JAN ZZ8 1911 oa EXIT STREET & SHITH, PUBLISHERS. Irene omer hi \ a4 1 ‘ yi a te FD Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N.Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Ave., N. Y. Copyright, 1911, by STREET & SMITH. No. 772. NEW YORK, January 28, 1911. Price Five Cents, FRANK MERRIWELL’S PERPLEXITY; OR, The Mystery of the Blue Diamond. By BURT L. STANDISH. CHAPTER I. A FACE IN THE CROWD. It was dusk outside as the train from the south pulled into the Chicago station. The powerful arc lights hanging from the high, vaulted roof seemed only to emphasize the chilly gloom of the mammoth place, which echoed with a thotf%and discordant noises as the long string of cars began to disgorge their load of scurrying humanity. The clattering footsteps of the hurrying throng on the cold stone pavement were drowned now and then by roaring blasts from engines letting off steafh, while high above the constant regular hum of conversation sounded the deep bellow of the announcer shouting the destination of departing trains thréugh a megaphone. It was a scene of confusion and disorder which would have bewildered and appalled any one not accus- tomed to it,"but it was a common sight in any big sta- tion of a great city. Presently, as the first rush from the train was over and the mob of passengers began to thin out, a tall, erect figure appeared at the door of one of the Pull- mans and, slowly descending the steps, made his way leisufely along the platform. He was a man who would have never passed un- noticed in a crowd. The set of his broad shoulders, no less than the graceful, easy, buoyant swing with which he pursued his way in the wake of the hurrying crowd, betokened more then ordinary physical strength, while the strikingly handsome face, with its clean-cut features and dark, brilliant eyes, would have attracted attention anywhere. He was evidently a man who had done things in this world, but the interested observer would have been hard put to place him correctly in any set occupation or pursuit. The clear bronze of his face, tinged with a healthy red, would indicate-a life spent much in the opeg; but his manner was entirely too composed and familiarly easy to have been acquired in any other way than by frequent and intimate intercourse with his fellow men of all sorts and coditions. He was evidently perfectly familiar with his sur- roundings, for he made his way still lefsurely, but un- FIP. -TOP a hesitatingly, through the galloping commuters rushing to catch their train, across the open space before the waiting room, toward the nearest exit. Just before he reached it, he felt an icy blast from the open doors which brought with it a flurry of snow, and, pausing for a moment, he set his bag down on a truck and buttoned up his fur-lined overcoat. The next instant he was caught in a mob of people hurrying from another incoming. train, jostled, _ bumped about, and elbowed, thrust one way and then another, in spite of his strength and height, in a man- ner which was distinctly exasperating. But Frank Merriwell did not easily lose his temper. _ He had had too much experience with life not to realize _ that this was one of the things which one has to put up with uncomplainingly. After all, the most important _ man in the world becomes at times simply a cog in the great machine and has to adjust himself to that part, or else throw everything out of gear. With a whimsical smile on his handsome face, Frank picked up his bag again and followed the stream througi the door into the street beyond. Here he found that the snow, which had been trying “fitfully all day to break through the heavy, leaden clouds, had settled down in earnest, covering the side- walks with a blanket of glistening white which would so soon change to a chocolate-colored slush. Powdering the heads and shoulders of the muffled up passers- by, it gave promise of an extremely unpleasant mor- Tow. a - Merriwell paused an instant on the curb, his eyes on he street cats which were being rapidly choked to the very doors, and, as he did so, a man passed him, head down and pao straight into the teeth of the “Thongti’ he had but a vtiirinee of the fellow’s fox under the shadowy hat brim, Frank saw that it was un- -questionably that of a foreigner. There was no mis- taking the swarthy, almost coffee-colored complexion, or the piercingly black eyes. There was no mistaking, either, the blue, trembling lips set close to prevent a be- traying chattering of his teeth, and it was this which acted Merriwell’s attention and caused a swift feel- g of pity to come over him. he. ‘ ‘Poor devil,” he muttered. ‘He’s just about half 2g and no wonder, with that thin suit and no ov er- WEEKLY. thing for him. Then he stopped with equal sudden- ness and shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t very well stop a perfect stranger in the. street and offer him the price of an overcoat, even if he does look half dead with the cold,” he murmured smil- ingly. : . | But