The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922, July 08, 1915, Image 7

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    A nevelltatlon of the photo play eeleeted aa the beet In ever 19,000 eubmltted e the eoenarlo department of
'the Chicago Tribune In a $10,000 prise eonteet during Deeember and January. The manuaorlpta In thla eompeti
tien eama from many aactiana In tha Unitad States and Canada. Authora af nota aa wall aa thouaanda of ama
taura took part.
$10,000 For 1,000
Words or Less
For an Idea For a Sequel to
"THE
DIAMOND FROM
THE SKY"
The American Film Manufac
turing Company'a Picturited
Romantic Novel In Chapters,
This contest ia opan to any man.
woman or child wbo ia not connected,
diractly or indiractly. with tha Tilm
Company or tha newspapera publish
ing tha continued atory. No literary
ability ia nacessary to qualify m a
conteetent
You ara advise to aca tha continued
photo play in tha theatera where it will
bo ahown to read tha atory aa it rune
very week, and than aand in your
ugjeation. Conteatanta mutt coo
fine their contributions for the aequo!
to l,000 tvordt or tot. It ia
tha ida that ia wanted.
CHA
A Heritage of Hate.
n
1 T la June In Virginia, June In the
year of our Lord 1882. The fields
are green, the early blossoming
of the honeysuckle elves a fra
grance to the air. At such a time, in
such a scene and such surroundings,
two horsemen meet Both are men of
Striking appearance and proud pres
ence and are in the miUurJty uMbeir
fiddle manbool They are Stanleys,
cousins in blood. The one on the bay
hunter, Judge Lamar Stanley, is
emooth of face, that is marked with
cruel and heavy lines. Ills face is
harsh and set, and the grim lines of
his countenance set the grimmer at the
approach of his kinsman, Colonel Ar
thur Stanley. The latter rides his
Chestnut saddler like a soldier. Judge
Stanleys Beat is that of a huntsman.
Even as they ride they differ. Colonel
Stanley's face is kinder. A white mus
tache and imperial add to bis soldierly
appearance.
In Richmond during the war Judge
Xamar Stanley had been high In the
councils of the cabinet of President
Jefferson Davis. In the field his
cousin, Arthur Stanley, followed the
fortunes of the Confederate arms as a
member of the staff of General Lee.
Crossing each other In love, crossing
eacff jptherln martial, civic and social
ambitions, their mutual hatred grew
with their growing years. There were
deep causes for all this In the thwart
ed social ambitions of the Judge. As
the scion of the elder branch of the
American Stanleys, springing from
their common ancestor. Sir Arthur
Stanley, a gentleman adventurer, wbo
came to America In 1615, Colonel Stan
ley held possession of the precious fam
ily heirloom, the diamond from the
Bky.
The family tradition ran that this
peat gem had fallen In a blazing me
teor at the feet of Sir Arthur Stanley
three centuries ago Just as he was
about to be burned at the stake by the
Indians, whom he had in some way
affronted and aroused.
The legend was that the Indians had
deemed the falling meteor an omen
from the Great Spirit that the white
I feian about to be tortured was under
the favor of his protection. This leg
end further stated that Sir Arthur
Stanley himself had so accepted the
diamond from the sky as a token of
supernatural favor. esieclally as the
Indians hod called It "the fallen star."
"Tha Faiion star" Sir Arthur
nuu a. a v. m... ' -
Stanley himself had been called after
his banishment from the court of King
James of England for some wild esca
pade of gallantry when he was but
turned of twenty-two.
In the age stained family archives
kept In the strong box at Stanley hall,
the great mansion home of Colonel
Stanlev. there was the will of the wllJ
Sir Arthur, and at Its end there was a
etrauge prophetic clause. This clause
read that when the noble line of Stan
leys became extln-t In England and an
hplr of the old Stanley earldom was
ought among the elder sons of the
American family of Stanleys lu Vir
ginia the diamond from the sky, the
heritage of the elder sou of thla elder
branch, should be borne and worn back
to England by the American earl when
he came Into Ids English earldom.
At tbe time we write that is, In
June. 1882-the last of the earls of
Stanley was a bachelor invalid and
Leclnse, without hope or desire of an
lelr.
Colonel Stanley had no son to suc
ceed to tha earldom In England. Ha
was married to a fair young wife, who
exported ahrfJf to eome mother.
r
By ROY Z,.MSt&ARDBLL
Copyright. 1913. my Hoy L. McCardtll
Were this child a girl It could have no
hope for tbe English great title In the
family nor to ever possess the diamond
from the sky.
