THE PURPLE DIAMOND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE PURPLE DIAMOND.

A STORY OF THRILLING ADVENTURE.

CHAPTER, XXlll.—(Continued.) The. next morning every newspaper in England flashed the news that an Englishman had become King of Karonia. 'lhe report, however, was incomplete. It was said that certain difficulties cxis'.ed regarding tho getting of news through from that troubled kingdom, and at the time of going to press it had not, been possible to obtain any further details regarding the identity of the Englishman who had come to the Central European throne under such strange and romantic circumstances. Then followed once, again the old, old story of the. purple. dianu%d, and its tradition, and it, was accurately conjectured that tho Englishman had, in soino way, become possessed of the throne stono and had availed himself of the opportunity of becoming Karouia's king for the sake of saving the peace of that country, which had been threatened ever since the death of King Michael and tho disappearance of the jewel. When Kendrick Towers read this he jotted something down in the little, blackbacked notebook ho invariably carried. After his talk the previous evening with his lawyer ho had come to the decision that it was quito impossible for Clement Antiss to carry on with his king business a moment longer than was absolutely necessary. The lawyer who had been tolerably conversant with Karonian lawhad mentioned that it was extremely unlikely (hat tho Karonian Government would consent to tho new king bringing a wife to the throne unless the lady met with their unanimous approval, and Towers, with a mental picture of Mabel before tiiin, knew that she was hopelessly unfitted for tho job of a qneen, just as he was also convinced that, Clement Antiss was not really cut out for a king. He had boon battling with the problem as to how ho could extricate Antiss from his indiscretion without making Mabel's husband look a fool. Thcnks, bowr\er, to the newspaper . - eport.s, he, had been given tho germ of an idea, but he n.nst bide his time before attempting to put that idea into operation. Ono thing the lawyer had been quite sure about. Towers must go, as quickly as was convenient, to Karonia, and place certain facts before tho king. The king must be told quite definitely that failing an agreement over tho matter of Mabel, abdication was tho only course open to him, and Mr. Towers, bearing in mind Mabel's determination to go to Karonia, decided that the best thing ho could do would be to take Mnbol along with him. As he anticipated, Mabel was an early caller. What a difference there was in her. Her eyes were brighter and thero was colour in his cheeks, and all this despite the fact that she told him she had hardly slept a wink all the night. " You know, Kendrick," she said, " I feel very proud of Clement. It isn't every man who would have taken on what ho has done, and I can see, too, how difficult it was for him to take me into his confidence. I'm not annoyed with him for that. I'm not angry with him for not letting me know. Clement has always been different from other men. As Helen says, he's been waiting his chance, and now that it has como he's done the job thoroughly. Yes, I'm proud of him." "Bravo, Mabel!" smiled Mr. Towers. " I don't think it will be very long before we straighten the tangle out, either. I'm in the midst of making arrangements for us to go to Kasana to see Clement. I want you to be prepared to leave London the day after to-morrow." " What's til 6 matter with to-day?" demanded Mabel. " For one thing, my dear, there are quito a number of formalities