his eyes continued to follow the slim, bowed | figure until it vanished into the crowd. ‘Then, with t another slight shrug, he dismissed the matter from his — mind and returned to the nioré concrete problem of getting to. his. hotel. oe: “T rather think I'll be luxurious to-night,” he stiliserts with another glance at the crowded cars. “Yes, you'll © ee eget This last remark had reference to the alert driver of a taxicab who had been trying for some minutes to at- tract his attention from the stands a little way off. At a brief nod from Frank, the fellow propelled his car swiftly forward, and Merriwell stepped to the curb to meet it. ‘ ‘Iroquois Hotel,” he said, the cab. The driver touched his hat as he closed the dolats Then, with a swift, wide curve, he circled about and — started smoothly down the street. oe «Frank sank back against the cushions, with a ‘feeling ‘of satisfaction. He had come to a break in a rather monotonous journey, which is always a relief; but, ; better yet, ina very few moments he would be face to face with one of his best and oldest friends, on whor he had not laid eyes for a good many months. | He was on his way from the school at Bloomfield to his ranch i in Wyoming, where he was long overdue. He usually made the trip much earlier in the fall, but this year the vast amount of detail necessitated by th ere of the schoolghad kept him tied back as he stepped Bike! He had perfect faith in the ability “ind ‘deinen £ his friend Bruce Browning, who had charge of the ranch and of the branch school located there, where so- called core were sent front [eke Hall, an knew well enough that pith a method i is never satisfactory, and he had at last arranged th that he could spend a month or six weeks a ec, much to the delight of Bruce. Ms aes OPE Ravine some pressing business it in He doesn’t look as if he \ were used to this sort Evesthes | | He took a quick step fotvaed with a half-formed, sive notion of iene the fellow and doing s some- oe ie 5 before vas to meet Merriwell at” quois Hotel, and they would start t back to: ‘ the next day teas Tr. eh PUT ‘ RY the bag Frank handed him. “TIP TOP CHAPTER IL THE MEETING. 3 Whirling through the snowy streets in the comfort- able taxi, Frank was very glad he had chosen that means of locomotion. Already a couple of inches of snow had fallen, and the storm seemed to be increasing in severity. As yet the progress of the taxi was unimpeded, but Merriwell had a notion that had he waited for the next _ train he might have been Seeeeh oy delayed in reach- ing the hotel. The usual noises of the streets were oddly absent. The snow was like a deadening carpet on which wheels, heavy or light, traveled with scarcely any sound. From ‘both directions cabs, motors, drays, and wagons of all sorts, passedvayd repassed the taxi, appearing like bulky ghosts out of the almost opaque veil of scurrying flakes, flashing silently along, only to disappear the next min- ute into the impenetrable whiteness beyond. Now and then a street lamp gleamed palely, sur- rounded by, a curiots halo of reflection, and casting its faint beams on the hurrying, bent shadows of foot passengers. \ It was not a comfortable night in which to be abroad, and Merriwell was well pleased when the taxi slid up to the protecting porte-cochére of the hotel, and _ stopped. r , The burly porter, muffled to the eyes, sprang from __ his protected niche at one side of the doorway and took Then, when the latter had _ paid the driver and added a generous tip, he led the way into the great lobby, warm, gleaming with lights _ ?and set about with luxurious, deep-seated chairs and couches—a vivid contrast to the snowy desolation of _ the street without. _ The porter advanced straight to the desk, but Merri- well lingered an instant, his keen, dark eyes roving about the hall. It was well filled with the usual crowd of loungers. with a sprinkling of well-dressed women _ passing through with their escorts, and resounded with a subdued hum of conversation, punctuated now and then by gay laughter; but Frank saw but one figure, ; tall, bulky, topped by a smooth-shaven face, which was dominated by a pair of pleasant, rather lazy brown ei ~ > . The next instant the brown eyes flashed joy fully, and their owner plowed through the crowd, taking the shortest cut to Merriwelh, regardless of what lay be- _ tween and totally oblivious to the cutting looks and muttered exclamations of wins ee as he brushed WEEKLY. hastily against some individual more sensitive or self- important than the rest. “Frank!” he exclaimed, in a deep, resounding voice, which was much more in keeping with the limitless stretches of prairie and mountain than the confines of a fashionable hotel. “Bruce!” was the equally enthusiastic, if slightly — moderated, response. That was all, but there was something in their voices and in the lingering handclasp which passed between them that showed a little of their pleasure at this meet ing which had been so long deferred. Browning