On tbe other hand. Judge Lamar
Stanley bad a sou, a sturdy boy of
three. Ills proud wife, equally with
himself, dreamed of a day when this
boy should bear the honors and have
the vast estates of the Stanley earl
dom and tbe wonderful, priceless dia
mond from the sky.
As the two horsemen, kinsmen and
bitter enemies, rode down upon each
other In a smiling Virginia lane net
' their would swerve his horse ft hairs-
. breadth for the, eilisr, Into each other,
1 full tilt, their blooded horses jnjjrjfa
I and then the superior hTsemanshlp 6i
l tbe soldier, skilled In cavalry eucoun-
. ten, told. Over went horse and Judge
1 Into the dust of the road. and. with a
mocking , laugu anu noi , ueiguwg io
look back Lb,ls fallen kinsman, who
arose and cursed ahd shook his fist at
him, Colonel Stanley rode on.
Tbe Judge, discomfited In tbe dust
saw tbe dark face of a gypsy grinning
at him through a hedge near by. The
hedge was on the property of Judge
Stanley. Mounted on his horse again
he now saw s gypsy van on the other
side of the hedge. Judge Stanley,
quivering with rage, rode luto the gap
of the hedge and hoarsely ordered oU
tbe intruders -
"But. yo' see, It Is like this," expos
tulated the gypsy. "I am alone here
with my wife, sir. Our people has
gone on. My wjfe Is very sick, Wt
can't goon sir. " 1 ' i MbwibH
".What do I care what ails youi
wretched "'teV' snarled the Judge,
"Drive your horses off my land and get
out. I am udge In this county.
"Mebbe you are president of the
United States, too." grumbled he
gypsy. "Do you think you own the
roads because the gentleman that Just
rode by knocked you off your horse
operand r
Housed to a burst of fury, the Judgi
drove Ills horse at the gypsy" and
lashed him cruelly with the heavy rid
ing whip he always curried. A wan
but handsome gypsy woman, clutching
at her side as though In pain, tottercu
out from the van as though to protect
the gypsy from the sheer brutality of
the horseman. Stanley struck the gyp
sy woman across the face, leaving a
livid weal. To his surprise she never
flinched, but faced him duuntlessly.
"The bitterest dlsuppoiutuient of you
life uud a death that will be a buz
sard's feast for you for that blow!" she
said tensely, a light of prophecy In
her courageous eyes.
The Judge, faltered ad. wheeled, his
horse, Tmf turning to the gypsy man
be cursed him again and" bid him be
off his land. Then be rode on.
Meanwhile Colonel Stanley bad rid
den to the village of Fairfax and had
halted his. horse at kthe gate of a pret
ty cottage, A sign by the gate bore
the words, "Dr. Henry Lee."
The doctor was an amiable man of
some sixty years. Inclined to corpu
lence, a kinsman of General Robert El
Leo. The doctor had been a surgeon
in tbe Confederate army. Some fifteen
years older than the colonel, he had
been the guardian of the other. Dur
ing the war the colonel had saved tbe
doctor's life by carrying him when
wounded back to the Confederate lines
under a galling fire. A further bond
between them, if others were needed,
was tbe mutual hatred they bore to
Judge Lamar Stanley, who through
some legal chicanery had impoverished
the doctor In bis old age, a breach of
confidence If not of trust. "Yes, doc
tor, come at once. My wife will need
you tonight." said the colonel.
As the colonel nearcd his estates and
was witblu slht of the broad la An of
his colonial mansion, Stanley ball.
landmark of the countryside, he mw a
gypsy van approaching. On the driv
ing seat were two figures, a man and
a woman. The man was bellowing
hoarse curses at a dlsapiearing horse
man, whom even at the distance the
colonel recognized as bis bated cousin.
the Judge.
As be neared the approaching gypsy
outfit the colonel noticed the woman
bad fainted from pain and weariness.
He bad Just time to wheel his horse
close beside the vun and catch her as
she was falling from the seat
In a few words the gypsy man ex
plained their miserable situation. The
kindly heart of the colonel was touch
ed. Tbe fainting woman had now ro
vJveJ nud wag luteulllg apathetically
"So Judge Stanley has ordered you
off the earth T remarked the colonel.
"Well, my good man. that little copse
of woods rtiibt over there, not far from
my house, belongs to me. Camp there
as long as you wish and I will see jour
sick wife gets every attention. She
expects a child, you say? Ah, tbe curse
of Eve falls alike in but and mansion.
