THE OMAHA DAILY UBJSt SATURDAY , OCTO1JI2H 10 , ISflG. 11 THE KING DIAMOND. BY OUT OLkl FFIH 1-1YNIS. " " salil the of "Speaking of pluck , purser the Laconic , "tlio bra\est man , the very bravest man I over know , was n ihlcf. Mr , Horrocks delivered himself of this statement during a momentary hush In the niter-dinner chat of the smoke room , and withdrew lite eyes from the little , neat man who had Just como In. Ho examined with interest the butt of his cigar , and care fully licked nn angle of leaf which threat ened to come loose. Sir Itandal Vcrekor ( the hydraulic spe cialist ) , who had won the auction pool on the run that day , was standing codec and llquorn lound ; and the puiscr , after tell ing the attendant steward that his was a kiimmct and cognac , stuck the cigar Into a corner of his mouth and Jingled the keys in his trousers pockola. Then ho thrust MR heels straight out before him and blew truncated cones of tobacco smoke at nn In candescent lamp In the deck above. The general talk In the smoke room did ne-t so on. Mr. Horroi-ks , as became his otnce , was a noted raconteur , and only 1'lt- calrn continued his remarks on the silver question as arresting the export trade In Uradford manufactured goods. 1'ltcalrn had crossed to Now York nine times In the la conic already , ahd had a notion that la- knew by heart all the purser's tales ; more over , being In his capacity of drummer a most widely traveled man himself , he quite believed that his own remarks were thor oughly well worth listening to. "Ho stole the biggest diamond I ever flaw , " the purser remarked meditatively dur ing one of I'ltcalrn's pauses for breath. "It wus a slcno that should have gone down into history on the rim of nome emperor's crown Hut BO far as I know It never cnmo up to the surface again after that fellow Btolu It. " "Probably broken up , " suggested Verc- kcr , "and sold In pieces. " The purser looked down sharply. "How did you hear about it , Sir Uandal ? " ho asked. Vcrukcr laughed. "I was only generaliz ing. " ho said. "I haven't n notion of what you'ro talking about. " "They christened It 'The King Diamond1 out at Klmbcily. " "Mover heard of It , " said Sir Uandal. "I leave Lady Veiekcr to specialize In diamonds mends for tbo pair of us. " "Now thoto you are again , " said Pltcalrn. "Diamonds are Just like silver. The price varies according to the quantity put on the market , and as things are situated at pres ent the nations are at the mercy of traders who'vo got capital and brains enough to make corners. Now , If I had the managing of it " "You haven't , " the purser cut In acidly , "and yon are never likely to have. You can handle diamonds In a tlc-plu , but In bulk they'd just flummox you. " "Oh , trot out your chestnut , old man , " said Plteclru. "Someone wako ino If 1 snore. " The smoke room rustled Itself Into easy positions for listening , and the purser after pietendliiK for a mlnuto or so to ignore the silence suddenly looked down and said , "Oh , you want the table , do you ? " "For heaven's sake , go on , man , and get It over , " said Pltcalrn. "Well , " Bald the purser , "there's ouly ono fellow In this smoke room this yarn'll be a chestnut to , and he's new to the La conic. It Isn't a yarn I usually trot out for the benefit of passengers. It shows up ono man as a , specially fine sample ol d it fool , and he's a man , I've a particular liking for , nnd he's sitting In my breeches this minute. I didn't always use to be In this western occau trade. I started life at sea on the Cape run , and I'd worked up from the very bottom to being purser on the finest ship that went down there. It was a Jolly , snug berth I can lull you , with lots of pickings ; and as this business with the King Diamond bundled me out of it , and left me to coid my heels about the streets for a matter of twenty very lean months , It isn't a thing I clatter about through sheer pride at being sacked. " "Which line was that on ? " asked Plt- ciilrn. "Never you mind , " tald the purser. 41Jt was ono of the two blR ics , nnd you can toss up bciwren them. But it was the pop ular line Just then , berzuso the other hnd had some accidents , ando were the pop ular ship , Wo were ram Jam full , and the skipper had let his room to a Hatton Gar den Jew for a. hundred guineas for the run home , and was bunking in the chart house. Ho'd n record iiassenger list , mid they were all very flush. Nothing V.-HB too. expensive for them ; they nlvJnjs betted In cases of champagne ; and I fiuess the liquor profits alone on tint lun footed up to moro than a thousand pounds. I toll you 1 foil very cook-a-hoop over it. I didn't see how the firm could avoid Riving mo a rise. " Pltcalrn began to hum "For he's n Jolly good purser , " but the smoke room scowled him to silence , "Awoug other things -wo'd about a gal lon and a half of diamonds on board , and that's i kind of freight which pays in a way which would surprise Idiots who only know about th cost of sending shoddy across the western ocean. "Shoddy doesn't como from Bradford , " aald Pltcalrn. 'Shoddy is made " "Oh , kill that man , somebody. " the smoke room shouted , and once moro the purser proceeded. "Tho diamonds were done up in llttlo can vas bags , barring the big stone which had "MAN OVKUUOAUD. " ipcclal sealed ease to Itiulf ) , and as ot course I Ley wereu't polished they looked llko so many .rusty pebbles. The bags wcru put in a Bnfo and ttio safe was under my boil place. There was only ono key to the eafo mail that lived at tlio cud nt my watch chain. U was nnxlout work being resiansl- bio ( or those genii I cm tell you. so long us we'd any land connection with South Africa ; but once weero clear I felt pretty easy. There wai uu electric bell fit up to the dour of the safe , and If anybody meddled who didn't linow how tu utwvltch It , there'd have ) : cen nolso enough spread about to wtko the ship. Aud besides , if any body did loot the diamonds , what were thny to do with them if Madeira and Southampton wvro the ouly places wo touched , and 1C theraAB ouythlnp gone , you can hut your llfo no one would have bean allowed to quit tbo ship till we know whore it was. "Now , .diamonds nro alt very well In tholr place ; but too much diamonds In the conversitIon especially