did not release Frank’s hand for a mo- ment, but held it tightly while his twinkling eyes swiftly searched his friend’s face. He was very tall and vefy big, with a deceptive air of indolence about his almost drooping shoulders and slightly heavy face, with its habitually placid expres- sion. Bruce always said that he was the laziest fellow alive and that it took a charge of dynamite to set going, which was exactly the impression he made on strangers. ? His frame was so huge as to seem almost unwieldy, and at first sight one would have said that he was all fat and incapable of making any sustained effort. But that is just where one would have made a big mistake. For all that he looked so soft, Browning was, in reality, hard as nails, and when he once made up his miind to do a thing he considered no obstacle insurmountable. He was devoted to Frank, who found in him, not only one of thé truest, most loyal, and most devoted friends — he had ever had, but a man of very considerable execu- — tive ability, who carried out Merriwell’s ideas in regard to the boys under his control with a discrimination and . intelligence which produced more than prdinar iy good results. ‘ “By George, old fellow, I’m not glad to see you!” 9 grinned the big chap, “if. “You can’t be any gladder than I am,” Merriwell returned swiftly, with an answering smile. a seemed | as if I never could arrange things to get away.” “You're trying to do too much yourself,” growlec Bruce. ‘What you need is to let go some of the re- sponsibility. Why don’t you give ee a chance tc earn his salary?” Frank laughed. “Bart’s got his hands full as it is,’ he returne “He has almost as much to do as I, in a different No, I’m not really overworked, Bruce. It’s just thousand and one details ee are always turaings } . : TIP TOP and which no one but myself can settle. They’re things which I can’t turn over permanently to any one else without repudiating the ideas I have lessening the value of the school. But I’ve sidetracked them for a little while, and I shall certainly proceed to enjoy every minute of the vacation.” “Vacation!’’ grunted Browning. “‘A hot vacation itll be! The minute you hit the T-Bar you'll be work- ing harder than ever. Frank smiled again at his expression ef disgust and hastened to change the subject. “Have you registered yet?’ he asked quic “For you?’ Bruce queried. “No, I thought it would be safer to wait until I set eyes on you. I’ve a good room with two beds, though, and we'll bunk together, I - suppose.” : | _ Frank nodded, and, approaching the desk, slipped a coin into the hand of the waiting porter and nodded to the clerk. _ #Good evening, Mr. Merriwell,” the latter said, step- ping forward. ‘Room with a bath, I suppose?” “I’m going in with my friend Mr. Browning,” Frank explained, as he wrote his name in a clear, legible hand in the book. “I suppose you\have no objection %” _. “Not in the least,” the other returned, in a tape of relief. “To-tell the truth we’re rather aa ices _ now, and I was wondering where I could put you.” always held and I know you.”’ “Then it’s mutually agreeable,” Merriwell smiled. -“T suppose we may as well go up at once, Bruce. I feel the need of a good wash and a i change of linen pS after that long train ride.” Preceded ,by a bell boy carrying Frank’s bag, they entered the elevator, and, alighting at the fifth floor, - made their way to Browning’s room, which was an un- - usually large one with two beds and a well- oppose bathroom adjoining. - Here Frank made haste to strip to his aclekabire and, taking possession of the bathroom, proceeded to remove all traces of his journey. | - “Well, old fellow, everything going on all right at e T-Bar?” he inquired, when he had joined his friend. - Bruce looked up from where he aah ite in the most ymfortable chair. , “Sure,” he answered Seo fuiblncitis “Your incorri- gibles as some of them core out to be first-class chaps.” | A. look of aernaidal annoyance, half real, half signed, flashed into Merriwell’s expressive face. “1 oe you wouldn't call them that, Bruce,” he said “You sow how I hate the word. No es : \ kly. / WEEKLY. for that matter—is utterly incorri- * fy I’ve never met one yet nor man, either, gible. and I’ve run across some pretty tough specimens—who didn’t have some redeem- ing trait about him. I’ve failed, of course, but that’s because I had to think of the other boys under my charge, not because I had come to the end: of my rope. I have enough trouble combating the general fotion that the Wyoming branch of the school is simply a hotbed of mental or moral degenerates, without your adding to it.” Bruce listened, his eyes twinkling, to this mild lec- ture. “By thunder, old chap!” he exclaimed when Frank — had finished, “if I'd had any idea you were going to take my little joke so seriously, I should never: have — made it.”’ oy Merriwell drew down the corners of ats mouth i in an’ expression of mock chagrin. “Was that a joke?” he inquired. “TI certainly swal- lowed