We expect this same momentous event
at my house. You are doubly wel
come. I will send Dr. Lee, our family
physician, to attend your wife.
The gypsy woman now spoke for the
first time. "For your kind heart I read
toot fortune. A bitter dlsappelntmont
und a bitter triumph over those yon
hate the most comes to you, sir."
"Well, better fortune than that to
the child you expect," said the colonel
with a kindly smile. "And here Is 2J
to buy christening clothes and found
the fortune of my expected namesake
If be Is a boy.
'It will be a boy, and you will be
aware of Llm," said the gypsy womai-.
p.nd again she. close J her tyis und f'..v-
ered as In great pain, not uotlctng th'
money.
"Take It, you fool woman, when th.
kind gentleman offers It!" snarled tt.
man.
Seeing the colonel still offering Ik.
fnoTe?.The gy psy woman muttered her
thanks uud took the money reluctantly,
and the gypsy, loud lit his protestation
of gratitude, drove his caravan to th.
copse.
-Arriving' at the gateway of Stuim.
hall, the grand old mansion built by i
great-grandson of the original forbc.r.
of the family In America, the cotouc'
cantered bis horse up the spleiu..
wide-driveway. There on the lawn hi.,
flower faced young wife, Ethel, lu u
garden chair, swaddled In silken shawls
and carefully attended by ber old col
ored nurse. Mammy Lucy, awaltel
The ojd negro manservant, Ned, ch)e
factotum and butler of the establish
ment, appeared on the piazza and calleO
loudly to a half grown colored lud to
take the master's horse.
The colonel and the old nurse tenth
suTfiorteJ tue tlower faced young wilt
great mansion. . r
It must not be thought that any ovt ?
whelming desire for title or exalted lo
sitlon for themselves or for their ex
pected child actuated Colonel Stanley
out! uls fair young wife. In fact, the
colonel was "hot ' only contents In
nroud In his isjsltion as heaoTof th
Stanley "finally In America and mnstc:
of Stanley hall. It was only the grasp
inu- snobbery of his cousin that had le.
the Cvi'.oncl to encourage the hope that
his wife ml(iht U-ar u son to cheat bb
kinsman foe of his hopes.
For the proud elder branch of the
Stanley8-,uo Iords Stanley ot War
wlckshlie. I'nlajid -only survived lu
the person of a testy old bachelor In
valhl. The uext of kin and in diret t
line for the earldom of Stanley was
Colonel Stanley of Virginia, and, fajl
Ing his surviving or having a son. tb
earldom would go to his cousin, .ludg"
Stanley or the Judge's son, Blair, uov
a child of three.
It was a sore iolut with the last
Lord Stanley that be had always hatei'
women after a love disappointment lu
early manhood and had never marrle'
and now the succession would go tt
what he denominated as his "Yankee
relatives."
But tbe diamond from the sky was a
comforting thought In a measure re
On tha Porch of tha Old Virginia Ma.,
aion.
the old earl. It gave these "Yankee
relatives" a prestige that even an earl
might envy.
For some time past the earl, tliron,u
his solicitor. Marmaduke Smythe. bad
been In correspondence with the afore
said "Yankee relatives."
Marmaduke Smythe was a long, lean
lank, dry as dust British barrister, lie,
too. was versed in full knowledge of
the fame and fabulous value of the
diamond from tbe sky. fie, too. knew
tbe legends concerning It But to his
timid mind faroff America was still a
wilderness, peopled by savages.
So It bad been with much trepidation
and much nervous caressing of his
scanty black sldewhlskers that Mar
maduke Smythe, banister at law. Tarn
pie chambers. Ixmdon. bad received or
dera from bis distinguished patron.
Cecil, eighth earl of 8tanley, to depart
for Amertca and arrange for tbe qv
ceasloa.
i in "ir -tT-"""if ! 7".. A 1
CHAPTER II
"I Will C:.et L .ia 3tin!ty!
fN tin- preliminary correspondent
confining tliiM mutter l.uwycr
Siuylhe ti.tvl 1 ecu vi iti.li',1 to uotv
i. . ... . ( . . . i
denes
r
e
that one of tlu t-i.ile.vs near f
kiu In Virginia w:;h ii Jm..m. T Law
yer Sniyt'.ieH Insular Uiitl u ii i.iir
standing U'in,' n Ju ie In lite Junvie
of Virginia was to i' uu uncouth, to
bacco eating, hoarse vol el. r. d faced
Individual.
