the manager teplied witha
dilatation
 grinned

  

had the pleasure of
gsdalo on several occasions.”

    
   
    
 

  

was particular in regard to her aeq uaintaimes, '
,friends'f’ she demanded, evidently a little

I

. lite, bow in”
of .that indivi'idua , who ducked. l

'3 To play in the burlesques and wear tights 
was a matter of business—the generous pub I asked.

 

"When did you arrive?" Miss Ragsdale

" Oh, I have been here for about a week."

The actress looked surprised.

“Been here for a Week?" she repeated.
“ How is it, then, that you didn't come to
see me? Is that the ay you treat old

annoyed.

“ My goodness? I thought I was more at
tractivc than this goes to show," she con-
tinued, plainly betraying her pique. "The
idea! In town a week and never came near
me! Why, Fitzy, how could you?" and she
shook her magnificent head at the manager
in a deprecating manner.

" My dear Miss llaigsdale, permit me to
explain!" the gentleman exclaimed. “ I pre-
sume you are aware that I rather pride my-
self on my managerial abilities. In fact, I
think I may say, without being egotistical,
that I have arranged some very clever things
in my line, in my time."

“Oh, yes; Foxy Fitzyl That is your old
nickname across the water, you know!"
Miss Ragsdale reminded with a laugh.

The manager grinned as though she had
paid him a compliment.

“ Ah, yes; I believe some of the knowing
fellows in London—dear old Lunnon, don’t
you knowl—wm'e in the habit of affixing a
handle like that to my name, and no doubt I
deserved the appellation,” he remarked with
the air of a man who thought he amounted
to a good deal.

“ Yes, you certainly have managed some
‘dealsflas they call them here in America,
with really wonderful astuteness," the actress
admitted.

“ lf you remember, I was anxious, this
spring, to have you make an arrangement to
travel this fall under my management?”

“Yes, I remember,” in a languid sort of "

way.

“ And considered that I offered you some
extremely flatterin r inducements.”

"Very true; but didn’t care to talk busi-
ness with you at all.”

“I remember all the circumstances er-
fcctly,” Fitzmaurice acknowledged. “ 'ou
said that you were tired of acting, and were
not sure that you wouldn't take a rest for a
year or so."

“Just so. I had made lenty of money
and could afford to lay off or a. year or two
if the fancy sclzed upon me so to do.”

“ Ah, yes: lovely woman, dear delightful
creature that she is! will take these capri‘
eious notions into her charming little head
once in a while i” the manager averred inn
theatrical way.

“ Oh, come dowa now i” the actress pro.
tested. “I am not one of your fly-away

,kind‘."

“ My dear Misisagsdalc, you never saida
truer word in your life 1” Mr. Fitzmauri‘ce re-
sponded. “ For a woman who has made the
wonderful success which you undoubtedly

have, your head is remarkably levol.”

‘1‘ Taffy l” responded the blonde buriesquer,
making a grimaee at the manager.

Fitz'maurice laid back in his chair and in-
dulged in a hearty laugh. '

“ Oh, no, it is’ theiruth, and you know it, _

too, as well as anybodyl” he declared.

“ I fancy now that on would be decided—
ly indignant if I shou (i go so far as to even
insinuate that you had not been astonishing-
ly successful," he continued. ' ‘

“ Oh, yes, for that would notbc the truth,”
she replied, v

“ Now then, I am going to take the liber-
ty, as an old friend, to speak ‘very plairdy,"
Fitzmaurice announced. , .

The actress looked askance at the manager
for a moment, and then she smiled in a some-
what scorn ful way. 5

“ Does that mean that you are going to as
something unpleasant?” she asked. “For t
is your old friend, renerally, who takes upon
himself, or hersel , the task of telling you
disagreeable things which one would be bet-
ter off for not knowing." ,' .. .

“ Oh, no!" crie Mr. Fitzmaurice. throw-
ing up his hands in an extremely Frenchifled
way as though he was completely sur rised

that such an idea should enter her hen ."' 

  

“Not ,at all! - ,am not that kindcf man,
don't you. know! ’ ‘ -'  r
_ ffBecauseIs ' t

 '* tirsz

 
  

I

,finesse is necessary," he continued.

thought it would not do any harm for me to 

vest in the subject.

' ‘ “This is. the plain speaking to w
,refemad,” Fitzmaurice hastened to say.

.very, systematic manner. 1

 

 
    
  
    
    
  
 
   
  
 
 
   
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
  
   
  
    
 
 
   
 
   
  
       
 
  
     
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
 
  
    
         
     
   
      
    
 
  
 
    
       
   
       
        

“ 0h, no,I would not be guilty of doing
anything of the kind," the manager asserted,
in the most positive manner.

" Well, I am glad of that, for Idon't mind
admitting that I don't like to hear unpleas-
ant things even if they are true,” the actress
remarked. ‘

“ I do not blame you—who does?"

" No one that I know of."

“ i suppose there isn‘t. any objection to my
speaking freely before Tommy here—he is
acquainted with all your business matters‘I’T
Fitzmauriee asked, with a glance at the
brother, who first grinned, then nodded his
head and looked wise.

" Oh, yes, Tommy is posted. I have no
secrets from Tommy," Miss Ragsdalc re-
plied.

“ And you necd‘not be afraid to speak be«
fore him either, for you can be sure that he
will not blab for he is no talker.”

Again the brother grinned and nodded his
head. ’
“Well, then, I will proceed,"Fitzmaurice

observed, in his bland, oily way.

" In the first place I will say that I under. '
stand perfectly well that. in business transac-
tions, particularly in a profession like ours,

“ As Shakespeare beautifully remarks, we
do not wear ‘ our hearts upon our sleeves for
daws to peek at.’ "

“ Yes, that is about the idea.” '

” This remark is to lead up gently to the
declaration that when you told me you did ,
not care to make any arrangements for the
fall season because you were tired and want--
ed to rest, I did not take any stock, as thesie
Americans say, in the statement.” ,

“ Oh, come now! it isn't nice, nor polite
to inform a lady that she tells libs!” the I ,
blonde-haired actress exclaimed in a joking -' ‘ "
way, and she shook her finger reprovingiy at
the manager.

” Oh, it is just as I said, these little home
less white lies are necessary," he replied. ,

“Neither society nor business could get
along without them.

“ Well, to return to my mutton. I felt .
sure of course that you had not given me" ‘1
your true reason, and as I was very anxious, '
to get you under my management Ihad a
curiosity to know what was the matter.

“It could not be the terms, I argued, fer
I had really offered you more than I had 
ought to pay." ' 4 

“Oh, no, the terms were all right; I was '
satisfied with the share you offered, and ‘
there is no doubt that we would boih have,_
made a small fortune out of the trip." -- -,
' “ Y is yes, unquestionably !” Fitzmauricei‘
exclaimet . - »

“ Well. as I said. I was curious, and so I »

look into the matter, all in the way of busi?
ness, you understand.” the manager explains 
ed with one of his elaborate bow . " - ,

The lady laughed.

“ Ah, the people who named you Foxy. ‘
Fitzy did not make any mistake!" she exrz, t
claimed. , , V

“ It did not take melon to discover that
one of these gilded New ’ork youths/had
broome. infatuated with you, and was report.—
ed to be spending his money for your benefit.
in the most lavish manner. , ti

“ [refer to Mr. Alexander Van Court ,
landt,” he said in conclusion. . . .i . A

and friends

"3 cs, we are certainly very (f
_ 3.;

rs,

 
 

   
  

the actress replied in an in
speaking as though she took but little.

  
 
 
 
 

" I came to the oonClusirm then that! n
dorstood your game; You inta‘m‘lnd7 to marr
this gentleman and retire from'the stage." ;‘

“Well, ‘I haven’t married him yet.” the"
fingllishwoman exclaimed with a 

u:' i. ~ , . 1, r .. -

‘9 Yes, 1 am. aware of that fact, and 
what I have learned regarding: the matter. I-
have come tothe conclusion that the chanced
are great you will not many him.” ' ‘ ‘

The actress looked surprised.

 
 
   
  

 
 
      
   
   
   
 
         
  

 
  

 
   
   
     

“ You See, my dear Miss Ragsdaier‘whfin.
I go in .to do business, 1 always proceed i .

   
  
  
 
 
 
  

“When it was apparent to me that 
some unknown reason you wuuidnot pi
Milermanagement I In’tJ“£‘ti"i i
 ,vinghaave‘ 'djtnmli,as,zthc

 
   
 
 
  
 

s" ' J ~ 41* ‘fif.’ ,.,: ;

g,  . . 4»-

 

VW‘WW’K‘W". .mxswsm mil“. _. 
, , .  ;.."'.“'»4l.

 mare-wrath;  nu "m tum; a
w, » r, :m. -. awe. u   'A w ,«p v; » '- s 

 

mnvmm 5 emmulwmnwvmmanmnwu» :
. . . N V  u ,v p . .

_ . V- ,x.,., , _.

The. New York sport ‘at Long” Branch.

   

- i - . .
s. ,_ in,“  _

 

 

ing is, to discover the reason why you would
not. .

The actress laughed.

“ It isn’t any wonder that you have been
successful!" she declared.

" Of course it did not take me long to dis-
cover just how matters stood, and as soon as
I comprehended the state of affairs. 1 did not
attempt to persuade 'ou to change your
mind, for I was satisfied) that you had some-
thing in view better than anythingI had to
offer."

“You are certainly an extremely wise
man,” the blonde burlesque queen observed
in a thoughtful way.

“ But now tell me how it is that, having
cometo such an opinion, you visit me in
reference to an engagement?”

“ Because I have reason to believe that the
situation has changed," the manager replied,
promptly.

" Changed?" the actress repeated, a slight
frown gathering upon her forehead.

“Yes; and ina few words I will explain.
I‘always made it a point to be on good terms
with all these society men who are in the
swim, and so, of course, i hear all the gas
Sip of the day."

' “ I understand."
’ “ About a week ago, in one of the promi-
'nent lip—town clubs, to which I have the
entree, your name was mentioned in the
course of conversation, and the prospects of
a marriage between you and Alex 'Van Court-
landt was discussed. To my surprise I
found that it was the general opinion that
Van Gourtlandt, although hehadinhcrited
two fortunes, was on the brink of ruin.”
. " 011, do people talk that way about
him?" the actress exclaimed in a disdainful
v way.
' "They most certainly do,” the manager
.replied. “As a. rule, the old saying that
'Where there is smoke there must be a fire
' is correct, and so as soon as I heard this
, rumor I at once made u my mind that
, there might be a chance or me to secure

7’

    
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
 
 
    
  
   
  
   
   
 
  
    
    
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
 
  
 
 
  
   
  
 

f‘Well, a thought of that kind is not very
complimentary to me,” the.actress remarked
with a laugh.

' a

the man solely on account of his money!

‘ “0h, Fitiiy, what a mercenary creature
‘, you are tr ng to make me out to be!" and
. she shook lCl‘ finger archly at the man-
, agar.

3‘)", f“ Ah, my dear girl,” I know that you are
' ,h'sensible woman!” the gentleman replied.

. ’, “ This love in a cottage is all very well to
I talk about, you know, but it don’t ‘go’ in
real life.

“You are of the stage, stagely, and even
though you did marry a man worth a mil-
lion, don't believe that you would ever be

tisfled to settle down to a quiet, hum~
drum home life."

_ “fl think you are right about that,” the
 replied, in a thoughtful way.

“I have been on the stage ever since I
was child, in fact have never known any
her life, and I will admit that I am begin-
ihg to get horribly'lonesome. I miss the
lure of the footli hts, the hum of the assem-
. fig audience, t e music and the excites
plant of acting!" the woman declared, her
.face’ li ting up, causing her to appear ex-
gnisitd yr beautiful;

_ _“Of course!” the gentleman exclaimed.
. 5‘ It is only natural. I can understand the
A feeling.

" “In that life you are a. very queen, with a
lid of admiring subjects!

re.

bright. particular star, without any other
figmimiry near to dim your rays. but when
.u‘yfiéwdescend‘ from your throne, and retire to

“Le me» 3"” become merely one of a bun-
 do not feel satisfied. "

It thoughtful way.

. “Even if I married a man worth a million
iknow I should regret the stage life."

‘ “Undoubtch , and there isn’t any ques-
tion but what the theater-going ople would

gfifui bow.
", ,, ‘ awa
. ' ,bfilfiqngrcrled.
 g9" p0 _

“ You assumed that I was willing to marry ‘

You are the central figure—you shine a ,

red—4 thousa d, and it is no wonder that ;

" Yes, you are right,” the actress replied in ,

regret you," the wily manager eclared with l curled in scorn.

with/your soft seapl’f the.

are the most atrocious flatterer that I ever en- . luck in he stock market, and the result was
l that he ost a pot of money.”

countered l"

ed. “ I only

cal way.
The actress burst into a loud laugh.

it!" Miss Ra rsdale exclaimed.
genius fora good twenty years now—have

fore it is not wonderful that I should be able
to do a. little acting when circumstances de-
mand it." the manager replied.

“I think it is more of a natural gift than
an acquired one," Miss Ragsdale rejoined.

“ And so these clever people have got the
impression that as Van Courtlandt is report-
ed to be on the brink of ruin there was not
much danger of my marrying him, eh?” the
actress asked, abruptly.

“ Such is the popular impression.”

“ And I suppose you think that it is true
or else you would not take the trouble to
come down and sec rue—I presume you ex-
| peet to be able to talk me into going on a
tour with on?”

“ Yes, must admit that I came with that
idea. in my mind.

“But you must understand, my dear Miss
Ragsdale, I am not one of the too pre-
vious fellows,” Fitzmauricc explained. “I
always make it a point to be sure of my
ground before I go ahead."

“That is where you are wise!” the actress
assented. “ Oh you certainly deserve the
name of Foxy if ever any man did!"

“ Ah, you overwhelm me with compli»
ments!" the manager responded with a laugh
and an elaborate bow.

“ As soon as I heard this gossip I made up
my mind to find out just how much truth
there was in it.” he explained.

“I knew that you had taken a cottage
down here for the season; our dear friends,
the newspaper fellows, always keep the pub-
licat large posted in regard to the where-
abouts of the children of genius.

“ My first move was to call upon a friend
of mine who keeps a private detective ollice,
an importation from across the water, an old
Scotland Yard man, who is remarkably clever
in his line.” ' *

“ Well, really now, of all the dodges that
I ever heard of this is the queerest!” the ac.
tress declared. ,

“Yes, I am aware that it was rather odd,"
the wily gentleman admitted with a compla-
cent smile.

“ But iyou must remember that I am a pc-
culiar fe low, so it isn't anything‘new fOr me
to be up to a (lodge of this kind.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“ I Wanted information. and I went to work
' to get it in the best possible way.

“It cost me a good bit of money too. but
I am not one of the kind who grudges the
‘ brass ’ as ion g as I get a chance to get my
money’s worth. ".

“ Oh. yes, I am aware that you area liber—
' a1 pa master when the occasion requires it.”

“ told my cx-Scotland Yard friend to put
two of his best men on the affair, and hang
the expense l” the manager declared with the
air of a prince.

“ Then I came down myself, and took up
; my quarters here so as to watch the game,"
he continued. '

“That was a week ago and yesterday I
? got a full report from mv ‘ shadows.’

5 “By the way, do you know just exactly
7 how this Alex 'Van Courtlandt is situated?”
, Fitzmaurice asked. abruptly. 
“ No, I do not. for I never asked the man
‘ any questions," the actress replied, slowly.
“l have heard though that he haslosta
' great deal of money within the last two or
‘ three months." she continued. I

“ A man always has some cod-natured
1 friends who are eager to tell 0 his misfor-
tunes," and the handsome lip of the actress

 

 

 

 

" Yes. it is the truth. The man is natur-
ally inclined totbe an egtravagant dog, and
,w' heffouthjstho neededready money,

y. m  4  . ‘J 50.". will}

“Ah, wel , you must remember that I .
have been dealing with you children of , Without any trouble

been in close communion with the sons and ;
daughters of talent, so to speak, and there-

“ You wrong me!” the manager respond- 3
speak the truth, and I Would l heavily in stocks, and had been unsuccess-
scorn to dissemble, for I have an honest  ful. but he is one of those cheerful kind of
heart,”and here the astute speculator clapped ' men who takes his losses so lightly that it
; his hand on his brefist in an affected theatri- l is difficult for any one to tell just how hard

“ Yes, he told me that he had speculated

t he has been hit.”

I
" Upon my word, Fitzy, you haven deal ‘ remarked.
of dramatic talent; I Wouldn’t have believed ;

I

l
l
l

i
i
l
l
l
i
i
l
i
l
l
l
r

“I am aware of that fact,”Fitzmaurice

“He always keeps a stiff upper lip, as
these Americans say, but my shadows knew
their business, and they got at the facts

“As I remarked, he is an extravagant fel-
low. and when a whim takes possession, of
him, spends his money like water.

“Now take this little affair of yours for
instance," the manager continued.

“ According to the report made by the
secret agents, Van Courtlandt has spent eight
or ten thousand dollars on you during the
last three months.”

The actress looked amazed.

“ My goodness! these fellows must be re-
markably smart to be able to get so near the
exact sum.

“ I don’t believe I could have made a bet

fter estimate,"shc added after a moment’s

l
i
l

t

pause.

“ Oh, they know their business—a regular

pair of sleuthhounds. ,
“ It did not take them long to discover
that Van Courtlandt pays all the expenses of

a your flat in New York, all your bills down

5
l

l

 

hel'c, provided you with horses and carriages,
diamonds and dresses, gave you car/6
blanche, in fact, to run up any bills you
pleased, and send them to him for settlement
-—made an idiot of himself generally in fact;
in fine, lavished his money on you without
stint, in the hope that you might be induced
to Consent to become his wife.”

“ You have described what has occurred
correctly, and I marvel at it!" the actress
declared.

“As I said before, the men who took
charge of the case understood their busr
ness

“Van Courtlandt has promptly paid all
your bills, and each week he gives 9011 a
check for five hundred dollars to pay the
running expenses of your household. "

The blonde burlesquer gavo a little affected
scream of alarm. .

” Goodness graciousl thesehornd wretches
of shadows must have been rightm the house
herel” she extlaimed.

“ I should not be surprised," the speculator
replied with a knowing smile.

“It was their business to procure the in.»
formation, you know, and. of course, they
were going to pt it by book or crook!

“I am really very much impressed by the
generous way in which Van Courtlandt has
acted," Fitzmaurice declared after a moment’s
pause. .

” And I really re ret that he is in such a
bad way, although f his ill-luck leads. to my
securing you for an engagement. it WI“ ‘38 a
fortunate thing for me. ’ '

“Has he really come to the end or his
rope?” the actress asked in a thoughtful way
and her face was shaded with the lines of
care as she spoke. _ .

“He has most certainly, unless lus luck
turns!" Fitzmaurice declared.

” Like many a man rendered desperate by
the rude buffets of ill-fortune he has set all
upon a single hazard.

“ Today, the Monmouth Cup race is
run—”

“Yes, I know it, and his horse. unwed

after me. Doldale, is the favorite!" Miss‘

Ragsdale interrupted.

“If the horse wins the race he will be in
Easy Street for a while, but the one amp will
not give him back the thousands which he
has squandered.”

“ Suppose he loses?" the actress asked, a
dark look upon her handsome face.

“Then he is utterly ruined—worse than
ruined, for he will be a good ten thousand
dollars worse off than nothin !" I

“ Oh, I do hope he will w n!” the woman.
cried. abruptly.

“Not becausel hope to get an mom-y
out of him," she added, “for do not..,
but because he is a nobie, generous fellow,
although fearfully weak in some respects "a

“ Yes, yes, there is no doub ' - ' .
as humans- res :1

aya-

 

 

 

 

 

"~:‘.&'   3n“: ‘2’  -.

2 .I d . , -. .
w sensitizatwsrmms’e. .

 

 

.4.

v-"WL’ 

  

 

 

  
  

 

 

“4g.

 $533531 mama-33;“: $903?" .~

—-;4

 :3.

. Ewidi'ttlflxTfié‘éeMfi ':-,. ,

 

 

  

 

guffim :- Q

s ' , .

v «n mum. mmmbmv “mart..-
J 1,4,, I.» -. -' ‘ A a. « s - -, -_,

mac-n . “saw-x . mu».

3’ WM.W.~-J¢»-/ -:._. . >V‘44 .

‘mamasham... Branch. _ I 9“ ‘ :

 

 

shows that, but, as you justly remark, he
certainly is weak. " the manager observed

“ Now you are. an old acquaintance—you
have known me for years. and you are too
shrewd a man not to understand just what
kind of a woman I am," the actress said,
slowly.

"Oh, yes, I think I know you as well as
anybody does,’ Fitzmauricc remarked with
a quiet smile of satisfaction.

“ So I am not going to pretend to be any

I better than I really am,” the actress de-

clared. ,

“I am not going to assume a virtue if I
have it not," she continued.

" In the case of this young man my vanity
was flattered by his attentions, and when he
wanted to spend his money on me I was
willing to allow him to do so as long as his
attentions did not compromise me.

“ Fora woman in my line of business]

,havc always borneamost excellent reputa-

tion. ’ she asserted.

“ Yes, yes; no doubt about that!" the
manager agreed.

“ Any one who knows you understands
that the breath of scandal has never yet been
able to tarnish your good name." ,

” Yes. and 1am roud of the fact tool"
the blonde queen o burlesque asserted, her
head up raised, a bright color in her cheeks,
and her brilliant blue eyes flashing fire.

“ And in regard to taking this man’s
money. or the money of anybody else who is
idiot enough to become infatuated with me,
and is so foolish as to believe that a woman
like myself, who is talented enough to make
hundreds of dollars weekly, can be bought
with a few trinkets, or even a few thousand
dollars, I consider that such fellows are fair
game.

“ They have a deal of amusement in danc-
ing attendanceon me, and it is only right

that they should ay for it."
“ Exactl . It the old story of 'spoiling
the Egypt ans!’ "

” This gentleman ‘ plunged ’ pretty deeply
on me, to use the cant saying,” the bur~
lesque queen observed.

"But as he was reported to be worth a
million or so I did not have any scruples in
allowing him to spend all the money he
wanted.” she continued.

“You are not at all to blame. You would
have been v’ery foolish if you had rejected
his cash," Fitzmaurice declared.

“ But I will say to you that I never had
any idea of marrying the man, although I
must admit that when I saw how lavish he
was with his money I was strongly tempted.”

“ Oh, yes, undoubtedly,” the manager ex-
claimed, with a sugacious nod.

“Few women would have been strong-
mindcd enough to put aside the chance to
help a man get rid of a million of dollars,”
Fitzmaurice continued.

“I will admit that I was rather dazzled
b the idea of being able to buy whatever

leased my fancy and have somebody else
ibot the bills," the actress remarked, with a
smile.

“And I thnght it would be extremely
pleasant to play the grand lady, but now
that I have tried it I must confess that it
is not all that it is cracked up to be.”

~ “Oh, it is the dullest kind of a life to a
woman like yourself, who has been used to
the hustle and excitement of the stage,” the
manager declared. with a shAke of the head.

“And then all my neighbors, the clear
creatures, turn up their noses at me, because
I an: an actress!" the blonde burlesquer
cried. in supreme contempt.

” Not that I care two pennies about them,
but still it is not pleasant!"

“ Dccidedly not!"

“ Possibly if Van Courtlandt’s money had
héld out. I would not haVe acted this fall:
still, though, I hardly think that I could
have kept off the stage after the season got
fairly under way. The temptation would
have been too strong for me to resist."

“ Oh, yes. I don't think there is a question
about that.”

“ If Van Courtlandt’s horse wins the race,
he will be all right fora time?" the actress
asked ina thoughtf 1 way,

“ Yes, if he wins§ou could, probably, get
six more months out of him, but my shad<
ows report that some of the shrewdest turf-
men are inclined to believe that Doldale will

 

ing on the horse, have made him a favorite,
but the old and experienced racing men do

ite.”

cast her eyes upon the ground and reflected
for a few moments,

he saw that she was wavering.

Then she suddenly raised her head, and,
looking the wily Englishman full in the eye,
said: ’

“ I can’t give you an answer until this
race is decided. ‘

“If Van Courtlandt's horse winshe will
have a few thousand more to spend upon me,
and I might. as well have the benefit of the
money," and as she spoke a hard, metallic
ring was in her Voice.

There had been a struggle in the woman‘s
breast between her good and bad angels, and
the latter had conquered.

“And if Doldale loses, will you go on a
tour with me?” the manager asked. “ I
will give the same terms that I offered you
before. ”

“ Yes, I will."

“ You will go with me, then, if these old
turfmen know what they are talking about,
for they are all betting against the favorite."

“ We can tell better after the race is run,"
the actress replied, dryl V.

“ By the way, I will drive you over if you
like, there will be room on the carriage,” she
continued. "

Fitzmaurice gladly accepted the invitation,
and this brought the interview to an end.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE RACE.

As the Monmouth Cup. was one of the
great races of the year an enormous crowd
was attracted to the course. .

The "Cu "was the third event on the
card, and a ter the second race was decided,
all prepared to witness a great struggle.

There was an even dozen starters, and as
the horses pranced up and down the track
in their preliminary gallops all eyes were
ea erly flxcd u on the handsome beasts.

here is an o d saying in the racing stables
that the birds of the air carry the news, and
though the" public at large, with that blind
stubbornness eculiar to the people, were
backing Dolda e heavily on the stren th of
his past performances, yet the ol turf
veterans were not “ playing " on Van Court-
landt's horse.

The Southern Girl, and a W‘esterner called
Lone Oak, also a beast of'whom the average
Eastern turfsman knew but little, had crept
up in the betting until the bookmakers be-
came alarmed by the persistency with which
they were hacked, and soon the “ ncilers“
were not willing to give over 4 to 1 against
either horse, for they were afraid that the
beasts were far better than was generally
'suplposed. ,

' iss Ragsdale occupied a prominent posi-
tion in the dgrand stand, accompanied by her
brother an the theatrical manager.

“I am goin to bet on m namesake!”
the actress exc aimed, as the arses began
to appear on the track preparing for the cup
race.

“ Fitzy, go put a’ hundred on Doldale for
me, will‘you, please?” she asked, as she
drew two crisp fifty-dollar billafrom her
purse and handed them to the theatrical
mana er. -

“ i right, just as you say," Fitzniaurice
remarked, as he rose to depart. “But, if
you will take my advice you will put fifty
on Southern Gir to win, and fifty on Lone
Oak for a ‘ plaec.’ ” g

“ No, I will not! Doldale is good enough
for melt” the burlesque actress exclaimed,
petulan ly.

“Very welll” and then the manager has
tcned away. ' ”

“By Jove! they have got Southern Girl
and Lone Oak both down to three to one
now!” Fitzmaurice answered when he re-
turned.

“I was an idiot that I did not get my
money on last night, for I could have got
ten to one at the hotel."

“Doldalo is ‘a beauty and he on ht to

 

 

win," the actress declared, am: a g a
.W‘ «ewes-«then. mm.- ,

“They explain that the public, by plung-

not fancy him, and are comingthe old turf :
game of backing the field against the favor- } can't carry the weight ov'er so longr a course;

“ Handsome is as handsome does is what
‘ oes‘ on the racetrack,” Fitzmaurice re.
p ied.

“The old heads are afraid that Doldale

thirty pounds is a lot to give away,” he con-

“ Yes, I see,” and then the blonde queen . tinned, with the air of a prophet.

The starler's carriage made its appearance

[on the track at this point, and as that

The manager watched her anxiously, for ‘

worthy, with his red flag, got into it to be

; eonvcyed to the starting-point, the owners

  

 

and trainers of the horses hastened to give
their last instructions to the jockeys.

Van Courtlandt, uith his trainer, an eld-
erly, gray-bearded Veteran, had a brief con-
versation with the little man perched on the
high-mettled racer, who was Hayward, one
of the most celebrated jockeys of the day.

“ \Vatch Southern Girl and Lone Oak,” the
trainer warned. “I don’t think any of the
others will be apt to be dangerous; but wait.
on them two; let them make the page. and

' then in the stretch come away.”

“All right, sir," the jockey replied. “ The
beast willth the trick, I think, if they don't
make the pace too hot; but that infernal
Southern Girl is a Lexington—the old four-
miler stock, you know—and if she sets out
to run from end to end it will be rough on
this beast, carrying the weight he does."

“ Well, the best thing you can do is to
hold back and not force the pace; make a
waiting race of it,” the trainer advised.

“ All right. sir.”

And then off went the favorite to join the
rest of the horses.

The Southern Girl was the last to start
toward the post. '5

Olairborne, accompanied by Kinsade, was
waiting to give the final orders as the colored
boy who rode the mare brought her to a
standstill in front of the saddling paddock.

“Set the pace from the beginning, Pete,”
the Creole commanded.

“ Don't force the mare, you know, keep
her well in hand, but if she is going steadily
let her have her head; keep your eyes open,
and get off as well to the front as you can; if
any of them make the pace hot at first, lay
right behind the leaders so as to pump them
out as much as possible.”

"Yes, sah, 1 understands," the negro rc-
plied with a grin. ‘

“De mar’ and dis yerc ch'ile are old chums;
she’s jest do best beast dot dere eber poked
her nose through a bridle, and she no more
trouble to handle dan a pet mue " '

“ Look out to keep well to the front and
don’t get left in the break-away,” the South. .
erner continued. “Keep your eyes too on

.Lone Oak; he is the den erous horse.

" There are a couple 0 the beasts who are ,
inclined to be fractious, and I fancy them '.
will be trouble at the post,” Clairborne con-
tinued. .v 0  7

“ Keep out of their reach if you can, for a _
kick or two from one of the ugly brute: :
might disable the mare.” _ 

“Yes, cab!" and the negro nned until -

ead. “Oh, .

he showed every tooth in his
I'll keep my e we open, dreflul wide!” I 5
“ Be ofl wit you then, and if you land the z »
more a winner you will be a thousand dollars -‘
richer before you are half an hour older!"tho ‘
Creole exclaimed. - "
“By golly, Massa Clairborne, I’ll ride all I 7
know how if I wasn’tregoin’ to get a cent?! .
the colored boy decla . '
“I would jest like for to show dose North— ‘
ern jocks dat we Southern gemmen know
how to ride, even if we is a little tanned-l9.“ ,
Both Clairborne and the newspaper than
laughed, and the negro rode of! to join the
other horses, who were prancing and 
in the neighborhood of the starting . ‘ .
“ He is an odd genius!” Kinsade exclaim- ,

“Yes, he has been with me erer since 
was a youngster, and although he has no me: ‘
putation as a rider. yet, in reality, he isabou
as good a jockey as I ever saw. ' ,

“ He is a capital judge of pace, and seems
to have an instinctive knowledge of what,
his horse is capable of doing, so he nova“
makes the mistake of trying to win with
beast who is all pumped out. ’ - -‘

“ A thousand dollars is a pretty his: prize
for a Jockey to capture for a few minutes?
work, ' the newspaper man remarked with
ashakeoftheh I , , , ,

" You, I am aware ‘of that fact, but" 
dot. the circumstances I can aflordto gin

 

 

  

 

 

   

         
    

The 

.M .3.

V? v Liz-“.5

.. w x .w, . !F'l". r

 

(W k .

 
 
 
 

».‘~\

. 7. RI," [,1 My

 

,. .
-.',‘,k»""¥‘.¢’6,’ x-.K,_v..‘. r 

V ,fl.",’1.r,‘ss ,. . .v \
, .

an

 

 

W York sport at Long Branch. 1 - 7

 

it, for if I win, the race, with my outside
bels, will net me over a hundred thousand
dollars, so I can well afford to be generous
to my jockey.” Clairborne explained.

 That is true enough t"

"Then too there are some peculiar cir
cumslances connected with this affair,”
Clair-borne explained.

“ Pete is engaged to be married to a
pretty colored girl who lives in the village
near my plantation, and this thousand dol-
lars will enable him to start housekeeping
in splendid st do”

"All, yes, see!"

’ “ And you can bet your life the boy will
hustle all he knows how to win the race!”
the Creole declared. ‘ ‘

“ Yes, under such circumstances it is very

, probable.
“By the way, on only cautioned the
dark to look out or Lone Oak—ain‘t you
afraid of the favorite?” Kinsade asked.
".NO for if the pace is at all hot—and
if they attempt to make a waiting race of
it. my mare will distance the field—there
' will not be much left of Holdalc after a
1 mile and a quarter,” Clairborne replied in
‘ a tone which plainly showed how strongly
he was convinced that this was the truth.
“ Just then the cry went up that the horses
were off and the pair hastened fo secure a
. commanding position from which to view

the race. i

It was no start though, for ya couple of

 _, the horses Were behaving as if they were
, /  wild, rearing, kicking and (plunging so that
 xit was all the riders coul do to keep their
‘ seats. _
, f‘ Ugly brutest they ought to be shot!"
rClairborne exclaimed.
. . The starter had his hands full; ten times

"the attempted to get them off, and'cvery
 .timehe was obliged to call them back.
 The keen-eyed Southerner had been
'7 ‘Watehing the proceedings with the eyes of a
hawk.
' , ‘v‘ See how closely Pete is obeying orders!”
.‘ghe exclaimed to his companion. “ lie is keep-
 ing well out of reach of those kicking beasts
 when the line starts for the flag heis
3; this 5 well in advance."
‘ 7 “_ es, and do you notice that Lone Oak’s
'- .jOckey is trying the same game?” the news-
' paperman asked. ‘ «
“Iliad my eyes on him, and if it were
‘ gum: {or the fact that he has to give t e mare
, ,te‘n poundsl would be sorely afraid, for it
 '4 ts‘aty, ,opinion that, both horses being fit,
' ' there is not live poamls difference between
them."
. Again there was a shout, “They're off!"
and a sin it proved to be a false alarm.
H “ fit this monkey-business is bad for the
,.,favorite, carrying the heavy weight that he
" does.” the veteran journalist observed.
:He will 'be all tired out before the race
"0' as.”
, ,EYes. that is true, arid if some of the
jockeys are not careful they will be , left at
a post. for I can tell b the way that
flankiwell is acting, that e is losing'his
flipper, and it is no wonder, for the way the
. ‘librses ar behaving is enough to provoke a
' Watt '13 s first thing you know the flag
 go down even if some of the fractions
310$.” “shot up." Clalrborne remarked-
‘ ,I‘lairlly had the words left his lips when a
'Fb'ty. roar went u from the multitude.

be red flag ha fallen and the horses
re'of!. - v
wads the Creole had
 who had made a
$3113 at the post. ’
4 i ratified kept his eyes open, as he had de-
”' ' he would do, and so secured an ex-

     
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
 
  
   
  
   
 
    
  
   
    
     
 
 
   
  
  
    
   
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
   
   
 

..t’a. * ‘

 

redieted the three
the trouble were

   
 
  
  

no Oak and Doldale Wei-ea good
,éhfbehindflhen came the rest. all ins.

I‘ffii‘éeorgei that fellow in black and yel-
led" -.

  

Serf ' ,3. .
; glanced at his card in order to see
what-horse‘itwas. ‘ . _ 
put the Southerner, beingwelt posted in
. to the, hordes, _ gave “the informa—

,is; King Thomas: thej'lrnported t¢u¥

   
   
  
  
 

  in say

  
 

3.

that ma, -. being the second horse off, »

got ajgood start!" the journalist ob“

d—dollar horse who has never even
has in which" he 
h l . i . . .

i'l luck to meet better horses than himself
- when the distance suited him.”
: “ lie is not dangerous then?”

“ Oh, no, yet for half a mile he has a
wonderful turn of speed; when he covers
the three—quartm's though you will begin to
see him come back to the rest," the Creole
replied. ‘

“Just the horse then to act as a pace-
maker!" the journalist declared.

“ Yes, and he is making it hot, too, better
than l:40—])0ssibly as good as 1235!"

The Southerner had his field-glasses to his
eyes now, and was eagerly watching the
progress of the race.

The ' )urnalist was also using his glasses,
and so to pair were able‘ to keep close watch
on the movement of the steeds.

“’I‘he mare is keeping right after King
Thomas—he is not gaining an inch!” Kin—
sade declared as the leading horse passed the
first—quarter post.

“ Yes, but the pacc is too hot," Clairborne
obscrvcd. “ The horses will never stand it.
You can see that they are beginning to string
oat already.”

“ Yes,and Doldale is improving his position
every jump, almost.”

“Oh, he is a good milerl there is no dis-
count on thatl” the Southerner asserted.
“ And I would be willing to bet two to
one that when the mile is over he will be up
to the leaders, but the pace will ‘break his
heart,’ and when his jockey calls on him for
a final effort in the stretch he will not be able
to respond." »

“ Lone Oak is forging to the front, too,"
Kinsade remarked.

“ Yes; his jockey does not dare to lay
back too far for fear that the horse may not
be able to come up when he is called upon.”

As the Creole had predicted, after the first
mile King Thonius‘s bolt was shot, as the
turfmen say, and he began to “ come back.”