it, bait, hook, and all, didn’t I? Ill be wise the next time. Oh, by the way, how did you make out — with the stock you came on to*seé about ?y | “The brokers tell me I was quite right in boing onto it,” Bruce answered. ‘“They say it’s bound — to go up at least fifteen points, if not more. The prop-— erty is even better than they claim, which is comforting considering that I’ve sige ica that very thing since the i eh pibeas ror. | “And also considering the amount you've pot tied up in it,” he added. “It’ o 9h Pot MO isn’t it? : them on. “I thought that was it, but wasn’t quite sure,” He said, feeling in the jenues of the coat. iTve got some: thing here which I thihk will interest cane Ran < acr 188 it on the train , lined coat. “Must have left it in here,” one hand into.a ae Pee and secured’ with a couple i rubber bands. , For a moment Frank made no attempt to. TIP TOP rough-looking, commonplace parcel, but stood «there gently pinching it in ameditative way whichemade the big fellow decidedly curious as to what it could contain and what connection it could have with the Jack Pot ‘Mine. _ He had just opened his lips to ask the question when _ Merriwell walked slowly back to the dressing table i ‘again and deliberately slipped off one rubber band after the other. As he unfolded the newspaper, Bruce saw that there was an inner wrapping of tissue paper. Un- able longer to stand the suspense, he struggled to his. feet, and, lounging over to his friend, watched, over his shoulder, the slim, muscular fingers swiftly peel away the inner wrapping. | Almost at once something dropped to the dresser . with a ringing sound and lay there in the light, a dull, golden gleam of metal. _ Bruce bent quickly to look at it, and, as he did so, : ‘something else fell from the packet which caused the big fellow to straighten up involuntarily with a sharp cry of wonder, an echo.of which seemed to be forced | from the level-headed, self-restrained man at his side. i But Browning did not hear that echo, or, if he did, he paid no heed. Stooping, his head thrust forward, his mouth half open, he stared in dazed, incredulous unbelief at the thing which lay on the xe cloth be- fore him. It was a diamond the like of which he had never _seen before in all his life, and he had seen not a few of the world’s famous gems. In size and shape it was not unlike a pigeon’s egg; its brilliancy was flawless; i color a wonderful, electric blue Ww hich seemed to se in existence outside the national collections of ane or the East, and yet, there it lay, shimmering and glit- CHAPTER II. THE BLUE DIAMOND. | The silence in the room was intense. Bruce could WEEKLY. ' oe Browning was aroused by a deep sigh from the man beside him, and, glancing swiftly up, he was amazed at the look of Merriwell’s face. It was bereft of every particle of color, and in his eyes was a look of be- wildered astonishment which was in direct contrast to his usually perfect self-control. But Browning scarcely observed this, so full was his mind of the questions which now burst from his lips with the rapidity of Gatling fire. “Where'd you get it? Whose was it? How in thun- der did you come across it? What are you “T don’t know,” Merriwell broke in, slowly and dis- tinctly. Bruce raised his eyebrows. “You don’t know what?” he asked hurriedly. Merriwell smiled faintly. The color was coming back into his cheeks and his face was rapidly resuming its customary expression of self- containment. . “T don’t know anything about it,” he answered calmly. He paused an instant, looking Bruce straight in the eyes. “T never saw the thing before in my life.” Browning’s jaw dropped. “What?” he gasped. . “You never saw come now, Frank! Surely you don’t mean that. how—— Merriwell’s eyes narrowed a trifle. “T mean exactly what I said,” he repeated. “I never saw the thing before. It wasn’t in my pocket two hours ago, and I haven’t the most remote idea how it EC there.” | : Browning's brain began to swim. Had Frank taken leave of his senses? There lay the monstrous diamond before him, taken but a moment before from Merri- well’s overcoat pocket, and yet the latter denied all knowledge of it—had never even seen it before. Pshaw! The thing was absurd—incredible! People Oh, | Why, dg not go about dropping precious stones worth for- tunes into the pockets of perfect strangers. a tale from the “Arabian Nights.” As.in a daze he watched his friend twist the ages It was oe paper neryously between his slim fingers, then saw him give a sudden start and swiftly draw a scrap of stiff paper from the thin folds ‘and examine it keenly. The next instant Merriwell thrust the sera? Browning’s hands. “There! Read that!” exclaimed the hui in @ signed tone of voice. “Read that and tell me whetl I'm losing my mind or whether some one is ayn play a ae joke on me.’ TIP TOP WEEKLY. Eagerly the big fellow snatched the paper from the other’s hand. It was covered with writing, a hasty scrawl done with a not oversharp lead pencil on a bit of coarse, brown wrapping paper. And this was what Bruce read: “You are intrusted with this by one who knows you. Preserve it carefully and with absolute secrecy until it is claimed by one possessing the other half of the gold coin. Then deliver it to him without question ot hesi- tation. There can be no mistake. Be cautious, and, above all, be secret. No humanypeing must know that you possess the diamond, for incredible disaster might result upon that knowledge.” i ‘Almost as much in the dark as he was before, Bruce reread the terse epistle carefully.’ The thing was idi- otic. There was scarcely sense to it; certainly not com- ~ monsense. How could anybody in his right mind so dispose of a treasure like this? What was the gold coin which played so wad Sa a a part in the mysterious transaction? | He looked up ay to see Merriwell holding the dull bit of gold which had fallen first from the packet, examining it intently. It was a curious-looking thing, not in the least like a coin. In its original condition it had evidently been roughly oblong and must have measured at least three inches by perhaps half that. One edge was rough and jagged where it had been broken straight across by main force, and there the | gold gleamed more brightly. Bruce found himself wondering what sort of man had done that breaking. He must have been more than ordinarily muscular, for the golden slug was quite a quarter of an inch - thick. | That much he saw while Merriwell was examining it closely. Then Frank passed it to him. “Did you ever see a coin like that before?” he asked quietly. “T’lk be hanged if I ever did!” _ It was covered with lines of curious, irregular, ‘symmetrical characters which reminded Bruce oy of Sanscrit, one of the languages of ancient India. And yet it was not Sanscrit. Even Brucg saw that there was a distinct difference. ‘These characters, the meaning of which it was impossible to guess, had a cer- ain crudity about them which made it seem as if they. belonged to an even older tongue. For a few moments Browning puzzled hopelessly over the thing, and then handed it back to Merriwell. “Give it up,” he sighed. “It’s some Eastern lan- age, but whether it comes from India or not I ee t an idea. I don’t think it’s Resor “No, it isn’t,’ Frank replied decidedly. “It’s older ‘ than that. Well, I don’t know that it makes much dif- ference. A ten-dollar gold piece of the current year — would have been just as good, or even a copper cent, if — the fellow could have’ broken it. The important thing | is this.”” ! 3 He picked up the great diamond and held it in the palm of his hand, looking at it intently. “There seems to be no question that it’s real,” he mused the next moment. “No imitation ever made looks like that.” Bruce agreed with him instantly. Somehow, it had never occurred to him to question the genuineness of . , the stone. He had always been more or less interested in precious stones, and, while in no sense of the word an expert, there was something about the blue gem which made him feel intuitively that it was what it seemed to be. | “But what are you going to do with it?” he askee the next instant. | _ Frank looked at him quickly. “What can I do with it, except keep it ate it is claimed by its very eccentric owner?’ he asked. Bruce hesitated. “Well—the police ” he suggested rather vaguely. “Perhaps it’s been stolen.” Merriwell shook his head. “T hardly think so,” he returned quietly. 6 “Tt sucha thing as this had been stolen, every newspaper in the country would ring with it. The case would be the sensation of the hour. Of course it’s possible that there has been a robbery and the police are keeping i i quiet on purpose, but that brings us around again to the bewildering fact that this diamond -is unknown. Far less striking, less valuable gems than this have world-wide reputations; and yet, neither you nor I have ever heard anything of this stone. In fact, I be 99 lieve the only blue diamond of any size is the piss Browning nodded. ee “And that’s not nearly so blue or so beautiful as this,” he ee “T saw it on exhibition at Tiffany's s a few years ago.” Inthe silence which followed the ornate gold dod on the mantel tinkled the hour of seven. With a start, Frank pulled out his watch. : “T had no idea it was so late!” he ae “We must have spent more time over this thing than we realized.” “He returned the diamond and the scrawl of writing to the tissue wrapping and pene them all into a small TIP TOP -pasteboard box which he took from his bag. Bruce watched him curiously. “What are you going to do with it?” he asked. “Leave it in the safe downstairs,” Merriwell smiled. “T certainly don’t propose to carry about with me a thing which is worth anywhere from half a million dollars up. Well, let’s go down to dinner. I’ve got the appetite of a horse.” ' _ He was just lifting his hand to turn out the light _ when his eye fell on the scrap of newspaper which had been wrapped about the package containing the dia- mond. With an exclamation