Th- feud and Its consequent bitter
enmities tctweeu Colonel Stanley and
Judge Lamar Stanley were hardly
jnasjwd by the testy old enrl and his
timid Londou lawyer. Hut the legal
mind of Lawyer Smythe prompted him
to rely mostly upon the far off Virgin
la Judge.
So It was that to carry out his mis
sion In what he deemed were the wilds
of America Lawyer Smythe determin
ed to place himself In contact with the
Virginia Judge rather than what he
thought might bo the more militant
bead of the American Stanleys, the ex-
soldier. Colonel Arthur Stanley.
The lawyer bad written to the Judge
aud hard upon the heels of his letter
be bad arrived at the little railroad
station of Fairfax in the dusk of the
evening upon the day in which the
Judge and the colonel had encountered
tbe gypsies. Matt Harding and his wife
Hagar.
All the banister saw when be alight
ed from the slow local train that had
brought him, and whan his luggage,
The Mother bf the Gypsy Child.
bad been deposited beside him by un
ceremonious hands, was a shambling
negro with a private mall -ouch at
tached to a Btrati over his ragged Bhoul-
der. This negro was Joined by several
other messengers of his sort, who were
busy receiving mall from the station
agent, who was evidently also the local
post master.
Lawyer Smythe looked up aud down
the platform, expecting to see cowboys
or a prairie wagon, or some sort of
backwoods irsou to greet blm or vehi
cle to convey him to Judge Stan
ley's ranch. He finally summoned up
courage to Inquire of the station agent
postmaster, as that Individual was
locking for the bight . . .v
"Judge Stanley?" repeated the sta
tion agent "Why, hU nigger, Zeke,
Just got tbe Judge's mall aud has gone.
Tbe Judge couldn't have been expect
ing anybody, or be would have sent
bis carriage. But mebbe Zeke will tell
him be saw you, and you will be sent
for. You bad better wait right here."
And be turned the key lu tbe pad
lock, on tbe station door and trudged
away, leaving the bewildered lawyer
wonderlug If wild beasts nilgbt be
about
In the somber living room that was
part law office uud chambers of Judge
Stanley, the Jude uud his equally
stern vtsaged spouse were awaiting the
evening mall on the last train dowu
from Kicbmond.
In a few minutes eke, the colored
handy man of the household, entered
with the Judge's mall bag. The Judge
eagerly separated u large, formally ad
dressed envelop beuring English
stamps und sealed at the back.
The Judge opened it glanced at It
hurriedly and banded it to bis wife.
"It U from the earl's lawyer, Marina
duke Smythe. you see. He says be
may arrive at about the same time this
letter reaches us." He turned to the
slouchy nero. "Did you see a strange
man get off the train looked like an
undertaker all English lawyers do?"
"Yes, sub. a strange gemman did get
off de train." replied the uegro, "but be
didn't say nultiu to me, aud I didn't
say uulttn to him!"
"You black scoundrel!" roared the
jm'ge. 'That geutleman has come all
the way from England to see me on
an Important matter. Get my horse
(nd put a saddle on the black mare. I
will go to the station for blm myself !"
At Stanley bull, In the old colonial
bedroom of the mistress of the bouse
the colored uurse, Lucy, was minis
terlng to ber flower faced mistress.
while Colonel Stanley stood by solicit
ously confirming the old colored mam
my's words with affirmative nods.
"Yes, my honey, de doctor will be
here any minute." tbe old nurse was
saytng. "Ain't tbe colonel Jest back
from go In after him? Bleaa my soul.
honey, der come Dr. Lee.hlsself drlr
to' up wtd dat ole red boss. Stonewall.
of his.-- -
TV colonel wife lifted her fair face
as tt colonel beut ore to kiss It, Th
old uurae aftly bustled to the door and
admitted the doctor.
In the copse of woods, hardly far
ther than a stone's throw from the
mansion, night was falling darkly with
the mutterings of an approaching
storm. Over a smoldering fire crouch
ed Matt Ilardlug. the gypsy, puffing at
Ms short black plje. A cry of pnln
from the weather stained tent near by !
roused the man, and be arose and sul-
lenly walked over aud entered the !
shabby shelter.
lu few moments be emerged and
hurried rapidly In tbe direction of
Stanley Hall.
As he rapped at the great door of
the mansion Ned. the colore! butler,
opened It throwing a glare of yellow
light upon tbe sinister face of the
gypsy.
"You can't see notody In tbt bouse.
Mr. Man," said Ned.