Doldale and Lone Oak, coming on with a
rush, caught King fl‘homas and the Southern
Girl. -‘

At a mile and a half the race seemed to
lay between Doldale, Lone Oak and the
Southern Girl.

Doldale had got his nose in front.’I.one
Oak was at his saddle, while Southern Girl,
on the outside, just at the favorite’s flank,
was coming strong.

“ By Jove! it is a splendid race!” the
journalist exclaimed, enthusiastically.

“ Yes; and lloldnlc is carrying his weight

better than I expected, but in a few seconds.
the mare will challenge him.
" “See how artfully Pete is riding. He is
on the outside, and I don’t believe that
either Doldsle's or Lone Oak’s jockeys have
any idea of how strong she is coming.

“ Pete has not called on the mare yetz‘
wait till the last quarter, a d then if, he
doesn’t treat the others to a sqrpriso party I
don’t know either the boy r the horse as
well asI think I do!” ' . 

The three were in 'the stretch, a dozen
lengths ahead of the rest. .

The cry went up.» " Doldale wins!”

But the favorite’s astute jockey felt that
the horse was beginning to flag. and so he
laid on the whip , y -.

Lone Oak's, r der was watching every mo-
tion, so his whip descended, too, ‘on his
beast's flank, ml at the same time Pete put
tbes urs int the mare. ‘ ‘

Al three horses responded nobly.

d it dozen strides and Lone Oak passed Dol~
a e. .

The favorite was beaten. and the“. wit“ it
mlghtyrus‘h, Southern Girl came on. passed
Lone Oak, and beathim to the wire ’byla
length-La most. beautiful finish! ' 

CHAPTER 1X.
.. f an'rna run STRUGGLE .: . *
~ 7A MIGHTY yell, Went up from tho’throatl,
of the multitude. for the  hadlbesfl
about as exciting a chess Monmouth Pair“
had‘eYer seen. . fl   V 
" Clairbornc, old 'fellowtnlet'me-bon milk
late youl” the veteran journalistexcl medr
grasgl‘ng'the ,Qroolt hytha‘  ' ' ' '. Zr
our mare has was after)“ ml . 9100‘“
983d you are a hundredmhouls dollars
6‘.» I ‘ : 1. ’ »  ~ '

 

rap
‘ ' . Sbuthmphgr. logged and, cordially

   

   
  
 
 
 

  

 

blazing.

 

“ I am not a poor man by any means, for I
have been lucky enough to make a deal of
money in the last ten years, still, no matter
how rich a man is, ahundrcd thousand dol-
lars comesin very handy.

_ “ A racing stable costs some money to run,
and though I race for the pleasure of the
thing, yet it is agreeable .to enjoy that plea-
sure and yet make money out of it at the
same time. " '

“()h,’ycs, no doubt about that!” Kinsadc '
observed. ~

“ And I must say that I am deueed glad
that you won, apart from my desire to see
you carry off the prize, because owing to
the hints you gave me about what the
chum-es were I put three hundred ducnts on
your more at ten to one, which was the best
odds I Could get. so I can safely say that I
am three thousand dollars better off for hav-
ing met you, which I assure you, my dear
(flairbornc, is quite a windfall.” ‘

“I am very glad, indeed, that you were
lucky enough to land so good a stake,” file
Creole replied.

“Yousee Ihad confidence in your judg-
ment;I thought you knew what you were
talking about, and so I resolved to venture a
few dollars, although, as a rule, I am rather
shy about betting on so uncertain a thing as
a horserace.

“1am no horseman,” the journalist ex-
plained, “ so I don’t dare to risk my money
on myown judgment, and when a man tries
to get a tip on a thing of this kind the
chtlmces are great that he will be put into a
be e."

“ Oh, yes. that is true, and then it is avery
unsafe thing to play a horse on its public.
form, for horses are peculiar creatures, and’
a beast that can do a mile in better than 1.41)
to-day is liable to go amiss and be ten scoonds
slower on the morrow.” ‘ r

“Oh, yes, of all uncertain things in‘tlie
world a horSe-race is about the most uncer-
tain." .

During the conversation the pair had been
walking toward the 'saddlinfilpaddogk, and
they ari'chd there just as t e horses came
11 - 1 \
pThe Southern Girl appeared to be in excel-
lent condition, and it was plain that the race
had not punished her much. Lone Oak, too,
looked well, but the favorite plainly showed
how severe had been the struggle.

Alex Van Courtlandt was there, and no one
could possibly have guessed fron his looks
that he had been tcmbly hard it by the
outcome of the race. .

“I did the best I could," the vetera
jackey remarked to the young man as he
dismounted from the horse.

” But the distance was too long and the
weight too heavy," he continued.

“ The pace was a mighty hard one, too,”
he added. “And when I called upon the
beast for a final effort in the stretch, he was
all out, and couldn't come." ‘ .. ‘

“ You rode a magnificent race... Haytvard.‘
and no living man could'have done any‘bet-
tier," Van Courtlandt responiie with 8' smile.

“But the mare. it one. of. e Lexington
four-milers, and even with equal weights I
doubtif Domale‘Co‘uld-have beaten her at the
Cup distanCe;” be added.

The youngkman spoke calmly, and with-
out the sli h I 8: "806 0f feeling, and the best
{udge of 0 rec or would never have guessed
hate-the result of the race had beggare’d
him. i ’

In the grand stand the burlesque actress
had Watched the struggle at the [finish with
bated breath, her face was white and her eyes

l

When the shout went up “ Doldale with"
she sprung to her feet in her excitement, 'ivi

wring utterance to a cry of joy, and phen w n

the mare came on with her mighty rush and
the favorite fell back into the t ird place,
she sunk back into her seat, biting her full
red lip with her pearly» white teeth until
;th§blood came. . .

. . ever in all her life had the blonde

queen".
of burlesque been so fearfully excited.  r

‘vI-mr mumwm—‘m www.11va v ......

"What did 1 tellyou‘?" the waysith -

maurice exclaimed as the horses passed un:
der the wire, and the mifity rpar which gwetlt' \

. ,1“

up from the multitude proclamggfitgflgehd‘  :i.

 

 

mcewasovor. ;  a .-  _ .. ,
, “ Didn't Iwarn' on notto .put my bu
0! on Doldale?”th'e theatrical .

   
 
 

l

  

E
l
l

3..

4,. w... .......~-..... a»... «w...» . .. .. _.,<
w» . ma.»- ,  .

  
 
   

-ns&~:;w§¥.. X‘i 4:11am “7.5;;on answers-Fume“

 

     

 
  
    
    
   

     

       
 

a ‘n‘n'il

      
 

,.v “.3

         

 

  

 
 

 

 

  

 

 

i

 

TTh

 

 Yak" S

   
 

 

 

. . ‘ , .5 ‘,
,1 .m “to $57,».- oflzfl'hafi.‘ 3,1. $75.... h; (/2;

, n

 

"c.

port at  Branch.  I

   

.L-._,.w.m.r~:rfhemm 7“???“ :4. 2:5 5.: .- 4+... 1' -_,...., .2»... r. a”. v. t. _..

1.1.

 

 

be three hundred ahead now instead of being
'a hundred out of pocket.”

“Oh, yes, you are awfully clever!” the
burlesque- actress cried in a. rage. “You
kne v, of course, just how it Wtillltl turn
«out," she continued, in a sarcastic nay.

“ And it is a wonder, if you were so cer-
tain, that you didn't put a thousand or two
on the nasty mare, and then you could boast.
of having gained something worth winning.”

‘hc woman was extremely angry as was
plainly evident both from her words and

. -. manner.

The wily theatrical speculator saw at once
that she wasin spch a tit of temper as to be
ready to take offense at almost anything.

“ Alt, yes, my dear Miss Ragsdale, i did
not dare to risk much, for these horse-races
are such deuced uncertain things that a man
is neVer safe in risking much money on them,
even though he may think he is well post-
ed," F‘itzmauxiee obset/ved in his smoothest
way.

“Oh, yes, they are horridly uncertain!”
the actress exclaimed.

“ Why, it was only yesterday that Van
Courtlandt told me that he felt certain that

«his horse would win,” she continued.

“Yes, yes! I had a; talk wth him last
night at the hotel—you sec, since coming
down hereI have made a point to Cultivate
his acquaintance on your account,” and the
speculator grinned as though he imagined he
had said something smart.

“ Oh} you are ~ extremely clever!"
actress exclaimed in a spiteful way. ,

“ And I could plainly see that he was ex.
tremely confident that his horse couldn’t
lose the race,” th especulator continued in
his oily style, without taking any notice of
the outburst of the angry woman.

“It was a sure thing, and like a good
many other supposed—to‘be sure things in
this uncertain world it did not turn out as it
'ought to have done.” '

“ it is a beastly shame!" Miss Ragsdale ex-
claimed, angrily. “The ho'rso ought to
have won and it would have won too if the
jockey had been good for anythingl" she
continued. _ t .

“ Why didn'the use his whip before, and
not wait until the last moment? But I don’t
believe the man had any eyes, or else he
would have seen how dangerously near to
him the other horses were!” ,

“As it was he let them creep right up
behind, then they rushed right by him, and
the race was too nearly over for him to
force his horse to increase his speed by the
use of the whip.”

“Well, it may he that you are right,”
the mana er replied in a diplomdtic way.

“Possi ly the jocke ' did wait too long
before he used the whip,” he continued.
“But it was‘ myimpression though that
the horse was tired, and was not able to
respond when he felt the punishment.”

“ He could have done a greatdeai better
if the jockey had been more clever!” the
blonde burlesquer declared with all a. wo—.
man’s willfulness.

“ Well, I suppose this finishes Van Court-
]andt," Tommy Ilzigsdale remarked with a

rim
' The actress turned on him in a fury, and
her reat eyes fairly blazed. .
“glen curl” she cried in low but bitter ac-
cents. ‘fDo you dare to gloat over the
ruin of the man upon whose money you
have lived for the last six months?” .

The ~,-other grew as white as a sheet and
be fairly seemed to. row smaller as he

shrunk away from the ad! nant woman.

“I when t Mining any gloating business,”
.he re‘ lied, sulkily.

“I hat do on want to go and fly at a
fellow like a t ger-cat in this 'erc sort of
W237;

the

didn’t mean no harm. and I shotlld

I _'think.-a‘icove might speak once in a while

; without having is head snapped right off."

"Oh, you cannot deceive e, and you
‘are only wasting your time in trying to do
anything» of the kind t" she retnrted.’ still
speaking in a, low tone, for althoughthe
majority oi the ’ ople; in the neighborhood
of the party ha. deserted their seats after
the Cup race was over, yet there were
me within car-shot it she had spoken in
ornipary tone of voice. '

one so,

\

  

‘retorted, in suppressed rage.

--in anger against the restraint: -

'ernl oi‘l’er,’

 

mite play no  on 11/00..” ,

U
for all the world like a whipped cur who, .
forced into a corner, feared he was about to
receive more punishment. 3
“ Oh, yes, you are!” the blonde burlesque 

” Do you think Idon’t know you? Do
you imagine that I have logged you around
with me fora good ten years now without
being able to read all your thoughts in your
face just as I would read an open book, you
mean, miserable apology fora man!”

Tommy cowered under the fierce denun-
ciation. ,

“Oh, come now, let up on a coon,” he
whined. “I didn’t mean no harm!"

“No, no, no harm !" she repeated, in hit-
ter scorn. "You are only glad because
Van Courtlandt is ruined, and you would
like to openly gloat OVer the matter if you
only dared. , _

“ Do on suppose Ihav‘n’t seen ever since
I made an Courtlandt's acquaintance that
you did not. like him?

“He is a gentleman and you, you low
miserable brute, you are not worthy to tie
his shoes.

“\Vhy, for two pins I would throw you
overboard, and marry this man, ruined as he
is!" the burlesque actress continued, in a
state of great excitement.

The circumstances of the case added fuel
to her flame, for she could not'raise her voice
and give loud utterance to the anger which
she felt burned within her veins.

The actress was only_a common, low-bred
girl,'although as she rose in the world she
had done her best to play the lady, and un-
der such conditions as now existed it would
have been an immense relief to her mind
if she could have given free vent to her
temper.

If she could have denounced the cringing
man at the top of her Voice, called him all
sorts of names, and abused him to her heart's
content she would quickly have been satis~
lied, but this was denied her and she chafed

‘ “ You could easily afford to do it,” the
wily manager suggested, inlhis soft-soaping
wa .

‘yMy goodness! a woman like yourself
who can easily make from five hundred. to a
thousand dollars a week can afford to marry
any kind of a man, and with your 0ppor~
tunitics to make money it does not really
make a bit of diil'ercnce to you whether your
husband has a cent or not. ’

“Oh, yes, I know that. I am independ-
ent!" the actress exclaimed, proudly. ,

“I will tell you what I will do,” Fitz-
maurice said. eagerly. judging that there was
a chance that. he might persuade the actress
to engage with him.

“ If you will sign with me for forty weeks
Iwill guarantee you twentyfive thousand '
dollars clear money, for‘the trip, antipay all
your expenses,“ and if _ the business on the
whole tour goes above a certain point I will ’
whack up a good per-Cent, in addition”;

By this time’the rage of the actressthad
abated in a measure. ' '

This liberal proposition aroused the com'
mercial instincts of her nature, and her face
assumed a reflective look. ‘ -

“ Well, you have certainlyzmade mea lib-

slw said in a meditative way.

“ Yes. that is the truth. but I can afford to
do it, and you will be worth the money to
me!” Fitzmmui‘ce asserted. ‘ - '.

.“ It is a large sum to guarantee inva lamp,
and I will put the cashu in any bank which:
you may Lei pleased to signate before we
start on the tour, with the understanding

 

that you arcto be at )iberty to draw so much -

per lgent. of the gross sum each and every
wee .

“A man can't makea fairerproposition
than that!” he added. . ' . ’

"Oh, no, the terms are. liberal enough,”
the actress replied, thoughtfully.

“ And just consider, my dear Dolly. what
a truly magnificent chance itlgi-vcs you to
play the grand lady with this ruined gentle- l
man!” the wily speculator u~rged. ‘ ,Tj

“ A chance to lay areall' u heroic ’part,”
the manager cont nuedin' a t entriqu way.

“ Now that he has met with this terrible

 
  
 

     
 

reverse he will .nndouhtedly ‘fxmeto yoaforf, “Not, a. particularly pleasant  .
mmlfitifintfm‘ $31? is a man’sna'ture; »  rent", the w y speculamr observ  wi
_.f‘-When_  tree ‘seeh   , > . ~  , .

 

 

   
  
   
  
  
  
   
 
  
   
  
   
  
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
    
  
   
   
    
  
  
   
  
    
  
  
    
    
   
   
   
    
  
   
   
    
   
     
     
      
   
   

“Why, Foxy, I had no idea that you
could do the pathetic after this fashion!” the
actress exclaimed with a dry and cynical
laugh. ~

“01), I am a very talented man!" the
manager exclaimed in a burlesque way.

“ The trouble is, my dear Miss Iiagsdale,
the world at large has not yet discth-red
just how talented I am, but I live in hopes!"

And then the manager grinned, as he al-
ways did when he thought he had said any-
thin clever.

“ 'ou make too much money by acting
oif the stage to ever go on it,” the woman
observed.

" Very true, and it is not probable that 1
will ever tempt fortune in' that line,” Fitz-
maurice remarked.

“But, to return to my mutton: Van Court-
landt comes to you for sympathy, and then
after condoling with him upon his misfor-
tune, you throw in your little dramatic ef-
feet.

“You say, “Alexander, when you were
rich and sought my hand,I was coy and
would not agree to marry you, but now
that you are ruined, take me! I am yoursl’
Tableau and quick curtain !" ‘

CHARTER X.
A new IDEA. ' ,

A THOUGHTFCL look came over the fea:
tures of the actress and she bent her eyes to
the groun , apparently in thonght.

The brother watched her. fora few mo-
ments with a look of deep disgust hpon his I;
face. ‘

Then he said in a very humble, sex-vile
war:

"‘I am all ruuly to get out, of, course,
for if you get married it will put my nose
out of joint, but that isn’t neither here nor
there.  .

“ I wouldn’t stand in your way for a min, I
ute. If you think you will be happy»:
with this man I am sure 1 am agreeable. and" 3
you needn't stop to think about me in the-
matter at all. '- ’

“ I Will do on the justice to say that you '
have'always ( one the fair thing by me, arid "
I am not a bit afraid but what you will do‘ ‘
the same in the future," he continued, in A
that pctuliarly servilc manner which some of:
the lower-class English adopt. 

A manner which is particularly disagree~"
able ioa well-bred man for it suggests the“,
idea that nothing could possibly give the,
speaker greater pleasure than to get doWn 
allow himself to be walked upon. ' '  g

“Shutup, Tommy, and don’t say any»
thing more!” the burlesque actress cried,
sharply. -.
. “ Because you happen to be hem 12a.
donkey there is .no of our brayinfgt~
to let every one become acqua nted with 
fact. ' '* \

Tommy sunk back in his seat, with a;
sort of "crushed again " expression on his?a
countenance. ~’ A

. " ’I‘his‘ls a very nice little programme that;
you have laid out for me,” the actress conoj
tinned, turning to F‘itzmanrice. “But Iden’
think ,1 will carr it out though. _ 1;

F‘I was ~a.foo to lose my temper a ino-
.ment ago i” she declared. .

“ It is not very often that I make suck 
gay and glittering donkey of myself, bu '
suppose every one is liable to make a ‘.
break ’ of that kind, asvth‘ese Americans y
‘oncoin a while.” I  . _

“.011, yes!" Fitzmauriee exclaimed.“
man or woman who never makes " V
is more than mortal!" ‘.   ‘ v __

“Very-true," the Woman pll , . 
fact of the matter  got all-we had. 9,
over themes. and my excitement ‘had;m.
find vent some swam--90 that accounts for”
the idiotic display Which {made of my 

. f D! , r ' , 

. “ Well, we email liable to little maiden
of the kind.” the manager remarked is:
soothing way. ’ . ' .

"Iris/notoften thatl makesueh ad

 

  
     
  
   
  
   
 
 
  
    
       
        
   

     
    
   
   
   
 

 soéXcited in fact that I hard! .
w etb [was standing on my 11601”! 15
,headl” he declared. . ‘ ' fl‘

 
 
   
  
 
    

“But it is all over now, and it will be
a long while. I promise you before you
will see me give another exhibition of the
kind." —
"The best of us will make a slip some-
times,” Fitzmauricc declared. 5
“Now, this little sentimental rule which i
you suggested I could play, is altogether“
foreign to my nature, and I know very well ;
that I could not make a success out of it,” i
.; the actress remarked in a dry way. f
i " One great drawback against my doing _
; anything of, the kind is the. fact that I don’t 1
 love the man. ;
‘ “I am of a peculiar nature, anyway, and I j
, don't believe there is much love. in my com- l
position. 3
“Van Courtlandt is a gentleman, and
very much in love with me, as is plainly j
evidenced by the large amount of money
which he has thrown away on my humble
self. '
“ He is very agreeable—a nice fellow~-in
fine, a perfect gentleman in every respect,
but have not fallen in love with him, and I ,
' don t believe that I ever could love him, no 
matter how hard Itried. I
I
i
|

 

’«1

“ Now, while it is not a dilllcult matter for

j a woman of my temperamentand disposition

to force herself to make believe that she loves 1

a man who is wealthy enough to give her

everything that her heart can desire, it is an

altogether different matter when the fellow
is poor, and she has to find the . ney."

“ Oh,. yes!” Fitzmaurice exclaimed.
‘ “ There is a vast difference between the sit-
nations!"

"I know very well that though I respect
the‘ man, and esteem him as a riend, and,
probably, if I had married him. would have

. got along with him all right as his wife, yet,
under‘these changed conditions, I know very

. well I never would be satisfied to marry
him. ”

‘-‘ You are quite right!” the wily manager

, exclaimed. “ As these Americans say, your
i head is level! and I am very glad to find that
you are disposed to take a sensible view of
the matter.
»' V " I really—to ive on m honest opinion
‘ ,. -—tbink it wouldfiie pe’ifectlyyabsurd for you
to marry this ruined man, who hasn't, a cent
. to bless himself with. "
- “ In fact, if I were in your place, I should
hesitate to marry any man, rich or poor," the
t mans or continued
. ‘.‘ on are your own mistress now, and
able to make as much money as any woman
,- _.'  on ht to care to spend, so yOu are perfectly
in e endeat."

    
     
  
  
 

 " es, that is true enough."
., v I “ Van Courtlandt's sun has set, and he
,'  ' disappears, but soon another man will come
I;  to take his place," the manager remarked.
- “‘ Ah, by the way, speaking of that, an
 , idea has just come tolmel” Fitzmaurice ex-
" . v Kclaimed.
‘ “ I was talking with the owner ‘of the
more which won the Cup; he is a Creole from
Louisiana, and enormously wealth . It was
'csterday on the hotel veranda. 'ou drove
, he was struck by your beauty. and when
r‘ 5 I explained that I was an old friend of yours.
_ and could give him an introduction he seemed
 ‘to be much pleased.
“Now suppose I bring him to your
house?” ' m
' ” Very well—ls he good-looking?
“ Oh, yes.dark eyes and hair, a Southerner,
- you know."
 “ Perhaps he will be fool enough to want
_ to take Van Courtlandt’s place and enjoy
" the‘p sure of paying my bills for the bene-
fit of y society l” the actress exclaimed with
,‘ a cynical laugb.‘ -- '
 .1003 he married, by the way?” she con-
' than .

, .’ " No, he is a bachelor. ”
" Well, I am glad of that for I draw the
line at married men," Miss Ragsdale de
1 elated. ‘ '
1‘ g. “I don’t mind the young. unmarried men;
[it the are foolish enough to spend their,
'wealt Upon me it is all right,” she eon-é
“tinned. “It is worth something to be per-
mitted to he enrolled in the ranks of my'
",iriends, and then I always live in hope too
; that some day some gentleman, with a good
{at bank account, WI 1 come along thatl may v
be able to fall in love with, and then loan
will!” Asthe. uttered words

 

i some mistake about the matter?

' _, g.  .k “sawmilan . .

The   sportiati Long_~Branch..

 

 

she cast a malicious glance at Tommy, who is bound to throw awn" his money in some

immediately became extremely gloomy.
“ Tommy wouldn‘t mind it—would

'ou,
Tommy?” she asked, with a wicked smiIe. ‘

“ You can do as you like for all of me,”
he replied in a sulky way.
“ I can't stop you!
your own way, and I would not try to stop

you, what is more, if I could !”

"This is a line, dashing fellow, and they 5

say he is worth a mint of money,” the theat
rieal manager explained.
“ lie is altogether a different sort of man

i

You always have I manager continued.

l

E erner to your feet.

l

i
l

l

ridiculous way, and I might just as well have
the things which the money will buy.”

“ You are correct!” Fitzmaurice responded
with a knowing shake of the head.

“ But I will be oil“ to see (llairborne," the
“ And you can rely
upon my doing all I can to bring the Sort]:

in

And then a sudden thought came to Fitz-

; mauriee.

“ Hold on!" he exclaimed.
“ I don‘t know that I can really aflord to

from Van (‘ourtlandn but seems tobe a jolly ‘ do this for you," he continued.

good fellow though.”

” I suppose he has won a small fortune by
the victory of his ht rse," the actress remark-
ed in a reflective viay.

" Oh, yes, they were talking about the

matter at the hotel last. night, and I happen- ,

1

ed to get in with a lot of Sporting ineu—l‘el- j

1 lows who Were in the ring, you comprehend, -

who understand all that is going.r on,and they E

said that if the Southern mare Won the cup.
her owner, this (‘lairborne—that is his name

—..Jeiforson (llnirbol'nc—Wollld be pretty cer- t

taiu to win from a hundred to a hundred and
twonty-live thousand dollars."

“ My goodness!" cried the burlesque ac-
tress in utter surprise. “ Haven‘t you made
It does not
seem possible that the man could win any
such sum as that on a single race!”

“Oh, no, these men knew what they were
talking about. It is what these sporting fel-
lows eall "a ‘ hog-killing.’ That is, no one
knew anything about the mare, and so the
bookmakers gave big odds, twenty and thirty
to one, in the beginning, so if a man risked
a thousand dollars he could win thfi'ty thou~
sand.” .

“ Ah, yes, I see.”

“ They all agreed that if Clairborne’s horse
did win the bookmakers would suffer fear-
fully.”

“'Dear Fitzy, run and catch onto the man
as soon as you can!” the actress exclaimed
with her most bewitching smile.

" It isn’t right for a man to go around with
so much money as that without having one
of the softer sex to help him spend it.

“ Who knows? perhaps I may fall in love
with this fellow, and if I do I might make
up my mind to marry him," and again the
h onde queen shot a malicious glance at the
downcast Tomm . .

” Oh, you no n’t‘think you can worry me
by talking like that!” the brother exclaimed.

“ You can marry a dozen of them for all I
care!"he continued. " I am not afraid but
what you will look after me, all right, and so
the more money you get the better it will be
for me.”

“ Tommy looks at the matter with the eyes
of a philosopher!” Fitzmaurice exclaimed
with a laugh.

“ Well, Tommy is not so bad. a fellow
when on come to know him,” the actress
remar ed.

“ There are the horses coming up for the
next race.” the manager observe .

“ Clairborne will probably be on the
quarter stretch, and I can get an opportunity
to speak to him.”

“Do! that is a' dear fellow!” the blonde
beauty exclaimed. “I have s oiled one of
the Egy lions. and as his wealt has vanish-
ed lnto t in air, so there 'isn’t shops of get-
ting any more out of him, I an: eager to get-
hoid of another. .

“ I'm getting to he a terrible. mercenary
freatttllre, eh 1" she continued with a light

on . '

“30h, well, this is a peculiar world, and
the human in it who does not take particular
care to look out for Number One will have a
hard time of it." Fitzmaurice replied.

“I am not half so bad as some people try
to make me out!" the burlesque actress de-
clared.

“ In the first place, lam extremely careful
of my r utation, and all who come tosee
me must
not welcome to my house.

“Then in the second, Inever ask a man to
spend any money on me.

“ If any youn fellow, with more money
than brains, is ,oolish enough to imagine he
can buy. a ‘ woman's love b squander-lug

have themselves or else they are.

 

‘ the stage you ha

The actress looked astonished.

“ \Vhy not?" she asked, while Tommy
looked at the speculator with questioning
eyes
“Well, the idea has just come to me that
it is possible it is not for my interest to aid
you to make a conquest of this rich South-
erner," the manager explained.

“I am anxious to have you go out itnder
my managt mcnt,” he continued.

“ Now look how this sort of thing has;
worked in the past—and the past is til
guide to the future, you know. As Soon as
you allowed this Van Courtlandt to squan
der his money on you, it was good by to act—
ing, and if you succeed in getting this (dair-
borne under the spell, the chances are that
you will not want to go out this conting-
season, and that will most materially inter—
fere with my plans."

The blonde buriesquer laughed merrily.

“ Ah, there is no mistake about your being
justly entitled to the name of oxy Fitz-
mauricel" she declared, shaking her finger
archly at the theatrical man, who rinned as
though he considered he was high y compli-
merited.

“ But ‘ou can go ahead and arrange the
introduction all right,” she continued.

“As I told you before, this playing the
fine lady is not at all what it is cracked up to
be, and I am so far satisfied with the trial I
have that I do not want to do it again.

“I want to get back to the stage, and I
will not be contented until I do." I

“ You ought to accept my oflel',” the wily
Fitzmaurice urged.

“ You cannot do any better with any one
else," he argued.

" You know that m reputatiOn as a man-
agcr stands A No. , and I think I may
truly say, without bein open to theimpu-
tation of flattering myse f, that there no t a
man in the country who can bring you be-
fore the public in better st le.”

“ Oh, yes. I am aware 0 that fact, and I
think from. what I know of your way of do-
ing busirfiéss that I would'rat ier go with you
tLun wi any other manager." ”

" WI 1 you accept my offer then? the
speculator asked, in his oily insinuating
wa .

‘i’Yes, I will. accept!" the blonde beauty
replied immediately. -

“I might as well settle the matter now as
at’agy other time, and then it will be off my
min .” «

“ l have a blank’oontract in my ckct. as
it happens," the managerexplmne . “ And
as I am rovided with a fountain pen I can
easily {iii it out, so we can settle the matter
for cod and all right away.”

T to blonde actress burst into a hearty
1m; gh, while Tommy rubbed his hands soft-
Iy together and chuckled as though he was
much pleased by the outlook.

,“Well, Fitzy, there.is no denying that
you are a prince of coaxers, and the king of
schemersl’ Miss Ilagsdalc declared.

The manager grinned, and pulled the ends
of his long mustache with a self-satisfied

air.
“A man must be up with the times in or-
der to do anything nowadays.” he replied:
3 “But in regard to this affair, as long as
you have made up your mind to go back to
( better go with me than
with any one else. for owing to the facilities
I possess I will be able to make more money

‘ out of you than an ordinary manager, so

his money on her, I airways a low him to go ‘
.Mc ' I l i ' _ V V i
 n gu- ind

can afford to pay you better, and my idea
about a transaction of this kind is that after
the arties make up their minds the quicker
the etails are down in black and white, so
as to settle the affair. the better.” .- '
“ Prepare
tem!" the b ondo ~actress
I o 08 W ' .

.w

   

‘ . _ a,

our contracts and I will ti nk
entangled

 

 

 

mgr—- 

 

 

  
 
 

 

1

 

 

 

   
  

  

,. -. ' “if
M": \w '_‘_';v\-'\" f ‘-

.‘wo~-—.mu tour” W-.r..au ammunmmn ~
v‘ V. . _ v- u x, we. r; '
4 . _ y ,

.r'\<~t','.">“7' \ ‘.“‘ '

at Long

:1. ~ . . . — J.” . , a. . 0
' 2'1". .. 11“, . a. '1. - .r ..“ .- —
'a a. ..< Wait-M.“ fi-lg‘,_~f,.j1 .I -‘ ‘3’!) H ,.»,\ . F? . .. . . r r,

he New York Sport

“Jami, ‘- A ,  x. ,I.\’/v ;.  .2 ‘s_~

Branch.

 

13

 

“ You are quite right in wanting the mat-
ter settled,” she continued. “ And you can
be sure that if I once sign you can depend
upon me to keep m agreement. for I have
always prided myse f upon being a slave to
my word."

“Thanks, awfull l” the theatrical specu-

lator replied, as he rastened to get out his '

contracts and his pen.

"I am not at all alarmed aborrt your
keeping your contracts if you once sign
With me.” Fitzmnuricc remarked. “ForI

know what your reputation is in that litre.” j
" 3 es, if I sign you can depend upon my ;

going with you, and even if 1 should take

a fancy to this wealthy Southerner—if I,

should make up my mind that it would be
:1 good thing for him to spend some of his
wealth on me, I should not allow the matter
to interfere with my engagement,” Miss
Ragsdale declared.

“ if he desires to enjoy the pleasure of

my Society be will have to travel around I

the country in my train,” she continued

‘with the air of a queen conscious of her 2

power.

“Certainl —certainly, of course. that is
the ticket!" itzmaarice declared, busily en-
;gaged in preparing the contracts.

“ And this suits you, Tommy, eh?” the
actress asked, turning to that worthy with
a scornful smile upon her lips.

“ Oh, yes!" the brother replied. " I have
got all I Want of these swells and their
airs!” he declared. “ The actors are good
enough for me, and I like beer a deal better
than I do champagne at any time."

“Tommy is decidedly plebeian in his
tastes," the actress observed.

“ He doesn’t like wiuc because it goes to
his head, and a few glasses knock him off
his pins completel '.”

“ 'l‘oo rich for hrs blood!” Fitzmaurice d *-
clared, still industriously working away.

it only took him a few minutes to corn-
plcte the work. '

“ lIcre yotr are!” he exclaimed as he came
to the end.

Miss liagsdale read the contracts care-
fully. then took the pen and affixed her
signature.

“ There are my pothooks for you," she/re-
marked. “And now I am your slave for
forty weeks."

“ My queen you mean," the manager re-
plied. ” My‘brilllant diamond, and you can
rely upon my giving you surroundings
worthy of your luster.

“Now I Will go for the Southerner and
you can amuse yourself with him until the
season opens. "

CHAPTER XI.
run ruvrryarrox.

 

Ft'rzruamucn departed, feelingI highly '

pleased with the result of his work
“ I have got her i safe and sound," he

rmuttered as he made his way from the grand =

stand to the quarter stretch, where the great
guns of the turf were in the habit of con-
gregating.

“And had considerable doubt too
whether I would be able to do anything
with her,” he continued.

“ For I got the idea in my head from the
way she acted with this Van Courtlandt that
she had really fallen enou h in love with
him to have serious thou its of marryin,
the man. but the result 0 the race settle:
the ( trestion.

“ he divineo Miss Ragsdale is an eager
worshiper at the shrine of the god, Mam~
morn,

” She loves money, and though she might
be inclined by her heart to give a favorable
,answer‘to a wooer who could safely boast
that he was worth a million or two, yet the

very moment the riches took flight, avarice ‘
put love to rout, and she came to the con- l

:clusion that she did not think enough of the
man to share her own money with him."
And then the wily manager chuckled as
be reflected upon the wa in ' which he had
secured the realization 0 his wishes.
“Oh. yes, I am entitled to the name of
Foxy Fitzmaurice fast enough!" he exclaim-

"And thou h I am not a man inclinui to
boasting, yet do not hesitate to say that
the party who gets much the best of me. be

' ' man orwoman, will have to get up re-

. m m8!» ‘ J w

V 4 ~:s .;-

rubbed his hands briskly to ether, thereby
indicating how satisfied he ie twith his work.

“Ragsdale would have been the biggest
kind ofa fool if she had not acccpted my
offer!” he declared as he approached the place
, where the magnates of the turf congregated.
“ For I am giving her a small fortune, and I
ought to be able to pull out ten or fifteen
thousand for myself too.

“lam giving her big terms, but these
children of genius come high; they know

l Again the wily speculator chuckled, and
l
l
l

made through their talents they are bound
to have the lion's share.”

As he finished the sentence, Fitzmaurice
caught sight of the Southerner in conversa-

tion with the veteran newspaper man, Kin- :

sadc, and Van Courtlandt.
An idea came into his head and he hesi-
tated for a moment to reflect upon it.
“There is an old saying about its being
well to be off with the old love before get
. ting on with the new," the manager mut—
‘ tcred. I
l “ Now, in this instance, can't I kill two
birds with one stone? Can’thy inviting
Clairbornc in Van (‘our'tlandt’s presence con-

and thus gently insinuate to him that his
nose is out of joint?

“ I don’t think there will be any difficulty
in arranging the matter in that wa' if I
throw in a little tafl'y about my pointing
Clairborne out to her as the owner of the
beautiful horse which won the great race,
and explain what an interest she immedi~
ately t0ok in him.

l
r

landt, smartiug over his defeat, will be in a
condition to become angry upon ver little

conclusion that the blonde beauty, with the
ficklencss peculiar to her charming sex. has
taken it into her elegant head to fall in love
with the Southerner.

“,Under » ordinary circumstances he
_wouldn‘t be apt to attach any importance to
the matter", but as things are now lthink
the odds are big-that he will.

“ One adVantage Ibave, and that is he
does not know me, although I know all
about him, and he will not be apt to suspect
glint I was trying to play a little game upon
rrm.”

Again the wily speculator chuckled at his
own astuteness, and then made his way

standing.

With Kinsade the theatrical manager was
well acquainted, for in his business tours
, Fitzmauriee had met all the prominent jour.
Dalists in the country, and he made it a rule
to take particular pains to cultivate the ac-
quaintance of the newspa er men.

” How do you do, gent emen? Fine race,
wasn‘t it?” the manager exclaimed as he
came up to the group.

" Allow me to thank you, Mr. Clairborne,
for the little hint you gave. me last nightin
regard to your mare," he continued.

“I improved the ‘tip,’ and as aresult I
am a few thousand dollars ahead of the
game.”

The wily Fitzmanrice was one of the men
who believed in telling a and story, and so
erechcr he spoke of h s gains. he always
magnified hundreds into thousands.

" I am glad that you were so fortunate,”
Clairborne replied. ‘

“My only regret is that I did not venture
ten tim’ as much!” Fitzmaurice declared,
shaking ris head with a regretful air.

“ But this turf business, though. is a little
;' out of my line, and so Idid not dareto go
in very heavily. .

“if it had been a theatrical'speculation
‘ now, I would have known just how to han-
l dle the matter, and speaking of theatrical
g speculations, that reminds me that I have a
, bit of news in that line, Mr. Kinsade, which
' may interest you." i
3 " I will be glad to hear it, for I am alwrliiy:

8

 

l on the lookout for an item,” the journa
replied. , .

i “ Of course yotr know Miss Dolly Rags-
dale. the great‘ burlesque actress?” Fitz-
maurice observed. I “ ., '3

. "Oh, esl"_' ' \-
 ix 

      

  

their value, and if there is any money to be ‘

vey to him the idea that the divine Miss1
Dolly has taken a fancy to the Southerner

“The chances are great that Van Court- ’

provocation, and it seems to me the c anccs 1
are great he will jump immediately to the '

through the crowd to where the three were 7

to induce her to sign a contract to star under
my management for forty weeks, and Idon’t
mind telling you, Kinsade, that Ianr giving
hera certainty of nrore money for the en-
gagcment than any star in her line ever got
in America, or any other country, for that
matter!" the wily manager declared, assum-
ing nconfidentia air.