when none ot them happen to bo youri rather zour on ono. And I fan 'toll , you tbo popular talk oil that 'ilp talrly made me 111 at times. There litre only two toplca for general conversa tion , aud these were dlauiouits and their Trlcra , aud- when auy one wanted to be brilliantly original he talked about the 'Klog diamond , aud drew pictures ot It in lead pencil on th back ct cur wine lists , t should think I must have heard the hi * tnry ot that Infcrnnl stone nt Ifflst 18,000 times , counting all the variations : How a Kaffir found It In the blue clay , how ho swallowed it , how they KAVO him medicine , how three I. U. II. Itopjo walloppers from IMtlcoat Lane were after It , how the proper owners safeguarded It with guns and a six-ton burglar-proof box , how half the whlto men In the Cape did obeisance to U through Iron hare at halt a guinea a hend , how sjndtcAtesero formed to buy up tenth shares tn the gem , and nil the rest of the degrading money grabbing rubbish t might have ndmlred that stone myself if I'd been given n fair chnnco , nnd even have worshiped It as a mild sort of gel , but the tnll < about It killed all my interest , nnd If it hadn't been for the proflt It was bring ing the steamer ns carrier I should have gene very near hating It. And BO , an things were , I v.'Cfl Just driven Into chumming with a. man called Farren out of sheer ills- gust for every ono else on the passenger list. list."I "I tell you Htralght that on any other trip thU Parren was not a man 1 should have had anything moro than n nod for. Jlo wns n little slip of a Jcllow , with hock- bottle [ .boulders nnd wahdcrlng cyea , nnd he'd sort of missionary notions that I'd got no use for whatever. But he didn't talk diamonds ; thought they were Blnful , or uomotlilug ; nnd I tell you , after a spoil with the others , that man's society used to como to mo lllco a visit to the country. I'd tip him the wink , and hn and I'd slip away fiom the rest , nnd go down to my room nnd put up our licqls and rest. He'd streteh out on the , ) soti , aud I'd slip my shoes nnd lie on tliej.'bed and Just listen while ho tallied. 'Times I'd feel that grate ful to him I nlmost wished he'd baud around the hat for a collection after he'd finished. "Well , gentlemen , things went on this way diamonds , diamonds , diamonds , with short refreshing spells of Farren till after wo'd left Madeira and had made hnlt a day's steam toward homo ; and then a queer- Ish thing happened. Wo camu across n stpamt-r lylng-to , right In cur track. "There's nothing hi that , you'll say. Well , perhaps not. but wait a hit. This steamer , as soon as wo drew abeam , made steam and bore awny on our course , keeping parallel to us , about a quarter of a mile. olT , to port. It doesn't take much to Interest people on a long voyage liner , -and you can guess It wasn't longibefore most pairs of eyes ; ; aboard of us weio turned on to the other steamer especially t > . she happened to bo a yacht. Who was she , plenty of people IIE'U A UBVOLVBtt IN HIS OTHER FIST. were asking , nnd thn answer to that was simple. She was Lord Ilaybury's yacht , a bran now sbetprn-hnotter. Her picture had been in all the Illustrated papers , and two of our officers had seen her before she left the yards ; so there wan uo mistake about that matter. But what she was ifji to , no ono could say , and our passengers made a regular Industry out of betting over It. " \Vo officers of the ship didn't worry our heads much about the matter. If jou were to try to find out the why and wherefore of all the queer things you see In the two Atlantlcs I guess you'd 30 first gray and then bald , and then lute a lunatic asylum within three years' time. And so wo looked at the yacht , hanging always In the same place on our port beam , without worrying our heads particulaily as to what her llttlo game might be. Hut as I say , the passengers were different ; it was a bran-new interest to the lot of them , It was an Al topic to gamble on ; and I tell you the talk In that smoke room began to get interesting. We'd got some really Uuaginatlvo and accom- pllshri ! liars on our passenger list that trip , and they were always ready to back up their talk with good solid bets. "They became regularly amusing to listen to ; diamonds were not spoken of once after Lord Haybury's yacht joined us ; and I be gan to think that our passengers could make themselves as nice and cheery a lot as any man might want to meet. I Just let Far- ren slide. I'd got no use for any moro of his scrmon-and-water talk ; and the day after the yacht turned upwhen ho asked himself down to my room whilst I was making up some accounts after lunch , I let him know sharply enough that people who came in there had to wait for an Invitation , A purser like mo doesn't chum with cheap tee totalers of the Mr. Farrcn typo unless he's protly hard up for a mate. IJut mark you. that man was no fool ; and ho got around mo two days later in a way I don't think anybody could conveniently have guessed at. "From what turned out afterward I sup pose ho intended to piny his llttlo game directly after the yacht Joined us , but the weather was a bit dirty then , and It fresh ened up to a snoring brcezo directly after ward , which wo carried with us all the road through the bay. There was a big ugly head wa running , which knocked a couple of knots off our1 patte/rand the yacht waa making very wet twbaUiw of It Indeed , A careful skipper would have slowed her lown ; but hers didn't ; he rammed her at It , and rlbked carrying everything away. Ho bung on exactly to his plaei > , and eur pas sengers betted Lord Uayhury himself was on board forcing the old man to dilvc her , "Hut when wo rounded Ushant nnd opened out the channel the hrrcze left tm nnd the sim went down a b'lt , although it win still ugly enough. And that was the time Far rcn ramo on the carpet again ; nnd al though , as I say , what ho did got me the sack from the company , I'll own straight out that no nun could Imvo sbown more real daredevil , nnnor-plated pluck , "Ho tame up to ino in thi > port alley way that day Just after lunch , wobbling about on his feet Ilko ho njvvays did when we were in a ica-way. " 'Mr. Horrockfc , ' ho says with his cheap , sickly grin , 'it's a long tlmo