of annoyance, he picked _ it up. “Ym afraid my wits are odlgithenne” he mut- ~mured, with an inflection of whimsical chagrin, as he - smoothed out the creases. “Ah, the Pittsburg Dispatch! _ Dated to-day, too.” He stood there gazing at the scrap of paper in a thoughtful way. Who did he know in Pittsburg? Rapidly he ran over a number of names, but none of them seemed to fit. Then he shrugged his shoulders , and switched off the lights. “He may not be a Pittsburg man after all,” he re- marked, picking up the broken coin and slipping it into his vest pocket. “The paper doesn’t really mean -anything. But I do wish I knew who it was.” ~ “You haven't any idea, then?” Bruce asked, as they left the room, locking the door behind them. . “Not the slightest. It’s no one I know well, that’s certain. There’s been no attempt to disgttise the hand- writing, and I haven’t the slightest recollection of ever having seen it before. Well, no doubt we'll find out in due course; but it’s eee one of the most puz- zling cases I ever ran across.’ Taking the precaution to seal the edges of the paste- board box in the writing room, Mertiwell left it with the clerk and saw it tucked away in a drawer of the big safe before going on to the dining room. Here both friends did their best to thrust the matter from their minds and enjoy the talk which they had sen looking forward to for so long. Apparently Frank stcceeded, for, with the soup, he began at once to ask questions about the ranch and many matters having to do with the progress of the boys assembled | -Browning’s isles were Hot very iia abars: | Someliow he could not get the thought of the blue dia- mond out of his head. Whose was it? Where had it~ me-from? Why had the owner taken that extracr- | mary method of dispel of it? WEEKLY. The result was that the big chap’s part in the conver- sation was desultory and fitful, and when they reached the dessert Frank leaned back in his chair with a low laugh. : “You've certainly got it on the brain, old fellow,” he remarked, smiling broadly. “Can’t you forget it for a little while? You'll go daffy pretty quick if you don't.” “But gt seems as if we ought to do something,” Bruce returned quickly. ‘{‘It doesn’t seem right to just sit still and wait, with a thundering mystery like this on our hands. Why, just think of the responsibility of carrying around a thing like that diamond, Frank! It — would worry me to death.” “Well, I must be differently constituted, then,” Mer- riwell remarked calmly. “I don’t mean to let it worry me. The risk all belongs to the other fellow. It has been passed to me without my having a word to’ say in the matter. Of course, I shall do my best to guard it until the owner appess; but if it’s lost or stolen that’s up to him, not me.’ He paused an instant and looked thoughtfully at his | friend. | ioe “As for doing something,” he went on the next mo- ment, “I’ve a notion to take a run around to headquar- | ters after dinner and have a talk with Dan Lafferty. He'll be on duty at eight, and we can find out whether | they have any unusual jewel robbery on their books which they are keeping still about.” “Will he tell you?” Bruce asked quickly. “IT think so. , Dan and I are old friends, and he knows that anything he may confide i in me will go ni further.” : Browning brightened up aes He felt as if anything was better than inaction, and he still clung to his first belief that the diamond was stolen property disposed of in this ingenious fashion by the thief wae hard nee door, gave a sudden start of surprised recognition tall, fine-looking man af about fifty- five — the car at the third floor. _ . -Merriwell did not speak to him then, but, fol him out of the car. to the oly. F he touched him on the arm. “How do yout do, Prdieaete Merton,” he said pity, as 33 tall man turned eee around. ee TIP TOP “T am glad to see Are ter, clasping the outstretched hand. you. Why, it’s years since [’ve laid eyes on you. “you in Chicago-for long?” “Only overnight,’ Frank answered. “I start for Wyoming in the morning. «You remember Browning, don’t you?” The professor, who held the chair of archeology at Yale, greeted Bruce cordially, and then turned quickly back to Merriwell, in whom he seemed much more in- terested. “Going West, are you?” he smiled. ‘Well, I am re- turning to New York by an early train. I came on yesterday to inspect some finds made last summer by the Field Museum staff. Shall we sit down here fora _/ moment, or are you going out at once?” 4 _ “We're not in any hurry,” Frank replied. “Besides, _ \I have something here which is in your HN and which I should’ very trfuch like your opinion on.’ Tie professor’s eyes brightened as they took their seats on a broad couch ranged against the wall. He was an enthusiast and an authority of national repute in all matters pertaining to the ancient civilization of _ the world, and Merriwell considered himself fortunate } in having encountered: him. He was the one man above _-all others who could solve the mystery of the gold coin. ‘As Frank drew it from his pocket and placed it in Professor Merton’s hand, the older man gave a sudden surprised exclamation and bent swiftly over it. “Where did you get this?” he exclaimed the next in- stant. “What vandal has broken it? Why, it is price- less! I did not suppose there was one like it in the country.” Merriwell hesitated, not knowing quite how to ex- plain the matter; and, in the silence which followed, he heard a soft, suppressed hissing of a quickly drawn breath close to him. Glancing swiftly around, his eyes gazed straight into the piercing black ones of a man who stood close to the erid of the sofa—a slight, swarthy fellow with a foreign air about him, whose houlders stooped slightly as he bent over, evidently, or the purpose of getting a clearer view of the bit of Id the professor held in his open palm. That he was startled or surprised at what he saw s palpable. His slim fingers were tightly clenched he had caught his under lip in his teeth as if he € making, too late, a strenuous effort to control elf and refrain from betraying the overwhelming ion which something or some one had aroused so ly ae WEEKLY. CHAR IER LV. THE GOLDEN wt OREN ; Kor a moment Merriwell gazed coldly into the face of the man who was exhibiting such an impertinent curiosity in his affairs. * Where had he seen the fellow before? A’ remem- brance of the swarthy chap who had passed him a lit- tle while ago outside the station flashed into his mind. The faces were alike, but not the same. wore a small mustache, the ends of which were waxed © and carefully turned up; and he was, moreover, dressed with care and precision in garments of the latest cut and fashion. Even in that brief survey, Frank took note of the great pearl in his scarf and the several costly rings on the slim brown fingers. The next instant the fellow seemed to realize what he was doing, and, dropping his lids, he turned away — with a slight shrug and strolled gia Across: the lobby. Merriwell turned back to the tibbetect. “Have you any idea who that is?” he asked quickly. “The son of some Indian rajah,” "the older man an- swered indifferently. “He’s making a tour of the country, I believe. this morning. But you haven’t answered my ques- tions, Merriwell.” A look of regret came into Frank’s eyes. He isle This man — I heard them talking about’ him — fg ‘ to disappoint his old friend, and yet he did not see | how he could well tell of the source of the coin with- out revealing the amazing presence of the blue dia-_ H mond. | “I’m very sorry, professor,” he said quietly, “but I can’t tell you anything about it. It came into my hands in a most peculiar manner, which has practically | bound me to secrecy; but I can assure you that what~ little I know of it would not help you in the least to. determine where it came from or how it was muti- lated.” ~The professor eyed him in silence for a moment. “Ah, I see;” he said presently. most curious. I have seen but one specimen like it, and that was by no means so perfect.” : “Tt’s an Indian coin, isn’t it?’ Merriwell asked curi-_ ously. N “It’s not a coin at all, ” the sieiee man “aged quickly. “It isa sacred token which was carried by the Aryan priests when they overran India from Persia and conquered the country. That was something over three thousand years ago, and the very few which have “Well, I must not — ask you to break your word, though, I confess, I am — ihrer ‘survived to the present day are guarded so carefully that only one has left the country. That was stolen during the mutiny and is now in the British Museum.” He looked up with a smile. “You can, therefore, appreciate my interest and en- thusiasm when I laid eyes on this fragment. If it were complete it would be a treasure of which any museum might well be proud.” “T see,” Frank said slowly. His mind was busy turning over this new bit of in- formation and wondering what cofinection it could have with the mysterious diamond. Where, too, did _ the swarthy, inquisitive stranger come in? He was a -rajah from India. The thing seemed significant, but ‘it was all so vague that Frank could not make head or tail of it. He was anxious to get to police head- ‘quarters and see if there was anything to -be learned there. “T’m very much obliged for your information, pro- fessor,” he said presently. “I’m afraid we must be going, now; but we'll see you again in the morning, I hope.” He arose and slipped into his coat, while Bruce fol- lowed his example. : “Tf I’m ever able to get possession of both. halves of this token,” Frank went on quickly, “I shall take great pleasure in sending them to you for your col- lection.” The older man smlied. Evidently he had small hope of'such a thing taking place. _ “Don’t risk sending it,” he replied jokingly. “Let me know and I'll come for it, even if I have to cross the continent. Until to-morrow, then, boys. Good night.” A moment later the two friends passed through the _ outer doors and hesitated, amid