“ 'l‘hatis an important item, and, of course,
you want me to keep the matters profound
secret,” the old journalist remarked in a
jokingr way. '

“ You would be very angry if I spread the
news far and wide through the columns of
r the newspapers.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” the speculator re-
plied with a wink.

“Now then, old

fellow, I depend upon

you to give me the best kind of a send-off," _

he continued.

“ You know how to work the oracle to the
queen's taste, and there is no use of anybody
attempting to tell you how to do it, but if
might venture to make a suggestion I would
say that if you were to hint in your article
that Miss Ragsdale is going to receive about
fifty thousand dollars in gold for the engage-
ment, clear of all expenses. I would not be
very much put otrt about the matter.”

“ All right! I will dress the account up in
fine style." Kinsade replied.

“I will be ever so much obliged to you if
you will."

“I will give you a glowing article!" the
veteran journalist declared. “The impor-
tance of the subject demands it, for Miss
Iiagsdale is a head and shoulders above an
woman in her line who ever appeared in this

. country.” I
“Yes, yes, no doubt about that!” Fitz-
manrice assented. “ And she is just as nice

and sweet in private life as she is brilliant,

and captivating on the stage! In fact, I am
quite certain that I never met a woman more
i attractive both on and of! the stage than she
Is.” a

“That is true," Kinsade asserted.

“ By the way, Mr. Clairborne, she was
very much interested in your mare’s victor ,”
the theatrical speculator remarked, turmn
to the Southerner. “And when I pointeg
. you out to her as the owner of the victorious
animal she immediately said, with that pecu-
liar frankness which rs one of her greatest

charms, that she would be delighted to have 4

the pleasure of V making your acguaintance.”_
l “I would b ‘much pleased in ecd to meet

.... ,._,dn.,.........,....~» ,.,1,.,p. an“- . .. .... . .... .  -. s .2 .,  .

 

 

 

 

 

‘ the lady," cur borne observed with a polite. 

V bow.

i any time,” Fitzmaurice remarked.

“ If you are at liberty this evenin I will . 

' take you to her cottage,” he continu . “ She
has a charming place here on Ocean avenhe,

“I will be delighted to introduce you at it

a very bower of roses,” the speculator do. . 
(dared with that touch of poetry which ren: , 
‘ dcred his advertisments so attractive to the t ’

: general public.

“Ihave an engagement tau-night,” the, 

"But you can rest as-.' 

‘ sure I will take an early oppqrtnnit to 
gsdirle’s .

3 Southerner replied.

enjoy the honor of making Miss Rs
1 acquaintanc‘e.”~.

of the contest.

nd and:

made his way back to. the
chuckling over the neat way
had arranged the matter.

blonde actress she was annoyed

the winner, and I don teare two straws
either." ' I__ 4 .
CHAPTER XII.
norm nan LUCK. 

’Trm shrewd scheme of the theatrical
manager worked exactly as he anticipate}.

Van Courtlandt was in just the condition;
to fancy that all the world was turnin
against him. ‘
The defeat 0

quick. . .
r .  attempt to win the race was the 18'th

 
  

 

  0f the minim em a a"

we .

n which, he .

“ I don‘t like it at all!" she exclaimed. " It "
looks justas if I was deserting the loser f3: 
f

 

f his horse galled him to the  .

At this point the conversation was inter. .
rupted by the‘cry that the horses were ofl’,  »‘
indicating that the next race had commenced;-
and all three immediately hurried to procure
favorable positions for witnessing the result-1

But when be related the particulars  the: ‘

 
   
 
 

 
 
  

.14-

 *WI—a‘s. wusmmwwvymuwmzstum .
2/ .. roam-x v7.1; 1‘» . »- a- .1,,_‘__..w. nu- -" v .'">~,v.-

 

Th. New Yon-sari a  ma; : ~ ‘     ‘  

 

  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
   
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
   
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  

sequences

Being deeply in love with the burlesque
actress his first thought after the Tilt'U was
fun, and Doldale beaten, was of the bright
and brilliant woman.

The oft-quoted saying of the French gam-
blers came into his mind,” lucky in love, un-
lucky in play."

Would this prove to be the case in the

ortunatc young man was a vague hope that
it might be true,

But the invitation that the theatrical man.
agcr (lcliVered from the beautiful blonde
actress to the Southerner cast a chill upon
him. 1

He had not told Miss Ragsdale just how
badly he was situated, but as he gave her
credit for being an extremely shrewd wo-
man, he guessed that she conjectured that
he was near the brink of ruin, if l)oltlalc
failed to win the Monmouth Cup. She

would succeed, and had bet heavily upon the

result with the idea of retrieving his fortunes

by one great eat/1»,

He had played and lost.

‘ Was he now about to be a loser also in the

game of love? _

“I will know for certain tonight!" the
youn New Yorker exclaimed.

“ ‘ c has always evaded giving me a di-
rect answer.” he continued. ‘

“ But now the time has come when it must
be either yes or no. I will ascertain my fate
before I sleep this night."

Van Courtlandt was not famed for his
decision, but on this occasion he was so

‘ wrought up by the spell of ill-luck which
j had lately come upon him that it seemed to
 materially change his character.

He kept to his resolve, and that owning. a
little after eight o‘clock, he made his appear-
ance at the cozy cottage of the actress.

' , It Was a beautiful night; the moon was at
, its full and rose early. .
' ‘ Miss Ragsdale sat in a rocking—chair, on
 the veranda of her cottage, watching the
‘: play of the shimmering moonheams on the
“ over moving waves of old Ocean.
. - .‘She was alone, and was not feeling par-
1 , V ticularl cheerful, for she expected a visit
I P from an Courtlnndt, and was apprehen-
sive that the interview might prove an un-
'  pleasant one.

  Although. as she said with perfect frank-
‘ "Jess, she did not believe she possessed such
I  athing ass heart, yet she did have a con.
fifsdience, not a very active one pessibly, but
fit still troubled her a little in a case of this
" kind. for she knew that she had not acted
' ri htly in this matter.
 he knew that she ought not to have al~
. , . :IOWOd Van Cmirtlandt losquandcr his money

’- i‘upon her, when she felt that it was not at
all likely she would ever be willing to marry

 

  
  
   
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
   
      
    
       
     
    
 
    
     

,“ I was an idiot to allow the man to throw
away his money on me!” she exclaimed, as
She saw the tall form of the young New
 Yorker at the gate. ’
 . "“ The oni excuse that I can cficr for my.
“self is that liked the young fellow, and
took a deal of pleasure in his company, but
then I knew well enough, right at the be-
fiinnin , that [would never marry him, and
'was acidediy dishonest for e to accept
his..money, particularly when had plenty
, my o’wn and didn't need it.

  

  

  

 
 

" tea, in a bitter tone. ,
"g' A re ular miscr!" she continued. “ That
am, and I ought to be ashamed of

 
 

y'seif. /
Iwill get my punishment now thdugh,
U flippose, forI presume that I am in for an
io‘itromeiy bad quarter of an hour-Ff ' r
‘ Win Courtlandt had perceived the lady
and came direCtly .to her. - ' _
,é “‘Enjoyin the View of the moonlight on
' the, water?” 9 asked, as he stepped upon
the Veranda. " . '
‘ ,, , “Yes, it is beautiful, isn’t it?” the actress
,’ piled, in her sweetest tones. d r ‘

A ., f'Help yourself too chair!" she continued.

 

  
  
  
   

  

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

- if t
“1 Rm 818“ you have come to-nl ht, “for
Warn. feeling quite, lonely an out. of

   
    
 

  
 

.‘w she lmkcdher
- Wt

_;now it in this

knew that he felt certain that his horse,

 3 file was trying to play the h V rite, but;
' ' wontmliil  

He had failed, and now must face the con-  had an idea that her voice sounded hollow

3 and unnatural.

 

|
I
i
i

resent instance? in the heart of the un- ;

5‘ I am a mercenary wretch'l" sho exclaim- _

 

Van Courtiandt took a chair and seated
himself by the side of the actress.
The stroke of adversity which had fallen

4 upon him had sharpened the young man's

St'nSt‘S, and therefore he did not fail to notice
that the beautiful actress was embarrassed
by his presence.

llitll-r indeed were his thoughts.

"She does not want to see me, and my
presence here is unwelcome!" he murmured,
to himself, as he folloWed Miss llagsdale’s
example and gazed out fora moment at the
beautiful sight of the moonbeams playing on
the waters. ‘

Both of them felt that the position was
an awkward one.

The blondc burlesque determined to
bring the interview to a close as soon as

'she could do so without appearing to be un-

polite.

“l told '01] that I felt lonely and out of
sorts. and ' supposcit isbecausc I have been
away from the stage so long,” she remark-
ed, abruptly.

“ The stage is my life, you know! I
have been used to it ever since I was a
child, and i am quite sure that I will never
be contented to remain off of it for any
length of time.

“ l have signed an engagement, by the
way, to act this fall, and in another month
I' will be at work, so I will harm to cut
short my stay here; at the end of the week
I will depart.”

“So soon?” exclaimed Van Courtlandt in
surprise.

“ Yes, I have a ‘lot of things to do in
order to get ready for the tour and a
month really does not give me time
enough.”

The young man felt that this was a death-
blow to his hopes. - '

With a great effort, thou h be concealed
his disappointment. and agecting an air of
surprise, he said: ~

“ Why, I thought you had about made up
your mind to retire from the stage?”

“ Oh, yes, I reall did have a serious no.
tion of doing something of the kind," the ac-
tress replied in a careless way.

“You have dragged your mind then?’
Van Courtiandt ask .

' “ Yes, I have indeed. The brief experi-
ence which I have had of a private life sat-
isfies me that I was neVer intended to
shine in the domestic circle.

“ The garish lights, and the tinsel of the
stage suit me far better than a quiet, hum.
drum domestic life," she continued.

“Ihavc done my best to‘make believe
I would he contented to settle down,” she
added. “ And that is due to your persuasive
tongue. . '

" I you remember. I told you rig-ht at the'
beginning that Idid not believe I would ‘

ever be satisfied to give up the stage.”

“ Yes, I recall the circumstance,"
young New Yorker observed, slowly.

“ I allowed you to persuade me to try the
experiment, but it has turned out just as I
expected," the burlesque actress explained,
a trifle of embarrassment perceptible in her
manner. -

the

“ And, if you recollect, I said I would be.

able to give a decided answer to the proposal
which you were kind enough to make me
after I had tried the experiment of playing
the cod dame in private life fora while.”

” cs, I recall the circumstance," Van
Courtlandt remarked in a very grave way.

“ Well, I am going to behaak and honest

With YOU." Miss Ragsdalc declared. “ I don’t

believe in beating a bout the bush in scanner
of this kind. and itrust on will give me
credit or being sincere. haven’t tried to
lead v u (in, have 1‘2" . ' l .

“Oh no, " the young man replied. imme.
diatcl'y. “It is not your fault. i you are at»

'trnctive and on tiVatin

r! .
"I don't don t thatfii‘am’ something of a
coq’uettc, but then it comes natural to al.

women ,to want, to please the men, soI ought

not to be blamed format.” -

" Oh, not” ‘ " - . '

u Andi don‘t mind. admitting to you that
I like you as well as an . gentleman who.m I
ever encountered, ma.
 an I would new

 
    
  
 
  

 

contented to give

focl’pe'rfcctly satis- ' '
 ht

offer of marriage, but we can .still be good
friends all the same.”
" Yes, that is true,” Van Courtlandt re-
plied,‘ with a polite inclination of the head.
Having expected the blow he was in a
measure prep .red for it.

spend so much money on me," the min»-
exclaimed, seized with a sudden spawn of
virtue.

“ But you must remember that it was your
own idea and I was reluctant to allow you to
try the scheme.”

“Oh that is all right!” the New Yorktr
declared, carelessly. ‘ilt gave me pleasure
to entertain you."

“Well, if you are satisfied I suppose I
ought to be." i

“ I am contented.”

“It was such a pity that your beautiful
horse did not win the
exclaimed abruptly.

“I never was so disappointed about any.
thing in my life!” she continued.

" Iorse-racing is one of the .pmost uncer-
tain things in the world,” Van ('ourtlandt
observed. “And the best judges are apt
to make mistakes. "

“ And is it true that you are very hard-hit
by the result of the race?” she asked, with
an expression of great concern on her fea—
turcs.

inquisitive, but I am a woman, you know,
and curiosity is one of my sex’s failings."

very little merriment in the sound though.

" Well, I must admit that l havo been
hit Pretty heavily, for as I had the utmost
confidence that the horse would [win 'the
race I backtd him rather more heavily than
I ought to have done; men will make mis-
takes of that kind you know." '

“I was in hopes that the report uasn't
true." '

“ There isn’t any use of my attempting to
dis also the truth,” the young man observed
wit a tinge of bitterness in his tone.

“The men who are in the ring know that
I last very heavily." ‘

"If you need ready money Iran let you
have some!” the actress blurted ()Lt, l‘t‘T heart
getting the better of the cool calculation
which usuall ruled her actions. ’

Van Court andt flushed a little.

“Thank you! I am much obliged for the
offer, but I think I will manage to pun
through all right.”

Then he happened to lance at- the clock.

“ So latel I must he go ngl" he exclaimed,
“ so will say adieu for the present.”

They shook hands and the New Yerker
departed.

_ CHAPTER x111.
A DESPERATE RESOLUTION. .

he strode down the avenue toward his hotel.
“ I expected the ' blow ." he. murmured,
" but it is none the less pain

she certainly is, a very paragon of woman-
kind, is only common c y after all.

"I do not think there is much doubt that
if ‘Doldnle had 'won the race, and so replenish-
ed my empty 'money-chest. this beauti-

a favorable answer to my suit.

4" To a woman of her i
of difference between the man rich enough
to

affection. .

, “Doldaie’s failu to win the cup surely
cost me the love ofhe woman I fancied.
7 “Love!” and Va
a bitter laugh.
call the fickle fancy which she had for me
love, for good, true love doesnot depend up-
on money or condition. -

truthtoo. .
char e. . I

plunge so deeply l” he continued with.

 
   
 

 
  

at

 

we
“in  a .551... ».'

 
 

“All 1 regret is that I allowed you to-

race!" the actress

“ 'l‘herel I don’t supprse I ought to be so

Van Courtlandt laughed, but. there was.

VAN Connrmnn'r’s head was in a whirl as:

fulfor all that. -
“My-idol, beautiful and ’bewitching as.

ful woman would have been inclined to give
nd there is a deal

vc her all the luxuries that she craves.
an the fellow who is wealthy only. in

Coufllcndt gave vent to,
“Oh, no! I ought not to.

‘,‘ It did not take long for the report to get.
abroad that I am a ruined man, and it is the

“I am really worse than ruined, for I owe-1 ‘ j
debts of boner which'I am not able, to dis;   'ffix  ,

“ ooltweakfimiserable fool that}  .» 1.

 
   

 

 

      
       
      
         
     
  
   
    
   
   
 

 

 

 

 

. . , .
m-~.—- m.m...- _- www.—n.

..,....~ar.. m,
.

w.” .- u.

 

   

i” ’mfiv—‘Wl
 Ir: : a was we? 

.‘\$
,i

v I*‘ - ' .43 :‘,’fi "‘9"? , r.§ H." " vat-I. 9—-
 ~i;§;’,’(«" .f.;,’,‘~ . m. if)“,  ‘3; ‘  ‘ ' 

  Branch .

    

 

was against me, I have lost, and 170w must
pay the hazard of the die.

“ Well, it is but a short step from this
world into the other; that is one consolation,
and it will not take me long to make it.

“I have wasted my love on a iicklemiud-
ed woman, who immediately grew cold as
soon as the blasts ofadvcrsity began to blow
keen and chilly upon me.

“It is the. only time that I hare ventured

to try my fortune in the game of love, and

now that I have lost the quicker I am out of
the world the better."

The thoughts of the young man \vere bit-
ter in the extreme, as will he discovered from
these muttered reileetions.

When he arrived at the hotel he went di
rectly to his room, turned on the electric
light by means of which the apartment Was
illuminated, then opened his trunk and took
out a revolver. .

“ It was a handsome, nickel plated weapon»
and Van (‘ourtlandt smiled grinin as "he.
placed the pistol upon the table, then seated
himself in a comfortable easy-chair.

“There is the little instrument which will
insure me a quick dispatch to the other
world,” he murmured.

“One littie touch of the finger and the
leaden messenger of death will speedily put
an end to all my cares and troubles.”

Then as he rested his hand upon his knee
the brilliant sparkle of the blue diamond
caught his eyes.

He gazed upon the wondrous jewel ad
miriugly for a moment. and moved his hand
so as to watch the rays of light which came
from the shining stone.

“it is really a most beautiful thing—as
handsome a diamond as 1 ever saw, and it is
such an odd, prculiar stone, too, that I do

,not wonder at the superstition which has be-

come attached to it; but, as the Westerners
says, I take no stock in the legend, although
th re isn't any doubt that l have good reason
to do so,» for assuredly I have had terrible
bad luck ever since the jewel came into my
possession; but I am not weak minded
enough to believe that the diamond had
anything to do with it.

“It is simply a coincidence, that is all; a
coincidence and nothing more.

“Now then to arrange ~for the last act of
my life-dmma-for the tragedy which vwill
be the wind-up.”

And the young man have utterance toa
harsh and cynical laugh. _

“ It is customary in such cases, I believe,
for the man who is about to take the desper-
ate leap into the dark, to leave a letter behind,
recounting his reasons for rushing, unbid, iii-
to the other world.

“But to my thinking, though, it is a eus‘
tom more honored in the breach than in the
observance, and so I shall not put pen to

er. f .

B All I could say under the circu tances
would be that I had played the game of life
so badly that it was advisable for me to stop
as soon as possible. . '

“No, no! no last wordsl.

“ Let the world say what it pleases, I care
not. After I have crossed the dark river to
the Great Beyond, the idle chatter of this
world will not trouble me." ,
~ Then there was a knock, followed by the
immediate opening of the door, and the Ore»
ole, Clairborne, followed by the veteran
journalist, Brewster Kinsade, made his ap-
pearance. ' e '

Van 'Qourtlandt modes motion as if to-
seize the revolver for’ the purpose of con-
cealing it, but before his fingers closed upon
the'weapon", he changed his mind, and with
a c 'nical smile withdrew his hand, sinking
bac into the chair.

“ Excuse our unceremonious‘ entrance.”
the Southerner exclaimed in his polished.
polite way“, “ We were anxious to see you,
and did not stand upon forms. "

’ “flhat is a pretty little popgun “’ the jour-
nalist observed, pointing to the nihkel-plated
revolVer. , .

“ B the aid of thata man’ could soon shuf-
do 0 this mortal coil," he continued. “I
hope that‘you haven't any idea of providing
the world with a sensation of that kind ‘2"

The remark was uttered in' a joking way,
‘but there has a look in .thc lgeen‘eyes of the

qteran, newspaper man which plainly

 

5', u ‘r ._r‘:

The new york. spas":

' t. that he looked‘upon the matter  a, 4,

Van Courtlandt was a straight-forward,
honest fellow, who hated deccption in every
form, and so even under the present circum-
stances, he sliru'nk from evasion.

“ Well, when a man is in trouble, :1 revol
ver bullet will surely show him a speedy
way out," the New Yorker replied.

“Pardon me, a stranger, for presuni‘ingto
inquire in regard to your personal matters,
but is this current report true that. you have i
lost so heavily by the defeat of lloldale that
you will not be able to meet your obliga~
lions?" Clairborue asked, earnestly.

here does not ask this question out of mere r
curiosity,” Kinsade hastened to say, perfi
ceiving that Van (‘ourtlandt liestitated to
reply. 3

" ()li, Idon't mind admitting the truth, for ‘
tomorrow the world wilb know all about

way.

“ Yes, it is the truth. I am aruined man,
and, Worst of all, 1 have plunged sodeeply,
and so foolishly, that I have incurred debts ‘
which it. will be impossible for iue to pay,
and, nnluckily, they are debts of honor, Snif .
I cannot pay them I must not expect to hold t;
up my head in the society of gentlemen any i
more,” and the face of the young man was
gloomy in the extreme as he spoke.

“ My dear follow, "you are really in a most
unfortunate situation, and I havn no doubt
that my little 'oke about the revolver prov- I
in: to be a friend to you in your present
situation came pretty near the truth!" Kin-
sade exclaimed. .

“ Yes, that is a fact, and I will not at-
teimpt to deny it,” Van Courtla'ndt answer-
6( . .

“ Ali, my boy, you ought not to, have
given way to any thought of that kindi” the
veteran declared.

“ While there is life there is hope, and the
darkest cloud is sure to have a silvcr‘linin g,”
Kiusade continued. ‘

- “ But there——we did not come here to
worry you with wise sayings, for there is
mighty little consolation in empty words; we
mean business, and Mr. Clairborne here is
prepared to come right to the point if you
will permit him to speak.” ‘

Van, Co'urtlandt’was taken completely by
surprise by the unexpected announcement,
as the expression upon 'his face plainly
showed.

“ Gentlemen, I am amazed,” he remarked.
“ But I will gladly listen to aught that you
may have to say, and part1 in me for my
discourtesy in not asking you to be seated-—
pray help yourself to chairs. ”

“ Oh, that is all right!” the journalist re.
plied. “When men bounce into a fellmr’s
room as we did it is only natural for the oc-
cu pant to be so taken by surprise as to forget
a little thing ofthat kind.” .

_ Thenthc pair sat down.l, "

“I trust, Mr. Van Conrtlandt, that you

terest in yourail’nirs, the Southerner re.
marked, in his ‘carne way. “All I em
plead in excuse is that in this life of trouble
all men ought to be brothers to one another,
and if a man is in trouble it is only right.
that he should be aSSistcd.” , ‘

"That is reallya beautiful doctrine, eh,
Van Courtlandt? and just think how much
better this world would, be if ll mankind
lIVed up to it," Kinsade remarked.’

“Oh, yes, there isn’t any doubt about
that," the New Yorker admitted. '

“ To come, directly to the painful heard
this evening that you had been extremely
hard hit,~by the failure of yourhorsc to him ‘
oif the Monmouth, Cup, and,it was openly,
said that ion would never be able to meet
your obligations. Mr. Kinsade and" Iwere
togethcriwhcn the disclosure was made, so.
I immediately expressed to him my'wish to
be of service is you in this extremity, and
asked his advxce about the ,ma'tter, for as I
am alm a perfect stranger to you I was at
a loss how to broach the subject.” 

.“And I id him to come right to you
and go into the affair without hesitation,’.’
Kinsadc remarked. ‘ Q 1 . -  '

“In; case of this‘kind I do no many
cause in _ beating about ,;the_,bush.  Moon-
‘itinued. g ‘Hv  .L a} .- .  ..v  .4. ..

“ Believe me. my dear fellow, my friend «

it," the New Yorer replied in a reckless ' clared in a tone which plainly showed that

’ that this offer has saved me from rushing

will pardon me, a stranger, for taking an in- l old newspaper man declared;

I
,v ’ ‘ Well, as far as that goes I have -’  "

  
    
 
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
 
    
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
    
 
   
   
  
  
    
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
     
  
 
  
   
   
  
    
 

A

thousand dollars, so he has the ready cash,
and can spare a few thousands. just as well
as not."
f “Understand, Mr. Van Courtlandt, I do
not need the money—really have no use for
it," Cluirborne explained. “ And if a loan,
to be repaid when it is convenient for you,
will be of any service I shall be happy‘ to
oblige you." t
“ Really, gentlemen, I am so taken’ by
. . . O
surprise by this kind offer that I do not know
' what to say,” the New Yorker responded,
~ greatl y ciiibzirrassed.
‘ “ Take it in the same spirit, dd fellow, in
which it is oil‘cred!” Kinsade exclaimed.
“ Mr. (‘lairhorne can spare the money just
_ as Well as not.”
“ Yes, that is the truth, and I assure you
it will give me great pleasure to be able to
he of service to you!" the Southerner (lo—-

he meant every word be and.
“ Gentlemen, I will frankly admit to you

in a very untimely manner into another
world, and I will accept it, although per-y
lnipsthelargeness of the sum required to
meet my obligations may astonish you,” Van
Courtlandt remarked. '

"I do not think that it will astonish me' ‘,
at all." the journalist remarked,witha good-  " .
natured smile. ' "

“I know that you have ‘got it in the .
neck,’ as the sports say, and then. too, you v
have been indulging in an expensive luxury ' .-
(luring the last six months,” Kinsade con--
tinned with a sly wink.

“ These things are open secrets, you know,
and bound to leak out.” ,

“ You refer to Miss Ragsdale, I. pro! .
slime?” Van Oourtlandt said with a clouded ; W "
brow.

“Yes, to that gifted and beautiful crea-  ‘
tiire, who has been so richly endowed‘by,
nature with the charms sd attractive to  —
male sex. . .   

“I have squandered a few thousands on  
her, and, gentlemen, I don’t mind making ‘ 
the honest confession to on that I want;
"fool enough to believe '
of woman who could appreciate a man’s-def '
Votion,” Van Courtlandt remarked in. a»
gloomy way. - -

“ No, no, my dear fellow, she isn't built. -.
that way!" the veteran journalist declared.

“ There is a good deal of the lmrpy about
her, although I firmly believe that her char
actor is above reproach]: -. 

“ Well, the dream is over as far as I am. .
correnrned,” Van Courtlandt remarked ‘

ri .il '. . 
g “1)will not deny that I feel a little: sore
about the matter," the New Yorker.p§n~
tinned. r _ . r':  V

“But I have no doubt I have had an,“
escape, for it is better to lose the woman he; .
fore marriage than afterward”, v, ', ., "

“ Oh, yes, that goes without saying? the gill-
"And on: F
are wise to take this sensible view 9 It,
Women like this dashing burlesque actress
rarely make good wives. " , - :

Then the eyes of Kinsade happened to is”.
[upon the blue diamond. ‘ 3: at

“ Aindyou have the sparkler still, I sent; '
observe . " Now if on were inclined to
superstitious you mix: it ascribe some one:
padluck to the baleful influence of

ewe . . ‘ 

'Van Conrtlaadt regarded thehlue d
in a thoughtful way for a moment.» , "

“ Well, I certainly have 
111eg had run of n 
not prepared to go to the length
,this peeiiliar-looking jeWeI responsible 
lho replied. ; v   -’ 

1 “ ‘There is more in this; worm than i.
dreamed of ,in our philosophy; Hon‘iti '
‘Kinmde‘: one “And to my th .:
there isn’t aoynso of men declaring thriving.
hasn’t anything to do with , the rise and/1‘s
of fortunes, “for I have seen too may in
stances‘tn the contrary to allow, me mi, ‘*
lieve that‘snch an assertion is true,'anfd
’freely- confess that if'I were “you I‘
certainly get rid of the blue diamond '
*a’s ssi le.” ' ' “ "

 

 

yttMreQ‘l‘alrbérhe In an 1y hints“;
haw-"J ~ to

.10 retain 'the- jewel,"  New, yo:

  

I “Qty tastes fneverzv‘ ran in»  I.  ,

 

is

      
  

1- . .x... a...

1

The New York sports at Long

*2 'mwa E'WWWVVFt’fiWV‘Wm-r ~...w~acw _ y li-;H:\.fl Mir-foal.”
. my ,  w. , ~-.- I ...-. \ t ,l.‘ a“ I}: 7..

N .5, 5

Branch. ”

 

ruin it is not quite the thing to sport such a
costly jewel as this.” »

“ You might sell it," the journalist sug— I

ested. “Still under the circumstances I
0 not suppose that you feel as if you had
a right to dispose of it.”

“ No, for I am only holding it in trust for I
the rightful owner; when he or she, as the
case may he, appears I will give up the pro- 
perty.” .. l
" believe I will have to confess that lam '
superstitious,” the Southerner remarked with
a smile. " I come from the land of the Vou~
doc, and lilthou h hard-headed, practical
men laugh at the dea, yet I have seen some
strange circumstances in connection with 3
this mysterious. African transplant. which i
cannot be readily explained. I

l

  
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
 
  
 
   
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
 
 
   
   
 
  
   
 
  
  
 
 
   
  
  

“ Will you permit me to make a sugges-
tion in regard to this matter,” the Creole con-
tin‘ued. |
“ Certainly! I shall be pleased to hearit," j
Van Courtlandt responded. I
" As far as 1 can jud re this English actress -
is, as Kinsade suggested, of the harpy tribe,” :
Clairborne remarked. l
" While you had plenty of money she ;
smiled upon you. but \\ hen adversity knock- ,’
ed at your door there came a decided change i‘
in her behavior." ;

“ Yes, that is certainly the truth," the i
oung New Yorker admitted with a clouded 3
row.

“She is a woman, and, of course, a man ;
doesn’t wish to make war on one of the
weaker sex even though she has treated him I
badly, but the idea occurred to me that you I
might turn over the blue diamond to her,” I
Clairborne suggested.

The others looked a little surprised.

“ You can explain to her, you know, that
on are only holding it in trust for the right-
ul owner, and as you are‘not fond of jewelry ‘
you would prefer to get rid of it,” the Creole
‘ continued. ‘
“ Our friend is going on the idea that this j
jewel is fated to bring bad luck to whoever

sees it, and as the divine Miss Ragsdale '
not treated you well it would be a neat
.way for you to avenge yourself.” Kinsade
'  remarked.

“Well, although I am not superstitious
enough to believe that the blue diamond can ,

exert such a baleful influence upon its pos- i
. sessor yet I have no objection to turning the .
mjcwe] over to Miss Ragsdale forI most as.
V suredly do not care to wear it," Van Court-
; . landt observed in a thoughtful way.
r . *1 Give it to her then!" the veteran journal-
, ist exclaimed. “ It will be a fine opportunity
" 1teat the power of the stone for good or
e .
o- y _ “ Miss Ragsdale bears the reputation of
‘ being an extremelyludky woman," Kinsade
__ continued. “ And most certainly she must
' have, been born with a golden spoon in her
mouth (judging from her career in this coun- .
'. try, an if after she Comes in possession of i
" the blue diamond her luck should change it '
‘ Would be odd in the extreme." ‘
‘ ,” Ah, yes, but I am not superstitious V
'enou h to believe that the ewe] will have ,
fsnyt ing to do with cbang ug the current}
got her luck," Van Courtlandt remarked with l
 it disapproving shake of the head. . 5
 .‘-‘ A man or woman's good luck cannot last f
’.:,forever," the young New Yorker continued.
"‘ A change for the worse is sure to come
sooner or later."
* “Well, there will be no harm in tryingi
‘ the experiment,” the Creole urged. i
 ,“Oh, no, and I have no objection, but as I 
1‘.th to leave of the lady this evening I do =
‘ ot des re to see her again,” Van Courtlandt
explained in a rather awkward way.
, ‘f That matter can be easily arranged,” Kin- ,,
suds remarked. “ l have a slight acquaint- ;
, ance, with Miss lhtgsdale and if you will in- l
1  the jewel to me I will convey it to '
er.’ '
.” Ah. yes, the ail'air can be arranged in
.  that way," the New Yorker obscrved.‘ ' l
‘ *' ‘ “Certainly, there will be no trouble about i
p. t,” Clalirborne declared. '
'f‘One bargain though I must make with
you gentlemen l” the old journalist exclaim-
ed,:abruptly. “ And that is, you must ac-
’ in ny me on this mission as a bodyguard
have no idea of allowing this malignant
jut! Ito briggume into danger.” ‘ . j
 sored the speech, ' .
1. ft

.s

I
|
l

 

su-

is

. if

enough but there was a twinkle in his eyes
which belied his words.

“Oh, yes, we will go with you!” the
Creole exclaimed.

, CHAPTER XIV.
THE FAKIR.

ALL three laughed heartily and then the
journalist suggested that as the night was
not far advanced, and Miss Ragsdale belong-
ed to the late hour tribe, it would be a good
idea to carr the ring to her at once, and
then the a air would be settled.

The others thought that this was a'good
idea and the three set out.

“ You need not escort me clear to the
door of the burlesque queen‘s home.” Kin-
sade observed asfthey came within sight of
Miss Ragsdalc’s cottage.

“ Although.I have the greatest respect for
the malignant power of the blue diamond
yet I think I can manage to protect myself
from its evil influence for the few minutes
which will intervene between my leaving
you and delivering the jewel to Miss Rags-
dale." he continued.

“ We will be within .hailing distance,”
Van Courtlandt remarked with a smile.

“ And if the evil genius of the blue dia-
mond succeeds in encompassing you with
foes, all you will have to do is to give an
alarm and we will hasten to your aid."

The New Yorker spoke as sobcrly as
though he fancied there was really danger
that the journalist would be assaulted.

Then the three laughed.

“ This is far enough, gentlemen, you can
wait here until ] return,” Kinsade said.

The two halted while the journalist went

Miss Ragsdale was seated on the veranda,
{)tlst as the young New Yorker had left her,

at her brother, Tommy, and the theatrical
speculator, Fitzmaurice, now here her com-
pany.

The actress received the old newsmper
man in the most gracious manner.

By nature she was disposed to be agreeable,
anti then it was policy too for her to gain
the good will of the men who by reason of
their command of the public press could do

' so much to make or mar the fortunes of one

who depended upon the stage for a living,
therefore whenever she cattle in contact with
one of the “ formers of public opinit a," she
took particular care to appear at her best.
Fitzmaurice too had a high opinion of the
importance of newspaper men. and so Kin-

. state was received with all the honors.

He came at once to the subject of his mis-
sion and when he displa ted the blue diamond
Miss Rngsdalc was de ighted with \the ap-
pearance of the jewel.

“ Reall it is too awfully good of Mr. Van
Courtlant t to allow me to wear this beautiful
stone!" the actress exclaimed.

“ You can tell him that I appreciate the
compliment highly". .

" And in case the owner does not appear I
presume Miss Ragsdale can retain the ring.”
the theatrical Speculator remarked. always
with an eye to the tnain chance.

“ Oh, yes, I suppose so, for I judge from
what Mr. Van (.‘ourtlandt said tint he does
not care for jewelry,” Kinsnde. replied.

“‘But here is another point that must be
taken into consideration ," the actress remark-

' ed, her woman‘s shrewdness suggesting an

idea to her.

“This jewel is very. valuable—worth four
or five thousand dollars, I suppose, eh. Mr.
Fitzmaurice?” .

“ Oh, yes. I should say it was fully worth
four thousand,” the speculator replied with
the air of a man who thought he knew what
he was talking about. .

“ Suppoae I lose the jewel—or it is stolen
from me?" Miss Ragsdale asked.

“Well, in that case Mr. Van (lourtlandt
would undm btedly hold you blameless," the
journalist reiilied. ' '

“You merely hold the jewel in trust for
the ri htful owner, but until he ap cars it is
just t 0 same as though you owner the pro-
perty,” Kinsade explained.

“ nd the owner may never appear," Fitz-
msu (‘0 suggested.

3;; ustghc, same asif you.

WP.
a"
“’5‘

', " Inthat'case- thenyon retain the diamondi

“ It is very good indeed of Mr. Van Court-
landt to give me the privilege of wearing this
beautiful 'ewel; Iam very much obliged to
him, and hope you will not neglect to con-
vey to him my thanks,” the burlesque actress
remarked in her sweetest tones.

“ Oh, you can be sure that I will not for-

et,” (insade replied, and then he took his
( eparture.

’I‘he theatrical speculator watched the de-
parture of the veteran journalist until he
was lost in the loom of the night, and then
he turned to Lilliss Ragsdale, and with a
sagacious shake of the head, said: "

“ Do you know that I don’t like the looks
of this sort of thing ?”

“No, don't you?” and a look of surprise
appeared on the face of the actress.

“ Indeed I do not, and it is my opinion
that there is something wrong about the
matter,” the wily speculator replied.

“ What makes you think so?" Miss Rags-
dale asked, apparent] considerably im-
pressed by the words of, the other.

“ There is an old classical quotation, ' Be-
ware of the Greeks bearing ifts,’ or words
to that effect, my classical nowledge is a
a little rusty, you know, and I an. not cer-
tain that I have the quotation exactly cor-
rect, but the sense is there all right.”

“ The warning to beware of the Greeks
bearing gifts, means. I suppose, that any
one ought to be on their guard against ac-
cepting favors from people whom one has
no reason to suppose to be friends, ” the ac
tress remarked thoughtfully.

“ That isit! that is the idea, exactly!” the
manager exclaimed.

“ From what you told me of your part-
ing interview with this Van Courtlandt this
evening it seems to me that he has no reason
to look upon you with favorable eyes,” Fitz-
maurice argued.