"But I tell you Colonel Stanley prom
ised me his detor would Ih here to
night and that be would attend uy
wife. She needs the doctor now. 1 t's
a matter of life and death. And It's
bad luck when a gypsy d'es without
being able to face the rising sun."
"De colonel's alius doln' foolish kind
nesses fo' poo' white trash." grumbled
tbe darky as he shut the door on tbe
strange caller and went reluctantly to
bear his message.
But the good old physician was posi
tive that no harm would come from bis
absence for an hour or so and hastened
away on his erraud of mercy.
At the little station of Fairfax mean
while tbe now frightened London law
yer was wondering whether be should
load tbe elephant rifle with which be
had provided bunaelf and fortify him
self behind, his luggngv As the beat
of horse hoofs drew bearer the English
lawyer rose with leveled rifle and cried;
;Haltt Who goes there, friend or
Toe?" ---TUilJUi-J
The approaching horseman. Judge
Lamar Stanley, laughed grimly as he
called out: "It's a friend! Don't shoot!"
And then he rode up to the platform
and Introduced himself to tbe English
man and explained matters to the lat
ter's satisfaction. T,ben Judge
fastened the luggage of his" visitor to
the two saddle horses, and tbey rode
off together.
In the copse of wood the pattering
night ralu fell upon the gypsy tent
The storm passed as quickly as Jt
bad cone, aud the moon shone ut
refulgentl. The flap of the tent open
ed. nud the bulky form of the good
doctor was seen In tbe moonlight He
held a small swaddled object In his
arms. "
"Matt Harding," said Dr. Lee Im
pressively, "the storm bus passed with
the miracle of birth, und you may say.
as was said of old, 'Unto us a child Is
born; unto us a son Is given.'"
t'JIioiu'g fjtip jvords for rich folk."
grumbled 'he gypsy gruiny. "io me
It don't mean nothing but another
hlOUlU to feed."
The doctor regarded the man tvltlf
suVh n look of sternness that the gypsy
took th? c hlld from tile" doctor and en
tered the teiif' with It after promising
the physician to take good care of it
and its mother.
The good doctor hurried back to
Stanley bull, where all were Impatient
ly awaiting blm. He smiled reassur
ingly at tbe colonel's wife, tbe colonel
and the nurse.
A fine boy has been born to the
gypsy womac, be said. "It seems an
omen of like good luck to Stanley ball.
We may expect little earl to be born
here this night" be added gently.
The colonel'a flower faced wife shook
her bead and smiled back at the old
doctor, and the colonel spoke quickly.
"I have no ambitions for any title for
son of mine," be said. "But I wish
a boy if bnt to thwart my cousin. La
mar Stanley.
A bitter expression crept Into tbe
face of the negro woman at the men
tion of Judge Stanley's name
"Don't yon worry, honey." she said
softly to her mistress, "an don't you
worry either, colonel. De good Lord
don't Intend 'no luck for Jud-je Lamar
Stanley. I was a slave girl on bis fa
ther's place when de Jedire was . a
young man. ne killed my brother I II-- -
a diw. on he had me !e:it Insenslhl..
when I called him 'Cain.'"
A girl child was born at Stanle
hall at nildnlght The colonel blanch
el af the news, but th flower faced
mother smlleil and called her husband
to bring tbe diamond from the sky.
With trembling bands he brought the
precious belrfoom. and the mother with
her own weak hands placed the chain
and the locket that contained the
Jewel around the neck of her newborn
ilanrJiter.
"She Is heir to Stanley hall, at least."
murmured the mother, "aud until you
die." she added, turning to the colonel.
"she may wear It as a 'charm against
harm.' as the Stanleys of our branch
have always done."
Then as all turned away to hide their
tears at the pathos of her words tbe
young mother, with trembling bands,
drew a slip of folded paper from be
neath bor pillow and, opening the se
cret catch at tbe back of the locket
placed a mother's last message unno
ticed beneath the diamond from the
sky, murmuring as she did so:
"'A charm against barm,' my little
daughter; 'charm against harm!" And
then she sank back upon ber pillow,
her babe upon her breast
The old nurse turned and gazed fixed
ly at ber mistress; then, with a scream
of grief and terror, she threw herself
beside the babe and mother.
"She Is dead!" shrieked the nurse.
"My sweet mistress Is dead!" It was
but too true; this gentle soul had
passed.