a swirl of snow, _ while they turned up the collars of their heavy coats. “Taxi, sir?” inquired the porte® stepping forward. “No, thanks,” Frank answered. ‘We're only going a short distance.” The police headquarters was only a few Blécks away, _ but more than once during that distance, as they plowed slowly through the thick snow, heads down to shield - their faces from the stinging particles, they wished they had taken the man’s advice. Their only consolation was that a taxi would probably have been marooned before it had gone a block. . At last they reached their destination, and, stum- bling up the steps, opened the door on the bright warmth of the station house with simultaneous sighs of ere ve. WEEKLY. Several patrolmen lounging there watched them curi- ously as they shook the snow from their hats and coats, and were rather surprised to see the night sergeant, Dan Lafferty, suddenly spring up from his place behind — the desk and come forward, a wide grin on his keen, homely face, and’one hand outstretched. “Well, if this don’t beat the Dutch!” he exclaimed, as Frank grasped his hand cordially. “Who'd have expected to see you here a night like this, Mr. Mer- riwell?” “Tt is pretty bad, isn’t it?’ Merriwell returned. '“Looks as if it would be a blizzard before morning. I wanted to ask you a question or two, Dan, so I came round. It’s only a step from the hotel. This is my friend Mr. Browning.” The sergeant-looked Bruce over with the swift, ap- praising manner of his kind. “Pleased to know you,” he nodded, grasping ‘the Yale man’s big hand. “Not a comfortable sort of a chap to have a mix-up with, I should say.” Bruce grinned lazily, and Lafferty led the way around the desk. e “Take a seat, gents,” he urged hospitably. “Now, what can I do for you, Mr. Meriwell? Somebody you'd like me to jug for you?” He chuckled at his own joke, and Frank smiled a little in sympathy. “Not quite so bad as that, Dan,” he returned. “I wanted to know whether you’ve had any big jewel rob- beries Lepore that you’re keeping still about for any — reason.” f The sergeant’s eyes narrowed suddenly, and he looked at Frank keenly for a moment, in silence. “Of course, you know anything you tell me will go tS no farther,” the latter hastened to add. “It wasn’t that I was thinking of,’ Lafferty an- swered quickly. “I was wondering whether, by any chance, you’d turned -private detective. You know I always said you'd be a rip-snorter as would make even the old man sit up and take notice. Is that the game, now?” : Merriwell laughed. : , “Nix, Dan!’ he returned promptly. “You're tremely flattering to have such a good opinion of m ability, but I’m very much afraid you’d be disappointed if I took your adv ce. Pd like to tell you why I ¢ iske that question, but I can’t.” : “Then I don’want to know,” the sergeant dectare “Let me see—jool robberies! On Saturday. Mr Harmsworth, out on the Lake Shore, lost about thre and dropped it. _ the Delphic,” tm yesterday, she was; and we haven't got the details «. “Sorry, Dan, I can’t put you wise,” he said. not at all sure now that it belongs to yeur province; Oi story, for it’s certainly an interesting one.” - the sergeant grinned. _ in my private capacity, I reckon?” TIP TOP Took while they were at din- Then General thousand dollars’ worth. ner. Second-story man, you know. Janson’s daughter had a pearl necklace swiped some day last week while she was to the theatre. At least, she says it was swiped, but I got an idea she just went Them’s the biggest’ ones we're keep- ing quiet about. Either of ’em fit?” Frank shook his head decidedly. “Tow about reports from the East—or anywhere, in fact?” he asked. “Some datne lost a bunch of stones coming over on the sergeant returned promptly. ‘“‘Just yet. Of course,” he added, seeing the slight shadow of disappointment on Merriwell’s face, “there’s a lot of smaller jobs that I can look up in the book for you.” “Tt wouldn’t be any use,” Frank assured him. “The thing I have in mind is ‘so tremendous that you’d have mentioned it first of all if you knew anything about it. [rather think I’m on the wrong track, and it’s not a robbery, after all.” A quick gleam of curiosity and interest leaped into ‘Lafferty’ s snappy blue eyes. As he rose to go, Frank saw it and shook his head smilingly. . Cwatt _ but some of these days I hope I'll be eS tell you. “Sounds so from the few hints you've let drop”! “You couldn’t tell it ‘to me even “Not even that, just now. Well, good night, Dan, and thanks for your information.” eA Y Ry, “Don’t mention it, Mr. Merriwell. Don’t forget to op in the next time you're around. I'll be thinking f you and w hat you're up to. It ain't the Koh-i-noor nat’s been stole, I hope?” Bek é “Not quite,” Merriwell laughed; and, as the door sed behind them, he could hear Lafferty chuckling irthfully, little knowing how comparatively close he ad come to the bull’s-eye. The storm had not subsided, and by the time they iched the hotel the prospects for leaving the city