“ Yes, I undoubtedly threw him over-
board," the actress admitted. “There isn’t
any mistake about that, although I tried to
smooth the matter over as nicely as possible,
by saying I had made up my mind that I
Could not live off the stage." ’

1'

you know, and he understands that if this
great reverse of fortune had not overtaken
him the chances are great that you would
have been content to allow matters to go on as
they were, and, under such circumstances he
would be more than mortal if he did not bar-
bor some resentment against you ”

“ Oh, yes, I'could see by his face that he
was not pleased, of course,” the actress ad
mitted. ‘

“ And yet under these circumstances he
virtual] makes on a present of a diamond
worth our or ve thousand dollars!" the
speculator exclaimed, with a weighty shake
of the head.

“ It certain] does seem strange, yet, for
the lifd of me, cannot see that there is any
thing evil about [the matter,” Miss Ragsdale
declared.

“Well, Iwill have to admit that on the
surface, apparently, there isn’t an , but I
must say that I do not like .the 100 s of the
affair notwithstanding.”

“ Isn’t be making what these Americans
call a‘blufl,’ ou know?" Miss Ragsdale
asked, with a rewd smile.

“ A blufl, eh?" Fitzmauricc observed,
thou htfully.

“ Tee, he knows that everything is at an
end between us, and although he is a ruined
man, et he wants to carry matters with a
high and, just as if he still had plenty of
money and so sends me this magnificent
diamond? Ceme now! doesn’t this seem to
be a very probable explanation of the mat-
ter?”

Fitzmaurice reflected over the question for
a few moments and then he shook his head.

“ 1 am afraid the conundrum is too ditli~
cult for me to guess, and I shall have to give
it up,” he remarked.‘

“ Oh, by the we , to change the subject,
Iran across an od geniusto—night at the
hotel who had come to see me in regard to
putting him before the public, and he re
ferred me to on as being acquainted with
what be con] do. He isa Hindoo juggler
1nd calls himself All Nana, the Fallir of,

va.’ "

 

dozen years ag

‘ o in England when Iww
, Wumiss the  ' 

 

“ Ah. yes, but Van Courtlandt is no fool, ,

O
“ Yes, I remember meeting suth dump". '

 

H4...“ Mat..- ._... N... .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" ew‘ Yer

N

“a ,V. ,,  I A, . W. ......
41., .,,_,..ef,v.. 5., .i .1 ._ , . 1‘, - ,. ,

at 

... .._,,. V . ....-
“WT-v  :7

r ' I t -,;.~..:r-.._ 

st .1;

.w. -~ T~.q.v.-‘..:,,.,n....,f u.._,_ ,

BranCh. V  i  

 

S

 

I believe I did see the man’s performance,
yet I, can’t recollect andything about him, whe-
ther he was good, ba , or indifferent.”

“Well, like the majority of the people
who make their living in a public way, he
has an extremely good opinion of himself,
and did not seem to have a doubt about
your remembering him, and be evidently
relied upon you to give him a first-class re—
commendation.”

“ Well. I cannot."

“I told him that I was going to pay you
.a call tonight, and he said he would like
to see you in my presence for then you would
beablc to tell me what he 0011111 do," the
speeulator explained.

“ It may be possible that after I see the
man I will be able to remember something
about him, butI do not feel at all sure of
it,” the burlesque actress remarked.

“ There he is now!” Fitzmanriee exclaim-
ed as a tall figure came out of the gloom of
the night and advanced to the gate of the
cottage.

As he came up the Walk, with the rays of
“the moon shining full upon him, the three
upon the veranda were able to see just what
.he was like.\ '

As the manager
Tiliudoo.

He was tall in stature, aman of fifty or
thereabouts, with a massive face and the air
of a judge. '

Although clad ina well-wom dark suit,
the only foreign thing about his costume
being a red fez, yet he presented such a
strange appearance that he would un-
doubtedly have attracted attention any-
:where.

lle made a low bow in the oriental fashion
as he gained the veranda. ,

“It is many years since I had the pleas-
mre of gazing upon your beautiful face,
Miss Ragsdale, but you have changed so
Ilittle that 1 would know you, no matter
where I might meet you,” the Hindoo said
in a doe , musical voice, speaking English
quite pla nly and with only a slight foreign
.aeeent. .

 Ah, es, I do remember you now,
although just told Mr. Fitzmaurice that I
did not believe I would be able to recollect
anythin about you,” the actress remarked
with a c arming smile.

Her Vanity was flattered b: the compli-
man which the stranger had b stowed upon
her. I
The blonde burlesquer was no longerin
'the heyday 'of youth, and she had all the
actress’s horror of growing old.

The “passing” of her personal charms
meant the loss of power, position and the
.abilit to make mono .

" ommy. bring r. Nana a chair!" Miss
Ragsdale continued.

“ Sit down and make yourself comforta-
ble,” she added.

“ Yes, my dear Fitzy. I do remenfier this
gentleman and I can truly say that c used
to ivc an excellent performance."

is the Hindoo seated himself his eyes fell
upon the llue diamond, sparkling in the
moonlight like a miniature ball of fire.

had observed he wasa

_—.———_

CHAPTER XV.
THE BINDOO'S sTonv. ,

Tint East Indian started in surprise, while
the‘ others surveyed him with wonder.

“ What a strange jewel you have there!"
he exclaimed. ' I

“ This . blue diamond?" Miss Ragsdale
asked. ‘

\

“Yes, it is a very peculiar stone," the '

Fakir observed, shaking his head in a, solemn
wa .

‘y'l‘hat is true," the actress assented. “I
never saw a diamond like it before. "

“Neither did I,’ Fitzmaurice remarked.
“ Although Ihave seen a great many dia~
monds in my time and consider myself to be
an expert in that sort of thing.”

" In my own country, Hindostan. I once
saw a jewel which bore a great resemblance
to this gem. It was many, many years ago,
but on accoun of the peculiar circumstances
connected with the stone all the particulars
of the affair have remained in my memory,"
the Hindoo observed in a, very grave way.

' Oh. is,..thcre a story about the bluedf
« ‘ hick you refs"? .119 

. ism

' “Yes, and it is a very strange story in
deed,” the Fakir replied.

i " Tell us the tale!" Fitzmaurice exclaimed.
in the peculiar theatrical way which he so
often adopted.

" Yes, yes, go on!” Miss Ragsdale added.
. “I am very fond of stories."
} The East Indian shook his head.
1

i he replied in a hesitating way.
i “ Why not?" the theatrical speculator in-
! quired. “ What is the objection?"

“ If the lady prizes thejewel, and is at all
superstitious, she. may not “wish to wear the
stone after she hears my story," the Hindoo
answered in a solemn way.

“ Gammon!" Fitzmauriee cried. “ Now
you are coming the old dodge of pretending
that you ought not to tell the story so as to
make us the more eager to hear it.”

“ Ah, yes. all you Eastern people are up
to tricks of that kind!” Miss Ragsdale de-
clared. '

" But you need not be afraid of alarming
me, althotmh I shall have to admit that
I am horribly superstitious,” the actress con-
tinued. “ Still, 1 don't believe that anv
story which you may be able to tell will
frighten me so that Iwill not want to wear
this beautiful gem " And as she spoke the
blonde burlesquer looked with admiring
eyes upon the diamond, sparkling in the
moonlight.

“ Come on, old chap! give us the story
the manager exclaimed.

“ Yes, without regard to the consequen-
ces!” Miss Ragsdale added. “ We will hold
you blameless, even if you do frighten us
half to 'death.”

The Hindoo smiled in the peculiar sad way
common to his race, and then said:

“ You shall have the tale, and perhaps it
will not make any impression upon you, for
you children of the Northern races are not
such slaves to superstition ‘as are those who.
dwell in the land of the Orient.”

“That is undoubtedly the truth, so pro-
ceed with the narrative," Fitzmauriee re.
marked.

“ As you are probably aware, it is the'eus-
tom in my land to set up in our religious
temples images of the gods whom my people
worship,” the llindoo began.

“Oh, yes, I have seen them myself,” the
theatrical speculator remarked. “I took a
comic opera company to India once, and lost
a jolly big pot of money by the operation
too.

"I

“ I was born and reared in the kingdom of
Singah, and in the city of Singah, from which
the kingdom takes its name, there was’a
statue of a god made of solid old, and its
eyes were a pair of blue diamon s. the stones
so exact] y alike in all respects that they could
not be told apart," the East Indian went
on.

" Well, when the people knelt to worship
at that shrine they paid tribute to the golden
lf surely enough!" the actress exclaimed.

\“ For i indreds of years the golden god
had been enshrined in the temple at Singah,
and though there had been revolts and wars,

'rajahship of the- kingdom and fought until
one or the other was conquer , yet none of
the warriors, no matter how greatl ' they
needed money to carry on the strugg e, ever
<3;er to despoil the golden god of his treas-
. es. ’
" ‘Of course,the beggars were superstitious!"
Fitzmaurice exclaimed. “They could have
Tamed a good lot of money by seizing upon
the god. but they were afraid that Such-a
move'would bring them had luck.”

"-I es. that was the way the people looked
upon the matter, but in the year when the
great mutiny took place in india there was a
desperate struggle] going on between two
brothers for the poSscssion of the kingdom,”
the Hindoo related.

“The elder, who was the rightful ruler,

a good heart, and would, undoubtedly, have
made an exeellent rajah, while the younger
brother was a cunning rascal, as full of tricks
as an egg is of meat.

“ In all kingdoms,- and under all rulers,
there are. alWays a‘ lot of dissatisfied peo'ple‘
who are glad to welcome any change. and so
the younger brother‘fon d ' “dimeulty in

elite: . 

 

see.

an

;
i

i
i

. “ I don’t really know as Iought to speak," .

for mane a time two men had claimed the '

 

was a. weak, irresolute fellow, but possesscd ;

“a.

l
l

a

flair. come in for the bad luck.”

ax.

. of
.the precious stones, and oifered to joi ' 

   
  
   
  
   
   
    
 
    
  
   
   
 
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
 
   
  
 
    
  
 
 
   
  
   
   
    
  
    
    
  
 
 
 
   
 

prise that he was obliged to flee in hot haste ‘3
from the city of Singah which theinsurgcnts
immediately seized.”

“By the one blow then he succeeded in
gaining a most important advantage," Fitz-
mnur'lce remarked.

“ Yes. but he was not able to follow u
the success, for as soon as the real raja
raised an army the usurper was foolish
enough to leave his walledcity and to seek
to crush the other army in a single decisive
battle.” *

“ Oh, yes, men will make mistakes of that
kind,” the manager declared.

“The fight went against the false brother,
his army was cut to pieces, and with a mere
handful of troops he managed to gain the
city again,” the Fakir exclaimed.

“ As he had not soldiers enou rh to guard
the walls he was obliged to ta 0 refuge in
the temple, turning it into a citadel, first
going to the desperate measure of expelling
the priests.”

“ Well, I should think that was a ver
unwise move indeed," Fitzmaurice remarke .

“ It was, for the priests roused the people
against the wretches t he had dared to pro“
fane the altars of the gods, and the men who
had taken refuge in the temple found them-
selves like so many rats in a trap. ,. (

“ In their desperation they resolved to'
make a bold attempt to cut their way
through the host which surrounded them,
but first the false rajah robbed the golden
god of his diamond eyes."

“He wanted the wherewithal to pay the
expenses of his flight in case he succeeded
in making his wa through the hostile lines
which surround him,” the manager sng~
gested.

" A bare half-dozen of the desperate men .
succeeded in cutting their way through the
line of steel which hemmed in the temple, '
and one of the six was the false rajah,” the
Hindoo continued.

“In their flight the fugitives separated,
and the usurper, with a single attendant,
tried to make his way to the interior where
he might find a hiding-place.

“ The attendant knew that the usurperfhad
the blue diamonds, and so he murdered .his
master while he slept so he might possess
himself of the precious stones. " ‘

“ Oh! isn't it a horrible story?” Miss Rags‘
dale exclaimed. -

“ The legend of the blue diamondsis deep‘
ly tinged with blood from the beginning to
'12-: end," the Fakir replied in his solemn
way. ‘

“The jewels were the eyes of the great _
Hindoo god, and his influence caused them - _
to bring had luck to all mortals into whose "
possession the stones came.” ‘ '~

“Ah, but I say, come now, you don’t _.
really believe that there is any truth in this I?
yarn, do your", the theatrical speculator ex- ‘
claimed in a decidedly incredulous way.

The East Indian shook his head.

“What is my opinion worth in regard’to 4.‘
the inatter either one way or the other?” he
asked in the peculiar non-committal way
common to the men of his racy. .,

“ I will tell you the facts in the case and 
you can draw your own conclusion," the
Fakir continued. .,

" After murdering his master the soldier ,.
fled with the diamonds, fell into a band of ' 
robbersxwho took the jewels from him. In
order to purchase his life the man told the
story of how he had become ' 

 

 

\

 

outlaw band." _ ,.
“ He was a. cunning fellow!”-the 

exclaimed. , g

" The robbers. immediately *qusrreled ..
about the diamonds. Part of the ‘hand were '
superstitious and feared that the stolen eye's .
of the god wouid bring them had luck, so
they wished to return them, but the rest
objected. saying it would be an easy mum
to turn the jewels into money and the 
would bring gold enough to make them a I

)9

h.  .
“ Sensible fellows!" Fitzmaurice exclaitn:

“ Yes. that is what I say i” Tomm 
dale assented. for the first time ta ' ng part
in the conversation. , .
“ If I had been those coves I would 
sold the sparklcrs and let the other dufiers'

The   her head ina 

 

  

The. Né’ s

 

«.n
.',

 

 

 

   
   
   
    
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
  
  
  
   
    
   
  
    
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
 
    
 
  
 
 
    
    
  
   
 
 
    
 
 
  

way, gazing earnestly at the diamond, but
(lid not speak.

“From words the robbers came to blows,”
the Fakir related, “and one-half of the band,
including the soldier who had committed
the murder, bit the dust before the strife
ended.

“ Then a detachnn-nt of English soldiers
who had been in search of the robbers sur-
prised them.

” There were six leftof the outlaws, three
were killed in resisting the soldiers, and the
others, with the blue diamonds, were con

veyed to the English headquarters and there
the story of the jewels was told to the com;
mandin g oilleer.

“ That night the mutiny began.

“ This was a-solitary outpost, and all the
Englishmen were killed outright with the
excepting of the commanding ofliccr who
managed to gain the hack of his horse, a
wonderful fleet steed, and so escaped.”

“ And the blue diamonds?” asked the
manager.

The Hindoo shook his head.

“No one knows what became of them,”
the Fakir answered.

“From that day to this no one has eVer
been able to tell anything at all about them,”
the IIlndoo continued.

“ When, after a vast expenditure of blood
aind treasure, the English succeeded in put-
ting down the mutiny and India again be-
came tranquil, the priests of the temple,
from whose god the diamonds had been
stolen, set on foot an investigation in order
to discover what had become of their trea-
sure: in this they were aided by the English
rulers,'for it has always been the policy of
_ the British Government to keep on good
‘ terms with the priests, but des ite the most
., exhaustive search - o informat on whatever

could be gained of t re precious rems.”

: “ A remarkably strange a air," Fitz-

maurice observed. “The native chiefs who
, led the revolt were keen fellmvs, and it is eer-
 tain that they were not the kind of chaps to
 ‘mhrow away any valuable diamonds if they
 once got their paws on them.” _
, -  ,“ Very true,” the Fakir responded. “ But
.despite the keenest search no trace of the
 blue diamonds could he found. The priests
"not the temple, though, never despaired, for
' they felt sure that someday the jeweled eyes
" otlthe'goldeu rod would be returned.”
. ," Ah, yes, know the sort of breed these
‘Hindoo priests are—there is a deal of the,
;.buildog about them,” the manager assertedl
‘ “ The holy men believed there was acharm
~ i... ' n’ttaéhed to the blue diamonds, and they ,
' “gféit certain that the gems would in time find
{their way back to the temple, for they were
 v,positive they would bring such ba luck
title any mortal who possessed them that the
:znnfortunate man or woman into whosr: hands
_’theyf’ell w'ould be only too glad to get rid of

’ " Well, if this story you have told is cor.‘
I the diamonds certainly seem to have
“drought the worst kind of luck‘ upon. the
‘  6 who got possession, of them,” the
" ode burlesquer lremarked in ‘a thoughtful
y, and from'th’e expression upon her face,
, was plain that the recital of the Fakir had
, “produced a great efleet upon her.
“ ‘ t'Ah, it’s all ammonl’ 'l‘ommy Ragsdale‘
lured “I on’t believe a word of the
, 1 'Just- on give me a chance to get
. .61 Bank rs worth three or “orthon-
 d do is apiece and seehow quicklyl
grab them. and I would not, give a snap
"of my'flnger either for all the heathen gods
that ever existed." , ‘
,‘s‘Yes, yes, Tommy, your courage is well
,V,’ owni” the acting; reanarkediin a flag
W , c way. ” ou ave g yen proo
 vs time that you possess the heart of a

'zmauriee laughed outright at this, for
or v , er of the beautifin actress had played
tho Ward on so man occasions that it Was
premer .diculous orhim~ to pretend that
y I post! . anv courage:

« "Well, I don"t set up, to being
Tommy responded in a sulky way. ,
ain’t'to bc'seared out of my wits by any old

$-

no"hero,"'
to. But 

 

   

 

“But to your thinking, though, it bears a
strong resemblance to the stones which
formed the eyes of the statue,” Miss Rags-
dale l'Ull'llll‘iit’tl.

“ Yes, they are as alike as two peas," the
Fakir replied.

“I suppose that you have seen the dia-
monds often, and so are well posted about
the matter," li‘itznmurice remarked.

“ Oh, yes, as a child I was employed to
wait upon the priests of the temple, and so
was in the habit of seeing the golden god
daily, and therefpre became so well ac-
quainted with file appea’irance of the dia-
monds that it would not be possible for me
to forget. how they looked.” o

“ Well, of course, 1 don’t know anythingr
about the history of the stone, soI cannot
say whether it came from India originally or
not,” the actress explained, gazing at the
jewel in a reflective way as she spoke.

" It does not belong to me, you See; I did
not buy it," she continued. “1 am only
taking care of it for a friend, who docs not
wish to wear it."

“ llave you any objections to telling me
the name, of the person i" the Fakir asked in
his grave and gentle way.

“ Oh, no; the diamond belongs to Mr.
Van ()ourtlandt," the actress answered.
,’ “ The rrcntlcman who owns the

named I)oIdale?" the Ilindoo asked.

“ Yes, the same.”

“ The failure of his horse to win the race
has brought him to the brink of ruin, they
say,” the East Indian remarked. “I heard
the gossip at the hotel tonight, when I
went to see Mr. Fitzmaurice.

“ The racing men were talking the 'matter
over, and some of them said that they would
not be surprised if the young man blew out
his brains before morning, for he never
would be able to meet his Obligations, his
losses hein r so heavy.” , i '

“ Well, it must be admitted that the pos-'
session of the blue diamond certainly did not
bring him any luck!" the theatrical specu-
lator exclaimed. ,

" Ah. yes, but that is probabl only a co-
incidence," Miss Ragsdale remar ed. “For
it does not seem possible that there can be
any truth in the notion that a little bit of a
stone like this blue diamond can have the
power to bring either good or bad fortune to
any one.”

. "In itself the stone is nothing—it is the
curse of the despoilcd od which the diamond
carrieswith it that (008 the damage,” the
Faklr replied in his grave Way. v

“Still it ma not be the diamond- taken
from the temp o," the Ilindoo added; ‘

“ The chances are that it isn't, and 90, M 83
Ragsdale, if I were you I would not allowthe
matter to worry me at all,” Fitzmaurice ob-
served.

Then the suject was dro pad and the con-
versation turned to iheat cal matters.

An hour or so the conversed and then

horse

' Fitzmaurico and’the indoo departed.

Althou h the actress had not admitted that
the legen had made much impression upon
her yet in reality it had. ,

—_..a_.

CHAPTER XVI. ‘ _'
. TOMMY'B susmcross.

TOMMY RAGBDALE was toowell acquainted
with the actress, though, not to be aware'that
the Fakir's story had made, a strong imprcsv
sioh upon her, and so when they were to
gether in the upper sittin doom. éatingthe
unch which after the fas ion of theatrical

ople they were always accustomed to take
ggfore going to bed, he referred to the that

ter. v . , '
“ I shy, Dolly, ou‘arc little Worried over
the am that the akir t d," be said. .
‘ “ oil, I don’t know as I am exactl wor-
ried about the matter,” she replied s owly.
" But I most assuredly would be if Ithoug t
there was any. truth in the story.”
“‘I have thouht‘oi'aWay _
tiick.",’l;omrny 0 served with a chuckle. .
l.‘ n r >

onion stories." . . V “ ‘ Hock’ the sparkleri" - , =
‘ ""0! course- it may be possible-that this . “,Pawn it?” . _ . r ‘ 3 _ .
ful trinket, which lookii so grandi'y'ora  “gimme the, ticketi"_ ‘ a ,
 hand, is not orient the p: els  ~, up .1 {night dov'that,” the ,sptress Qb',
, romthegolden god 'r’  ‘ “l  ul in y.  . my; .. 
. ‘ .V r If A r." i n 9 I" :

 

brother asked. “ I will take it to the pawn»
shop and get as much money as I can on it,
then you can put the brass into another-
diamond, so you will have the satisfaction
of having an additional sparklcr to wear, and
if Van (lourtlandt should want his diamond
at any time you will be able to get it for him.
without any trouble.”

“ Yes, the idea is a good one, and I will (in
it just as soon as I have any bad luck which
I can ascribe to the possession of the din
mond.”

“Mind you, I don’t belich there is any
truth in the yarn at all!” Tommy asserted,
stoutly.

"I don’t have much faith in foreign chaps:
of the style of this Fakir, anyhow," the broth“
or continued.

“ Well; he seems to be a tolerably decent
sort of a man," the actress remarked.

“ Ah, yes, but foreign fellows like this
one are apt to be precious deep, and up to
all sorts of tricks,” Tommy argued.

"He does not seem to be that sort of a,
man.” the sister replied.

" You can't tell much about these foreign.
ers by their looks,” the other replied.

“ 110w do you know now that this duilcr
hasn't put up a game on you ‘f”’

“ A game?"

“ Yes, he knows that this blue diamond is a.
mighty valuable stone, for what these llin-
(loos don't know about jeWels isn't worth

knowing.” '
“Oh, I don’t doubt that that is true
enough,” Miss Iiagsdale agreed. “But 1

don’t understand how he could play any
game.”

“Suppose he took the notion into his
head that he would like to st hold of the
sparkler at a low figure?” ommy suggest»

“Oh, yes, I see.”

“You can bet your life, you know, that
the Fakir knows the value of the stone to a
dollar.”

“ Very likely.”

“ If he wanted to get the diamond ata low
price it would be his game to do all he could.
to make you want to get rid of it. ”

“ Yes, that is\true.” I

“ And he is cunning enough to know that
you, like most of the woman who are on the
sta e, are inclined to be a little superstitious,
an to have a ood deal of faith in good and
bad luck, so twould be just his ame to
hatch up some cock and bull story ikc this.
fielden god yarn, in orderto make you be-
! evke that the diamond would bring you bad,
no ." . -

~“ Well, there may be somethin in this
idea of ours, Tommy," the blon e actress
remark . slowly.

“ These foreigners are just the kind of
chaps to be up to tricks of the kind!” the
brother declared. ,

“Now, you just wait and see if he doesn't
offer tobuy the diamond from you,” be con-
tinued. -

“ Ah, yes, but he knows that the diamond
does not. belong to me,‘ for I told hitn so, and
Lean not sell somebody else's property.”

with it and you return it to an Courtlandt,
then he maybe able to.buy,.=it from him at a
low price," the brother replied.
“ Ah, yes, that is more likely than our
other suggestion,” Miss Ragsdale remar ed.
“ But you can rely upon it that I am not.
oing to be scared into parting with the
iamond,” she added. ‘
i ."It Will take more than a mere story to-
make me give the jewel up.”
“ Well, we have got‘our eyes: ripen, a‘nd‘
thid Hindoo
,think he is if he can make any more in a
game to get hold of the diamond without
our being.in to his dod est”, the brother as- '
seated in the most conti ent manner. '
. “Oh, yes, we are neither one of us chil~
dren." the actress replied. ,v
. ‘,‘ 0n the contrary ’we areasfully up in snufl‘

i ' as the most of the sharpers, and it will he a
to work-tho

wonderfully clever fellow who SilCCt't‘iiS in.

pulling the wool over our eyes. ” ‘

phatica ly.
“ Oh, no, we are fully able/to take care 9;

n

oursel ves
the

 

Then pair hid each otherr‘igoofidt '
and departed, for their. 136d -
w on "he Eng  rooms hi

‘1
"'s' .IV.,

“ very true, but if begets on dissatisfied X

will have to be smarter than I g 

“Ri ht'you areal" Tommy exclaimed. em: ' .
-“ We wasn’t hornyesiérdayl',’   

l

K.

“Hagan...” _

..._..--. knee..-“ . -

 ts; _~«‘<. xiv

5“?

   
 

 

!

1‘ _ at” ,wv.hss.w$ «A» .13,

v. w"

.t.

VF~<

 

 

 

 

 

« "xv.- hawk-92,2 :s:  <. I m» ‘

 

\

 25.2.7? .»ariser/h.F>.*#-$:ar.r‘.-.£s¢g;\m. " ‘

" '-E‘4V..
.2. ‘3.“

avg».

‘ 

 

  
  
  
  
  

   

-m-mw—‘W—um'- a... _
‘ " ,, "  ~ . - :- . -“‘3‘"‘"

‘ paw“ 

The New Yeti:

‘ . ... .... - .»

Sport at l Long Branch. ‘

 

 

CHAPTER XVII.
UNWELCOME V'ist'roits:

Tim blonde burlesquer felt strangely ill at
case after retiring to her rootn.

She occupied a front apartment on the
second floor with the windows looking to the
sea. ‘

The room
elaborate manner.

was fitted up in the most
and if it had been the

abode of a princess the furniture and
adormnents could not have been tuorex
sumptuous.

Right. beneath the window was the. roof
of the \'('l'illl(l.‘t and as the actress looked out
of the easement her gar/.e fell upon the
structure.

" it would not be. a very ( 'flicult matter
for any robber M climb to e roof of the
veranda and ti. .1 get into the room through
the windows," she murmured.

And then she carefully examined the fast-
enings of the casement.

“l have often heard how these cracks-
men get into houses by slipping a thin~
bladed knife in between the sashes and forc-
ing back the window catches. but no such
game as that could be worked with these
f'astenings." '

This was the truth, for the catches were
patented ones, designed expressly to foil
housebreakers.

“ It is strange how uneasy and restless I
feel tonight." the actress retnarked as she
began to prepare. to (iisrobe.

There was a small safe in the room which
had the.appearanee of a desk, and into this
the actress placed all her Valuables

“ Anyway if housebrcakers did succeed in
getting in, they would not be able to secure
much valuable bo<>ty."Miss liagsdale solilo-
quized as she closed the safe door and ad-
justed the combination.

Then she completed her preparation for
bed, turned down the gas, but left one jet
still burning so that the apartment was dimly
illun'iinated, and sought her couch. r

It was elOSe to midnight when the actress
went to bed, and for fully an hour she lay
awake, tossing’ restlessly from side to side,
much to her disgust, for this was a new ex-
perience, for, as a rule, she was usually fast
asleep within ten .minutes after she touched
the bed.

” Drat that blue diamond!" she exclaimed.
“ If it is going to worry the life out of me
the quicker I get rid of it the better!"

She heard the silver-toned clock on the
mantel-piece strike one and then she gradual-
ly dropped off to sleep.

But when the slumber cameit was a most
uneasy one, all sorts of bad dreams torment.
ed her, and she moved nestlesst from side to
side.

And now leaving the actress safely in the
bonds of sleep we will tumour attention to
a man coming alon through the open com-
mon in the rear of t to actress's cottage.

He was a medium-sized fellow, dressed
plainly in a dark suit, and wearingabiack
soft hat well pulled down on his forehead.

There wasn’t anything particularly sus-
picious-looking about the man; on the con-
trary he had a pleasant face, and was atel-
low who would have been apt to make a
good impression almost anywhere.

Yet this good-looking young fellow was

one of the vmostdangerous crooks that had
ever crossed the water. " '
' ‘ He was an Englishman, by name ,Davrd
‘ Batheart. but from his peculiar habit of al~
ways wearing a smile he was known among
his ald as Smilet’ Dave. ,

I e was an all-around crook, in contradic-
tion to the general rule. being an expert in
'all lines, and able to turn his hand to any-
' thin , from cracking the safe in a bank to
robb ng a guileless shopkeeper out of a few
dollars by the flim tiam game. ‘ ,

When Smiler reached the low fence which
separated the cottage grounds from the com-
mon, he hesitated a moment. cast a careful
glance around, in order to satisfy himself

that no one was keeping a watch upon him.x

and then climbed th-r. , ‘ .

The grounds of the cottage were well filled
' with bushesand trees, so there was ample
shade, and there was little danger that any
' 'one lurking within the garden could be won
' m the outside,'if any of the limited 

_.-. of thc'aum
,, m V. . .

 

 

_“ Madame- ami’f h ' ,5 i ‘
his hand  .3 “fig”!- “’35
 h ' i I‘ . H v‘ i . !

mer city happenedltc 

  

The intruder passed through the garden
with cautious steps and proceeded directly
to the back door.

By the rear entrance, in the shadow of a
clump of evergreens, two tncn Were eon-
cealcd, and they rose to greet the new-comer
as he approached. '

These two were men whose personal ap-
pearance was decidedly again t them.

They Were short. in stature, thickset, and

v had the peculiar slouchy air common to men

who gain their living by dark and devious

I means, anti are. always afraid of being collar-

ed by the police

Well known were the pair to the principal
detectives all ()Ver the country, for they were
two crooks who had done time in a dozen
prisons.

The taller of the two_ who was almost as
dark itt complexion as a negro, was known
as Blattky: James Nailel was his right ap-
pellation. ‘

ilis companion, whose face plainly betray-
ed his Teutonic origin, was called John Punt
pernickle, but mnong his associates he was
usually termed Dutchy

The pair had evidently been waiting for
Smiler, who was just the man to act as cap-
tain in a housebreaking expedition.

“ Well, how goes it, boys?” the new-comer
asked.

“Everything is all right," Blacky an-
swered. “I pumped the nigger butler to-
day and got all the information necessary."

“ That is good!” Smiler exclaimed.

“ You know I told you I thought I could
do the trick the moment Idiscovered the coon
was stuck on t e races and imagined he was
going to make tis eternal fortune by picking
the winners," Blacky remarked.

"And you plu ed the old ‘tout’ game on
him, I suppose?’ Stniler said.

“Yes, that was just the lay I went on,”
the crook replied With a chuckle. “I made
out that 1 wrs hand in love with all the
stable men an so 1 COllit get points about
the ’bosses which nobody else could pick
up.’ ‘

“And the coon swallowed the ghost
story?" Smilcr remarked.

1" Oh. yes, fairly jumped for it, and he in
so dead gone on-the b0 tailed nags that I
did not have an difficulty in getting out of
him :le I pant mtg knbw.”

" a trio cult about the 'o "
Smiler risked; ~ ' J b?

" Only one thing and that is, the actress
keeps her valuable in a safe in her bed-
room,” the other replied.

“That is rather awkward," Smiler re-
marked. “ For we will have to force her to
open the safe which will be a somewhat dis-
agreeable job but the trick cannot be worked
in any other way. i ' v

“ ell, let us set to. work to get into the
crib, ’ the crook continued.

It was not a difficult task for such experi-
enced rascals as these three to force an en-v
trance into the cottage, although the rear
doptr was ’guarded by a good lock and stout

The lock they picked with a skeleton key
and the bolt yielded to the pressure of a
“jimmy,’ as the short steel erow‘l‘ar-like
tool of the housebreakcx is termed.

Dutchy was left to keep watch and the

other two stole tip-stairs, first taking the,

precaution to put on masks so as to hide
their faces. , I _ »-  v

The door of Miss Ragsdaie's apartment
was only guarded by ‘a simple lock, and the
cracksmcn, after they discovered that the
key had not been removed, easily unlocked
the door by the. aid of a pair of strong'pincers
by means of which they grasped the end of
the key from the outside and so turned it in
thg llpck.

‘ e single as fat. still diml burnin

afforded ampleglivbt]. . y 1:,

8m} er glanced around the room so as to
familu ze himself with all the particulars.
then he took up the loose wrapper which the,
actress had discarded upon going to rest and
placed it upon the bed by the side of the
sleeping woman, after this. be seated him-
self upon the chair by the bedside, drew'nn
ugly-looking knife. an eight inch "bowie."
and proceeded to arouse the‘slee .er v

This he did as cutly as pose! is.

  
 
 
 

  

that she was a coward.

murder “her if she

  
  

 

Miss R-igsdale was a light sleeper, one
easily awakened, and so she soon opened
her eyes. stairing in astonishment at the
masked man menacing her with the knife.

“Do not scream, madam. or attempt to
callfor assistance for it will cost you your

‘ life if you do so," Smilcr declared, as soon as

he saw that the sleeper was awake.

“ if you will be quiet and reasonable. and
do as 1 say, no harm shall come to you,’ ti 1:
intruder continued

"We are tax~gatherers, you must under
stand: and it is our Illislli('>5 to rtliere you
of little of your surplus wealth

“ You have plenty and can easily spare it.
we are poor and need it,”

ly this time ti e actress had recovered in
a measure from the alarm which had at first
seized upon her.

“ Really, sir, i do not think I have much
money to give you," she remarked. “ You
see it is not my ('ustt m to keep money in
the house," Miss Ragsdale continued.
“ There may be thirty or forty dollars in my
purse but not any more "

“ We will be Very glad to take the mt-ncy.
of course, although it is 'not a large sum.""-
the housebreaker replied, with great polite
ness.

" But, Miss Bagsdnle, will you pardon;
the if I remind you that if you have not vot
money you have some really elegant din
monds? ’

“ Diammds!” the actress exclaimed, and
immediately to her mind came the rcmcu.
brance of the blue diamond.

“'as it possible tlat because she had ti a
strange jewel in her possession the was:
placed in the power of these midnight rt.f~
fians?

" Yes, our diamonds are what we are at"
ter." Smi er replied.

“ We knew all about them—they are lo: l:--
ed up in the safe yonder, and we will l.avc~
to trouble you to open the safe for us." - 

“How can I do it? It is really dreadful?-
that you should want my diamonds!" them-v
tress exclaimed, in a pathetic manner.

. ” You will have lots of trouble to gct'
rid of them, you know, and you are almost

“"9"” ‘0 be “WEN When you attempt: to- ' ' "

turn them into cash," she continued.

“ Oh, yes, there is considerable risk about
the matter; we understand all about that.
but we will have to risk it nevertheless.”'
the cracksman responded, in a light and ’
airy way. . ‘ .

"We will really have to trouble you tor-j
Open the safe ‘for us, so we can get the dia-

monds. ' 

‘9 You understand, I hope, that we do not’-
want to put you to any more trouble than-i3)"
necessary,” he hastened to say. , ‘,

“And i am fully aware that we are taking?
a great liberty to intrude upon you in till!- ‘
manner, but as the trick could not be accom- *

lished in any other way, we had lo‘do‘it, but  "

it is our intention to make everything as!
agreeable for you as possible. 
“ Here is your wrapper, it will only take;
you a moment to put it on; we will turn our
backs u tie you rise. if you will give as:
your word that you will not abuse our conti-
dence and attempt to alarm the house. . , i
“ You understand. madam. I hope. that war
are dean-rate men, and it Would surely 
you' (it arlt’ if you should attempt to do any

thing’of the kind." . __ . (v

"\\'e are anxious not to harm shot 5- ‘
your head, but if you attempt any‘t “
likely topput us in peril, we wiil‘h‘i,‘
take severe measures, no matter how‘.gs 
ta'nt we n ay’be to do anything, ofith'fltiiik. 
The actress stared at thesprak I, "
checks pale with fright.  x “ e r .

She was not a brave woman athcart, al‘ ;
though, at. timeskvben‘ the situation dc

manded it, she couldtaik loud, lilustcr.‘ Wifi"

rrtend to be very courageous, but whet), 9;,
n the present instance, she washrought fitch
to face. with real danger, she soon shoer

The sight. of the glittering knife ‘strti _
terror to‘her Soul, rnd from the way itinwiiiw,
the masked robber spoke, she was fulin _
isfied that the man would not husiia-t-fi  ‘
attempted to give

  

alarm : , . a

(What was a few thousand dollars‘rvl'ortfir’

afidiamonds compared to her precious life

" Although, the actress was not. brave, ‘

an extremely cunning, and though
, v a i _s. «f

r.
u.

 I ,

   
 
 

; vi

 
   

   
  
 
 
 
  

  
   
  
 
 

  
  

    
    
  
   
 

...-...... _ ,. ..._.... ..,....... .._.., .. .._.