to which one has to subscribe before one can leave this country for another. There are passports and visas—one for each country through .which we will have to travel on our way—and a dozen other little things which have to be attended to. But believe me, if there's any way of shortening tho lime, it shall be done." It was a long time before Mabel could be, persuaded that one could not rush off there and then, but in the end she gave in. "I do hope you manage to hurry tilings up, Mr. Towers," supplicated Helen. " She's been behaving like an excited child before Christmas, ever since we left here last night." Towers laughed. " You may be sure I shall do my very best. Miss Bannister," he assured her. CHAPTER XXIV. AFFAIRS CF THE HEART. Meanwhile things at the Royal Palace at, Kasana had been much more pleasant. After bis experience at the hands of Prince Paulpatus, the King was in a less autocratic mood. He even consented to compromise over the matter of tho dismissal of the entire staff at the palace, but ho made doubly sure that no further ntempts were made to poison his meals by instituting the practice of tho royal chef fasting everything that was served at tho royal table, and abandoning his initial habit of taking even one of his meals alone. He had consented even to taking a drive through the city. The decision was an unexpected one, but despite this tho reception lie received when he was 10cognised was vociferously cordial. Thero had been almost iutorminable meetings of the cabinet under the direction of tho new Prime Minister, Count Stolicquaram, and though it had not, as yet, been possible to fix tho date of his coronation, tentative arrangements wcro proceeding. Tho Lord Chancellor had pointed out that a little time must necessarily elapse according to law; certain formalities bad to be attended to, and assent to the new king had, equally formally to be obtained from the House of J )oputies. For himself, King Clement, was in no hurry. Life was proving exceptionally agreeable. His knowledgo of Karonian had considerable increased, and with it diminished tho necessity for requiring the services of an interpreter. Most of his time was spent, in familiarising himself with the internal workings of tho palace, and gleaning some small insight into the economic condition of the country which, happy to relate, was settling down again peacefully now that, a. king was on the throne. Though iie was happy, ho could never quito drive the thought of Mabel from his mind. To him Mabel had assumed an altogether new importance. She was like, a background for him, and he felt that the. lime was quickly approaching when something would have to be done about her. Many a time he wondered whether she now knew where he was, and what had happened to him. Sometimes he fell like a coward—l hat he had behaved shabbily toward her in not explaining matters to her himself. To one in his position Mabel became automatically a liability—a kind of. liability that could not bo liquidated. It, was curious that while he was thinking of Mabel the thought of another woman should have entered bis head. It was, lie thought, due to the association of ideas. The other woman was Alys Vrigantua. His Majesty was sunning himself in a secluded corner of the Palace gardens. He rebuked himself for being so utterly forgetful; so unchivalvous. Here he had been King of Karonia for nearly a week and he had never yet sent for Alys to thank her personally* for all that she had done for him. Why, if it had not been for Alys' help when he had been trapped by Prince Paul in that house in London he would not now be where be was.