since wo had ono of our chats together. * " ' 'TIs , ' said I. T > o been buiy. I'm busy now. I'm very behind hand with making up the ship's papcra , ' " 'Ah , ' says bo , 'you've been no taken up with this yacht business that It's dragged you away from your work. It soeuia to Imvo made a largo amount of interest in the ship. ' " 'Oh , ' I eatd , 'that lot will bet on any thing. ' "Ho laughed in & weak sort of way , 'Well , Purser , ' says he , 'I hope you've frathcrcd your own nest over the affair. ' " 'I can't say I have , ' said I , and begun to move off toward my room , " 'Pity that , ' says he , 'when It's so easy.1 "I turned round , 'How do you mean ? Could you make luoney out of it ? ' " 'Certainly I could. If I wished to ; only ai you kuow , I consider It wrong to bet. ' " Then , ' wld I , a bit sarcastically , Jyou must have Information which nobody else on thlt ship has got' "Hla eyes waodcred over me with a look of surprise and A lurch sent hliu against a cabin door. He was a man who cover found his sea leg * . 'And why shouldn't I havoT' he nays slowly. " 'Well , if it comes to tint , how can you of all people kuow what Uib yacht li doing Jioret' " ' .Never ralud , ilr. Jlorrocki , how I picked up the knowledge , but you can take It fron me that I not only know who's on board , bu I also know that yacht's exact business.1 " 'That's an asset of value , ' I said , and then stopped and considered a minute. 'Is there any consideration that I could offer which would induce you to part with the knowledge ? ' " 'My dear Horrocks , ' ho said , 'If you wan to know , of course I'll tell you freely enough I'd have told you any tlmo If you'd askei me. Only I don't think wo'vo seen much o ono another since the yacht's been In sight. "Ho had mo there. " 'It's a bit of a long story , " he went on 'but It you can wait a minute or so I'll tel It lo you now If you think no ono Is likely to overhear us , standing where wo nro. ' " 'Certainly not , Mr. Farren , ' said I. 'You come right along to my room and have a cigar. You won't drink whisky , I know , but you shall have Iced lemonade In two shakes If you care for that. ' The purser of the Laconic coaac-d speak ing and scraped a match. When It was wel alight ho held the charred end of his cigar In the flame and watched It with Interest "I am afraid , " ho Bald , "that I am boring > ou gentlemen with all these preliminaries I never could tell n talc well. Hcsldca there's ono man In this smoke room who could finish this yarn much better than 1 can. He knows a lot of facts about It that I have not even guessed at up to now. " The eyes of the smoke room swung round till they all converged on 1'ltcalrn but that excellent peison for once In his life looked slightly non-plussed. The purser came to his rescue. Ho Intimated that Pit- calrn'e brain was qulto unequal to guess ing the sequel of the yarn , and again In vited the only man who could finish it to do so In detail. We began to look at one another with interest. It was occurring to each of us that we must have struck up a shipboard acquaintance with some man who only a few jears previously had been concerned In a very remarkable robbery. Hut after a cursory survey bad not shown any one to appear obtrusively guilty ( al though for some reason we few of us seemetl to bo looking exactly at our best Just then ) , n quaint feeling of restraint got hold of us. ttach man teemed to feel that It was vaguely insulting to look at his neighbor , nnd eyes glanced up toward the deck above and the Binoko mist thickened. Dut by degrees glances were lowered , nnd found a safe resting place on the person of Mr. Her rocks. H was V < Teker who voiced the general wish. "I think , Purser , " ho said , "we shall havii to bother you. Yen have shown such power as a raconteur that the other man , whoever ho may be , is evidently nervous of entering into competition , " Thn purser grinned and bit the end from a fresh cigar. "Funny thing , Sir Randal , " said he , "but Farrcn was nervous , too. When Farrcn came Into my room that day 1 thought ho would have fainted , and for good ten minutes ho sat there on my sofa with the colon going and coming from his face llko the limelight In a theater. Dut I didn't hurry him or anything. I let him take his tlmo nnd sat on the bed and watched the yacht through my port hole. She was there in her usual place , Just ahead , with about a quarter of a mile of ugly water between her and us , and 1 was conning over In my mind how I was going to make dividend ; out of her. "Farren roused mo up by railing my name , and I tell you what I saw when I turned around fairly made mo sweat. Ho was standing there with his back against the door and ono hand turning the key behind him as I looked. Ho'd n revolver in his other fist , with the second finger on the trigger , and it didn't require much brains to see that , whatever else he might be , he was no blooming amateur with agun. , He V/PS looking sick enough still , but I give him credit , ho came to the point like a man " 'Now , I'll tell you , Mr. Horroeks , what that yacht's there for. ' ho says. ' 'She's come to take away the king diamond , and I'm hero to carry It across to her. I'll trouble you for that safe key which hangs at the end of your watch chain. ' "Well. I'll own freely I was took all of a heap. 'Hy heavens , Mr. Farren , ' I bbgan to stammer out , 'this is piracy but ho cut mo short. " 'I qulto ngrco with you , , ho answered , 'but wo'll take all that for said. I've got no time for talk and it would annoy mo very much to ahoot jou. I don't llko you for yourself , Horrocks , but you mentioned you have a wife and family in London , and I've a respect for them. Turn round , please. Thanks , Now you'll qulto understand that my pistol is within a foot of your back bone , and if you force mo to shoot you I shall Just take the key and help myself. So I want you to clearly understand that you'll lese your llfo if you are obstinate through any foolish notions of being faithful to your trust , and lese It quite uselessly. Kindly shift your bedclothes onto the floor , ' "I did it , " " 'Now switch off that Infernal alarm bell which you bragged about , and open the safe.1 "I did that , too. " " 'The King Diamond , please. ' "I handed him the morocco case. 1 heard the two clicks as lie opened and shut It to make sure that the gem was all right , and when ho ordered me to clasp my bands be hind my neck and go out of the cabin. 