~— > "‘.- ' . , . )—
f’ ugh/4.- ‘4; in ~
. v  \v

' ' meagesraa'   Lemmas." 

 

 

 

was terribly frightened, yet she retained
self possessron enough to be able to take a
00d view of the situation.

Even if the robbers did succeed in getting
.away with the diamonds, there wasa chance,
and an extremely good one in Miss Ragsdale’s
opinion, that the police would be able to re-
cover the jewels, and so under the circum-
stances she speedil'y came to the conclusion
that she would be a great big fool to risk her
life by refusing to comply with the demand
of the midnight marauders.

Thesqthoughts flew rapidly through the
brain of the actress and so she only hesi-
tated for a few. moments before she spoke.

She was one who believed in always no-

so horribly frightened, she put on her sweet-
est smile and said:

“ You are really acting in such a gentle-
manly way that I feel that I ought to do
what I can to oblige you, so if on and your
‘00 panion will have the kin ness to turn
y ur backs I will put on my dress, and then
open the safe for you." -

“ We will be very much obliged.” Smilcr

cep'ting the situation with as good a grace ,
as possible and so, notwithstanding she Was E

and then when the treasure box was open
Smiler said:
“Now, Miss Ragsdale, since you are act-
! ing like a lady about this matter, We pro-
pose to do the fair thing by you, so will not
take anything but the diamonds and ~vhat
I cash you may have; the rest of the jewelry
! we will allow you to retain.”
; “ I am very much obliged,” the actress re
a plied.
! And then the eyes of the crook fell upon
' the blue diamond.

“ Hello! there is a beauty 1” he exclaimed.

“Yes, it is aver rare and costly stone,”
Miss Ragsdale rep ied.

“ It is gust such a sparkler as I would like
to wear i I could afford such a luxury, but
men in my line can’t indulge in things of that
kind.” the crook leader remarked.

 

jewels and your cash I will be much
obliged.”

The actress complied with the request
With as good a race as possible.

Smiler stoweg the gems and money away
securely in an inside pocket.

“And now, Miss Ragsdale, we will have

 

‘ replied with a polite how, but as the ready
compliance of the woman with his demand .
made him a little suspicious, he hastened to ;
add- ‘

“Of course you understand that I meant i
What I said when I told you that if you at-
tempted to give an alarm it would cost you
your lfe.”

“Oh, yes," the actress replied quickly,
"‘ and I beg you to believe that I do not mean
to do anythingof the kind.

“ I am not so foolish as to risk my life for
.a few diamonds!”

‘, “There is where you are wise, for with
your wonderful abilities for coining mone
you can easily et more diamonds, but if
you lose lyour life you cannot get another
one,” Smi er remarked, grimly.
‘ " Yes, yes, I am well aware of that fact
,_ and I assure you that I do not intend to
' . make any trouble.”
7 "Very well, I am glad you are sensible.
We have to do this sort of thing all in the
'way of business, ou know, but when we
a :are dealing witha ady we tryto make every-
fthin as agreeable as possible.
- “ ow, Miss Ibtgsdale, we will give an
a chance to dress, and please have the kind-
:ness not to keep us waiting any longer
’othan is absolutely necessary,”'the gentle-
:J'r-inanly crook requested with another polite
 w

  
  
 
  
     
  
    
   
  
    
    
 
   
   
  
   
  
   

“ I will not be a minute!” the actress ex-
, ' claimed. “For I can assure you that I am
- {inst as anxious to get rid of yon as you can
possibly, be to depart."

‘ The crooks laughed, and- Miss Itagsdale
' lo'st no time in assuming her dressing-gown
, .and slippers. '
Her mind worked rapidly during these few '
 iminutes.

- Was there no chance for her to trick the
9 robbers in any way without risking the loss .

 

not her life? a .
’ No, not one! , 
She must 0 n the safe, for she felt sure f

I“ that these mas ed men were desperate fellows .
 ’who would not hesitate to commit murder if I
* fiche provoked their rage. v !
 And then to her mind again‘ dame-the re- f
membranes of the blue diamond. I
V ,i .Was. it possible that there was any truth ;
- win the tale that ill-luck attended all who had ,
the precious stone in their possession? i
It seemed like a story from the dark ages, i
but one thing was sure, she had traveled all
over the world and this was the first time
“that robbers had ever molested her. 2 3
Was their visit due to the fact that she had 3
the blue diamond? ‘
., 'It was very odd indeed, and the bewil-
, geared actress did not know what to make of
' And then the thought came to her that if ‘
there Was any truth in the story the mid‘ !
night plunderers would speedily have cause
to regret the, moment when they Conceived I
the i ea of robbing her of her valuables.
..° New, gentlemen, I am at your service,”
Miss Ragsdale said, after she had finished
. ng
13,- f you will have the kindness to open the l
fists we will be very much obliged," Smile: I
thanked with a polite bow. ., .
an actress complied with the request”

O
on

so we will be able to get a fair start before
you give an alarm,” the crook said.

Perforce the actress was obliged to comply,
willing or unwilling.

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE POLICE TAKE A HAND.

SMILER had taken the precaution to as-
certain that tho key cf the parlor door was
in the look before he and his companion pro-
ceeded upstairs and when the three arrived
on the first floor the crook explained that he
would be obliged to lock the actress up in
the parlor.

“ Of course you will try to give an alarm
as soon as possible,” he ,contin ed. “ That
is only natural under the circu stances, and
I do not blame you, but I must take measures
to get as good a start as I can, and the longer
I can keep on from alarming the house the
better it wiII be for me."

” Oh, yes, I suppose so,” the actress an»
swcred, not knowing exactl what to say.

Then the crook requestedIiIiss Ragsdalc‘to
walk into the arlor, turned the key in the
lock, and withI:
the rear door.

"All is serene!" Dutchy exclaimed as his
pals made their appearance. “Not a soul
has ‘ at in an appearance.”

“ 0 must give legrbail as fast as we can,
for we have made a big haul and the chances
are that a fearful row ‘ will be kicked up
about it!” Smiler exclaimed as the three hur-
ried through the garden to the commons.

Leaving the marauders to\ pursue their
way we will return to the blonde burlesquer.

She was very angry at bein despoiled of
her valuables, and though she id not dare to
give an alarm immediate] for fear that the
crooks might return and mm her, yet after
she had waited about five minutes—the time
1passing so slowly that it seemed to her as if

t was twice as long as it really was—she
judged she ought to proceed.

The Englishwoman was naturally shrewd
and while she waited she had formed a plan
to secure her liberty, '

She had listened at the door after being
locked in the parlor and from the sound of
the robbers’ retreating footsteps judged that
they had left the house by the rear door, and
she calculated that under the peculiar cir-
cumstances they would not take the trouble
to attempt to fasten the door after them.

All she had to do then was to get out of
the parlor by means of one of the windows,

0 around to the back door and she could get
into the house. t

This she accomplished easily enough. and
then she hurried to her room and proceeded
to dress herself, for now that her fright was
ever she had made up her mind to leave no
stone unturned to secure the hold robbers.

“Now if you will kindly pass over thel

is companion hurried through v

not take Tommy Ragsdale long to get into

5 his clothes.

 

to trouble you to come with us to the door, 5

 

“Well, well, here is a rum go!” he ex
claimed after the actress had related the par-
ticulars of what had occurred.

“ What had we better do?” he asked.

“The police must be notified at once so
that they mhy pursue the rascals!"

“Oh, yes, of course. no doubt that is the
proper caper." Tommy remarked, scratch-
infi his head in a doubtful sort of way.
“ ut I’m blamed If I know just how to
go about it.”

“Ah, you are a stupid donkey if ever
there was one!" the blonde burlesquer ex-
claimed angrily. “ But you never did have
any head for business!"

“ Yes, but this ’ere thing is something that
I don't knov. anything about,” he com
plained. “I never had nothing to do with
any policemen, and blamed if I know how to
go at it." " '

“ You are a natural born donke , and that
is what is the matter with you!” iss Rags"
dale retorted.

“But I will tell you what you had better
do. Go to the West End Hotel, find Mr.
Fitzmaurice, explain the matter to him, and
say from me that I will be very much
obliged if he will take charge of the affair.”

“Ah, yes, that is it! that is the ticket!”
the brother exclaimed, rubbing his hands to-
gether in delight. “ You can depend upon

ox Fitzy to do the job right up to the
ban le."

“ Don‘t stop to talk but hurry off as soon
as possible!" the actress urged.

“Oh, yes, I will not allow the grass to
grow under my feet!” Tommy declared, and ‘
then he hurried away.

The man was as good as his word too and
made quick time to the hotel.

Fitzmaurice was awakened without any
trouble and hur ied to dress himself as soon
as he understo what was required;

“It would be an excellent advertising
dodge," he remarked, “only the trouble is
that it will be hard work. to persuade the
people it isn't got up on purpose_to create a
stirin the newspapers."

“ The stolen diamond racket has been
worked so often that the public have taken
stumble to the' whole business, and when
this story comes out in the newspapers the
odds are big that nine out of ten men “will
think that it is only a yarn got Up for adver-
tisin purposes.”

“ at this is a sure enough robber and
no mistake—worse luck!” Tomm dec ared.

"Yes, but it will be hard wor to make
the people believe it,” the theatrical specu'
lator replied. »

Events proved how correct was this opin
ion.

There was a detective on dut at the hotel
and the night clerk suggested t lat he should
be roused for he knew where the chief of
police could be found.

A team was ordered and the hotel detec-
tive awakened from his slumbers .

But, when the matter was explained to
him he remarked that it was an old gs , and
although it mi ht be a good one he d d not
seevthe necess tyof getting a man out of
bed in the middle of the night to assist in
working it. r

At last Fitzmaurice succmded in convinc-
ing the detective that the robbery was no
theatrical gag but that. Miss Ragsdale had
really been plundered of diamonds worth
a ood ten thousand dollars, and, what was
In re to the point, the lady,would undoubt-
edly be willing to pay a good round reward
for the recovery of the sparklers.”

This was a spur to urge the detective on.

But when the chief of police was roused -
from his slumber Fitzmaurice had just the

~ same trouble-in making him believe the ac-

count of the robber ' was correct as be had
had with the hotel etective.

Finally the chief was convinced, then a
couple of his assistants had to be hunted up,
so it was about four o’clock in the morning

After her toilet was completed the actress —the ray rays of the coming daWn were

away at the door until he was awakened.
“ What is the rhatter'l’.I he asked.

[hurried to her brother‘s room and banged beginn ng to line the eastern skies~when

the party arrived at Miss Ragsdale’s cottage.
It did not take the experienced man-hun-

“ Get it and dress ourself as soon as you ters long to discover how the rascals had got

cam-the ouse’ has en rob
peggemnst be summoned!" Mi 3 Ragsdale
re , . x 1 ‘ r , "

q

,1...

. \noaneemcnt it did a

and the I into the house, but where they had gone af-

ter the rcbbery was committed was stays-

ll possible means were employ

 

a... -.......W..A,u .... ,«t- .

stu-

, mama”

 3%. firt‘ifz‘xd‘tfifi: ‘ w <

‘5!  «Lin: ( ,,

m; w .l v' 

<crr-7:W€b«g 

 

 

a»... .aptl

we w. .WW -.

«his.

 9WW54-XKWW‘J .2

 

 

3):"

«as» emu 4' 31$: “7;?
. . V .

 

\

 
 
 

;i‘.T:f:"f"§5r

, .

The New York sport atton’g Branch. '

   

 

 

the robbers, fifty men tried their wits on the
ease, professional and amateur bloodhounds,
but the search was all in vain;

The crooks had got safely off and left no
trail behind.~

 

CHAPTER XIX.
JOE PHEle runes THE CASE.

THE village bloodhounds who went to
work with such zeal to track the robbers
were like the rest of their class the world
over.

They had the firmest belief that they were
natural born thiefcatehers, and were decided-
ly of the opinion that what they did not
know about man‘liunting was not worth
knowing, so when they were not able to
get the slightest clue to the robbers they
fell back upon the old dodge of pretending
to believe that there had not been any rob-
bery at all.

Of course they (lid not come right out
and declare that they did not believe the
actress had been robbed; they were too cun-
ning to make an assertion of that kind, but
by means of winks, knowing shakes of the
head, and sly insinuations they contrived
to convey the impression that t. iey did not
put much faith in Miss Ragsdale‘s story of
the robbery.

The theatrical manager, Fitzmaurice, was
too acute a man not to speedin perceive how
the police regarded the matter, and he lost
no time in communicating the information to
the burlesque actress.

“These confounded fools will not be able
to do anything!" the speculator declared,
“Because they were not smart enough to hit
off the track right away the have taken the
idea into their precious n dles that there
has not been an robbery.“

H~What 9. xi iculous notion!" the actress
exclaimed, angrily.

“Of course, it is perfect] absurd!” Fitz-
manrice responded. "But t is a very old
game. Because they cannot find any trace of
the robbers they are trying to cover up their
blundering by insinuating that there are no
robbers to be found.”

" I never heard of a bigger lpiece of non.
sense in my life!" Miss Ragsda e asserted.

"" The are retending to believe that it is
all an vertis ng dodge on your part," the
manager explained.

“Oh, yes, it is all very well for people
who haven't at any reputation to try a
trick of that k nd so as to get their names in
the newspapers, but a woman who has made
the success that I have in England and in
this country does not have to resort to any
tricks of that kind!" the actress exclaimed in
a tone full of lofty contempt. ‘

" Very true, but these stupid countrymen
don’t know the difference between the ac,
tress who can command a couple of hundred
dollars a‘ week and the back-row ballet girl
who has hard work to get live,"

” A lot of ignorant blockheadsl" Miss
Ihigsdale declared. ‘ v

“Exactly; that 18 just what they are, and
it. is an old saying, you know, that you can't

make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear,” the the-d

atrical manager observed with the air of a
hiloso her. '

p “Th: crooks who got away with the dis
monds are old hands at the busmcss evi~
dently, for they did not leave a trace behind
to show which way they came or which way
they went. and as these bunglers are com-
pletely baffled. the only way they can get out
of the scrape is for them’to insinuate that
ther ihasn‘t been any robbery." , .

“ ell, if they have got any such notion
as that in their heads. I don’t suppose there
is much chance of their either catching the
thieves or getting back my diamonds," Miss
Ragsdale observed in a disconsolate way.

‘ Not one chance in a thousand, to my
thinking!" Fitzmanrice replied.

“ But what is to be done?” the actress ex-
claimed, angrily. “ Am I to lose my jewels
and have to tamely submit to the outrage?
Why, the idea is monstrous!”

" You will not be likel to get much aid
from these countrymen. or this affair is alto-
gether too big a job for them to handle," the
s eculator remarked. “I will go to New

ork and give thencase into the hands of a
first-class metm 0 tan man.

""Ah, yes, that is a as ital ideal” the

' exclaimed. ' « . ‘

 

 

“I know a fellow who has done some
wonderful things in the detective line. and if
I can get him to undertake the case, and i
there isn’t much doubt but what lean, I’
think the chances are good that he will be
able to accomplish something.”

“ I sincerely hope so, for it is no joke to
be robbed in this wholesale way!" Miss Rags»
dale declared.

“This gentleman is in the private detec-
tive line, has an ofiiee of his own and under-
takes special business ”

“ Yes. I understand— Special Enquiry
offices, as they call them in London.”
“Exactly!” Fitzxnaurice replied. “This

man is named l’henix—Joe Phenix. He

used to be in the regular detective force and

performed some astonishing facts in cup-

turing criminals; in feat he is a‘ regular

American VidOCq, and I think the chances'
are great that if he undertakes the case he

will be able to do something with it.”

“ You ought to see him as soon as pos-
sible,” the actress urged. “ The quicker he
takes hold of the case the better, I should
think.” .

“ Yes, that is true,” the speculator replied.
“ I will take the first train for New York."

Then be consulted a timetable which he
had in his pocket.

“1 can catch an Express in half-an-hour
which runs through to New York without a
stop," he added.

“That will do nicely!" Miss Ragsdale ex-
claimed. . “And understand, Fitzy, I don’t
mind phying a good price to get my dia-
monds back, so out hesitate if the job is
goin to be an expensive one.”

“ h, I shouldn’t, but this Phenix is no
shark; on the contrary he is the squarest
kind of a fellow, and on can depend upon
his doing what is ght,”Fitzmanricc ex-
plained. ’

“I would like to get my jewels back of
course, but it would also ive me a deal of
pleasure if the rascals w to committed the
robbery were also placed in limbo," the act.
ress announced.-

“Certsinly, of course, that oes without
ssyin l" the manager cxelaim .

“ on not only want to recover the
sparklers but you want satisfaction as well.”

“ Yes, and I am willing to pay a good
round price for it."

“ You can depend upon this Mr. Phenix
doing his best to nab the rascals as well as
to recover the property. lie is not the kind
of man to want to compromise with rascals.
But I will be off, and you can rest assured
that when this bloodhound gets on the track
of the scoundrels he will be certain to make
it warm for them."

Miss Ragsdale expressed her thanks in it
becoming manner, and Fitzmaurice’ hurried
off to catch his train. '

When he arrived in New York-he con-
sulted a Directory in order to learn the ad-
dress of the detective, and then proceeded
to the office of the renowcd man-hunter,

He was fortunate enough to find the de-
tective in, a tall, muscular man with alion-
like head, and massive, yet mobile fea-
’tures, which were a grave—even a and
look.

The theatrical speculator had a_slightac~
guaintance with the detective, having been
introduced t him at. a popular up-towu
resort, and alt ough he thonghtit was neces~
sary to recall the matter to the mind of
the man-hunter he was immediately assured
by that gentleman that the meeting had not,
been forgotten by him. "

Then Fitzmaurlce explained his business
and the detective jotted down the particulars
in lns memorandum-book.

Fitzmaurice too explained the view that
the country policemen took of the matter.

Joe Phenix smiled.

"A lot of blarsted jay policemen-l" the
manager declared indignantly.

“ The jay policemen, as you call them,
are not the only men who try a game of that
kind when they encounters case with which
they cannot do anything,” the acute detec-
tive remarked.

“I have known men righthere in'New
York~men too with good reputations in the
the thief-catching line, who have fallen back
on adeclaration of that kind when rogues

of whom they wercuin  proved to be

  

i the same whether the man lives in the city

 

 

 

too‘smart 1015M

Welly“; arm; ‘  ' assent

 

  
 
    
  
   
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
     
     
 
  
 
 
  
 
   
 
  
  
  
    
   
 
   
  
      
      
 
   
 
  
  
   
 
 
     
     
        
         
 
 
 
   

or in the country," Fitzmauriee remarked.
“ It is natural for one when a failure is made‘
to cast about for some excuse to cover up
the true reason. A man doesn‘t like to come
right out and admit that he is not as smart
as he pretends to be.”

"Judging from the particulars which you
have given me, this job was done by old and
experienced crooks, and it is not going to be
an easy matter to catch them," the detective
remarked.

“ Oh, yes, I fully understand that, and I
am authorized by Miss Ragsdale to tell you
to go ahead without regard to the expense,”
the manager replied.

“ You do not exact] understand me,”
the mun-hunter observet . “ I do not speak 
with a view of enhancing the difficulties of . 
the situation, so that I might ask a higher r'
price for my services, butl was goint.r to-
suggcst that with the circumstances as they
are it would be a wise measure to call upon:
the chief of the New York police for assist-
ance.”

“ Yes, yes, that certainly‘ would be a good
idea, but the robbery was not committed in
this city,” Fitzmaurice suggested.

"Very true, but it is almost absolutely
certain that the plunder was brought imme~
diately to New York, and so the affair comes
under the supervision of the metropolitan
police.”

“ True, very true,” Fiizmaurice observed.
“I had not taken that fact into considera-
tion.”

“ The first point in the game which these
crooks played was to secure the plunder,"
the detective observed.

“Well, they certainly mana ed to take
that triCk all right, and it must we admitted
that the work was done in a superior man- ‘
ner," the manager declared. '

“Oh, yes, and from the we the job was
performed there is no doubt t at it was the
work of old and experienced professional
cracksmen, as I said before, and now after
having won the first trick they will proceed
to the second, and that will be to turn their
plunder into money.” 

“That will be done through some ‘ fence,’
of course—some man who makes a business
of receiving stolen goods," Fitzmaurice sug- ' ‘

 

 

 

l 

es .

"Yes, and b giving timely notice to the
chief of police e will give a warnin notice-
to all his men to be on the alert an so the. .
rascals may be nabbed.” -

“Yes, es, I see."

“ The rst thing the chief will do will be
to ask his detectives and police spies what
crooks they have noticed around town who 
would be able to do a first-class job of this r
kind,” the detective explained. v - ~ »

“ I oomprehcndhand if the chief finds that.
there are some crooks in the city who are 
noted for this particular kind of robbery he . _
will have them sharply looked after.”

“ Yes, that is the way he will proceed. I i
will go with you to t e chief's office, and 1 ‘
after we arrange matters with him, will as;
company on to Long Branch, so as‘ to make ' 
s rsona examination of the scene of the.
ro bery." ‘ '

“ That is necessary, of course," Fitsa
maurice remarked. w

"Yes, and it is important too that no one,
in the household should have an sus don ‘.
of the nature of the business w ich . rings, '
me to Miss Ragsdale's cottage," thedetecti

remarked. _  g

"I see what you are driving stl"t
ager declared with a sagacious nod.§ ,.  

“ You have a suspicion that," some one of
the inmates of the house may have had some
thin to do with the robbery." _

“ ’cs, it is alwa s safe to go upon an ass
sumption of the k nd, although it is not in-
variably correct,” Joe Phenix replied. .11
~ “It does not do any harm hough to act
on the supposition," the ma ager suggest

“ Well, the matter can be arranged easxl.
enough. i can introduce you as a newspapet
man anxious to get all the details so rat is)
write up an account of the robbery,” Fitz~
msurlce continued. «'7 "

“ Yes, that will do." ’ g .

The detective then went with the manager
to the inspector of police and gave a full ac:
count of the robbery. ' ~
,‘The chief promised to give themath his

 
  

 
 

     
   
    

 
 
     
 

or- u. evil-em gas... a:

  

I A. ‘ The New  

w-aauwmnm‘wme-W~Wwl‘.-~mw.ww.n..."a... -......a.,  . . . ,, .. ..
, .,....., a”, m. ...,.... ... ._ .. ‘ .1». .  . .. .. ,. . .. .. I V

' . , ..', 3‘ '~- ~ «Ms qua-m ‘-
TW. 73.57., ..-.W¢m,‘+ ..>..v..1,,.?._r¢f":ew; ,.  asap-foray: ".7. 1,99 '4...“ “r ‘ W
’ Hg, 2.. . .‘ ' ' "" " ‘;'. " i 5, -. . ‘. :.

'i n' V"

4

at Long

Branch.

 

 

 

 
   
   
 
  
   
  
 
   
  
   
   
   
  
 
   
  
  
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
 
    
  
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
 
  
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
  

personal attention, and then the pair depart-
ed for the Summer City.

At the cottage of the actress Joe Phcnix
made a careful examination.

“ This trick was done from the outside,
and without inside help," was his conclusion
“ I shall be only wasting time to remain here'
New York is the hunting ground!” the vet--
"iv eran detective declared.

 

CHAPTER "X.
HOW 'rnn nouns ESCAPED.

AND now we will relate how it tries that
the rogues managed to make their escape
without leaving any clue for the police to
'work upon.

By keeping away from the streets and. go-
ing through the open fields they avoided the
possibility of encountering any one, and at
such an hour there were ew people abroad
even in the most frequented places in the
nei hborhood of the big hotels.
be three crooks went on until they came
to the river and there embarked on a boat
which they had evidently had in readiness.

Down the riVer they went; as it happened
there was an ebb tide, and as they had two
pairs of cars the boat went on at a good pace.

In due time they reached the bridge, row-
ing across the river to the Highlands, and
. on the sea side of the structure asmall sloop
was moored. '

This craft the crooks boarded.

It was about the size of the boats common-
ly used by the clam-diggers and fishermen,
was provided with :a small covered cabin,

, big enough to afford snug accommodations to
' the three, and there wasn’t anything about
1 . the craft to excite suspicion that she‘was not

' all right. ‘ . I

' The men at once’got up sail, and as there
was a fair southwesterly ‘wind, it did not
1 :_take the little sloop long to run out of the
. _ river, and when they reached the “Horse-
. shoe,” as the peculiar sort of bay formed by
. the long point of Sandy Hook is called, they
‘   ' laidstheir course straight for New York. _
 , H And it was on account of the crooks put-
.r flag in practice this dodge of making their
. [escape from Long Branch by water that the
P bloodhounds of the Summer City were
f: pot able to find any trace of them.
"  Not a soul had seen them depart, and
'1..fthere are no tracks on the ebbin tide by
‘ . means of which a fugitiVe can be fo lowed.
a g The wind was a favorable one, and the
 little craft berg a good sailer, and 'well
‘ handled—Blue Jim had put in some of his
‘gyounger years “ before the mast"—}nade her
*way toward the metropolis at a good rate
’aofls eed. '
‘1 ' he crooks were in high glee over their
“:s‘uccessful raid. .
, , "We have got the boodle all- right,”
' ' 2Smiler'remarke . "And now the next thing
on the pro rammc is to turn it intomoney.”
v “Yes, t at is the game," Black Jim re-
, ' nded. “How much do you think we
_, ‘ve collared l” ‘

 ‘SOh, I don’t know-it is hard tosay," the
‘dthief crook replied in a reflective way.

" The diamonds are magnificent ones, and
ere are quite a number of them," Black
unobserved. ' '

‘,‘.;Yes, it is .by far the best haul in that
line, thatl ever made, and I..suppose the
’ ‘ robably cost twelve or fifteen
 [tripod ollars,”'8miler remarked. .

‘- heeyes of _ the others, gleamed with de‘
igh’t, and they smacked their lips in'gloat-
n . anticipation. > 7 '

  ‘ iler noticed the lookir and indulged in
ratqgniet laugh. - , "

 .M‘F‘Now, boys, don't your anticipation
;  uptoo high!" he eXel m .' ’ '

‘ ~' ‘ f‘hlthon‘gh I do not doubt that the boodle
..‘_m.rth every centvof the amount that I
we named, ct the chances are bi that we
ll'not be ah e toget a quarter of t ,e sum,"
ex tamed. _ y * ‘ '

‘ '-‘» , yes, I understand," Black Jim ob-
served in n'sulky way. "You mean that
lithe blamed fence ,will not bewilllng to give,
no moi-'15 than a‘quarter the diamonds are

"Yes, that'is exactly what  new."
mailer replied. “If we-"can at three, or;
cussed in cold cash we lgbe lucky?

“ Just look at the risk we run, and then
those old thieves are not willing to give more
than a quarter of the actual value of the
swag,” he continued.

“Of course thefencc takes some risk too,”
Smiler observed. “ For if the police happen-
cd to be ii ' enough to catch him with the
stolen goods in his possression he is sure to
lose what he paid out, and then there is the
chance that he may be hauled into court and
have to stand trial.” .

“ Ah, yes, but loss of money is about all
the fence has to fear," Black Jim argued.
“It isn’t once in ten years that a fence is
caught so dead to rights by the ll y cops that
he gets a chance to go to the stone jug up
the river,” Black Jim remarked.

“That is correct,” Smiler admitted. “ The
fences are too smart to be easily caught, and
when they get hold of valuables like these
diamonds they always go to work as soon as
possible to fix the things so that the owners
will he puzzled to identify them.

“ The melting-pot is always ready, and it
does not take many minutes to knock the
diamonds out of their settings, then into the
pot goes the gold, and it is Soon run into a
solid lump, and then the diamonds are mixed
with other uncut stones, and under such cir4
cumstances nobody but an expert diamond-
dealer who had been buying and selling
precious stones for years, would be able to
pick out particular stones,” the chief crook
continued.

As he had been leading a crooked life for
along time. he knew exactly how the game
was worked.

“ Who are you going to try with the
swag?” Black Jim asked.

"Old Joe Jobstone,” Smiler replied.

“ lie isa good man,” Black Jim observed.

” Yes, that he is," Dutch assented.

“The b st nnfu in New ork—in fact the
best that know of in the country to handle
a big matter like this,” Smiler declared.

“ You see he is a diamond-dealer, and
does a large business in uncut stones; always
has a lot on hand, you know, and when he
gets these sparklers out of their settings and
mixes them with thc‘bthcrs it would puzzle
all the fly cops in New York to pick out the
stolen diamonds,” the chief crook explained.
” Let me see! it is now three oclock!”
Smiler exclaimed. abruptly, consulting his
watch. “ How much longer will it take us
to get up to the city ‘2”

“ If the wind holds, and I think it,will, we
ought to make the dock in a couple of‘
hours.” Black Jim answered.

“ That will bring it to five o’clock,” Smiler
remarked in a reflective way.

“ Now let me calculate how this thing is
going to work in Long Branch," Smiler con.
tinned. ' 4

“ The woman undoubtedly alarmed the
house in 2fifteen or twenty minutes after we
got off, then after the people were roused,
the would probably talk the matter over for
Indian hour or so before they would send
for the. olice.”'_ v

“ An at such an hour it wouldn't be an
easy matter to get at the police,” Black Jim
observed; v , .
“That is true, for the cops would be all
sung in bed," Smiler assented. '

" The men must be reused,” he remarked,
“ and the chief hunted up before anythin
can be done, so I think it will be safe to cafi
cuiate that it will be fully three o’clock, per-
haps four, before the bloodhounds get fairly
to work," the chief crook continued.

"‘Oh, yes, thesccountry jays are mighty
segrw‘ in getting waked up," Dutchy remark‘

“And the chances, are that .‘thc 'chief of
lice will Wastea lot of valuable time in en-
eavoring to find outlw‘here we have gone,
set a watch on, the depot, thinking that we
will take a train, and so givelnm a chance to

nab us. ’.’ , .
The idea of the “ jay policemen" watching
the detpot ap red so fans to the three that
fora ew m nutes they, in edged in hearty
laughter. . ' y _ 5
."Then after the train pulls out and the
cops can’t get their clutches on an suspi-
cions blokes, the jaysw-illv'come to t e cen-
clha’ionthatwe have taken French leave b

mannerifateam. and" theywillv set to we;
to M all" ' ‘

re on

 

, t is adownright shame than it for us
Mgobhe in u usth way an.

 

ht: roads. "f "

l “ They will not be able to find any trace
20f us, of course, but the chances are great
i that it will take them until noon to make up
their minds that we are too smart for them,
and then they may be wise enough to notify
the New York police," Smiler remarked.

“Ah. yes, but if they don‘t get the New
York fly cops on the scent the first thing in
the morning, they don‘t stand a ghost of a
show of nabbing us!” Black Jim declared.

“That’s right!" Smilerassented. “ 1f the
New York hawks don't nab us within a half
an hour after we land, we are all right, for
by that time the diamonds will be out of our
hands.”

“ You can’t get at old Jobstone too early
to do business!" Dutchy asserted.

“ Correct!” Smiler exclaimed. “ If 'ou
should reuse the old bloke up in the mi die
of the night, he would not object in the
least, provided you had a good bargain to
offer him.”

“ lie is a sharp, old file!” Black Jim ex-
claimed.

“ Oh, yes, no mistake about that,” Smiler
replied. “ Just look at the way he carries
on business. As a rule the man who goes
into the business of receiving stolen goods
sets up as a awnbroker, thinking that IS the
best cloak or the business; but then the
iawnbrokcr is obliged to keep a book where-
in the details of his loans must be set down,
and if a man gets into any trouble, and the
police go for the book, it is sometimes a hard
matter for the suspected man to make every-
thing appear all right.

“Now, old Jobstone does business in an
entirely. different way,” Smiler explained.
‘.‘ He does not lend money on any article,
but buys it outright; but he gives you his
word to sell it back to you at any titre with-
in a year at a reasonable advance—enough,
you know, to give him a fair profit.”

“ It is a cute dodge!” Black Jim remarked.

this way he is not obliged oto keep a set of
books, and if the police come down on him
there are no troublesome things for him to ex
plain, or he hasn't got to hunt up cXCuses
for not putting certain transactions down.
for a weak-kneed fe‘llow will peach once in
a while, and give everything away. to the
police." ‘ - -

“ Ah, yes. little things of that sort will
hap cn, and this is such a blamed uncertain
wor d that. a man never knows who to
trust," Black Jim observed with the air of a
philosopher.

“Old Joe will give as much for the s ark-
lers as any one. and we are safe in 0mg
business with him for he was never known to
give a man away," Smiler declared.

I “ He goes on the motto that honesty is the
best policy," Dutchy observed with a grin.

This brought the conversation to a close,
for Black Jim advised his companions to
“ turn in ” and catch “ forty winks, ashe
did not need their aid in handling the boat, so
they adopted his advice, without debate:

5* I ’ I i".
shaman XXL .
, run amen.

TEE wind held entail the night, as Black
Jim had anticipated, and the sloop arrived
at the dock only some. twenty minutes later
than the time which Jim had calculated up:
on. . '
The crooks ,made a landing on the Jersc
shore at a pier some distance to the sout
from‘the Central Railway Ferry_

cm were a number of achts, and'small
cm ts, anchored in the neig borhood,so this
little .sloop taking up its quarters with‘ithc
rest did not excite any attention. 1

if the three had one in the‘bOatto aNew
York dock, some y would have been after
them for wharfage, and some unpleasant
questions in regard ‘to-who they were, and
wl‘i‘erc'le they had come from, might have been
as e .

It was arranged that Dutchy should sta
onboard, and take care of thehoat, whi e
the other two sought, the- diamond-dealer
with the milder. , -. '

The .pa r cr ‘ to the city by the railway

‘i

town. ‘

 

The broker’s place i of 'Ibu‘s‘iness
,‘r road. zinithemag '

“ Yes, and by carrying on his business in ‘

 

 

 

  \‘ 3- M ‘3’2‘Jifif'xl neg-.I'én‘rw3fia'

 

ferry, and then took the L road train  i 

 

 

3".._-.._.._.;__~-______.

M a“. 2-:-

. .9“; a.

is

J.  -’

135;.

as?»

.r.

‘4‘ .

 

.s. 3.“,

 ,‘jwawvw-f-lej M gi'fizfis‘xzzw‘gy.

_ -/..-..a~. ‘.
v. r

  

    

  

 

 

,A

'  My friends

that we might as well sell them and take .the'
d ' " a ,tlred’iof’thst'ion A v.
 c an s :

1 ‘15
5K, ‘ i,

‘ 9

ME,

The

New seesaw attic

r  : i excess.- u 

g Branch.

<-

23 I 

 

 

 

lie occupied a small store, and over it had
his living apartments, therefore as all the

upper part of the building, above the old ,

diamond-dealer’s quarters, was occupiedby
offices, there were plenty of people, the oc-
cupants and their visitors, passing up and
down, so the crooks, who never went into

. the store but always called upon the old

man in his private apartments, could come
and go without being liable to excite at—
tention.

The old man had one small room set apart
for the reception of his crooked visitors, and
as Smilcr had often done business with the
diamond’dcaler he knew just how to get at
him.

There was a little knob in the upper part
of the door which communicated with a bell,
and when this sounded, the diamomi-dealer
understood that a crooked customer wished
to see him.

Smiler touched the bell.

“ We will probably have to. wait eight or
ten minutes as it isn’t likely that the old man
is up, for 1 know he is a late bird,” the crook
leader remarked.

But the crook was wrong in his conjecture
for within a minute a small, secret, sliding
panel in the door opened and the face of the
diamond-dealer appeared.

Joseph Jobstonc was a man of sixty or
thereabouts, but he was one of those men
who did not show his age, looking far younger
than he really was.

He had. a smooth, round face, the chin
fringed with a little, thin board of bright
brown, crispy curling hair like the scanty
locks which ornamented his head.

The man had a smooth, oily way with him,
and even a most escelleut judge of character
would not have suspected frorn his looks and
conversation that he was as wil an old
rascal as the . great metropolis ad ever
known. .

lie gripned in a good-natured way when
he saw who it was.

By means of this secret panel the diamond-
dcaler could inspect the men who applied for
admission, and if the scrutiny was not satis.
factory he was not obliged to let them in.

“Aha, my dear Batheart is it you?” the
'old man ex'claimcd. greeting the crock as
warmly as though he considered him to be
the dearest friend he had in the world.

' “ Yes, and I came on business,” the crock
replied.

" Of course, I know that; I know that
you are not a fellow who takes up the time
of a busy man like myself just for the pleas-
ure of saying how-to-do!” the old fellow ex-
claimed. ,

Then he closed the slidingpanel, and in
another moment the door was opened. ,

,The old 'fellow ushered. the two into the
room with as much politeness as though they
had been millionaires to whom he expected)
to sell a big bill of goods. \

The apartment was a small one, and plain-
ly furnished. The only odd thing about it
was the door, which, although it’ was skill-
fully painted so that it looked like an ordi-
nary door, yet was completely sheathed with
iron, and had massive hinges and a lock
which was more fitted for a bank portal than

:a door in a private residence.