- Ia tbe library an hour later Dr. La
stood over the battered colonel. In
tea to the truth." said the doctor. "It
Is Idle Tor you to me. I have tot
you, yo.i Ii . w i. ;.c of tbe ' heart,
end niiotli.-i- in la. k :iUe thu may be
your denth You cannot hope to llv
to many a wife who may yet bear y
a son."
"I will never marry agnlnT cried
Colonel Stanley In anguish. "I bar
loved but one woman, could love but
one woman, and she Is dead! But, by"
leavens, 1 will cheat Lamar Ptanle
and all his brood! I have 15.000 la
yonder safe. I will buy tbe male child
born to the gypsy woman. I win blue
way my own flesh and blood, my lit
tie daughter, and have ber reared tea
derly, yet in secret And tbe gypsy'
brat at my death shall be tbe Earl of
Stanley In England and possess the?
diamond from the sky. That will ba)
fine for Lamar Stanley and bis vennU
offspring!" And be laughed and shoo
his hands In bitter rage.
I mean It and you must he!p met
You bate Lamar Stanley, for he ruined?
yon. Mammy Lucy hates him. He)
killed her twin brother in cold bloodl
Corner
In tbe glow of hut campflre Matff
nardlng gated greedily at the wealth
beyond his wildest dreams that OolO
nel Stanley had roused him from bbf
fitful slumber to pour into his lap.
Hagar, roused from ber fevered
dreams, felt her babe being lifted from
ber bosoiu. The rural gypsy husband?
and father seized her by tbe throat as
she feebly struggled. lie gagged anxf ,
bound ber hastily aa he might and?
emerged panting from the tent, carry
Ing the swaddled babe which be band'
ed to the colonel and the doctor.
"Does my wife objyrtr he aaka4 W
the doctor's question. "Say, governor
he would seti t-very child she expect
ft have for "half the mouay. We'll. &
twenty tnlles awayTy iuurlse and fif
ty miles niore by another day. We'll
t' gypsy kings nud queens and you'll
never hear of us again!" llBy
Back at Stauley balTtbe doctor and
the colonel entered secretly by the Ik
brary window and bore tbe babe up
stairs to tbe waiting nurse. Reluctant
ly and yet resolved like all the rest;
the faithful colored nurse arrayed the?
gypsy" child In fine linen and bunf
about its neck "tbe diamond from th
sky," while the little daughter, born t
Stanley ball, whimpered beside lta fair
dead mother,
In answer to the summons to StaQV
Jey hall came Judge Stanley, the kin
maTeT&myfrM IhEnllsh barrister
It was a strange group thai gathered
in the colonel's library, the English
barrister, the grim, bitterly disappoint
ed Judge, sjjcntly facing Dr. Lee aod
A pull at (lie bell rope and the weep
ing colored nurse entered the library"
bearing the black haired, dark eyed
babe, a male child In Stanley ball, pre
sumptlve heir to an English earldom,
and blazing on Its breast was the dlft
rnoud from the sky. i-hk.
Over the gypsy campflre within tbe
sontni "JJU?"" ran from Stanley
fiairiTbelVfroiuI'Trelizled mother tore
herself loose frotii her ootids. LiUe
tigress, she threw herself Upon ber
husband and demanded her Child.
When he told her of the bargain and
allowed ber the money that came front
It she cursed him and the gold und,
seizing a Jagged burning billet from the
fire, she struck Matt Harding down
and. leaving him prone on the ground,
she rushed to Stanley ball to regain: bef'
flrstborn. The gypsy roused himself from tbe
stunning blow and hastened after bet"
ere she could spoil nil hi greed
I f - f i V WaT
I
Matt Harding, tha Gypey.
schemes. The great door of StanletT
hall stood ujar. For a moment HaffaA
swayed faintly at tbe portal. Thee
she staggered In and down tbe spa
cious hall to the door of the library,
guided by the sound of men's voice
nd the cries of a child her child!
Her hands seized tbe knob and soft '
aud silently she threw open tbe door
Just as ber gypsy husband seized b
from behind.
The backs of the Judge, the EnglH'r
lawyer, tbe doctor and the nurse we"
to the door, but Colonel Stanley "to-1
behind the library table facing ts
door.
"Yes." he was saying, "there hi tf
newborn baby, a son. do you bear,
son!" And then his eyes opened wl'a
with horror, for there, struggling af
the open door, were the gypsy wonwt
and her husband. The man's bars!
was over the woman's mouth, sa-l
with every effort he sought to strangle'
ber to silence and closed the door.
Colonel Stanley clutched at his bee
and fell senseieee forward serosa tW
library table!
((tootta next week)
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