'I'll leave you your gallon and a half of other gems , ' said he ; 'and you can swear that you defended them bravely , if you think that will save your credit. Any way , say what you choose , I will never contradict you. Now , outside , please , quickly. ' "I utepped Into the alleyway and the door nlainm < ul on my heels. I heard the bolt bhuot In the lock and I fancy it's to my credit thut I didn't stay there gapiug to think. I raced for the chart bouse at top Gpet'd. The old man wasn't thero. Ho'd ROIIO unto the upper bridge , Aud away 1 wont after him. "I gave him my tale in twenty words and instinctively we both looked toward the ) acht. She had ilowed down and was edg ing lu toward our track. Beyond a doubt F.uiuu had spoken truth ; she was Uieie after tbo Kliif diamond and ho had signaled her out of my cabin port. "Hut what was to bo the next move wo could not gueis , The skipper rang 'stand by' to the engine room and waited developments with il hand on the tolejirnph. 'My great Scott' I heard him mutter , 'they're never BoliiB to have the cheek to board us ! They'll sto\o in half our plates If they try It on with tills nea running. ' "I reminded him that the yacht had two knots moro speed than wo had. " 'I know that , ' nays the old man. 'By gum , this la a regular Robinson Crusoe piracy business. And the worst of it Is. if they come on board here with a dozen rides , wo's nothing that can stop them from Just helping themselves to what they fancy ' Ho ran his rye round the horizon. There was a Hamburg-American boat away astern of us and a couple of steam colliers and a half dozen old windjammers ou ono side or the other , and not euch a thing as a cruUer lu light , of course. Just because wo wanted one. 'That yaclH'g been run away with , tbat'i what' * the matter with her. This Isn't a sort of game a man llko Lord Raybury would pl y. ' " 'She's slowing down , sir , ' said I. 'She's dropping astern of us , ' and I was going to say something else when a regular stream of yells broke out from our passengers , who were all leaning ovttr the port jail to see what this yacht they had been betting about so Industriously was tip to. " 'Man overboard ! There ho Isl Ily Jove , ho'.i sunk. No , there ho Is again ! Throw a life buoy someone ! It's Farren ; that llttlo missionary man , Farren ! Ho Jumped out through a port , just squeezed out head first ! Ho was sucked down under the propeller ! IIo's got an arm cut off ! He hasn't , bo's holding1 on to a cork belt with that arm ho Isn't swimming wlthl Ho isn't swimming at all , ho can't swim ; look at the way he's clawing aboutl' "The msto on watch had got n whistle between his teeth before you couhl say 'knife. ' 'Port lifeboat , ' ho shouted. 'Tum ble nft the crew' and then led the way himself , and went for. ) ho awning lashings with bU knife. Ho MC the bridge to the old man , and the old man rang off the engines. But a big Kteamer like ours car ries way , nnd wo Weren't prcpaicd , and the yacht v.as. They'd ( { lowed down close by Farrcn , and their V"it was lu the water before ours had left ilavltn , and I fiuess they had picked him up anit got him on board and their boat run tip1 ngnln before ours was half wa > to where ? thjHIfo buoys floated. "There was nothing' , < 6V It ; we were Just helpless ; and we hail 19 sec that yacht starboard her helm and steam away for the open sea , with Farren , and the King diamond , and my chhrhbter , and all our poor old steamboar * blooming credit stowed away under hef ijiatclics. The only thing wo could do was to go on to South ampton and report. Hut wo didn't much expect to recover thoKlug ) diamond again. A man that couldn't ) sylm nnd who had pluck to drop head first * put of a port Into a heavy sea , and risk being chawed up by the i ropeller , wasn't the sort to give up a plum once he'd got Ills fingers over It. And that Is about what happened. "Tho yacht had been run away with. She was all ready for sea , and victualed for a long cruise , when up comes a clmp with a letter , forged , of course , written by Lord Uaybury to tbo skipper , and tclllni ; him to accept bearer's orders In every par ticular. The chap , who was Farreu's part ner , mot our steamer with him on board by arrangement at sea , and stood by and Availed for n signal. Ho picked Farren up precious near drowned , but with the mor occo case nil right In his pocket , and then they shoved across for the Mexican gulf. When the yacht'n skipper objected , ho was shown Lord Haybury's letter ; and finally , when coal ran out , and they found them selves in the Florida channel , Farrcn and his friend rowed off in a boat , saying they would arrange about rebunkerlnjr , and na turally erough didn't turn up again ; and the yacht , after drifting three days help- IcEaly under canvas lu the gulf stream , wai picked up by a tramp and towed lute Norfolk , Va. "Tho whole thing was about ns disgust ingly simple as n man could want when you knew how It had been done , and the com pany , who hadn't watched the way It had been worked up to , said the robbery might haVe been prevented. H was no use my talking. The blamed thing had leaked into the papers and somebody had got to be a hcapcgoat , nnd hero was I close and handy. I gucs-s they wouldn't have been human If they hadn't sacked me. ' "And the Liverpool-New York run would li".vo missed Its best " purser , said Pltcalrn. "Old fellow , hero's your most excellent and honored healtlHut ! did the fools of police never stumble upon your Farren man ? " "Not they , " said Horrocks. "So far as 1 know the fellow's never came up to the sin fate till now. " "What's this ? " said Pltcalrn. "IVyou really mean to say he's In this smoking room right now ? " "That's what I mean , ' said the purser. "I supDoso ! : o's bcon sick or sorry or some thing before ; but anyhow this Is his first appearance on this ship ; so he's been under the surface now for exactly five years and one month and perhaps ho may have some thing to explain. " The purser lit his now cigar and no ono spoke. The only sotindj were the noises of the ship and