’ If the old fellow' had been questioned re-

garding this strange arrangement he would :

ave grinned and explained that there were
so man thieves about, and they were so

skillful. that a man in his line of business

must take great precautions.
In reality. though. the iron-clad door was

«designed more to keep the police out than
:any thieves. , .

It was the wily old rascal's game tour-
range matters so he could DOV be surprised
by the police when engaged in buying some

valuable stolen goods.

- There was a square office table in the

center or the room with arm-chairs around
‘it

" Sit down, my-dear‘ friends, and we will
come to business at once.” the old man said,
seating himself at the table, and Waving ‘ the
others to seats on the opposite side.

“Get out y 1r scales!” Smiler exclaimed.
I have got tired of gar
diamonds so we, have come to the conclusion

Jobstone replied...

 
  

 

a business-like way, and without a sign to
indicate that he knew the story was a false-
hood.

“ It is much better to have the cash than
the stones, unless a man has so much money
that he really does not know what to do with
it," the old fellow continued.

And as he spoke he got out a pair of tiny
scales, such as are used for Weighing precious
stones, from a drawer in the table.

Smiler had the jewels tied up in a hand-
kerchief, and when he undid the knots and
emptied the trinkets upon the table, the old

diamond dealer, despite his wonderful self- ‘

control, could not help uttering a little cry
of amazement.

“ Oh, my goodness gracious! you have a
fine assortment here !" Jobstone cried.

“ Yes, my family jewels!" the crock rc~
spondcd, with the air of an English 10rd,:

“ I had. them in one of the safe deposit .

companies, you understand," Smiler eon-
tinned.

come to the conclusion that I might as well
have the cash, and then lean invest it so
that it will bring me in some money.”

“ Ah, yes. of course, quite wise,” the 1d
fellow remarked, nodding his head in a
grave way, although from his knowledge of

miler’s character he felt almost, certain
that the gambling-dens of the metropolis
would be the most likely place for the crook
to “invest ” his money.

“ I suppose you want me to take the dia-
monds out of the settings so we can see
what they weigh,” Jobstone remarked, get-
ting his tools out of the drawer as he spoke.

“Yes, of course, the settings are of no
particular value, excepting for old gold;
they are all so old-fashioned, you know,”
Smiler replied, in a careless way.

It was always the old diamond dealer’s
custom when engaged ina transaction of this

kind to talk and act as if he was satisfied .

that it was all perfectly square and above-
board, and if anv crook was unwise enough
to indicate that it was not all right, he in)-
mediately..informed him that if there was
anything wrong about the business he did
not wish to be mixed up in the matter for
he was an honest business man with a repu-
tation to lose.

Of course after such a hint as that a man
must be a dull fellow indeed if he did not
moderate his utterances.

The old fellow went to work with the ra-
pidity and skill of a man who had done a
good deal of work in this line.

Out came the diamonds from’their settings,
the old man proceeding with the regularity
of a machine until he came to the blue dia-
mond, then he stopped, a puzzled look upon
his fat face; .

He had the diamond in his right hand and

_ held it out at arm’s length, watching the rays,

of li rht coming from the gleaming stone,
then e shook his head in a yummy.
‘ The crooks watched him, rather surprised
at this proceeding; ' .
“ That is a beauty, eh?” Smiler remarked.
“ One of the old mine stones, and diamonds
of that peculiar kind are extremely rare; been
in myfamilyryou understand, along time,
and as it is a really remarkable stone it is
worth a snail] fortune." ,
“ Oh, yes, it is a very valuable stone,” the
old fellow replied in a peculiar, dry way, and

then he placed the ring upon the table at one "'

Side of, him, and went up with his work of
{iemoving the other jewels frOm their set-
n s. ' ~‘ ‘ '
on he completed. the task. »

All the diamonds were at intd'the scales
with the eXception of the lue stone.

The crooks wondered at the oversight. for
as a rule'the old fellow was one who seldom
made a mistake.’ ’

Smilcr called his attention to the ring. '

“ There is a stone w ich you have not yet
remdved."  ‘ . .

“,ch; I know it, but, my deufellow, I:
dont think learn to buy that stone,” old

“ Ah, yes, Is‘ce,” Smiler remarked in a- re-1
floctwe way. - 3 ' V -

“I presume. ou think that on aoconhtéof‘
its peculiar co it would not be a roiitob’le
angle fer yon to V‘shandletfth '  contin-

  

 
   

   
 
  

   

  
 

“1 put them there so I could be a
sure they would not be stolen, but] have '

     
 
    
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
   
    
   
  
    
    
  
     
  
   
   
   
  
  
    
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
   
   
  

aecoun of its being such a peculiar stone he
feared it might be recognized by the police
as beinga stolen gem if he should endeavor to
dispose of it.

" Yes, the color is against it certainly, but
there isn‘t much doubt that leonld find a.
market for it, for my operations are not con-
fined to New York City alone, nor even to
this country, for I have correspondents in

_ some of the principal cities abroad, not only
in Europe, but in both Asia and Africa.”

“ You cover all four quarters of the globe,
in fact," Smiler remarked ixta jesting way.

“ Yes, that is really the truth, so it would
not be a diflicult matter to get rid of the
stone, but there are certain reasons why I
do not wish to have anything to do with it.”

There was a strange look upon the old
' man‘s face as he spoke, and the crooks gazed
at him in wonder.

“ Well, governor it seems to me that this.

" is very queer!” Smiler exclaimed. -

“Yes, it is queer, and when you hear my
explanation I fancy you will think that it
is queerer still,” the old diamond-dealer re~
, plied.

i "Fire sway!" Smiler exclaimed. “And
, I must say that this sort of a mysterious
é beginning of yours has greatly excited my
’ curiosity.”

“Idon’t wonder at it, for I am not the v
j kind of man to allow a whim to interfere
‘ with business," Jobstone declared. 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXII.
run DIAMOND-DEALERS sronr.

“You would not take me ‘to be a super-
stitious man, would you?” the old fellOW‘
i asked, abruptly. ‘
; “ No, I should not,” Smiler replied, while
Black Jim shook his head in an emphatic I
, way. ‘ .
f “ \Vell, asa rule. I am not, but I will have v. _ 
I to plead guilty to being a little superstitious ‘ '
in regard to this blue diamond.” V "
T he crooks stared at the diamond-dealer.. , , ,
and then at the. diamond, for they did not  A
know what to make of this strange afiair.’ ’
“ About twenty years ago I was in busi-’ 
ness in Calcutta, ndia," the old man c. .g'
plained.‘ “I was in the same line as I an: -_ 
‘at present, although doing business in a I
sma l way. I had gone to India, from ‘
i London, with an uncle who failed in a modt
i disastrous way, and I was left almost ‘ i,
j penniless in a foreign country among
strangers.

“ uck 1y I had done some business in the,
diamond line for one of the native princes, ’
'f a man of high Junk, and, large wealth, and j,
i? he. havin taken a fancy .to me, and being,
i impres with the belief that I wnsi’tn‘

extra good judge of precious stones, “loaned,
' me money enough to enable me ’to Bet upfim -‘ 4'

 

Q

1

f business for myself in a small way." 4 r _
f “Well, now, I .call a man of that kinda .
jolly ood fellow l" Smiler exclaimed. V j 
“ e certainly five me a liftatatime
1 when I needed ai badly,” the old man rel ‘
; BpODdCd. ' r .
“ I suppose you have heard of the gran
«. mutiny in India when the natives rose
, a inst the English, and were onl utdow’
,‘a- ter some terrible scenes of  and
.' slaugiter?” the diamonddealer asked. , , 1
* " h, yes, I am an Englishman,‘1 
know. ‘ ‘
mutiny," Smiler res
Jim contented 11in I ,
Wises?“ ‘ l hsdjnstbee I: 
" hercvot , n at '
I arrived in Calcuttngsobflg’ihesspotfld
on. These , Asiatic rulers. githo rennet: ’
begums, were great fellows'fior all kinds,
precious stones", you koow.’~'.'  V - .
. “Oh,yes, I-have always heard that
beg went in for all that sot-tot thing
‘Smi er observed. '

 
  
    
 

 
    
  

 
     
   

  
   
    
  

   

    
 
 

  

    
   
 
       
 

  

2' And Ihaveheard 

    

   
 

. tough yarns,;too, about how private 

    

    

 to get hold of lots. of trees
when the English troops captured a; to
when one r of the ra abs was makin
desperate stand," t c crook con ,
3“ Common soldiers. you know gettin a.
with diamonds andrubies and among}: an 
' allsorts of precious stones, some‘of 
wortha mint of money.”  9 I a ,_ ' w,
.*f.Tli,ere is a deal of truth’in  b 
 rayon  them." 01d.  

 
  

  

 
       
  
  
  
 
  

   
    
  
   
  
 
  

 

     
 

  

  

 

 

I The New Yo‘rk spa...  3......"

Av,   ‘W;  '. ,r-  “'s

 

“And it was owing to the fact that a lot
of people, who knew very little in regard to

the value of precious stones, but had con— ‘
‘ sometimes,” Smiler observed.

trived to get some in their possession, that I
was able to do quite a thriving business,”
the diamond—dealer explained.

“In those days, my dear boys, being a
younger man, and anxious to get along in
the world, i took risks that I would not
dream of doing now.”

“ Yes. I suppose things were quite unset-
tled at the close of the mutiny,” Smiler ob-
serbed. ,

“Very true. then the native princes,
who had takeu’such an active part in tight-
ing the English that they knew they could
not expect much mercy, saw that they could
not possibly hold out, and that the end was
rapidly approaching, they tried to escape the
vengeance of the English Government by
flight, they carried what treasures they could
with them and the test they buried.”

“Yes, yes, and I have heard a hundred
yarns about men finding these buried treas-
ures!” Smiler exclaimed.

“Of course the confidential and trusted
servants of the fu, itive rulers were the. men
who assisted in hi ing away the treasures,
and although as a rule these fellows were

j faithful to their lords, yetif any of the rajahs
were killed in the tight, or captured and exe-

cuted by the English, or wandered away so
that no one knew what had become of them,
it was only natural that the men who knew
where the treasures were hid should help
themselves to the valuables. ”

“ Certainly! and {oily big fools they would
have been if they iadn‘t collared the swag
when it was to be had without even having
totake the trouble of asking for it!” Smiler
exclaimed

“ And owing to these circumstances when
a man came to me after nightfall and offered
to sell me valuable jewels I did not take the
trouble to question him in regard to how he
became possessed of them,” the old diamond-
dealer explained with a cunning smile.

“ Of course not!" the chief crook exclaim-

. “ You would be jolly reen to bother
yourself with a lot of quest one under such
circumstances!”

“ As Isaid though I ran some risks, but
my profits were large enough to warrant me
in taking them. -

“ One night an old fat rascal of a Hindoo
from whom I had bought a half a dozen
varticles came to see me and announced with
a\great deal of mystery that he had brought

’ l- for my inspection one of the finest diamonds

that had ever been seen in India, and then he
produced this blue stone. "

“ It is a beauty and no mistake!" Smiler
declared gazing at the stone with a critical
eye.

“ I *felt sure I could find a purchaser for

a the ring the moment I saw what an odd,

peculiar yet beautiful diamond it was.
“ My patron, the rajah. Was always on the
lookout for rare and beautiful stones, but

3' anticipating“ that I would have trouble in
a

drivin r sin, for the old Hindoo was a
good udge o the} value of stones, I only

, offered him just one-half of what I expected

“ give. n I
“ Boas to give a chance for a little bit of

V Jew business, eh i" Smiler remarked, with a

knowing wink. ‘-

‘  ‘- “To my surprise he accepted my offer on
 condition that
- once and pay over the money.”

would close the bargain at

“ Aha! the beggar was anxious to get the
s arkler oi! his ands!" the crook leader ex-
imed, following the story with a deal of

" interest.

“But I say, I should think you Would have
malt a mouse when the man was so anxious

i. to get rid of the stone.”

" I did at first. but he told a plausible story
about how he had ot on the track ofa
buried treasure, whie , if he could secure it,
would make him rich for life, but the men
who Would give him the information were

 fixing away that night, and if he did not

W the “may “"5” to Pay right down he
could not flat the secret from them,” the

' [diamond-d aler explained. 1

" Well gave you a good lay-out, and no

' .mistnke!” Smilcr exclaimed.

, “ I concluded to risk the venture; on. see
the pampect of making a small fort no at s
‘ turn dazzled- .mo, and I for

  

 

 

usual prudence,” the old fellow remarked
with a weighty shake of the head.
“ The smartest of us are caught that way

“ As you aid, the prospect. of making big
money by t 10 turn of one’s hand, as you
might say, often affects the head of an extra
wise and cunning duller," the crook con-
tinued.

“ I gave the man the money and took the
diamond,” the old man related.

“ A half-an-hour later, my patron, the
rajah, paid me a visit, and I hastened to Show
him the prize which I had gained.

“But he knew the diamond the moment
his eyes fell upon it, his face grew black as
night and he cried; ‘ What! I buy that occurs-
ed stone? Englishman, I would not take itif
you would give it to me, and throw in the
weight of a king’s ransom beside!"

“ The old bloke was emphatic, and he
didn‘t hesitate to express his feelings either,”
Smilcr remarked.

“ I was amazed and asked for an explana-
tion. then he told me the story of the blue
diamond.

“ "here were two of the blue diamonds
ortiéinally, and they had been the eyes of a
golden god. Ina war between two claimants
to a kingdom one of the men stole the dia-
mondsfrom the god in order to raise money."

“Aha! now that is ‘what I call a stroke
of genius!” Smiler exclaimed. “What was
the good of the diamond e es to the bloom-
ing idol when a man coul get good solid
cash for them ?"

“ Well, as affairs turned out it seemed to
be the most unfortunate thing that he
could have done, for after he robbed the
golden od everythin went wron with
him, and finally he died a miserable eath,”
the old man remarked, in a solemn way.

“ And all because he took the blue dia-
monds, eh i” the crook remarked, in a jeer-
ing tone.

" So everybody believed,” J obstone replied.

“ Ah! that is all bosh, and I don’t. believe
a word of it!” Smiler declared, stoutly.

“ What do you say, Blacky ‘2” he asked.

“Oh, no!” Black Jim declared, shaking
his head in a very decided way. “ The yarn
is too tough entirely, and we can't go it. ”

"From the possession of the dead ratjah
the diamonds passed into other hands, )ut
ill-luck came to all who had the stones,
generally death attended b violence,” the
old fellow remarked, in a so cmn way.

“ Then came the mutiny, and during the
scenes of war the diamonds disappeared,
and no man knew what had become of them,
but this stone which I bought to sell to the
rajah, was one of the eyes of the golden god
he was sure.”

“And he wouldn’t buy it?” Smiler ex-
claimed, thrusting his tong'ue into his cheek,
meauin r by the action to express decided
incredu ity.

“ No, he would not, and he took pains to
warn me that if I valued my life I ought to
get rid of the ill-omened jewel as soon as
possible." '

“ Oh, I s‘posc on chucked it out of-doors,
ch?” Smiler exc aimed, in a very sarcastic
way.

“No, unfortunately I did not, for I was
incredulous, as you are, and I could not
bring myself to believe that a little simple
stone although it was of great Value, could
possibly bring either good or bad luck,” the
old man replied.

“ It is utterly ridiculousl"Smilcr declared

"The ten best yarn that I ever heard in
all my born a sl' Black Jim added.

“My expe ence is that there is a deal
of girth in the superstition,” the old fellow
sai .

“ But I did not think so then. I put the
diamond away in my safe after my patron
departed. then when my usual bedtime came
I retired to rest.

” In the middle of thenight I was roused’

from my slumber by rude hands.

“Robbers had invaded my house, and I
was in the power of a merciless lot of Hindoo
thieves.”

“ Well, well, that was a surprise partyl"
Smiler exclaimed. .

“ 'I never had any experich of the rascals
before but I .knew them Well Enough by
reputation, and understood that hey would
not hesitategto, take my life on the instant if
I  {to .

   

  

 

their, mmands, '

 
     

 

so when they requested me to open the safe
I did so.

“ It was IIobson's choice!" the chief crook
explaim'Cd.

" They took all my valuables, and then,
although they had promised that if I opened
the safe they would not harm me, yet as
soon as the plunder was in their possession
they struck me down with their knives anzl
left me for dead on the floor.”

“ Say, that wasn't a square deal!” Smiler
cried. “ And such rascals as that ought to
be hunted down and killed like so many
dogs!"

“ And so they were, for after leaving my
house they went to the jungle where they
quarreled over the division of the plunder,"
the old man related.

“ The chief of the band insisted upon tak—
ing the blue diamond, although the rest,
thought that it ought to be sold and the
money divided, and one of the gang was so
incensed by the high-handed action of the
chief that he turned traitor and betrayed his
fellows.”

“ Well, honestly now, 1 will have to admit
that it does look as if the blue diamond
doespot bring particularly good-luck to the
men who get hold of it,” Smilcr remarked.

“ But it is all bosh though for all that,” he
added.

“ Itis a blamed lot of superstition and
there isn‘t a bit of truth in it!" he continued
in a dogged way.

" The traitor led the English troops to the
haunt of the robbers, a ruined temple in the
midst of a dense jungle, and the troopers
contrived to completely surprise the ras-
cals.”

“ Good i” the chief crook exclaimed. “I
don’t pretend to bean extra good man, but I
don‘t have any sympathy with these misera-
ble Hindoo thieves who ain't anything but a
lot of savages.”

“The villains knew that they fought with
ropes around their necks; death was their
portion if taken prisoners, so they made so

 

desperate a resistance that the English were ,

compelled to kill them without mercy.”

“ Served ’cm right, the tawny scoundrels!”
Smilcr exclaimed.

“ And after the slaughter the traitor
searched for the blue diamond, but he could
not find it,” the old man explained.

“ I will be hanged if the yarn isn't an
interesting one, even if it isn’t true!" Black
Jim declared.

“ Oh, yes, it is a good story, I will admit
it, but that is all there is to it,” Smilcr
replied. ! ‘

“ These Hindoo thieves are noted for their
shrewdness, and ‘the traitor guessed what
became of the diamond,” the old man con-
tinued.

“When the chief saw that escape was
impossible, and he must take his choice
between death and falling into the hands
of the foes who he knew would take his
life as soon as he could be tried and con-
demned, he determined to die rather than
surrender, and resolved that the precious
jewel, the real cause of the calamity, should
not fall into the hands of the soldiers, so he
swallowed it."

The crooks uttered a cry of amazement.

“ Well, of all the dodges that I ever heard
of this is about the quecrest!” Smiler ex-
claimed.

"He was a gilt-edged, luxurious uss to
want to feed on diamonds," Black. 'm ob-
served with a grin. '

"The sole survivor of the band was up
to this trick, and so after the dead men
were buried he waited until a dark night
came and then with the assistance of an-
other rascal dug up the body of the dead

chief, cut him open and, sure enough, found

the diamond."

“Well. well, this beats all that ever I
heard of!" Smiler exclaimed.

“ Just like a play at the theayter!” Black
Jim remarked.

* " Now observe: the rascals got possession,
of the unlucky stone in this way, then they ‘"

sought their hiding-place in a low quarter of
the town, and celebrated their victory with
dee draughts of rice brandy,” the diamond
den or related. 

“ The it nor got into their heads, they
narrated, rew t eir knives and set out to do
t eir best to kill each other.” 1' ' _. v.

“Blamed if it ain’t queer ’ W 

 
 
  

v.-

 

 . .y,

«3.... a»

 

 
   

 

       

  

.-M-.n...‘:__..___.__._._..__.._w..--_.. .

acrimagyiwa . 4. ' ‘

. we: -.

_... sr; ‘

«may» fear

 

  

we. 2;;- we,

. searched, the discovery of the‘stone would

;  how, and as t is little job will be apt to
"be
...u

n ‘ v '    .’i.1«»".‘ai8fifi~'. ~
< «'H‘) ..,,:;‘r~ 3-year 

The New York 8p0rt at Long Branch.

r-~_..»" .~ 1.» .x. ,5. 1' 

“-45...  :;.;._;JJ-  . : , n.7,

 

 

 

tcrjected, shaking his head in a thoughtful
wa .

‘ylt kinder makes a man put on his think-
ing cap," Black Jim asserted.

“ Both of the men were so badl hurt that
they died of the wounds," the oh man con-
tinued. I

“Two more deaths you will obsnrve di-
rectly chargeable to the blue diamond,” Job-
stone adder . -

“The sparkler certainly was pretty well
mixed up in it,” Smiler admitted.

“ So the blue diamond fell into the hands
of the authorities, and one of the men, before
he died, related how it happened to be in
their possession.

“ On the very next day after the diamond
came into the possession of the authorities it
"mysteriously disappeared; some one stole it,
but who did the job, or how it was done, no
one ever discovered."

“ And that is the end of the blue diamond
story, eh?" Smiler asked.

“ Yes.” I

“ And you don‘t know how the stone got
from the Old World to the New ?"

” No, I do not.”

“ Mebbe it ain’t the same one," Black Jim
suggested, looking with longing eyes at the
brilliant stone.

“ Oh, yes, it is, I am too good a judge of
diamonds to make any mistake about the
matter," the old man asserted.

“ And you will not take it?” Smiler asked. 1

" Not as a gift!”

“ Well, we ain’t superstitious, and we will
risk the keeping of it,” the chief crook de-
clared,

Then the three made a bargain in re-
gard to the rest of the plunder, the old fellow
paid over the money, and the crooks de-
parted.

“ We have made a good haul!” Smiler de-
clared. “But we ought to have got a thou-
sand more for this blue diamond. The old
fellow wouldn't have it, though!”

CHAPTER XXIII.
TIIE enooas DELIBERATE.

Tun pair took the Elevated Road to the
ferry, then charged to the Central Railway
boat. -

Both felt highly deli hted at the success‘
ful deal with the ol diamond man, but
neither one referred to the matter on the
train, for the car was well filled with people,
and long experience had taught this brace
of rascals that a detective may be encounter-t
red at any moment.

But after they got on board the ferry-boat,
as, there were only a few passengers, and
none .within earshot, they thought they
might indulge in a little conversation.

“I tell you what it is, Jim, this here is
about as good a game as we have struck in
a do 's age!" Smiler exclaimed, exultiugly.

“ h, yes, we havetno cause tozeomplain-
but whataqueer notion the .old bloke had
about the blue diamond," his companion re-
marked. ‘

“ You bet! I think that is about the big-
gest piece of nonsense that I ever heard of,
and 15am astonished that a sharp old file like
Jobstone should be weak-minded enough to
take any stock in such a ridiculous yarn.”

“Ithought it was a little bit of monkey
business on his part to get us to sell him the
diamond at slow figure.”

“'80 did I, but‘ he was honest about the
matter, and evidently didn't want the spark-
ler at any price.

“ it is a mighty queer lay-out and no mis-
take!" Black Jim observed. “ But I say,
Smiier. what will we do with the stone?"

“Well, I don’t exactly know,” the other
responded in a thoughtful way.

“ One thing is certain, and that is we must
get rid of the diamond, for it will not be
saff for-\usto carry it around," he contin-
uet ,

“.Yes, you are right about that. for if any
of the fly cops should take it into their heads
to arrest us on suspicion, and we should be

show right away just what kind of a game
we had been playing.”
“ We must at rid of the diamond some-

kick up’ a recious row I rather think it wlii
visab e for us to'emigrate for a while.”

  

afraid that we would kill her if she attempt-
ed to kick up any row,” Smiler remarked.

“ Oh, you can bet your sweet life that she
knew We meant business!"

" Exactly, and she didn‘t dare to kick,
but you are safe in betting all that you are
worth, or everexpect to be worth, that she
will make a fearful howl about it today.”

“ No doubt about it."

“Them stage women are always anxious
to get their names in the newspapers, and
you can but high that she will do her best to
have this little affair published far and wide."

“ She is just the kind of hairpin to offer
a big reward~a thousand or two of dollars,
maybe-so as to make a big row in the news-
papers," Smiler continued.

“ Yes, and if she does play any game of
that sort there will not be a fly cop in the
city but will do his best to collar the
boodle.”

“ Oh, yes, under such circumstances they
will go in to do their level best, and that is
why Ithink it will be wise for us to emigrate
for a while.”

“ Where will we go?”

“ Taken trip to the south’ard, skirt along
the coast down into the Chesapeake Bay re—
gion,” Smiler answered. “Make out that
we are a party of city sports out for a vaca-
tion trip.”

“ That is a bully idea!” the other exclaim-

Led

“ Itisn’t bad,” Smiler replied. ” The fly
cops will not be apt to get onto our game,
and if we remain away for a month or two
the odds are big that the fuss will be all over
by that time and then we can return.’f

“ Yes, that scems to me to be correct,”
Black Jim remarked in a reflective way,

“Ina couple of months some new thing
will turn up, and the bloodhounds will start
of! on a new scent and forget all about this
business,” the swarthy crook continued.

“That is about the size of it," Smiler de-
clared.

“The detectives are for all the world like
a pack of dogs. First they run like mad in
one direction, then something happens to at-
tract their attention and, helter-skelter, off
they go on an entirely new course."

” rat is right—~flgured down to a dot,”
Bhick Jim exclaimed.

“ Now that we have turned the swag into
cash the quicker we are 011' the better,”
Smiler 0bscrved.

“ I have got provisions enough on board
to last for a couple of days, and then we can
run into some little town on the coast and get
a. fresh supply.

“ Two days, you know, will take us well
out of reach of these New York fly cops."

“ Oh, yes." ..

” But if we stay round here, and as big a
row is kicked up about the affair as I think
there will be. some one of the sneaks ,might
get unto us, for we are pretty well-known to
these detectives, and just as soon as the men
ufpin Mulberry street learn all the particulars
0 the game they will be looking around to
See what coves are in town who would be
able to work a firstclass job of this kind.”

“ You are right, and We would be very
stupid not to get out as soon as possible,”
filack Jim assented.

The arrival of the boat at its slip on the
.tlersey shore put an end to the, conversa-

ion.

The pair proceeded directly to their boat,
which was about a mile from the ferry laiid-
mg. '

And as theywalked on they chatted glee-
fully together, for both were in unusually
high spirits.

The pair had led crooked lives for years
and during that time had done many a good
stroke of business, but never had they suc-
ceeded in getting hold of SO much money
with so little trouble in their lives.

In due time they reached the little dock
where they had landed.

Their. sloop was anchored about five
hundred feet oil-shore.

Dutchy was on the. watch for the coming
of his partners and put off in the small boat.
which went with the sloop, as soon as they
came in sight. ' V ‘ . » _‘

“ We have done the trick-all ri' “iv-Smile!

 
 

 

,, that would be a move. I sup-
‘ muse-pond .. '

declaredasthcbou. ‘ '
was. 

“ The woman took the thing mighty easily
for she knew we had her foul, and she was pair got on board.

  

“ All 0. K., eh?” Dutchy asked, as the

“hon bet your sweet life on it!" Black
Jim replied.
“ That is good !” Dutchy remarked. “ And
I must say that you have been mighty quick
about it. I was afraid, when I saw you
, coming, that you had not been able to do
I anything. for you haven‘t been gone long.”
“ When I go in to do business. Ialways
I go on the jump!" Smiler declared in a boast-
] mg way.
9 “And you have got the cash?” Dutchy
} asked.
“As right as nine-pence!” Smiler an-
swered.
“ That is good!” Dutchy exclaimed.

tions which he had formed. and Dutchy
agreed that it would be wise to get out of
the way as soon as possible.

“I know how the thing will work just as
well as then b I was on the ground,” Smiler
asserted. “ he woman will notify the Long
Branch cops, and the country Jakes will go
to work to turn the town upside down."

“ Oh, yes, those fellows always make a
deal of a row, even if they don’t do any
work,” Black Jim remarked.

“ They will go in to hunt for traces of the

with a chuckle. -

" And much good it will do them i"
Dutchy declared. with a grin.

“ They will have to give up clean beat, of
course, and then the woman will give the
case to the New York cops," Smiler said.

“ Maybe if she is uncommon fly. and
about all these actresses are, she will not
wait to see what the country cops will do,
but will give the case to the brew Yorkers at
once," the crook leader continued in a
thougtful way.

“If she does go on that lay, and to my
thinking the chances are big that she will be
smart enough to try a game of that kind, we
can’t get away from New York too quickly !"
Black Jim declared.

“ That is my opinion to a hair!" Duichy
exclaimed.

skip now, the be:terl”Smiler assented.

CllA1"l ER XXIV.
A Rl‘liI’IiISE.

As the chief crook finished the small boat
came up alongside of the sloop. Then the
three clambered on board and hoisted the
boat to the deck after them.

"Now then, boys, as it will not take us
five minutes to get under way I pro

 

the swag, so that _in case of any accident
each man would have his own share,"
Smiler suggested.

the trio went into the little cabin on there
the chief of the gang divided ihe‘money

rogues in the nzest gleeful manner.

qouldn‘t sell,” Smiler explained.
peculiar, odd sparkler—a blue diamond.

diamond bringing bad luck towhoevcr.
hold of it,”

thatl ever heard!” Dutchy declared.  '-
“ Yes, it is toughest old tale that "

in it, for
at an price,

believed there was somethin
wouldn't touch the diamon

as you can see for yourself,” and as he s
Smiler held the ring 1! .

declared. 0 r " i

noise of a boat grating 11 ainst the side at
the sloop. followed by t
clambcring on board. » _

p “ Hello! what does that mean i” Smile!“ ex-
claimed in alarm. as he shoved the ring into

 

 

Then Smiler explained the plan of opera- -

men who did 'the work,” Smilcr observed, -

“ Yes, you are right, boys, the sooner we,

This meeting with decided ap roval, ‘

in equal parts. which was pocketed by the ,

“Now, there’s a diamond ring which I 
"It is a} ,,

and the old rascal of a fence pretended that;
he knew all about it. said it was an unlucky,
stone. and he wouldn’t take it at any rice. .

“An unlucky stone?” exclaimed utchy.
in wonder. . ‘ . “
” Yes. he told a ghost story about t

“Why. that is about the mate to,
re a v

ever struck. .b the old rascal evide ly-

and it is a big wonder, too, for it is a anti,"

.fIt is a beauty an no mistake!» Duchy:
Then to the ears of the three came 

e sound of urea

his pocket and hastened to the companion4 '-

wc . r ‘ . . .

of, ' I! he Opened the double doorsand steel:
‘ a  he WIS greeth vb '. '

25

that we go down in the cabin and divide ‘ l

 

  
 
  

 

' The new York sport at" icing

:, ‘9

My.

Branch.

 

 

come sight of two of the cutest detectives in
New York—Joe Phenix and Barney McGlin.
Phenix was in advance, and. as Smiler's
head appeared, the detective leveled a re-
volver at him while .lIcGlin dangled a pair
of handcuffs.
"(‘ome out and lct mc present you with
a pair of braCelets!” was the detective‘s greet-

   
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
   
 
  

In .

gmiler and thedctective were old acquaint-
ances, and it was not the first time Joe
Phenix had asked the crook to hold out his
hands.
For a moment Smiler glared in sullen
rage at the bloodhound; then recovering
his mnnposure with a violent effort, be ex-
claimed;
“ What in blazes do you mean?”
“ Just exactly what said!” the detective
promptly assured. “Come right out of
your hole and let me snap the ‘darbies’ on

on!"

3 "I hav'n’t been doing anything!” Smiler
protested sulkily, his vicious eyes flashing
. like a Serpent’s.

" Oh, haven‘t you? Come out, I say, and
.don’t be unwise enough to try any of your
little games, Smiler,” the detective warned.

“I haven’t done anything, and this is a
blamed outrah c!" Smiler again protested. as,
with the air 0 a martyr he came out of the
cabin. ‘

“Don’t Waste your breath in idle talk!”
the detective rejoined. “You’re in for it,
this time. ” I
Then McGlin snapped the handcuffs on
the crook's wrists.
" Now then, Black Jim and Dutchv, get a
move on you!" the man-hunter called out.
i‘Come, right up and get on the brace-
as!”
The pair obeyed—obeyed because they
knew not what else to do, but if looks could
‘kill both the detectives would have been
dead men.
 “ You ain't got no right to play a game of
- ..this kind on‘us!” Black Jim exclaimed, au-
* ily. “ What is the charge, anyway?"

 A“ Well, in this case we are going on general
- principles, so to s eak,” Phenix replied.
, “Borne and happened to be in the
office of tie ferry when you and your pal
- _ came along, and there was a peculiar air of

: ,exultation about you two which gave us the
‘ __ imgression that you have been successful in

I ma ing a good haul somewhere, and so we
‘ 'determined to "pi c' you 01!.”

v “ Well, it is a b amed outrage!’ the help-
'1 less Smiler asseverated.
 _ He was satisfied thatthe detective told the
. truth. and that it was by pure accidentalone
that the man-hunters had stumbled upon
.hthem.
.4 And it would be all right, even now, if, it
i {wasn’t for. that infernal unlucky blue dia-
.jxnond, as Smiler mentally characterized the
‘-’.;liriliiant. Then a bright idea came to the
 .He would not be searched until he
. [was placed in jail, and if he watched his
grdpcrtunities Well he might be able to get
of the fateful: ring while on the rosd'to
the'prison. ' ’ ‘
A boat must be used to convey them to‘
;the shore, and during the transfer, even
tbbgugh he was handcuffed. he ought to be
it e to slip his hand into his side-pocket, get
hold ‘of the ring and drop it overboard.
.5 «Once at the bottom of the river, the stone
ofmisfortune would. exert its baleful in~
fluenceovsr no possessor a in.
.3 Smiler glosted over the i ea. ,
V No thought of the value of the diamond
g  now in his mind; all that he cared for
,3." get rid of the jewel as soon as possi-

5w

' ‘ 3“"Yes,sir,tit is a blamed outrage!" the

$1181 ofthe gang repeated. “ Because a

 ’ , man has had the misfortune to get into trou-‘
‘,  once it does not'follow that he is going
" ' ' . crooked all his life." ..

, k"? at is 'ver true,” Phenix replied.

' .1'.'_|’Lnd“I wilisay hat. if I thgught you were

‘~ on the square now, [would not have trou-
w‘hled nu. but you know, old fellow, you

 “have n a crook for yearspnnd it is hard

' ork forold dogs to learn new tricks. ‘

 the superintendent will not hold you,”

ithefdetective continued; “It is my duty,

a self; Von-ere, Mi

   g 

“'But, if you haven’t been up to any mis- ;

a before him so tutti!"

 

“That is all right!” Smiler declared with
an air of bravado. "I know that I haven‘t
done anything, so I am not at all afraid of
an examination, but itis a blamed shame that
a man can‘t go along quictly attending to
his own business without being hauled be-

fore a police court just as if he was caught ’

doing a liit‘t'tf of crooked work."

“ l! is pcrsccution!" Black .lim added.

“You bet your sweet life it is!" Dutchy
echoed.

“ You are wasting your brcath in talking
this way!" the detective replied. " You
might go ahead on this lay with some reason
if you were fellows who had only been in
trouble once or twice, but for old crooks like
yourselves to talk about persecution is simply
ridiculous.”

“I don't believe either one of you three
has done a full month's honest work in the
last fire years!" McGlin declared, for the first
time joining in the conversation.

)IcGliu was a silent, reserved fellow who
seldom did much talking.

The three crooks gave vcnt to exclamations
of disgust at this unpleasant reference to
their past careers.

“That isn’t so!” Smilcr asserted. ” You
fellows in the fly cop line always go in to
make things as black for a man as you can.
But, say. are you going to march us all the
way to Headquarters with these ornaments
on our wrists?"

” Do you object?" Phenix questioned.

“ Yes, I do!” Smiler retom-d, angrily.
“I don’t want to be made a show of, par-
ticularly when there isn't any reason for it.”

“ You ought to have the sand to takea
hack.” Black Jim sug' ested.

“ Well, i don’t mim taking a coach; any-
thing in reason," Phenix responded. “But,

we will not be able to get one until we reach,

the ferry." .

“That is all right,” Smiler assented. “I
don’t mind these Jerseymen but I will be
hanged if I want to go through New York
with the darbies on my wrists.”

“ Why not sail the boat right over to New
York and land at one of the upper docks,
round Houston street somewhere, and then
we can take a coach direct to Headquarters?”
Black Jim asked.

The detective, reflecting upon the matter,
came to the conclusion that the idea was a
good one.

Both the man-hunters understand how to
handle the craft so they knew they would
not be obliged to Call upon the crooks for
assistance.

' ' Is there wind enough 7” Phcnix asked
with a searchin glance at the sky. .

“ Oh, yes, p entyl” Black Jim replied.
“ And we ought to be able to run over in an
hour easily enough.” ,

“ We Will do it, eh, McGlin?" Phenix ask-

ed.

“ Yes, it will be the best we .” ‘

Then the detectives procce ed to get the
sails up, and in a few minutes the boat was
speeding toward the New York shore.