(COPYRIGHT.)

By RALPH TREVOR. Author of "Under Suspicion."" "The" Deputy Avenger," etc.

That, little matter should be rectified immediately and a courier was despatched to command Alys to the Royal piesence. s Alys Vrigantua was not astonished when she received the Royal command. She had a pleasant little town house not (on minutes' walk away from the Palace. It was luxuriously furnished, and in its spacious rooms she entertained considerably in duo season. Her ambitions had not in (lie least been thwarted by the fact that since his coming to the capital King Clement had not deigned to fiend for her. Alys believed that, there was a prescribed time for all things. From the day of her arrival in Kasana she had not, left her house, for she had heard of the return of Prince Paul and Joacim. The latter, she knew, would wish to exact; revenge upon her for cheating him as she had done, and when the news came that Prince Paul and his followers had left Karonia rather hurriedly, before daylight one morning, she. was not only surprised, but also relieved. Drucilla, her maid, whose facility for carrying gossip was a thing of wonder, had mentioned, that it was hinted in certain quarters that the reason for the flight was due to the discovery of a plot against the life of the new King, but that details had been purposely suppressed. No that when the courier came from the. Palace complete with Royal motojp car, Alys felt that the time had come—the hour for which she had long waited. His Majesty was still in the Palace garden when she was conducted to him. Alys curtsied prettily. She was daintily dressed, and she smiled appealingly. The King jumped up from the rustic seat on which he had been sitting and held out his hand, a habit he felt he would never, never conquer. " Your Majesty sent for me?" she said. "My pardon, Mademoiselle, for not sending for you before, but I assure you I had not forgotten." " Not, forgotten 1" Alys smiled, provocatively. " Won't you sit down?" he asked, indicating the rustic seat. Alys sat. ' " How ravishing she looks," he thought. " What a perfectly divine creature. I don't ever remember any woman appealing to me quite so much as she. Those eyes! Those lips. And what a. perfect figure !" Aloud, he said, " Don't you remember how you helped me to escape? I want to thank you." She laughed. Her laugh reminded him of a cascade of water leaping over rocks. " That was nothing. Besides,. I had promised to help you." " But, you took a risk," ho protested. " You might havo been discovered, and what then? My dear, it was very brave of you—very brave indeed." Alys grew bolder. " 1 was discovered," she told him, " but so far I'vo dodged the consequences." " Do you remember our little chat together in that rooom? I thought you were the most wonderful person I had ever met." Alys lowered her lids, shyly. " What next will tho old buffer be saying ?" she thought. " He's getting quite romantic. I shouldn't bo at all surprised if he didn't ask me to marry him. Alys, my dear, this is your red letter day." And His Majesty: " If I had only the courage to take her into my arms and kiss her. I was a fool to ask her to come. She's dangerous. I oughtn't to bo telling her all this. And yet why not ? Aren't I King here, and if a King can't do as he pleases, who can, I'd like to know." This method of placating his conscience appealed to His Majesty. " That is indeed nice of you, Your Majesty," smiled Alys. "It is rare indeed that such compliments come my way, but if I may bo so bold I should like to tell you that I've never yet met anyone more enchanting than yourself. You're strong; you've got a magnetic personality. If you hadn't vou wouldn't have undertaken this great task. Tho people adore you; they worship you. I know, because I am of the people." And to herself: "What a little liar you are. You know very well that he's as uninteresting as a plate of cold soup; that lie's no personality worth bothering twice about, and that the Karonians would much prefer to have Prince Charlmango if they could get him." His Majesty was tempted to move a little closer to this exquisite .piece of femininity on the seat beside him. He was no longer King Clement of Karonia. He was just a man with an eye for a pretty woman and a neat pair of ankles. And how uncannily accurate sho was in her diagnosis of him! Of course he was all that she had said of him. Trust a woman to know; trust a woman to discern what was in a man and what wasn't. He must invite Alys to the Palace a little oftener. What about a nice quiet dinner together in his private suite? Capital idea. He'd arrange it immediately. " I am glad to hear you say that," he smiled, encouragingly, edging a little closer to her and noting that she did not withdraw from him. " I hope to do my best for your people, but you must give mo time to settle down. As yet I am a stranger within your gates. But I am learning—oh, yes, I am learning, all right," ho chuckled, " and soon I shall be needing your advice more and more. You see, my dear Alys," he was growing braver and bolder every minute, " 1 want you to bo my very dear friend. You know so much. I would trust your judgment before anyone else. You havo lived; you love.life; you understand the Karonians much better than 1 can ever hope to do. You see what I mean— Alys?" Alys did not quite see what Ilis Majesty meant, but fcho tried to think that, slio did. Ho was offering her something—lie callod it friendship—she was not so sure. Her mind was working swiftly. Was this the chance she had been waiting for so long ? Well, it would be exceedingly agreeable to occupy adjacent thrones. Queen Alys of Karonia! The very peak of her ambition! And what a nasty blow it would bo to tho Countess Nadya, that glittering Society beauty who only last night had declared that she could " twist, the. new King around her small finger," and that she was going to begin weaving her web almost immediately. But Alys knew she had drawn first, blood. The throne was hers for the asking, but she must not appear too precipitate. She had not yet quite got the measure of King Clement. In soino ways ho puzzled her. It, was the peculiar way ho had sometimes of looking right beyond everything as though at something, or someone, outside the range of independent vision. «" 1 appreciate what, Your Majesty has said, very much," she told him, quietly. " It, is a. great honour; T shall value your friendship more than anything else in "tho world." " Then we must talk things over," lie went on, flushed with success. " I shall give a little dinner for you at the Palace. What do you think of that? " " For me—me alone? " " For you alone." " You darling," she. cried. (To be continued dnilr.)