the faint clash of the seas outside. The purser got his clRar In full blast and looked at thu glowlngj tip meditatively. "Dundas Is the name 'he's ' shipped under here , " he observed at list. "Pity for some people , isn't it , that they can't change a face as handily as they can alter a signa ture. " jf'C . sickness this is my first ' appearance in this room. Did I , annex this , celebrated gem ? " "You did , " said Horrocks , grimly. "Well , " said the * jmnll man , "I appear to bo more fortunate than I thcught , and far more fond of thc ailt water. What do you think , Vcrekcr ? Xlas't five years and a month ago , I think yAu ] & 'ald. Purser ? " "Sir Randal Vcrekcr ( lid not answer nt once. Ho lay back flrst and laughed till tears ran down the crow's feet nt the cor ners of his eys. But At last he sobered down end got bis volcb 'again , and ho said : "Purser , I'm afraid yptifve got the wrong pig by the ear this ifaie. Five years ago from now Mr. Dundas' WM second secretary In the llrltlsh embassy at Peking. I was doing work at Shanghai 'then ' , and eaw him constantly. In fact , I've known him all my f " life. The purser said "Oh , " and looked red and foolish. Dundas , however , had some moro to add on the subject. "Your man Farren , " he said , "is evidently very much like mo In personal appearance ? " "Or I shouldn't have tumbled Into mak ing such a mistake , " said the purser. "Precisely. Well , Just befcro I come here I happened to bcl In Shanghai , and n doctor I knew there told mo they'd got my double In hospital. Out of curiosity I went to see him , and I must say the pair of us were as much alike as two or hock bottles. It wasn't a flattering , flnd , because the other poor fellow was clean mad. He'd a lump of rough crystal almost as big as a pigeon's egg which be fancied was a diamond that everybody was trying to steal from him. Curious shaped crystal It was , too , with markings llko three accurate concentric circles blended in ono end. " "My , great Scott ! " said the purser , "and a cross Just around the corner from the other end ? Long-shaped , and a bit of faint yellow snuulgo down ono sldo ? " "That's the thing , " said Dundas. "Why , nfan , " shouted the purser , "it's the King diamond Itself you'ro talking about. There couldn't bo another lllco It. " "But I tell you , " said Dundas , "It waa no diamond at all. It was only snmo sort of crystal that was not hard enough to scratch glass , and no man that was eano would have taken it for anything else when ho came to handle it , " "Whow , " said the purser , and mopped a moist forehead with his pocket handker chief , "Did you over have the gem you were ulklng of In your lingers ? " asked Vert-kcr. "Como to think of It , I never did , " the > urser admitted. "It was sealed before mo ind then delivered into my charge , and pave a receipt , " ' "TCien , ilf an outsider mlsht form a heory , " said Verpker. "tho real stone was stolen somewhere at the Cape , and a forgery sent home , so that the theft might not be discovered till as Jain an hour as possible. low those thieves out there must have chuckled when they heard of Farren & : o. coming cx-machlna to help them play heir game " "Christopher Moses , " said the purser houKhtfully. "You'ro right Sir Randal. That's the game for a thousand. And Where's hat stone now by any chance ? " "Ah , there you'ru neklng me too much , " said Verekcr. "But I shouldn't say It was broken up. When it had ofllclully ceased to exist , It could be very easily smuggled out if the Cape ; and once it carried away lo he east , there would be heaps of purchasers ready to buy and hodtheir | tongues for a llttlo discount. A shph or an Indian rajah never cares about n' big1 diamond's history so long as he gets it snugly Into his treas ury , Very Ilkvly , to Ijazurd another guess , t was brought liomojn your own steamer , not many yards away/rom Its bogus cousin. That would have been ' the safest way to dispose of It. " The purser sighed. "Well , " ho said , " 1 shall give an official report of this to my old company , for the take of helping to clear ny own ticket. Aud ifiuy can act bow they dease. But If that ttouo were mine , I guess 'd sell my present interest in It for Just two fingers of whisky. " Pitcairn ttruck the bell and the smoke coin steward carne toward bim. "Apropos , " he said , "wbat'H everj-Jaody haye. Jt'a my shout. I fine myself 'drinks round for Inter rupting. I thought it'vias ' merely a ship's chestnut we were going to have. I'd no idea be purser was going1 tb nut his foot In It so dellclously with Make a note of it Twenty-five cents buy the best liniment out , Salvation Oil. FEMININE GOSSIP. X O OOOO4O f > > 4 O4O4 O + : > * O + O Florists ndvlte that the coming season will show a return to the custom , moro honored of late years in the breach than in the observance , of sending bouquctu to de butantes and to young women general ! } whom the senders delight to honor. The statement must be taken with moro than n grain of discount. The passing from favo of the florist's bouquet was not caprice , bu education. Cut flowers arc so much moro lovely In their iooso profusion , and so mucl moro adaptable lo enjoyment by their fair teclplcnt , that they are not likely lo bo gupemodfd by stiff , wired clusters. Nor 1. It necessary now to acknowledge the recelp of flowers by overloading one's self will them nt opera or ball. The man who knows how to send flowers accompanies the ono that Is personally selected by a knot of rib bon or n dainty conceit In lace for n wrap per , and the equally well-informed young woman. If she wishes to recognize the del lento attention , selects this llttlo blo son for her corsage. It Is possible to conrsci even the lo\ely courtesy of llowrr giving bj exaggeration a point that the growing delicacy of modern refinement fully recog nizes. Rven the head of the state In France Is obliged to take out a fresh shooting license every year when la chasse reopens. So President Faure duly applied for bis II cense to the Prefecture of the Sclno infcrl cttio In readiness for September 1. As this document must describe the owner's per sonal appearance the clerks were most anxious nofto hurt the president's vanity Last year M. Faure's hair nnd eyebrows were described ns "turning gray , " and n long discussion took place whether the same term should bo used , the prcsldcn having visibly grown whlto since then French politeness filially compromised the matter by putting down the hair as "white" nnd the eyebrows and mustache as "fair" a solution which makes unkind friends sug gest that M. Fauro has been trying tbo latest dye. Last year , says a Parisian writer , the old curiosity shops were ransacked for the nn- clcnt buttons which lent such n stylish nlr to the then fnshlonablo Louis XV and Loula XVI coats. Previously shoe buckles had their turn. Now the objects In the pursuit of which many fruitless hours nro spent nro antique dog collars , n clmso rendered all the more absorbing that the game is wofully scarce. She who can ferret out a collar of unmistakable seventeenth or eighteenth cen tury origin Is Indeed n fortunate woman. Many have'to be content with the acquisition of small chased silver bells , which they hang round the necks of their pets by means of a ribbon tied with a bow , the size of which Is generally In Inverse ratio to the dimen sions of the dog , A woman was singing at a charity concert and the audience nslsted on hearing her song i. second time. Her daughter , a lit- lo child , was present , and ou being asked afterward how her mother had sung , re plied : "Very badly ; for they made her do it all over again. " "It la a question with mo , " writes Lilian Bell In October Ladles' Homo Journal , "whether a'woman ever knows all the joys of love-making who has oneof those dumb , silent husbands' ' who doubtless adores her , but is able to express it only in deeds. It requires an act of the will to remember that his getting down town at 7 o'clock every morning is all done for you , when ho hasn't boeit able to toll you In words that ho loves you. It is hard to get n letter telling about the weather and how busy he Is , when the same amount of space saying that ho got to thinking about you ycntorday , when ho saw a girl on the street who looked like you , only she didn't carry herself so well ai you do , and that he loves you , good-by would have fairly made your heart turn over with joy , and made you kiss the hurried lines and thrubt the letter in your belt , where you could crackle It now and then just to make sure It was there. Nearly all nice men make good lovers in deeds. A great many fall nt some important crisis in the handling of words. "But the last test of all , and , to my mind , the greatest , is lu the use of words as a balm. Few people , bo they men or women , bo they only friends , lovers or married , can help occasionally hurting each other's feel ings. Accidents are continually happening oven when peoplo.nro good-tempered. And for quick or evil tempered ones there is but ono remedy the handsome , honest apology. The most perfect lover is the one who best understands how and when to apologize. " The adoption In Germany of a general and common coda of laws applicable to all parts of thr > empire has aroused the In tense opposition of the women of that country to the new code , because of Its discrimination and oppressive features toward them. Up to this tlmo each sub division of the empire has had its own laws. Undentho provisions of the now law an unmarried woman is regarded as al most equal to men concerning their earn ings and their Income. As FOOII as a Ger man woman becomes a wife and mother she Is booked as a minor. She has no right over her fortune. She cannot transact any business without the signature of her hus band. Then the now Jaw defines the power of parents concerning the education of their children , placing It all In the father. It denies divorce on account of Ill-treat ment , drunkenness and other offenses. It also declares that the father Is not regarded to bo a relation of his Illegitimate child , all duties and cares belonging to the mother. The bill , which has passed the Reichstag , docs not become a law until 1000 and many women are agitating the ques tion of Its reconsideration and repeal be fore that tlmo , From what one hears of the Danish girl she has all the privileges open to her sisters. If she wishes to study at the university she finds herself free to takeup any branch she may choose , and medical , mathematical and scientific honors fall to her share quite ns frequently as to her brothers. As among us , too , teaching seems to bo the most uni versal employment for women who wish to earn their own living. Yet there nro so many teachers and so many daughters of rich families who teach simply as a pastime , with no remuneration , that the pay Is very small and not at all in proportion to the services they give , They uro well up In the Kngllsh literature of the day , distinguish themselves as artists , authors nnj musicians , found schools and asylums for various chari ties nnd manage them as successfully as the women In other countries , Designing and painting pottery , woodcarvlng and burnt woodwork are among other accomplishments , and many women have taken to photography and started out as professionals. In spite of all their professional work , Dan lull women do not degenerate in the art of house keeping nnd good cooking. Within the past few years they have become popular in America , nnd tennis , golf , cricket and foot ball aio fast gaining ground , The craze for bicycling seized them some tlmo ago , and they are already expert riders , for the level country favors this sport. Same of the Danish girls are accomplished horsewomen , and they are never qull6 BO pretty and graceful as when they are skating , which Is a general amusement for fully three montha in tbo year. A Danish girl la good society makes her debut nt 10 , when aho la confirmed , If she is not married nt 22 she is left out of all parties and amusements , thus showing that the old-fashioned preju dice against old maids still obtains among these otherwise enlightened people. Fashionable hostesses aiming at perfection aud change at the same tlmo will have , if they will , this season the privilege to dis card at their exquisitely appointed table * the use of napkins. Already In the aristocratic homes of England the move ment has gained a foothold , Inspired , Record ing to a recent statement , "as a compli ment to the refined