The wind was a favorable one, and for the
first half-hour the little craft went on at a
'good rate of speed, but the wind is a most
uncertain thing, as ever bpatman has
found to his cost, and by~t 1e tune that the
boat had got half to its destination the breeze
almost died awa , so that the sloop did but
little more than rift along.

The detectives were disgusted. ,

The only thing they could do under the
circumstances was to et out the sweeps. as
the long ours are callc . and propel the boat
along by their aid. x ,

This is a. slow proceSs, and it was a good
three hours before the little craft reached
the dock to. which she was bound.

During the ail Smiler took advantage of
the first op ortunity to get rid of the blue
diamond. w ich heras afraid had brought
upon him this misfortune.

He Waited until-the detectives Were busy
with the boat. taking care that neither one of
them had their eyes on him, and then all ped
his hand into the ocket where he had p seed
the ring, but, to is amazement. the. jewel
was not there. I I

All he had in'his pocket was a small coin
wallet. so that if the diamond had been there
he,would,hsve'i' and it at once. . '

{‘Well.*l'witi ' hsngcgfifthis dob’tbeat.
‘. It .. .. name..- ,_ 
“3‘ t '5'  "" ' assumed

of putting it in my pocket dropped it,” he
continued.

“ But it does not seem possible to me that
I could have made a blunder of that kind."

The crook was very much puzzled by this
strange circumstance, for he could not
imagine where the ring had gone.

“ Well, there is one consolati(m,"hc niur»
murcd. “ If the sparkler has disappeared
the fly c0ps \sill not be able to enjoy the sat-
isfaction of finding the diamond in my pos
Session.” ______

CHAPTER XXV.
AT HEADQUARTERS.

AFTER reaching the dock there was an
other delay. for it was a good half an hour
before a hack could be got.

The detectives were in no particular hurry,
though, and as they had arrested the three
merely on suspicion they shrunk from parad
ing them through the streets of the metropolis
with felicrs on their wrists.

True it was their firm belief that the three
were as tough rascals as could be found in
the city, yet as thcy hadn't any evidence
against them, they wvre disposed to act as
though they thought the three might haw-
turned over a new leaf and were nowendeav-
oring to lead honest lives.

As a rule the human bloodhound is in-
clined to be merciful to the man whom he
hunts with such untiring energy the moment
he becomes satisfied that the crook has re—
pented of his evil ways and is disposed to
act on the square.

After reaching Headquarters the veteran
detective had the prisoners conveyed into
the resence of the superintendent.

Wilton the report of the capture was made
to the chief he commended the action.

“in the case of three well~known crooks
of this kind it is always advisable to place
them under arrest if there is anything at all
suspicious about their actions. and in this
case, from the fact that they had the boat,
there is hardly a doubt that the rascals were-
up to some mischief.”

“ That was my idea, and so I put the col

who made the report.

“ Let the men he carcfully’searched,” the
inspector commanded. Detective Mack, he
said to one of his men, “you attend to the
matter. As soon as the operation is com-
pleted bring the men in with whatever
articles you may find on their persons," the,
inspector ordered.

"All right, sir,” the detective answered,.
and then immediately departed.

The crooks did not like the searching busi-
ness, but as they knew that nothing which
they might sa would have any effect they
submitted wit as good a grace as possible.

The detectives Wcl‘c amazed at the large-
amount of money which the men possessed,
and Mack could not forbear exclaiming:

“ Well. well, you fellows must have crack-
ed a mighty rieh'crib lately to Collar all this
boodlc!” .

\‘Nary crib!" Smiler declared defiantly,
“We won the money betting on a lead-pipe
cinch in the Guttcnburg races—-a thirty to
one horse and we pulcd off nhig poth
money; we can do it again‘too, fOr we the
got a friend who is in the ring and he is able
.to put us onto these air-tight cinches."

“Gammon!” cried Mack, “I don't take
any stock in that yarn.

“ Hello! what is this?" the detective cried,
abruptly. ’

The crooks had been compelled to strip-
after their pockets had ,been thoroughly
searched. and the detective’s exclamation had
been caused by the discovery of the diamond
ring which had fallen throu h a hole in Bat-
heartfs pocket, slipped dew the is s of his
pantnloons and lodged in the top of iis shuc,
where the detectivefs sharp eyes discon-rul

“ Well, curse me if-I ever saw such a picce
of luck as that!" Smiler muttered nndcr his
breath. as the two detectives, together u ith
a couple of other officers. who were assisting-
in the searching operation. beat their eyes
admirineg upon' t ‘e diamond.

“ You must have been playing ln'big'luck, -
Smiler, to. get hold of such a magnificent
sparkler as this beauty? Mack  '

” Did "cu win this on an air-tight

 

anaenburs im?",the detective
“quilt” not c J I i". M's-tr r.
’4»! v. ' _. '

lar on them.” Phenix observed, for it was he

 

 

a?  mm. ‘ i"  3., r3,  a»...

 

.1. .
.;...r..;r ..

“5.. 4,; rv‘Mtr&~1M¢ 1,: . . .

1-;
., .

~ I 3:1,}. v < y

. . affix??? F:~£.,.:?f-

 

 

-x,.

Ht. A .,
—.. .1:~m~¥4

.53   a‘fig“  u, 

*{5‘4‘

,‘fi'

:.'m"‘?.‘,’.-‘I‘,‘5  “9‘ ‘4 7:: a"

,..

fl

1

  

 

 

   

 

  

 

l

.'\



  

‘ «a 344432 4:4:

,.

at" Long Branch. ‘

 
 

("q-Wsynywt... » . »... «"9, .-..>.,‘ .j.._._.: “5...: c _. T _/. . v. .. 7...,

2'7

 

 

 

“ No, I didn't‘." Smiler retorted. “ I never
saw the thing before, and don’t know any.
thing about it.”

The crook realized that he was in for it,
and so took refuge in a bold denial.

Under the circumstances it was all he
could do. lie was thoroughly enraged,
though, by the unfortunate oeeurrenee, and
now was quite prepared to admit that the
old diamond-dealer was right in refusing to
have anything to do with the stone, fated to
bring evil to whoever possessed it.

And as the angry crook glared in sullen
rage at the beautiful jewel it. Seemed tohim
as though it sparkled with abaleful light,
just as the eyes of a malicious demon would
gleam.

“I fancy, Smiler, that you made a big,r
mistake in holding onto this ring, for it will
be apt to give us a clue to the little game
which you have been playing," Detective
Mack observed.

“ Ah, you are on the wrong tack alto.
tether! ' the crook retorted, sullenly.

"I don't know anything about the ring,
and I am giving it to you straight when I
say that I never saw it before. ”

” You chose a mighty unsafe place to
hide it, and it is a Wonder that you did not
lose it on the way,” McGlin observed.

One of the other officers had been making
a careful examination of the pantaloons
which the crooks had dof’fed. going on the
idea that there might be some valuables con-
cealed in the hems, and at this point he made
the discovery of the hole in Smiler‘s pocket.

He announced the fact, and the oflicers
immediately guessed how the ring came to
be in the shoe.

No other discoveries were made, so the
crooks resumed their clothes, and then Were
ushered into the presence of the superintend-
ent, who was busy with Joe Phenix in look-

' in g over the list of valuables which had been

stolen frOm the actress'scottage.

Detective Mack reported the particulars
of the search, placing the money and the
blue diamond on the superintendent's desk.

Both the chief and Joe Phenix recognized
the blue diamond as soon as their eyes fell
upon the ring.

The pair exchanged glance . .

" Well, Smiler, we have ggt you (lead to
rights again," the chief remarked, speaking
as though he knew just what tricks the
crooks had been committing.

” Oh, no, Idon’t think on have got me
in a hole at all,” the croo ' replied, assum-
ing a confidence which he was far from feel.
in .
{5" Yes, I have, and the quicker you make
a clean breast of the matter the better it will
be for you," Mack retorted.

“ Oh, of course, that is the old game!”
Smiler’exclaimed,. with a sneer.

“That is the way you fly cops always t?
to work the trick,” the crook continue .
“Your best bolt is brag and bluster, but
you can’t play me for a flat, no way you can
fix it ”

“ When a man is caught dead to rights
what is the use of his trying to pretend that
he has not done the trick?“ Mack asked.

“Yes, but you have not got me in any
fix of that kind,” Smiler retorted, defiantly.
“ And if you think you can prove anythin
against me you are welcome to go ahead ant
do it!” ' ,

The officers were satisfied from the large
sum of money found upon the prisoners that
the had been concerned ‘in a successful
rob ry, and‘ they wondered too that the
crook'had been unwise enough to retain the
diamond ring. for as it was a peculiar stone
it could be easily idena'fied.

After the three resumed their garments
they were conducted into the presence of the
chief. of police. .

The en )erintendent was still conversing
with Joe enix, who was seated by the side
of the officer, behind the chief’s desk.

Detective Mack made his report and placed
before the chief the moneys taken from the
prisoners, also the diamond ring.

There was a sparkle in the eyes of the
chief as soon as he caught sight of the dia-
mond and the crooks. who were watching
his fhcs narrowly, drew an unfavorable

‘ omen from the fact, and all three, in their

mi  bitterly cursed the ill luck which had

3,; d‘thern to retain the ring. .
 I“ mam is

“all?

A

Pheuix had brought to the chief was lying
before him on the desk, and the moment the
ring came into his hands it took but a single
glance for him to ascertain that the diamond
ring exactly corresponded with the descrip-
tion of the one stolen from the burlesque
actress.

Of course, under these eircumstanccs, it
was not strange that the chief should be
able to make an accurate guess in regard to
the game which the crooks had been play-
me.

“ Well. well, Smiler, you and your pals
sueeeeded in making a bit.r haul this time,
agd no mistake!" the superintendent declar-
e .

“You are too much for me,” Smiler de-
clared with a shake of the head, and affect
ing an air of ignorance. “I don’t know
what you are driving at.”

“ But what on earth made you hold on to
this sparkler?” the oflicial exclaimed.

“I know it is a beautiful stone, and any
man might be proud to wear it, but fora fel-
low in your position, considering how the
stone came into your possession, it was an
awful risky thing to retain it,” the chief con-
tinued.

“It was your game, you know, to get rid
of a tell-tale thin}.r of this kind as soon as
possible,” he added.

I “All this isjust like so much Greek to
me!” Smiler declared in a dogged way. “I
don’t know what you are talking about.”

“ Oh, yes, you do!” And the superintend-
ent laid back in his chair and laughed in the
face of the discomfited crook.

“ It was a great game you put up. Smiler,
there is no discount on it,” the official re-
marked in a patronizing way.

" And if you had not been foolish enou h
to hold on to this blue diamond it won (1
have been almost an impossibility for any-
body to have brought the affair home to
on.” ,

y “ You are too much for me, boss!” Smiler.
declared. ‘

“ Oh, no, you know well enough what I
meant" the official replied.

' “ You went in on the sloop game this
time," the chief continued. “ And you
spiected Long Branch for your field of opera
t ons.”

Despite their strong powers of self control,
an anxious look appeared on the faces of the
crooks as they listened to the words of the
police superintendent. ‘

“4 You did the trick splendidly, there is no
mistake about that, and vou managed to get
away with as rich a boodle as has been colv
lared by any gang in this neighborhood for
a. year or more," the chief remarked.

" And the quickness with which you turn-
ed the jewelry into cash is real] y wonderful,”
the superintendent added.

“It was just by sheer accident too that
these gentlemen happened to nail you,” the
official went on.

“ It is rather risky business arresting men
on bare suspicion, and if you three had not
been such well-known crooks tie detectiVes
would not have dared to do it, but in this
casc it was fortunate that they did so, for
otherwise I don’t doubt that on would have
given us a good deal of troub c; undoubtedly
we would have had considerable difficulty in
bringing you to book. As it is though we
have got you hard and fast.”

“ You are making a good deal of talk about
nothing, I think!" Smiler exclaimed, defiant-

H
sq

“What is the charge against us, anyhow ‘2"
he continued. . '

“ Housebreaking," the chief replied.

“ You can’t prove it!" Smileiwcried.

“ Oh, yes we can, thanks to this blue dia-
mond!" the oilicinlsrespouded, regarding the
jewel with a smile as he held it up so the
light could play upon it. ,

Under their breath the three crooks cursed
the unlucky stone in the hitterest manner.

Most surely. whether there was any truth
in the tale of the blue diamond or not. the
possession of the stone had proved to be
most unfortunate thing for them. ’ ~

” You three broke into the house of Miss
Ragsdale, the burlesque actress, at Long
Branch last night—Let early this morning, to
speak by the earth-surprised the lad (in her
room and made it‘ " ‘ f nth

    

    
  
 

 

 
   
 
 

 

m. was, rte,-

 
 



a 31-0.qu
.h‘a’sa. -'

  
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
   
   
    
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
    
  
   
  
   
       
  
      
  
 
    
    
    
  
 
  
   
  
 
  
 
       
   
    
  
   

ing thestatement with the confidence of a _
man who was certain in regard to the truth ..
of what he said .

“ Two of you did the trick while the third
man kept watch outside.

“ Then, after the boodle was gathered you 
made your escape by means of the sloop on ’ ,;
the river, thus completely battling the local 
police." x 

“ Oh, yes, this is a mighty nice yarn, but ‘
it is my belief that you will have a deal
of diiiiculty in proving there is any truth in
it!" Smiler deelared. doggedly.

“ Oh, no, I have got you foul and if you
are wise you will make a clean breast of it,
and so save trouble,’ the official replied. ‘

“ it will make the punishment lighter,
you know," the superintendent added in a
persuasive way. '

“We hav’n't been Convicted yet, have.
we?" the chief crook asked, in an insolent
tone.

He was burning with rage at having been.
so easily trapped, and therefore was dis- ,
posed to be ugly.

” Come now, don’t be saucy!” the superin‘
tendent exclaimed, sharply, “for it will not
do you any good.

“You know well enough that you have
got to be tried before you can be convicted,” ‘ ,
the official continued. i ;

“ But you ought to have sense enough to
know that from the long experience 1 have
had in this sort of thinglought to be a."
pretty good judge in regard to the chance a.
man stands." ~

“ Oh, yes, I suppose so,” Smiler admitted
in a sullen way.

“Now, then, let me show you just how
strong the proof is against you,” the chief g
reinar . t  ‘-
“ You ‘did the trick by means of thc‘ "
sloop, which carried you to the round and
away from it, and all three 0 you were»
captured on the sloop,” the official con- 5 '
tinned. ,

“ Now the next point is to bring forward
proof that this particular craft was in the
neighborhood of the place where the robbery
was committed.” .

“ Ab, and that will not bean easy matter!” 
Smiler exclaimed. ‘
“ If you believe that you will believe al-
miost anything!" the superintendent retort—V
et . t
“ Just consider for a moment the peculiar "
class of people who live in the neighborhood V
of Long Branch—the Seabright fishermen, - V_
fellows who can tell a strange sail as far as -'
they can see it, and do you really think that»
none of these old salts noticed your beams! '
say nothing of the clammers who in their“?
little crafts are always hard at Work in the?

lower bay?" '   ,f

The under jaws of the crooks dropped:  '- 3
none of them had taken this fact ipto con-1g
sideration. ‘ ' '

“Why, man, the chances are good tint.
thine are fully a dozen men who will be able '
to bear witness to the fact that your sloo V
was in the neighborhood of Long Bram
yesterday !" the chief declared. n

“ That is one point,and shows that youw
in the neighborhood of the house where; ,
robbery was committed, and then thelact
that this diamond ring was found on 
Ramon, one of the jewels stolen from, 

ngsdale, and as it is such a enlist 
+1 never saw anything at a resemb. .
it and Ihave seen a vast _ . my
moods in my time—there ii mot  ,
least difficulty in proving .to the saris. V 
of a jury that this particular ring‘wtlir
one stolen from the actress." -",  ;~‘  ,

Smiler' shook his head in a dogged w , . f»
for though he was decidedly‘dislieziiteuefli‘w
the prospect, yet he had enoughof the 3m
(high his composition to make him resolve
not to admit that he knew his case was
hopelessonc. , . 7

"W ll, what is the use. of making all '
talk?" heiexclaimcd. in sullen auger. '

."Accoxd‘ing to your showingwe a, at}
three booked for a trip ‘up the river, So, . '
is the use of chinning about the matter? .

“ Why, it will save trouble if one of 
- will give the thing away," the suwfiiitciiilem. ;
replied. ‘ ' r,  . -' 
",And then there is another paint."3.thf&
f cohtinued, after "a moment’s pause .‘"
' . none of the stolen, jewd. as
can .th “1133: w

 

 

i

 

 

 

my»

     

 
        
     
   
  
   

 

 
 

     
  
    
  
   
 

   
   
    
  
   

 

tins-me .,

 
   
 

“' f3 ’ '

’28“

 
 

,, .Vé. . r-..

a I . , a I “ m w .5 r, 1.332.”, «1-. «‘.-,,”i,,_.;‘,,.€,. .' I  

 

.' The New-York Sport at Long Branch.

 

 

   
  
   
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
   
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
    
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
   
  
  
  
 
 
   
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
   
 
   
 
  
   
  
   
    
  
   
    

person. and every man pack of you had a
big sum of money, it is proof positive that }
you succeeded in getting a fence to take
the jewelry, and I have a strong desire to E
know the name of the man with whom you 1
made the trade.” I

Smiler laughed outright in the face of the 
official, and his companions also indulged in j
.squy grins. ‘ |

Although they knew they were in a bad |
plight, and felt almost certain that nothing
could save them from “ doing the State some
service,” et it gave them a malicious pleas-
ure to be e the inquiry of the superintend-
ent of police.

“ We mn't tell on what we don’t knowi"
Smiler declared, eflantiy.

" You may succeed in putting up a job on
us so as to send us up the river, but we are
innocent men, and don’t know anything
about this robbery."

“ You will not give your fence away then?”
‘the chief asked.

“ Don’t I tell you that we can't!” Smilcr
cried instantly.

“ The law must take its course then." the
chief declared, and then he ordered the pris-

, oners to be conveyed to the Tombs.

CHAPTER XXVI.
ToMMY's TRICK.

THE chief of police had not made any mis-
take in regard to the case of the three crooks.

The prosecuting attorney prescnted the
«evidence against the rascals in such a way

 that the jury brought in a verdict of guilty
' without leaving their Seats.

And as the 'udge was one of the men who
'prided himse 1’ upon striking terror to the
hearts of the criminal classes by the severity

‘ ,«of his sentences he gave the trio as long a
term in prison as the law permitted.

Swift punishment had followed the offense,
but Miss Ragsdale had not recovered her
property, with the single exception of the

Inc diamond, which she took, of course, al-
though with a secret apprehension, for like
'the majority of the stage women she was in~
.‘ «clined to be superstitious, and she was a lit-

tle afraid that there was considerable truth
in the notion that the beautiful jewel brought
"bad luck to whoever possessed it.

The crooks took their punishment with be-

. morning resignation.
 Although the jury by their verdict de-
dared that they were the men who had
7-;8tolen Miss Ragsdaie's valuables, yet as only
“one of the jewels was found in t cir poses-
' sion. that Was all that was given ack to the
.actress. The police had the money which
[the crooks possessed when they were ar-
rested, and although everybody who knew
"anything about the affair was morally ,cer-
' 'tain' that the cash had been obtained by the
. Sale of the diamonds, yet under the circum-
Jatances it was not possible for the law to
"italic the money awa from the men.
1 If the officers cou d have discovered thy '
, man who bought the diamonds—if they
"maid have got hold of the fence, and seized
,‘the jewels, then, if the dealer had made a
,f confession and admitted that he bought the
“Mien jewels, it might have been possible to 
,Jtave confiscated the crooks' moneys.

_ ‘ In a matter of this kind the chief took a 1
personal pride; he hated to have these mis-
imable crooks bid defiance to the power of §
Police Department; and so he moved
":me'aven and earth. as the saying is, to get at ‘
(shaman who had bought the stolen jewels .

:3 Every dealer in New York who dealt in
,«diamonds, from Tiffany’s big jewelry store
‘fldwn to the meanest pawnshop in the city.
waeKvisited by the detectives. and the closest
be vestigation made, but as the crooks would
net/reveal where the had disposed of the
, y ables, and one an all of the dealers pro- 5
tested that they knew nothing at all about
, he jewels, the police were baffled, so Miss

'Ragsdale was forced to go without her
male. l
j It was the day after the one on which the
, crooks were tried and convicted.

i .Thev were on their way to Sing Sing,
New York’s famous prison, and Miss Rags-
daie sat in her Long Branch cottage, cou-
templating the blue diamond, which had
met been returned to her by the New York
tithorities. , ,_

oc Phenix had brought the ring, and he,
Tommy Ragtime, were in tite-
iscozy~ r, ‘4 ' " ->

 

 

  

  

 
  
   
   

 

    

1 fully related all that the man had said.

_ tale I certainly would not retain the jewel,

  
 
  
    

“ i am very much obliged indeed to you,
Mr. Phenix.” the actress remarked, after the
veteran detective had presented the ring.
“ But [can’t say that I am particularly glad
to get this ring back."

The detective was surprised by this an-
nouncement and said as much.

" ()h, it is all such utter rot, you know!"
Tommy Ragsdalc declared.

“ My sister is superstitious, you under-
stand, and she thinks this blooming stone
brino's bad luck,” he continued.

“ Veil, it certainly did bring bad luck to
the crooks who stole it from on, Miss Itags‘
dale,” the detective remarke( with a smile.

“ Didn‘t it though?” the actress exclaimed.
“ Why, the quickness with which they were
caught tried and sentenced was really won-

 

dcrfull”

“ Yes, in their case there wasn’t any 'of
the law's delays that people talk so much
about," the detective remarked.

“ The coves were regularly railroaded into
the stone jug!" Tommy exclaimed.

“And it is very probable too that if they
had not been foolish enough to retain this '
blue diamond it would not have been possi- é
ble to have convicted them, so they may
thank the 'eWel for their trip to Sing Singg”

“ Well, I can tell you that I have made up ,
my mind about the thing!" Miss ltagsdalc
exclaimed in a very decided way.

“ This ,diamond is an unlucky stone, and
there isn’t a doubt in my mind about the
matter.

“Just consider the affair for a moment,”
she. continued.

" A few hours after the diamond came in-

to my possession I was robbed, and it is the
first time that I ever went through such an
experience; then, though the the men suc-
ceeded in escaping and turning their plunder
into money, yet as by some strange chance
they retained the ring it led to their con vic-
tion.
- “ Oh, there isn’t the lost doubt in my mind
that the Hindoo fellow was right when he
declared it was an unlucky stone!” the act—
ress exclaimed in conclusion.

“ This Hindoo of whom on speak was i
acquaintmi‘with the history 0 the diamond?”
Joe Phenix asked, his curiosity excited.

, “Oh, yes, but I will tell you all about it,
and then you can judge for yourself,” the
actress said.

.“If it would not be too much trouble I
would be obliged,” Joe Phenix remarked.

“ What has been said about the matter has
excited, my interest and I would like to hear
the particulars.” ‘

“ I would just as lief tell vou, although I
suppose you will think that Iam silly to pay
any attention to the story,” the actress re-
marked.

Then Miss Ragsdalc related how it was
that she came in possession of the ring.

It was a little awkward for her to explain
that it was a partin 1* gift from the man
whom she had materia ly helped to ruin. but
as her conscience did not trouble her much,
she managed to get through that part of the
story without much embarrassment.

T en she came to the Hindoo, and faith-

 

“ You will think I am Ver credulous, I
suppose.” she said in coucius on. “But it
is my opinion that there is a deal of truth in
the story, and \I am not going to tempt
providence b keeping this blue diamond."

“If you t ink there is any truth in the

for your peace of mind is worthsomething,”
Joe Phenix replied. - ‘

“It is all utter rot!” Tommy Ragsdale' de-
clared. “I don’t believe there is a word of
truth in the yarn, and if you, will give the
ring to' me I will be glad to wear it. "

“ Oh, yes, you are very brave, Tommy!"
the actress exclaimed in a spiteful way.
“ And I have half a mind to allow you to
have the ring. Then if you got your neck‘
broke or somebody shot yo‘u wouldn't be
troubled by you any more. " .

“ Ah, yes, if you are going to put it that
way I can . o and jump overboard!" the
brother exc aimed at: kily. {

“ You wouldn't dare!" the actress exclaimr
ed, tauntingiy. ‘ '

"‘ Yes, i would dare; but I wouldn’t give
on the“ «When .0! .. knowing. .tbat you
had  was. . . a t in 1"“ Tommy

 
 

 

 

 

The actress gave a scornfui sniff then
turned her attention to the detective.

“Under the circumstances then I think
the best thing I cand do is to return the ring
to Mr. Van Courtiandt?" Miss Itagsdale re-
marked.

" Yes, if I was in your place I should cer-
tainly do so,” the detective replied. “I
assuredly would not retain the jewel if the
fact that it was in my possession was going
to cause uneasiness.”

“That settles it!” the actress exclaimed.
" I will get rid of it immediately.

“ Tommy, you take the ring to Mr. Van
Courtlandt, tell him I am very much ob-
liged. but I would prefer not to retain it
any longer.

“I have got a good excuse for wanting
to get rid of it. It has been stolen once,
and now that I have got it back 1am not
willing to run the risk of having it stolen
again.”

“That is a plausible story,” Joe Phenix
remarked.

“ Of course you can do what you like, but
I will be hanged if I would give the spark-
ler up if I had anything to say about it!”
Tommy declared.

“ Well, you haven’t got anything to say.
so just hold your tongue and do as I tell

‘ you 2" Miss Iiagsdale rctorted.

“ All right, just as you like,” Tommy re-
plied meekiy.

“ It is worth something to secure peace of
mind,” Joe Phenix remarked, as he took his
departure. _

Tommy left the house at the same time,
but in the street the two separated, the dc
teetive proceeding to the railroad station.
while Tommy started for the West End
Hotel. a

“It is a blooming shame, that is what
it is!" the Englishman cogitated as he pro
cceded on his way.

“The idea of chucking away a sparklcr
like this, worth four or five thousand dol
iars of anyhody’s money, just because that
llindoo diiiler got off a lot of rot about its
being an unlucky stonel”

And in this strain the man ‘proceeded,
communing with himself until the hotel ’was
reached.

A surprise awaited him!

When he inquired at the office for Van
Courii ndt he was informed that the gentle-
man had just departed for New York.

“ You might be able to catch him by go-
ing to the station if you desired to see him
upon any important matter," the clerk re-
marked when Tommy expressed his regret
at having missed him.

Then the clerk took a look at the clock.

“No, I am wrong about that," he added.
“ You would not be able to catch him, there
isn’t time."

“ I‘m sorry,” Tommy observed, as he
turned away.

But this was not the truth, for the English~
man was glad that he had missed seeing the
young New Yorker.

When he found that Van Courtlandt was
gone an idea had come to him. ..

Why could he not retain the ring and al-
low the aetress to believe that he had given
it to Van Courtlandt?

The trick could be Worked easily enough.
All he had to do was to lie a little about the
matter. « v

When she inquired he could say “Yes,”
he had given the ring.

Van Courtiandt had gone to New York, it
was nbt likely that Miss Ragsdale would see

him again, and so there was small chance of ~

the fraud being discovered.
._.a.._

_ CHAPTER XXVII.
A PROPOSITION.

RAGSDALE chuckled merrii ‘to himself as
he took his wa from the bots , with the blue
diamond snug y stowed array in an inside
pocket of his vest,

“ I might just as well collar :1 little bit of
money out 0 this diamond business as not!"
he remarked. '

“ The chances are a thousand to one that
Van Courtlandt will never ask Dolly for the
gem, and all I will have to do is to war until

get at a good safe distance from Ne ork .
——down South, or over on we Pacific Coast

   
 
 

-then 1 can knock the stone, out 'of he
Setting and get a' good wad of. men “t.
".  tertbeatoneia “,

    

 

 

 

 

«Egg» .7... .e. . M

5‘s;

     

 

 
   
    
     
   
  
  
   

 

I
.. ._-......,—-. WW-~ .-. « 0...

 

 

3.53:1. 1.7... .. _. . ,~ 7

w 3" ‘15-.«52'3' 5v;

' Q 333%)” 53-. ‘-

 

 

.- m5 at.“ r. -. M1,}

 'T.



"‘ ff-xfixx‘itfl"; .  .
'  {iv-“'1 '

g:

,. ong

 ._.r...‘;;b.;.ik..;.,;- —... . '»
.. a v ' " . ‘ ‘ , . L—A .

   
  

>. ,I . _ , _- , i
.-.. .s--._..,.:.-... ~....Z.,_.  a: . .2

29,

r

Branch. ‘

 

 

ot the cash stowed safely away, suppose
Il'an Courtlandt should take it into his head
to want the sparkler?"

For a few minutes he walked on in silence,
musing over this problem.

" Well. s'pose he does come and kick up a
row?" he exclaimed, abruptly. “Can‘t I
swoar that I left the diamond with one of the
hotel clerks to give to him—left itall wrapped
up carefully so no one would know what it
was?

“Why would't a yarn of that sort go

down? Who can prove that it isn't the
truth?"

Then the man shook his head in a defiant
way. ;

“Nobody could prove that it wasn't so,
and the blame would all goon thehotel clerk.
lie was the man who got away with the
sparklerl

” Vim Courtlandt wouldn’t be apt to raise
much of a row, anyway, and if he did, no-
body couldn't do an 'thing to .me;-—but he
wouldn’t try, for he isn’t that kind ofa man. I

“ He doesn’t care for the diamond, and I
might as well have the money it will bring. l
1 will risk the ill-luck of holding the stone,
for I don’t believe in any such foolishness!” ,

By this time Tommy had reached the gate
of Miss Ra sdale’s cottage and there he en
countered itzmaurice. I

“Is your sister at home?" the manager
asked.

“ Yes, or she was awhile ago, and I don't
think she has gone out,” Tommy answered.

The appearance of Miss Ra sdale at the
door solved the question immc iately.

She smiled sweetly at the managerfas the
two came up the walk, and then cast an in-
quirin g glance at Tommy.

, “It is all right!" Tommy exclaimed, giving
utterance to the falsehood in the most un-
blushing manner. “I attended to the mat-
ter, and as the party is of! for New York you
will not be apt to seeanything more of him.”

“ If you are speaking of Van Courtlandt I
can give you some particulars in regard to
him which I think will rather astonish you,"
the manager remarked.

By this time the gentlemen had arrived at
the ate 5 which led to the veranda.

“It s only natural that I should take at
live] interest in all that appertains to that
gent eman, and so I will be glad to hear any
news concernin him,” the actress replied.

“But, come nto the house," she contin-
ued. "There you can speak freely.”

The gentlemen followed Miss Ragsdale in-
to the parlor, and, after they were comfort-
ably seated, Fitzmaurice began:

“ Van Courtlandt has succeeded in ear.
prising all his friends and acquaintances.”

“ Is it possible?" the actress exclaimed.

“What has the blooming dntIer been and
gone and did?” Tommy asked.

The brother of the famous burlesque a0-
tress was not noted for his refinement.

“Hold your tongue, Tommy!" Miss Rags-
dale enjoined, in an imperious way. ‘ ” ion
never open your mouth but what you put

our feet in it!" .

“ Oh, yes; you are always lecturing a fel-
low—going at him fit to snap his head off l”
the brother retorted, indignantl .

n
i

' of everybody, he came up to the scratch like

i never asked for a moment’s grace, although

 

“That is because you Iiaven t any sense,”
the actress rejoined; ” but if you would keep
quiet people wouldn’t know what a donkey

“ Yes. as I said, Van Courllandt has as-
tonished everybody,” Fitzmaurice interrupt-

i
you are!" i

“ You know how he‘was situated?"

“ Yes, he was a ruined man," the actress 5

replied. “He felt so s re that his horse
Doldale, would win the
he staked his all upon the venture. ”

” Worse than that, if the current gossip
of the clubs can be believed l" the manager

declared. “ He felt so certain about the mat- i
‘ dale cried in an angry way.

ter that he bet a fortune upon the result.

“ But the horse did not win, and it was the
common talk in the club-rooms, and in sport-
ing circles, that Van (‘onrtlandt had been so
hard hit he would not be able to meet his
liabilities." '

“I suspected as much from what he said

to me. although he was not the kind of '

man to talk much about such matters."
Miss Ragsdale remarked, in a thoughtful

‘wa .
i 3'1 will do him the notice to say that
. shaver showed the w to feather—never,“

onmonth Cup that i

you understand, evinmd any particular con 
corn in re ard to the result. 3
” Van ourtlandt comes of the old New

,York stock, you know, the kind of men who, I
if they are foolish enough to contract debts of ;

honor which they can not pay would be very ;
likely to settle the affair by blowing out their ,'
brains,” the manager explained withadep- r
recatory shrug of his shoulders. ,

“Yes, I do not doubt that he would be E
just the kind of fellow to end the struggle
in that way," the actress assented.

“ Well, as I was saying, it was the expec- ,

‘ tation of those who knew Van Courtlandt i

that he could not meet his losses, and that T
something dreadful would happen," the 4'
manager continued “ But, to the surprise

a man, met every obligation promptly, and 1

a number of his old friends—some of them
his heaviest creditors, too—would have been
only too glad to have given him time, if
such an accommodation would have been of
any assistance to him."

“I am astonished!" Miss Ragsdalc de-
clared. “ And I don’t understand it at all,
for he as good as told me that if Doldale lost
the race, he was a ruined man.”

“:1 say, Dolly, can it be possible that the
bloomin r dutfer was playing a game on
you?" ommy demanded.

“I cannot believe that possible,” Miss
Ragsdale declared.

“That same idea came to me but didn’t
think it could be true,” the man er as-
sured.

“These high and mighty swells are just
the ones to try a game of that kind," Tommy
asserted. “ You see, you didn’t say that you
would marry him some time and he got tired
of spending money on you; but he didn't
exactly see how he could get out of it, and
I suppose he was afraid that you might cut
up rusty if he quit all of a sudden, sohe
arranged this race game and you did the
quitting."

“I can't believe it!” the actress exclaimed,
angrily; “ not that I care two pins about the
matterl I liked the man well enough, but
not well enough to marry him.”

“If you had married him you never would
have got on together.” Fitzmaurice assured,
with the air of a judge. ‘

“ It is all wrong fora woman on the stage
to marry one of those heavy swells,” the
manager went on, oracularly. “ If the wo-

l of the town.

had to do was to sa ' so and I would not‘
have put a straw in his way.

“ But it does not matter," she concluded.
“ It is all over now, and the subject is hard—
1y worth further discussing."

“ Well, then, I will come down to busi-
ness," the manager announced; “I didn't
come here merely to tell you the idle gossip
Icame to say that I can put
in a month at the Paragon Theater, com.
mencing Monday two weeks, and if you
don’t mind acting duringa few hot nights.
there will be good money in it for us.

“ By that time the cool nights will come;
The last two weeks in August are generally
cooler than the first two in September,
and as they will give us seventy’five per
cent for the show and printin , that is
tempting terms for a popular New York
theater to offer." ,

“ All right! Iwill play!” the actress de-
cided.

” Good!" Fitzmaurice responded.

And then they fell to discussing the:
business details.

CHAPTER XXVIII,~
A arvs'rmuous AFFAIR.

MISS RAGsDALE, as arranged, made her
appearance at the Paragon Theater, one of
the leading amusement houses of New York,
eleven days after her interview with Fitz-
maurice, and a large audience welcomed the
dashing burlesque queen. ‘

Fitzmaurice, a skillful manager, not only
presented the burlesque in a superb manner,
as to scenery and costumes, but also had en—V
gaged an excellent company; henco the per»
formance was an extra ood one.

He had come behin the scenes during"
the play and jubilantly expressed his ap~
proval.

“It is a hit!” he declared. "You never
acted better in your life, and everything
else is up to the mark, too. a We are in for
some big business here, you may be sure of
that!"

The actress expressed her delight at the
pleasant prospect. -

" This is the kind of life for me!" she de-
clared. “ I never shall think of retirin ,»
from the stage again until I get so old that i
have lost my attracriveness."

“ It will be a good many years before that: '
time will come!” the wily manager assured,. '
with a gallant bow.

“ Ah. you are a sad flatterer!” Miss Rags-l

     
    
   
   
   
 
    
   
 
  
   
  
    
 
    
  
  
   
  
   
 
    
   

 

 

man gives up her profession and retires to
private life the chances are a hundred to one

that she will not be satisfied, and if she”.

keeps on acting, then the swell is ‘always
kicking about something or other.”

" That is very true,” the actress assented.
“I knew very well that we wouldn’t get on
toge her; therefore I never reall thought of
Wed ing him; but, for all that, don’t relish
the thought that he has played a trick upon
me for'tjie purpose of getting awa .”

"Of course, ldon't go to the ength of
saying that he has," the speculator explain-
ed. “ All I know about the matter is that
the result of the race has a .purently not
ruined him, for he has paid his ( ebts prompt-

‘lv. and has gone into partnership with Mr.

‘lairborne. and is going to take charge of one
of the Southerner's big plantations.”

“ He is going to leave New York then?" .

the actress queried, evidently annoyed by
the information.
“That is the report, and I think there is

no doubt of its being true,"»Fitzmaurlcc re- v

p

plied. 

“Afraid to remain in New York for fear ‘

that he will not be able to keep away from

me!” the actress decided, with curling lip. j l
' faces. By the way, wasn‘taVan Courtiandtf

“ Ah, that shows how rudcnt he is to run
away from your fascmat one!” the manager

1
declared with a gallant how. 
I

“He can go if he wants to!" Miss Rags-
“But, I don't .
relish the idea of being made a fool of by

him. though I must admit that he played the i

game cleverly.”
“ No doubt about that!” Tommy asserted. '
“ He worked the trick for all it was worth.”
“ I did not care for the man's money; he
had spent enough on me, and I was not ;
anxious for him to go on, but 'I admit I am

not pleasedthat he should have played any left town, as I haven’t seen anything of
& trick upon me. panienlarly.'ras there was no him. He has apparently got over his 

l

the kind;
 ai

‘(

necessit aforvhis doin a
It  .e‘ - 8

 

. smooth as clockwork,” Tommy res ” .

   
   
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
 
 
 
  
   
   
  
  
   
    
  

3 dale exclaimed. " No wonder you at on in ’ ,,
the world when you humor everybo y to the v
to i of their bent." 
' he successful performance closed; the
burlesque queen resumed her street garb;
and, accompanied by her maid and Tommy .,
l Ragsdale, got into her coupe and was drivém
’ to her home.
i She had a house in one of the up-town cross!
, streets—quite an establishment, with astable ,
attached. She lived in style, as befittui a ,
, lady who was popularly sup 'ed to novel;
i make less than a thousand do lars a week.
, It was Miss Ragsdale’s custom to only pars"
g take of a light repast at supper time, so as to-
: keep her voice‘ in good order, but she mad
1 hp for this by having a hearty meal after the...
i fierfonnance with a goodly allowance, .013
‘nglish ale.   .
Tommy alwa s shared the meal with!) ,
“ Fitzy said t e show was a hit tonight...“
the actress remarked, leisurely sipping» 
a e. a f " '
“Oh, yes, everything went well,-

 

“and about all the regulars were on fd
noticed.” . . 
“ Yes, I recognized a number of familiar.
in front?” the actress asked, abruptly. \
“ Yes, I was talking with him.”
“ What did he have to say for himself?!
“Not much. , I encountered him in .‘g.
crowd in the lobby and so didn’t have much.
chance for conversation " l .
“Is it true that he is going South with.
this Mr. Clairborne‘!" ‘ g  I"
“ No doubt about ‘it, for I heard him'ltefl;
a friend that he would leave for New 0
leans on Thursday next."
“I did not know but what he had

L aliend

 

infatuation for me,” with a cynical

hing
“ Oh, yes, evidently.” , i

    

   

. .v

a The New York Sport iat‘Long Branch.

 

 

  
   
  
 
     
  
   
  
 
   
 
    
 
  
   
  
  
     
    
  
   
   
   
  
 

week and he has not attempted to see me.”

“Well, you haven‘t any call to complain,
for you must do him the justice to say that
be ponied up the cash like a major while he
was dancing attendance on you.”

“ Oh, yes; that is all right. I haven't any
complaints to made on that score," the actress
replied, betraying her pique; “but it is not
flattering to my vanity to think that the man
can 've me up at a moment's warning, and
be ab 6 to go on his way without apparently
bestowing on me a second thought.”

"Just like all you women!” the brother
re'oined; “ you'are never satisfied with any»
thing, You did not really care anything for
the man—that is, you Wasn't anxious to
marry him i"

" No, certainly not!" the actress replied in
a spiteful way.

“~ What is the use of your asking such a
( Ilcstion as that when you know very well
' that I never had an such idea in my head?”

"How can I tel what ideas you have?”
‘Tommy demanded. “ You don‘t take me
into your confidence half the time; you treat
me more like a servant than anything else,
but I am not kickin , as these Yankees say."

“ Well, you need not trouble our head
about the matter. I am satisfiet as I am,
and I am not going to change. Idon’t want
the man; but for all that. it is not particu-
larly complimentary to think that the fellow

‘ I can march 01! and forget me at a moment’s
notice.

It

1 “But there, we will not talk any more
‘ ' about the matter," Miss Ragsdale added,
abruptly. “The man has gone out of m
life—the incident is at an end, and we wi l
v “not say any more about it. , Now I will be
L “off to bed, for] am tired.”
  The actress’s bedroom was abeautifully-
"r ’ furnished apartment on the second floor.
With the assistance of her maid, she dis-
‘robed; then the girl retired, and the bur-
: ' Iesque actress sought her couch and was
- Tsoon asleep.
' She began to dream immediately, and the
‘f-dreams were disagreeable ones.
 ' . Suddenly she awoke with a start.
g1.) 3d cold hand had been laid upon her fore-
" . e .
. ;.Thanks to the gaslight she was able to
-,- :see that aman was seated upon the edge of
; the bed! '
r . He was dressed in dark clothes and his
“Knee was covered by a black mask. '
i In his hand he held a broad mouthed vial;
the cork was absent, and as the actress open.
ed her eyes he extended the bottle toward
filler nostrils and she could distinctly smell
the pungent odor of astrange perfume which
,. foams from the vial. .
"’ “ Though bewildered by this strange in-
z‘ rdent the actress yet retained self— ssession
 nough to notice that it was a dot skinned

   
  

 

  

  

  

Egidently the intruder was not a white
man ’ '

” {do not sttem pt to give an alarm,"
the mas ed man warned. us soon as he per-
ched that the actress was awake.

E‘Tbe ‘voice was a peculiar one—low, soft
, "'witha foreign intonation, and the mo-
” out the then spoke Miss Ragsdale was cer-
Tuna that she had heard the voice before, but
at he‘ moment could not remember ,where.

‘ilf you, will obey the injunction no harm
ill come to you," the stranger continued;
‘blrt’if you are unwise enough to attempt
William I shall dash the contents ofthis
bottle on your face. and the mixture will not
 stupefy but will also absolutely destro
gilt.» beauty of which you are so proud. f
hat happens you Will creep through life
,ith a face’so dreadful to look upon that
men will flee at your a preach."

its we have stated, t e actress was a cow-
are at heart. and when these awful words
’ Vigiifiugon her ears she trembled in every

'71 will not attem t to re an alarm " she
urm‘ured’ with Whigs lipgl '

" You are wise l" '

- . ‘But what do you want?"

‘  blue diamond!" '

I (file, blue diamond!" echoed Miss Rags-
,- n "

  

 

  

  

  

  
   

  

 
 

  

utter amazement. .

Yes, the precious stone stolen from the
idea ‘g‘mi in theilaud of Ind.” tlgmuked
. to.

. “« l ulna priestv-ofg'v H
mm: the ankles:

 
  

  
 
 
 
 

  

 
 

"I have been in town now for over a sesscd blue diamond eyes,” he explained.

“ Sacrilegious hands stole the treasures,
but a curse has followed alliuto whose hands
the diamonds came.

" ()ne of the diamonds has been recovered

and is now again in the possession of the ‘

temple, but the other was carried across the
seas to the New World, and two of us priests
of the temple have been commissioned to re-
cover the precious stone.

“It is not yours—no one has a title to it
but the golden god; so giveit up, and by so
doing avert misfortune. for, as sure as there
is a sky above us, no mortal can possess the
blue diamond and enjoy good fortune.”

Miss Ragsdale did not attem t to dispute
this statement; she was satisfie it was true.

“ But, I hav’n‘t got it!" she averred. " I
was afraid to keep it, and so sent it back
to Mr.
'I‘ommy.’

And then she fainted.

1When she revived from her swoon she was
a one.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
ox THE scsn'r.

IT was true, the report that Fitzmaurice
had heard concerning Van Courtlandt.

Clairborne's business had become so, ex-
tensive that re was obliged to employ man-
agers, as it 'as not possible for him to at-
tend to every detail in )crson.

He had been bothcrct , too. to get compe~
tent in n, for he was obliged to delegate con-
sidera e responsibility to his subordinates:

And a few days after he had come to Van
Courtlandt’s rescue, he had received word
from his chief superintendent that he de-
sired to retire.

He was an Englishman, and important
business called him home. «

Clairborne happened to mention to the
journalist, Kinsade, that he would be obliged
to look for a new manager or overseer. and
that gentleman at once suggested Van Court-
landt.

“He is a collegebred man, with a splen-
did education, and though he has never had
much business trainin . yet as he is an un-
commonly bright fel ow there isn't any
doubt that he would speedily become famil
iar with all the details.”

“The idea is a capital one!” Clairborne
declared, well impressed with the sugges-
tion.

“ If he will go there will be a chance for
him to carve out a new fortune," the Creole
continued. a,

" You are right; and I fancy he will not
be sorrjr to have a change of scene. Su -
pose you sound him and see what be thin s
about the matter. ”

“Certainly! [will be glad to do it, for I
consider that I will be doing him a ser-
vrce." I

The journalist was as good as his word,
for he made it his business to hunt u the
young New Yorker and present the sc emc
to him. '

Van Courtlandt was delighted to get the
chance.

"The very thing I wanted!” he declared,
fullof enthusiasm. "I was just speculat~
high: regard to getting something to do,
fothad made up my mind not to be an
idler any. longer. ”’ ,

Kinsade lost no time bringing him-to the
Creole and the arrangement was quickly
made. ’

" I shall be out of temptation in the far
South,’_’ Van Courtlandt assumed. with a sad
smile, “and amid new scenes and new faces
I bug‘s, to forget the follies of my past life."
. “ ell, you have had yonrlesson; all men
get one sooner or later; and if you don‘t
profit by it, you are not the kin of fellow I
take you to be!” the ournalist clared. , ‘

“I do not doubt is at I will," Van Court-
landt replied; “and I surely needed the lee-
son. But I am cured new!" the New Yorker
asserted. =  ' , ‘

“Entirely cured, eh? No-danger of a re-
lapse?" the journalist asked, in s joking

way. .

f‘ [Not the slightest! I am satisfied that my
idol. is nothing i but common clav. and the
spell of thoenchsntment has vanished,
to ‘returu. ’? t ' ' ‘ '

  
 
  

 

 

   

That..:i8~ 90d! and, I unreguth you
 lest" we each -

’Van Courtlandt, by my brotheri

!

I
l
l
I
l

“ By the way, she is going to play at the
I’aragmi next Monday.”
“ Yes, I saw the announcement in one of

f the newspapers; and as a prmf thatl am
;thor0ughly cured of my infatuation I ask

 

never-

 

  

'Ragsdale, her brother."

both of you gentlemen to attend the perfor-
mance with me and see for yoursclves that I
am no longer under the sircn’s spell.

“We will go, eh, (flairborne?” the journal-
ist asked.

“ Certainly!" the Creole assented. “But I
say, gentlemen, it is a wonder to me that this
stage beauty did not (-aiitulatc when Mr.
Van Courtlandt laid such close siege to her.
I should have thought that the prospect of
marrying such a man would have made her
eager to give up her stage life.”

" Yes,it does seem strange." Van lourtlandt
observed, “for I will have to admit, gentle-
men, that I most certainly would have mar-
ried her if she had chosen to accept my
hand.”

“ It isn’t really right to tell tales out of
school," the newspaper man now replied;
“yet in this instance I am going to do it.
But, gentlemen, I rely upon you not to men-
tion the matter. What I am about to
tell you is only knowu to a few old English
professionals, one of whom imparted it to me
in strict confidence.”

“Miss Dolly Ragsdale couldn’t very well
marry you, or anybody else at present, with-
out running the risk of getting her charming
person into a jail, for the fact is she is already
married."

“0b, is that possible?” Van Courtlandt
exclaimed.

” And this so-called brother. Mr. Thomas
Ragsdale, is not her brother at all but her
husband. .

Van Courtlandt pondered over the matter
for a few moments.

" It is all right, I am fair game—I no
knowledge the corn,” the young New Yorker
replied with a smile.

The three attended the openin perform-
ance of the burlesque troupe, and an Court-
landt watched the movements of the woman
with interest, but his pulse was not quicken.
ed in the least; the spell was broken.

Van Courtlandt. the next morning had just
finished his breakfast and gone to the read
ingtroom to take a look at the morning
papers, when a servant brought a card with
the message that a gentleman desired a
private interview.

‘ ALI NANA.

Such was the nameinscribed on the card,
and VanCourtlandt read it aloud. ‘

‘ “He looks like a foreigner, sir,” the ser-
=vant remarked.’ '.

“ Yes, he is one, to judge from his name,"
the young man assented. “I haven’t any
idea of what he wants but will see him.

The man ushered the stranger into Van
Courtlaudt’s presence.

’It was the tall, stately IIindoo whom the
theatrical manager had introduced to Miss
Ragsdale, and who had told the tale of the
precious eyes of the golden god.

The man was dressed in a dark suit, and ;

had the peculiar courtly bearing common to
the educated men of his race.

“ You will excuse my calling upon you, I
trust,” the Hindoo said in his smooth, 1 lens-
ant way, and \with a polite bow. “ ut I
come on a matter of business. "

“ I am entirely at your service, sir," Van
Courtlandt replied. .

‘ 'fAs I am a. stranger in this country, I was,
forced to introduce myself," the Hindoo ex—
plained, with another ceremOnious bow.

“ I am making a collection of rare precious
stones and I was told that you had an odd
blue diamond mounted in a ring." ‘

, " I did have it. but presented it to Miss
Ragsdale. the burles ue actress," Van Court-
landt re lied, somew t smprised.

“ An did she not return the ringto you?”
the other asked. , ,

“ No, sir. she did not.”

“There is some mistake about the matter.
for Miss Ragsdale ) certainly said that she
.sent the ring back to you by Mr. Thomas

V That may be the truth. She may have,
sent the ring to me lay her brother, butI.
never received‘it. V Mr. Rapidale say
that I did?” and there was a little heat in van ,

r _

Cohitlsndt's manner as he spoke. ‘ i 2 I .
_ «‘me not '1  ~

 
 

   

have. j not seen All
"but ~wz-

 

 

    
 

 

 
         
         
     
         
       
    
     
     
     
    
      
       
         
   
    
  

     
 

     

  
      
     
     
  

 
      
     
     
    
       
     
    
    
  
      
        
    
  

     
          
     
          
         
        

I"H’..

   
   
   
  
  

 

- _. x «v .— new __...\..——~———~' “ ’ I

“In—.- .. m ___ ..

 

\

i ' got:

@1100“

 

  

"31

 

i-lThe'New York Sport at Branch.

 

W-_.___.. .————..._.

 

You understand, I have a

gentleman. E
xcuse me

curiosity to see this rare stone.
for disturbing you."
 Don’t mention it, sir,"
And then the Hindoo departed. i
“ Has Master Tommy been up to any
game ‘!" Van Courtlaudt questioned. “ it
looks like it, but it matters not to me, for I
take no interest in the blue diamond. "

CHAPTER XXX.
TOMMY MEETS A run-mo.

IT was the morning of the day which
followed the night on which the burlesque
queen made her appearance at the Paragon
Theater, and about eleven o‘clock Mr. :
Tommy Ilagsdale made his appearance at
the box-office of the amusement temple.

it was his custom to drop into the theater
during the morning for the purpose of get-
ting his sister’s mail.

By the way. we will take this opportunity
to satisfy the reader‘s curiosity in regard to
the relationship of the burlesque actress and
Mr. Thomas Ragsdale.

The story that the veteran journalist had
heard was the truth, Tbmmy was the act-
ress’s husband and not her brother!

It was the old story.

The charming burlesque queen was not as
young as she looked b a dozen years.

She was, apparent y, about twenty-five;
in reality she was nearly forty, but was one
of those women who do not show their age.

Then, too, the lady took wonderfully good
care of herself, and as she had plenty or ‘
money, and was able to provide herself with i
all the little necessities which help to make a
woman look young, it was no wonder that
she seemed to defy the ravages of time. i

The two had been members of the same |
company of actors in England, a “ barn- ;
storming " organization, to use the argot of 1
the stage; that is, of a small inferior company.
{:icking up a precarious hand-to-mouth living 3

y wetting the country towns where the
large, theatrical troupes never perform. .

'lommy was the “low comedian” of the 1
company, and being a tolerably good actor '
received the only salary which amounted to 
anything in the party. i

' he now famous burlesque ueen was the %
daughter of a small farmer, an happened to ;
yisit the theater one night when the travel- ‘
‘mg troupe played in the market town near '
which her home was situated.

She fell in love with the “funny man,”
succeeded in making his acquaintance, and, i
finally, ran away from home to marry him. I

Ragsdale was a prudent, thrifty fellow,
and put his wife on the stage at once so that 2
she could earn her living. 5

The girl had a natural genius for the pro-
fession and rose rapidly.

From the barnstormin troupe she lWent
into one of the London in nor theaters, made i
a hit in the burlesque at Christmas time, and 5
from that day her position on the stage was '
assured. i

ngsdale was shar -witted enough to see I
that his wife would 0 much more popular 5
with the “ Johnnies," as the young societ

 

dudes are commoaly termed, who are suc

good atrons of the theater when the burles- .
, ows'are on the boards, if these rattle. 
bminedyoun’g men believed that she was a ;
single Woman. . . -
So be transformed himself from the hus- I,
hand tntoa brother, and only a few of the

old professionals. who had known the pair -

in their barnostorming. days, ’were aware of
the reitl relationship of the two. i
There wasa roun dozen of letters for the ,
actress, but the experienced eye of Ragsdule, i
as he examined t e mail. speediiy'detected ?
that none of them amounted to anything. ‘
The ma{iority were tradesmen's letters re- 7

-c0mmend ng their wares, and a few "mash" ;

notes, as the epistles are called.‘written by i
weak—minded men, who are idiots enough to i
think that an actress will pay any attention ‘
to love'letters from entire strangers.

As ngsdale came cut of the box-office he I
red the Hindoo fakir, Ali Nana. l

" ello, old man, how goes it?” be ex-,
claimed. . g
- The Hindoo' bowed in his courtly way, ,'
shook hands with. the En lishman, and on
tossed the deli ht which 3 experienced in

a; him a n.
' aesyougot an opening yet?“ Rags-

 

“ Yes, I go on at the Monmouth Dime Mu-
seum next week." .
“ That is good; but do those cribs pay any

1 money?"

“Oh, yes, a fair salary—twenty-five a
week."

“Well, that isjust about half what you
ought to get," Ragsdale remarked.

“ Ah, but you must remember that I am

‘ a stranger in this country, and the people
I do not really know what I can do,” the Fakir

urged.

“ Yes, that is very true.”

“ And it will be a stepping stone to some-
thing else."

“ You have got the right idea!" Ragsdale
declared. “ You must get an opening some-
where, and after the manager sees what your
act is like you will not have any trouble in

- getting engagenu-nts."

“ I think not, for my act is a good one
and different from the usual run.”
“ Well, I wish you luck, old man?" Rags-

' dale exclaimed.

“ Will you have a drink?" he continued,
in a lordly way.

“ Thank you, I do not mind.”

Then the two went into the nearest saloon
and had a lass of ale.

And while they were drinkin ,the Rio
doc confided to the Englishman t at he was
short of cash from being out of work so
long, but he had a diamond pin which cost

‘ him tWenty pounds in London, about equal

to a hundred American dollars, and he would
be glad to sell the pin for fifty.

Ragsdale, Friding himself upon being a
good jud e 0 diamonds, always on- the look-
out for a argain. responded;

“Well. I don't suppose it will do any
harm to take a look at the sparkles

“ But really, you know, if you paid
twenty pun’s for it in Lunnon, you couldn’t

1 expect to get morethan thirty dollars for it

on this side of the herring pondx”

“But that isn't one-third!”
argued. ‘

"Yes,I know it, but my experience has
taught me that when a man is in sucha
situation that he has got to get rid of adia-
mond he is mi ht lucky to be able to get
over a quarter or t."

” Well, I must dispose-of it, and as you
are a judge of stones, and I know you will

the Fakir

. deal honestly with me, I will give you the
 first chance at the pin," the Hindoo remark-
; ed in his gentle, insinuating way..

“I will' take a look at the sparkler, it will

a not do any harm,” ltagsdale remarked in an

indiflerent tone. “But nsI said, I don’t
know as i care to inved unless you can give
me the biggest kind of a bargain."

“ Come with me, and you can soon see for
ourself. I have a furnished room in a
odging-house only five minutes' away.”

” Proceed, old man, I’m with you!" Rags.

dale replied. _

Then the two set out, the craft Tommy

chuckling at the sharpness he had isplayed.

As the Hindoo had said,

within a few minutes’ walk of the theater.

It was in an old-fashioned two- storied

brick house, on one of the up-town cross
streets. The room was a dingy apartment,
a rear .basement, with access to it by the
basement door. ' .

“This is a queer old crib," Ragsdale re-

marked as he followed the Hindoo in.

“From the looks of this house outside'I

should not imagine that anybody7 lived here."

“I am the only occupanto the house,"
the Fakir're lied. ~-

“ Why, t at is strange!" Ragsdale ex-
claimed. “ I don’t understand—~”

But the s eech was suddenly interrupted
by the Hit: 00 whipping out an ugly-look-
in g dagger, u long. slender-bladed affair.
which he flourished before the amazed eyes
of the Englishman. , a ‘ '

"‘ Sit down and don’t'\ utter a sound or I
Will slit your throatopen with as little mercy
as though on were a rat!" the Fakir cried.

Tommy gsdale had never been renowned
for. ,his couragennd when the ' littering
knife was fiashed‘hefime his astoni 'ed eyes,
and the threatening words fell upon his.ears.
his strength seemed jto fail him, his to v
trembled and then he sunk into achair, real y
unable to stand. ' ' , ‘

“ Take warni

, . ! Ifyou attem
an alumni Wm; " 9!; ' ‘
manned; " 1“.

     
   
 
  

       

his room was ‘

* lent humor.

ed, andso sent out an

to ive",
 'gtho night.

 

  
  
 
 

    
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
    
  
     
   
 
  
  
     
 
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
    
   
    
    
     
     
    
    
    
  
     
     
   
      
    
  
  
   
   

“ Wha—what do you mean by this game?"
Tommy asked in a trembling voice.

" If you will be sensible, and do as 1 wish,
no danger will befall you; but if you are ob-
stinate and headstrong then your blood will
be on ~Vour own head." the Falair declared.

“lam willing to do anything in reason,
but I don’t understand what you are. driving
at," the frightened Tommy protested.

 You know me only as the wandering
Fakir, Ali Nana, and by the use of the jug-

gling tricks which I learned for amusement

long years ago in my native land, I have been

able to make a living wandering in these

strange countries among men whom I de- 

spise. I '
“ Years ago, though. I was a priest in the > .v,

temple of the golden god, the ravagesof war
drove all of us sacred men out into the world; '
but now the rightful ruler of the kingdom
has come to his own again, and the English
Government has made peace with him.

“Once again the towers of the temple of
the golden god pierce the sky, and the wor-
shipers kneel before the shrine.

“ l have not obeyed the call to return and
serve again within the temple.

“1 was fool enough to fall in love with a
fair-haired daughter of the stranger, and for
her sake I renounced the land of my fathers.

“ But, she is gone—fled in the night with a
man of her own race, and I am free to’return,
but there is the stain of disobedience upon
me and I must do something to remove it. 

” You know the story of the blue diamond 
——if I could carry that jewel back, all my
sins would be forgiven.”

And then the Fakir bent on the hapless
Tommy such a baleful look that it fairly
made Ra sdale’s teeth chatter with fright.

‘ You {have the blue diamond—give it to
me!" the Hindoo demanded, and extended-
his left hand, while the right threatened
the frightened Englishman wrth the dagger.

“ I—I—I gave it to Mr. Van Courtlandt,”
Tommy stummercd. ,

“ You are a liar!" the Hindoo declared.
“Your sister gave you the ring toca to .
the young man, but you never delivers it!”

"Oh, mercy, mercy!" moaned Ragsdale,
almost beside himself with fear.

“Wretch—dogl I have a good mind to x ‘
slice your lying tongue from its roots!” the, 'in
Fakir cried. ' ,' i “—
Tommy tumbled from the chaircnto his. I ’ 
knees. 

“ 0h. spare me, and I will give it to I
you,” Ragsdale cried. . "

“ Be quick!" 5

Tommy produced the ring from an inside ~
pocket, where he had it securely hidden. ' . ’

As soon as the Hindoo had it in his 
session, he thrust his hand into his pot: of. 
then cast some dust-like substance ’ intoi " I
Be sdale’s face. .  :

ommy tumbled over as though he had;
been shot. 

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
Tun 'Mrssino MAN.
Miss Rae‘snam, afier the habit of many .» '
ladies of her profession, was a late riser. I ‘,
She usually had. breakfast about ten
o'clock, making a hearty meal, for, like the.
majority of English women, she prided bet}. "
self upon being a “ good feeder." , .- "
The burlesque queen was solicitous, ne‘-

gardin the notices in the newspapers”
spectin her reappearance, and w engho'
parted with Fitzmaurice after the open, 
performance, she begged him to‘ came.
during the morning and tell berth”
criticsre rdcd the “show.”  
But, 0 co n’t wait forthe 
appearance, so t out for half‘adm’flg.»
the morning news pars, and read the criti:
cal articles while's ate her breakfast- \ , ,
AH the notices were quite favorable; and
so, when Fitzmaurim arrived, a little after .I
one o'clock, he found the “ artiste" in excels

‘fSorry I could not come before. but
have been awfully busy," be ex lained. . ‘
“I then ht possible dyou won (1 be do,
got the new spam?
Miss Ragsdale observed. 2 , ,
" Not a bad notice is the lot!” the potato
manager declared, rubbing his hands g,
fully as he helped himsel to an eas «chair.
 I am always nervous about the 
, ".~ the actress sverred. ' '
Amy“; “tune? depends upon it
h!

 
  
   
     
  

      
     
  

  

     
 
   
  

  
  
   
 
   

   

 
   

  

' v tel'piece’, which indicated a quarter to two.

 ' queried the'actress, betraying her excitement.

 
 
 
 
  

 I your brother,” the manager )rotested; " for

  
   
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  

   
  
  
 
 
 
   
 
 

 
 

' * “The meter?  sesame.  

u

 

everything went nicely, and, as I have al—y
ways done my best to keep on good terms

with these ‘molders of public opinion,’ I

did not think any of them \vould go out of 
their way to ‘ roast’ the show,” Fitzmaurice
remarked with a complaccnt smile.

“ You know how to work the oracle about
as well as any man I ever met!” Miss Rags-
dale assured—and that isn’t tain, you know,
but m honest opinion. ”

“ Will, I certainly ought to know, if I
don‘t, " the manager returned. “ I have been
engaged in this sort of thing for a good thirty
years and if I hadn’t found out how to please
the public I would have become a hack
number, long ago.”

“ And, it strikes me you have made as
I much mone as any of them," the burlesque
queen adde , suggestively.

“ One thing is sure: I have prt what
money I was lucky enough to make," with
a shrewd smile. “ It isn’t what a man gains,

on know, that makes him rich. It is what

8 saves: that tells the tale.

" True enou h," Miss Ragsdale assented.

“ And now, if you haven‘t got anything
in (particular to make you hurry away, stay
an have dinner with me. It will be ready
in a half-hour or so.”

"I shall be deli hted,” the manager ac.
quiesced. “ As it ppens, my time is my
own until about four th s afternoon.”

“Then stay here and partake of my feed.
I can give you a good dinner forI am rather
proud of my cook," Miss Ragsdale boasted.

“By the way, did you see anything of
Tommy to day?"

“ Yes; he came to the theater this morn-
ing ~vhile 1 was there and got the mail."

“ When he went out he said he would get
my letters, then he was going to his taller to
see about some clothes, and he ought to
have been here long ago," and as she spoke
the actress looked at t e clock on the man-

“ Well, he is rather behind time," Fitz-
maurice observed; “ and that reminds mel
Fifteen or twenty minutes after he got the
mail I came out of the theater and saw him
going up the street with that Hindoo juggler

introduced to you at Long Branch."

Miss Ragsdale uttered a cry of surprise.

. " Ah, it has just come to mel" she ejacu-
lated, as if in some alarm; at which Fitz-
maurice lookethsurprised.

“ I knew I had heard the man’s voice be-
fore, but I could not remember where or
when; now I can placehim l” the actress added.

Then she related the story of the mysteri-
ous nocturnal visitor who had been in quest
of the blue diamond, and w’ound up by de-
claring that she was certain that the Hindoo
was theman who had given her such a fright.

” Well, u on my word, this is one of the
strangest a airs that ever came to my knowl-
edge!’ the manager asserted.

“‘ Do you know anything about the man ?”

“ No, not much. I know he is a Hindoo,
v and a good performer; he always seemed to
~ be aquiet, gentlemanly fellow; still, he may
be the rasca of the world, for all that."

“ I am terribly afraid that something has
, happened to Tommy!" Miss Ragsdale now
' exclaimed, and showing a real anxiety.

"Well, even admitting that the fellow is
arogne, I don't see why he' should harm

according to our story the aki’r is after the
“blue diamon ; but as Tommy delivered the
stone to Mr. Van Courtlandt, it is that gen~
tieman whom the juggler should pursue,
not Tommy.” ;
.. “But he may have got the idea that
Tommy has the jewel, and from my experi-
> ence with the man 1am satisfied he would
not hesitate to murder'to get the jewel.

“I am sure there is something wrong or
else Tommy would come!" the actress con-
tinued. “1 must have the matter looked
into at once. May I trouble on, Mr. Fitz-
maurice, to summon that. etective—that
Mr. Phenix—and give the case into his
hands, immediately?"

. . “Certainly!” the manager responded. “I
will telephone him at once, if you so desire. ”
“I (lo—oh, I dol’exeire'dly. “ I am sure,
now,thnt something has happened to Tommy.
. He would not have remained away if some-
thing had not occurred, and I have a pro:

“ All rightl” acquiesced the manager and
he at once proceeded to the duty of sum--
running the great man-hunter, with the re-
sult that, Joe Phenix, in an hour’s time, was
on the track of the missing man.

Buteven Joe Phenix could not perform im-
possibilities. He traced the Hindoo and
Tommy from the theater to the saloon;
then he ascertained that they went up Broad»
way; after that—nothing!

‘he two had disappeared as completely as
though they had sunk into the earth or gone
up into the air.

But, as the detective veteran new con-
jectured that it was the blue diamond which
the Hindoo sought, be promptly visited
Van Courtlandt, and from that gentleman
received the intelligence that the stone in
reality never had been delivered to him, and
the young New Yorker then told of his
interview with the Fakir.

“ Ragsdale evidently pocketed the jewel,
and the natural conclusion is that the Hindoo
has pocketed him!” Joe l’licnix concluded.

No trace was ained of Tommy until
the afternoon of t 6 second day, when a
postal card came to Miss Ragsdale.

As it happened, she was in consultation at
the theater with Fitzmauricc and Joe
Phenix at the time.

“ Here is a clue!" she exclaimed, joyfully.

A single line only was written on the card.

“ See him at 950 East Thirty-first street!"

A coach was called and the three set out.

And there in the cellar of the dwelling the
missing Tomm was found.

He was han cuffed and his ankles also fet-
tered.

The cellar was dimly lighted by a grat-
ing in the rear, a bottle of water and a 10 f
of bread had been provided; so, althoug
Tommy had had a hard time of it, yet he
was far from being a dead or injured man.

He had shouted himself hoarse for assist-
ance but no one had heard him.

This discovery now aroused Phenix. To
catch the Hindoo was his set purpose. But
no Hindoo was found. Instead, the detec-
tive made the discovery that a ship had sail-
ed for Calcutta, India, on the afternoon of
the da that Tommy was trapped and the
shrew man-hunter conjectured that the
Fakir had made his escape frOm the city on
her, carrying the baleful‘jewel with him.

CHAPTER XXXI.
THE FATAL END.

WHEN the detective made his report to the
burlesque actress she was furious.

“ Does this end the matter?” she cried.
“ Is m poor, dear Tommy to be. almost
killed by this tawny wretch and can no re-
dress be obtained?"

“By this time the man is on the high seas,
and even if he could be pursued, and over-
taken, it would cost a deal of money,” the
detective answered.

“ I don’t care what it costs!” Miss Rags-
dale cried. Will you not undertake to pur-
sue and capture this barbarous wretch?"

“I am willing" to make the attempt, of
course, but I will not insure success.“

“ Of course not; but you can make a try
for it, and if you fail I will not Complain.”

“All right! Iwill go ahead then. “As
it happens, I know a dozen wealth men
who own remarkably fast yachts, and think
it is possible I can obtain the use of h craft
able to make ei hteen or twenty miles an
hour for a week’s stretch, at a reasonable
rate.”

“Never mind the expense!” the blonde
burlesquer urged; “I don’t mind standing
a thousand or two of dollars seeking for
satisfaction. I will write you a check for a
thousand now, and I want you to do your
level best, as you Americans say!”

The actress filled out the check and gave
it to the detective, who then rose to depart.

“ Of course you understand that to trace
a ship on the ocean—«when it has obtained
'such a start as this craft has, is a good deal
like hunting fora needle in a'buudle of hay ?”

,“ 0h, . es, I know that; but there is a
chance, and I am willing to risk it. 7 Make
the attempt, andif you fail to overhaul the

that I did all in my power to catch the tawny
wretch."
“ I will. set aboutthe matter at once!" and

 

with  , So do let Mr. Phénix betca‘l "

sentiment that Hindoo has something to do
a , 1.

,.

 

  
 

  
   

  
  

    

the veteran detective took his departure.
« Jae-Plies already picked out the

r ,

ship, I will have the satisfaction of knowing '

 

yacht most suitable for his purpose. It be-
longed to a wealthy banker with whom he
bad business relations for years, and by
whom he was held in high esteem.

The mornin r newspapers announced that
the banker ha just returned from a cruise,
and intended to put the yacht out of com-
mission in a few days.

The tireless detective sought the banker.
and when he explained the nature of his
business found that the gentleman was only
too glad to be able to accommodate him.

The banker, too, had some information in
regard to the Calcutta ship. There had been
a row on board of the craft, among the
sailors, after she had got under way, so
that the harbor police had to interfere. '

Five men were arrested, and the vessel was
detained until new seamen could be shipped
in lace of the fellows under lock and key.

hus it came about that the ship only had
about ten hours' start, and as the Winds were.
contrary, forcingr the vessel to “ in at" in—
stead of proceeding in a straight course, the
chance of the yacht overtaking the East In—
dia bound craft was good.

So the beautiful, trim yacht was placed
under the great man-hunter's command and
in a few hours was heading out through the
Narrows, under a clear sixteen knot speed,
for she was in truth, a ” fiyer.”

By Phenix’s order a sharp lookout was,
kept, and a reward offered to the man who
should first catch si rht of the craft.

The Calcutta ship was a barque, and on
the morning of the second day, a vessel an~
swering to.her desoription was discovered
by a sharp-eyed sailor.

The yacht immediately headed in her di-
rection and soon Joe Phenix was satisfied
that the vessel was the one he sought.

“ This job will not be as troublesome as I
imagined," Joe Phenix remarked to the cap-
tain of the yacht.

” You have been fortunate,” the captain de-
clared, “ and I can promise that. within half
an hour your man will be in your hands.”

“I think so,” the veteran assented. ,

But he had not taken into consideration
the baleful influence which the mysterious
blue diamond seemed to exercise upon all
who came in possession of it.

When the yacht was within a mile of the
Calcutta craft and had signaled that be de-
sired to board her, there came the sound of
an explosion on board of the ship, and this
re ort was uickl followed by flames.

hen, as f in wt haste, the ship’s crew
took to the boats. _ .

But there was yet another explosion which
literally rent the ship asunder, wrecking her
utterly, the fragments strewing the sea.

The yacht, now close at hand, picked up
the boats. and as the men crawled on board,
Joe Phenix watched eagerly for the Hindoo.

He was not among the rescued!

To the dctective's inquiries, no one had
seen him. _

The bloodhound was foiled, for the Hindow
and the blue diamond had gone to the bottom
of the sea together—the stone a fatal one to
the last. '

'rnE END.

WILD BILL! BUFFALO BILLl
A GREAT LzrngARY EVENT!

BUFFALO BILL AS AUTHOR !
mun nadir-w. No. 800.

Wild Bill, the Dead-Banter Shot;

Rio Grande Ralph, the Cowboy Chief.
A Story of Elmo: Bandit Band.

Again. BY snout. con-rasc'r, Colonel Cody 1,“.
comes chronicler and res his tens of thousands of“
friends and his count ass multitude of admirers a
story out of his own note-book that is, from the
very start, permeated with a Wild—almost weird
interest, for that wonderful man-

Wild Bill, the Dead-“lot,

is the central figure of the thrilling, momentous
drama. ‘

Cody, as a narrat.r r, is just as great as Cont. was ‘
Kruan or run Puma Ann Tums; and that every~
body will be eager to read this new work of his
trenchmit pdn we are well aware. Don’t fall to-call
for it early! , .