table manners of the guests. " While napkins are not likely to be at once , it ever , omitted from many American tables , the discussion of the question is of value if only to accentuate the careless and slovenly nay most American children behave at table. Who can fancy these youngsters ever trained to a nicety of eating which will preclude their need of a napkin ? Many of them should have a basin and towel served with every course. In ono family the > year-old child announces the end of his meal by calmly sweeping his- plate to the floor aud following It by the contents of his cup ; BACKACHE WHY ? Bccau r Liver and Kidnc/ arc 5 ; out of ordct Dr. J. H. IticLEAN'S LIVER AND KIDNEY BALM I is the " PEERLESS REMEDY "lor curing | ailments of the Liver , Kidneys and BladderDiakctcs , Rhctio matism and Bright's Disease. ran SALE tvcnvivHcnc AT $1.00 pen BOTTH O THE DH. J. H. MCLEAN MEDICINE co. , sr. Loots. MO. The Keeley histitttte Eliira WHISKEY , IIORPHIXE , OPIUM.TOBACCO . AND CICAXBTFiJ IIAB1PS Write for tonns mill testimonials. Corrospoiulonco uotithluntinl. JBleiir - - - Net ) , or glass. H wo don't copy tin * English nap kin veto , wo may with great advantage emulate the nngllah standard of behavior at table for children. It is hard to acqulic elegant table manners after the plastic yearn of childhood. They show too plainly that they are acquired , not Inherent. In many otherwise well-regulati-d American families , however , the behavior at table of the H and IC-yoar-ohl children would not bo tolerated at the English nursery board around \\hlch gather the 3 nnd D-year olds of thu house hold. Lady Jeuno , with her husband , Sir Francis Jcune , has been making an extensive bicycle tour through Scotland. , , , Lact > ; Jouno Is ono of the most progressive , women In Great Britain , being actively Interested In nil the movements which tend to the political , educational and industrial advancement of her own sex. Her salon was formerly one of the attractions of London , and ono met In her drawing room almost every celebrity In the IlrllUh metropolis. It is , however , less Interesting than It .formerly was. An amusing story went the rounds of the newspapers shortly after Stanley's return from Africa , which Is now so old that it Is practically new. It Is said that when ho approached the country of the dwarfs onr Interesting specimen stepped out of the bush , cordially extended his baud and ex claimed In excellent English : "How do you do , Mr. Stanley ; I met you at Lady Jeune'8 , " The women's blrycle division of the recent beautiful floral parade in Saratoga was ono of its moat attractive features. It was ap propriately called the "white squadron , " the riders all wearing white skirts , with while caps , legglns , and slices. The bodices were military Jackets braided in gold , those of one being pure white , nnd of the other divisions a color , blue , red , gray , nnd the little girls' division , the young riders wearing a sailor costume. The wheels were trimmed to eorrcspond with the color of the division. The women nil lode beautifully , sitting straight and keeping In line with military iroclslon. Cheers and Jlowers greeted this letachmcnt of thu display I'rom Congress iark to Woodlawn. x All women of the Protestant Episcopal lloccse of Michigan have been declared eligible to vote for vestrymen In parish elections. Twenty-five other dioceses and Tour missionary Jurisdictions of the Episco pal church have for some tliuo allowed women to vote for vestrymen. It may be of Interest to the autumn bride to know that the bridal veil Is of eastern origin , being a relic of the bridal canopy : iold over the heads of the bride and bride- Broom. Among the Anglo-Saxons a similar mstom existed , but If the bride was a widow t was dispensed with. According to Sarum tsagc , a line linen cloth was laid upon the leads of the brldo and bridegroom , and was ict removed until the benediction had been said. The old llrltlsh custom was to use laturo's veil unadorned that Is , tho" long lair of the bride , which was so worn by all jrldes , royal , noble i > nd simple. Only then lid every onu behold the tresses of malden- lood in their entirety , and for the list time , as after marriage they were neatly dressed on the head. Among BOIIIO the tresses were cut and carefully stowed away on a woman jfcomlng n wife. It was customary In Russia 'or village brides to shear their locks on re. turning from church. Hero's a short sermon that Li Hung Chang delivered to one pretty young woman who told him that she wasn't mairled : 'A woman can afford to be capricious as eng us she Is young , but even American women , beautiful ns they are , must eventu ally grow old. Time creeps on , oven In the cases of the fairest and when a woman reaches 40 years she will find oho rannot niako the conquests she did at 30. Kvery woman should get married. Marriage Is her nisslon and she will bo happier with a good tusband than alone , wandering about the world. " Shakespeare Initiates us into the us > o of ho fan In Queen Elizabeth's time. "I could ) raln him with his lady's fan , " that is , cnoelc his brains out with a fan handle , vhlch certainly must have been of a good , turdy sort to accomplish such a deed. It was the habit of testy dames to chas- Ise unruly children by beating them with heir fan sticks , which wore so long that hey could be used as walking sticks. Later on the fan was used In a lighter form and or a lighter purpose , and the powdered and laintcd dumo of a later day used fan and mask and patch as part of her panoply of nchantment. "Fans , muffs , masks and also hair" were looked upon as appurte nances of the unchaste in Italy , where first heir use was general , Later , they were ntroduced in Franco , and thence to 15ns- and. Mrs. Edward Uoboy of Chicago , who hail istingulshed herself by her many gifts and abors in behalf of the came of education nd philanthropy , has expressed her desiree o give 3,000 acres of land In Itoboy , Ind. , /orth $200 on ucro , to the unlvcislty of Chicago , for the establishment of a biological ectlon and special nclioVJ. She has also ffPt-ed to build ImndHonio bathhouses on Volf lake or Wolf ' 'river ; In case the unl- orslty decides to usu that couiso for aquatic xerclsca and pursuits. The total value of his gunerous offer1 Is""nearly three-quarters f a million , and will still further ralso the ttractlons of that new and famous Inutltu- lon of learning , s Gorham SilVCf ? Anysllversmith § ? § ? < ? will tell you : Its proportions are as well known as those of U. S. coin , which it always exceeds in purity by several points , GORHAMbeing never less than the English Sterling standard (925 ( parts pure silver to 75 alloy ) , the highest degree of purity which the softness of the metal will permit. Too ftod for Dry Coodt Stern- * Jewiltrt only. C. S. S. E , Cor. i5th and Douglas imiCATHI.\AL. Boarding School for Young Ladies OMAHA , - NU1B. The Rev. liobcrt loijrty.S.T. ) ! . D.Ricbr . FA I.I , TKK.1l HKfJLN'S SIJPT.10 Scmcl forGnLaloquo. DUFFY'S PURE MALT WHISKEY ALL DRUGGISTS. * * * < M Again ! | New life , new strength , new vigor. JjJ y will brine bade your lost powers nnj stop X UrcvcrtlleJn ! , < : < : r < jusdralnsoii > oursysli.ra. They net quickly , create a healthy Jlpcsilon , pflrc rich bltmJ. lirm muscles. niRccJ Mronclh , steady nerves nnJa Clear brain. | $1.00 Per Bxx , 6 Boxes $3.00. A lcff.il Kuarantce to euro or rrfimd the muiicy ntlh vM-ry ffi OUnrilcr. yXJdjcss Sherman S. HcConncll Drue Co. , 1513 rn < lic Bt. . Olnalm. NVb. Searles & Searles , SPCCIM.IS15 IM Nervous , Cliroaic nnd Private Diseasas , WEAffNIEJI SCXUAUY. * \11 PflvMt * J > lu ft B M nicl nisordcrsof Moil Treatment by mill -Consultation fro Cured for llfo and the polHon thoiougbly cleniiKcd trom tbo Ky.item. I'JLISS. FISTULA and 11KCTAL ULCERS. HYUHOCKLIiS nnd VAUICOCBLK permanently nnd mic- cossfully pured. Method new and STRICTURE AHD By new method without pain or cuttlnjy. Call on or .uldrcss with Htrunp , Dr. Scarlcs & Searlcs 110 S. Mill St. . , Omaha , Neb. 'MADE ME A IVSAW AJAX TABLETS POSITIVELY CUIU5 A 11 * AVrrw DiAraHett Fulling Mem. ory , Impo ! BIIC ) , t lecj ltfnm ( * ii , tic , cuuKod h > Ahme uinl oilier Hxio bc mil ! Jmtls. crotlonK. Ttftr'F / * 't/ ' ' ' atnvltf jualoto Ixi t Vltnlit ) fn nlU or ) ounff * nni ) lit n rnnn frtu < trtm lmwa or iimrriiiue. . l'jfVf > nl IiintnUy imcl ( * mikuint > tfnti If uu In tlmo. Tholr UMI shown Inimcdhtu Improve. montuml mTccli.i CUltE wbaio allotbm loll. In. ttlHt u | > on liiivni tiu ) KenuIiiB / > Jax Tab ] o tit. Th y hura rurnd thouiiindfl iind vltl euro > ou.Vo frfvu n purtltUtf written juur.int o to ntfoct n cumin ouch ir\so or refund the money. J'HraSO tent * | er imckuct , or All imcLuijru [ Full trimtmunt ] for S'-/V / * . Itr mat ) . In plain wnipiwr. upon rurelnt of price. Oi ulnr AJAX REMEDY CO. , Fur gala tn Omulia Ly James Farsylli , 202 JCth Street , Kulm & Co. , ICtli and Duuglua fitrcelH. Druggists. RAIL1A ! TIME CARD I.ei cs IIJUnUNQTCN & MO. JUVUIUArrhea" Oiniilml Union Ucpov , 10m & ilutun sn [ Omiihn E&am.7 : . Denver l'\i > ru . , ' . ! > : &am 4:3Spm.Ullc : Hills. Mont. & 1'UKvt B.iil , i4Ujpin : 4:3Jpm : . Ui nvcr UxjiiLtj . . . . . c/.pin 7OUl : > m. .Nebraska lociil ( except Sunday ) , . 74Dpm ; . . .Lincoln Local ( except Suu > lu > ' . , .lV:3iaiu : ( 2jii > ! n..Fust Mull Itw Lincoln ) dally , . . Iru\ca ( CHICAGO , UUHMNnTON 4. < JAnlve | OmalialUnloi/Uci.ut . , lOtli & Slaaon siu. | Omnlm CiOOpm . Clilungo Vestibule , . . . . 80 ; .un 9 :4in : m . Chli-ufo Exprcin . 4 ; 10pm 7DOpm. : , Chicago uinl St. I.uuU ISxprrfui , . HiOOntii tl:40am . I'aclno junction Local . GlOiin : | _ . . . . . . . .Kant _ Mall . SSOpm : IAUVM [ CHICAGO. MIU & ST. 1'AUL. .IArrUoT OnmhnUnlon | D tiot , lOtli & Maeun HU. j Oumliii G:30j.m : . Chicago Limited ( :05nni : llOO.im..Clilcneo : UxprtBS ( ex , Bii 32ipm ; ( CHICAGO & NORTHWKSTN. 'lArriveT OnuiliuMjMlun Dctiot , JOth & Mason Ut . Oninha 10'mm ( . IZut'.ein UxprcxM , . . , 3:40pm : 4ijin ; ) . Vmllhiilcrl Limited C'.Mpui . Bt , 1'anl llxplcba . ! i:30uiu : IMO.Mii . rf . P-u ; Umltc-ti. , , , , , , , , . , D ; ( pni 7Slam.'iin- : ) ! Bluux City Locul.lllOpin ; C:30pin : . Omaha Clilrnun Special . 8:00uni : _ . . . . . . MUMiurl Valley Local. . „ . . :3iijm : t.raves ICHICAOO. It .1. & rACIKIC.lArrl.-CH * Omaliall'nlon Dt-jiot , 10th & Matun HU.IOinaha _ ' " " " " ' _ n A ST. _ 7. . _ _ L lOMCmn , , 'Atlantic ( i-x. HunJay ) , , 7Mm ; ) . NIKUt , 4.Mpm..ClilrnKo Vestlbulcil Umltcit . . . < Mlinn. . .SI l'u III VeMllmleil Mnllie.l . . . J:3ipm ' - _ _ 'WEST. ' " cTiSpm.OUlnliojna & Texan Ex. ( < x. HtiTi..10:53n7ii : lttj : ! > . . . . , . . . . . Llmllou.i. . . < : Cwpni crTsT. "P. . a. tttf. Arrives" Omnlin Depot , till ; oat ! Wctttr ftu. i Omiha Kl : ! > nin , . . . .HIoux Ciiy Aciommoilstlon . l ! : > r < pm . .EIoux City Uxinrtui iox , 3unll& ) > um < il5pm ! St. Pnul Limllt'U . 8tl0.ini F , . n. A i0. VTAI.LKV. "lAirlvns" Oinaliol Depot , ISm nj W lMUr ! < ! . I Omaha 3COirm. : . . . . . .Fast Mall nI3ip"reu , . . ' . . . . S:00pm : 3Mmex. : | ) Bat. ) W > o. Kjt. ( ex , Mou ) BiO pm 7fOamiI'icmnnt ; J * > "nPunflnyi \ ( Only ) . . TCi.iin. : ( NoriolW Kiprrn Itx. Pun. ) . . 19ZSum : , . . . . . .Et. I'ncil Kxprnsi. . , , . C10aiu ; r > av * f IcTc. ; HI. .1. A rt J . ' ( Arrives * OmahaIJnlon | Depot , 10th < t Manon 3t . | Omaha T , Kania ( f'lty D y Kxiircm.W. 810pni ; . C. Night Kx. via IT. 1 . Tia n . C:30.mi : aves I " "MISSOURI PACIFIC. lArrlvrr Oinnm ! | _ Depot , idlh find WcbsHT Sis. I Omali * 3.Optn.N brn ka & Kanxai Limited. , .12:2" : rrn a:30pm : , . KBIIBUO City ixpre s . v.OOam .Nrliiiitkn I.QCUI ( tx. Bim. > . . . . . 9'OCuni Li .vcri SIOUX CITY & I'ACIl'Icr'l'/Ci lives Omatif | _ n < ; | iot , 15th * nnd W'ebitvr 8tst. _ | Omalik jtrUj-m. . . [ . „ . . . fit. 1'atil Limited . II..J > :10atn : I Loavf f" 8Toux cif r A i > A5u > ia TAfiTvTs1 OnialmJUrilon ' Depot. 10th i Maaon BU. ( Omaht CMOiirn. . , , . . . . . 'fit. Pul I as rni r. . , linfpm 7:30nm : . Sioux City PftiicnKer . : OIpm 8tpm. . . . . St. 1'aul l.lmllrd. . . . . H : > Cjin l7f veY ] UNIOH" ! AcTxiS " " ( Arrives OniHlml Union ptpot , ICtli fj Mmion Bt . | Omaha " Ktarr.cy ! Cxiiii-i . , , , . , . . , . " 4'10pn Ovarland l.linltri ) . , , . 4ilipn fr | ) m.llc t'c ft Strmnklj'K Kx. ( ex. tiun ) 1 C:43nm. : .drarfl lilnn'i Kxpren ( ex , Kun. ) I Mail I.e v \VAItAairiUnVMT. ( . TXrrfvii ptnuhall'nlun Uepcl. Kuli & Uatoii Hu.l Oman * itttpm . St Louts Csnnnn Hall . . , U30iii ;