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% THE BRACEBRIDGE DIAMONDS A Thrilling Story of Mystery and Adventure (Copyright, 1906. by Amerlcon-Joumal-Exomtner) CHAPTER I. rllOIS that?" VV Reginald Bracebridge stared and clutched hla cousin's arm ' ' with a painful grip as he uttered the words. ••You don't.need to break my bones, Reg,” said his cousin, Frank. -Just because you're inquisitive. Who Is what?" ••Haven't you any eyes, man?" demanded Reginald, "that you haven't seen that woman on the piazza?" Frank had seen the woman, had seen her some moments before Regin ald's impressionable young eyes had lighted upon her. But he was older than Reginald and had the quiet self-control of the high-bred man of the world. She was well worth looking at, the woman who stood with one arm clasping a pillar of the broad piazza of the Grand Union hotel. Above me- dlum-height, yet not too tall, she had the svelte, sinuous, willowy figure that Is but rarely seen. Her hair was black as midnight and waved slightly in the simple coiffure which was so in contrast to the elaborately waved puffs and curls that surmounted the head of almost every other woman at the resort. But It was not the hair, nor the figure, nor even the wonderful Paris gown the woman wpre at which both Reginald and Frank looked so long. It was the marvelously lovely face of the girl, for only a girl she was Perfect classic features, accentuated by the simplicity of her coiffure, a creamy skin with a carmine tint showing through the cheeks and lips, were but a setting for a pair of the most glorious eyes the two boys had ever seen Dark and lustrous they were, but with an expression In them that haunt ed every one on whom they rested. A perfectly fitting, simply made, but priceless white lace gown enveloped the girl's beautiful form Her arms, bared to the elbow, were exquisitely white and delicately rounded and tapered. She wore no Jewels of any kind. A touch of black at the throat and on the sleeves of the gown and an Immense crimson rose fastened at her bosom completed a picture to stir the blood of any man. Who can she be?" said Reginald, whom he was sure she lived In constant impatiently. "I must know her. She is a woman to die for." Months afterwards the words came back to Frank Bracebridge, a knell like echo of prophecy. "Better steer clear, Reginald," ad vised his cousin sagely. “There's a mystery there. I noticed her eyes as she passed us. There Is 'a haunted brooding look In them, a look of terror. I tell you that woman is In dread of her life from some one.” "Nonsense!" returned Reginald with the Impetuosity of youth." “You arc wrong, Reg,” said hi cousin gravely. "I am sure that worn an Is in deadly fear at this moment. To the ordinary passer-by It looks as if she were simply watching tho sunset, but can you not see the tenseness of her whole figure, the watchfulness and dread expressed in every muscle? Why, the way In which the fingers of that tiny hand are pressed Into the pillar is enough to show her mental distraction to the experienced observant eye." 'Your experience as a criminal law yer In New York has made you per fectly crazy upon the subject of read ing people's thoughts by watching their actions," observed Reginald. "That woman is superbly beautiful enough to turn a man's head, but I don't believe site has a thought at the present mo ment beyond the effective picture she knows she is making in that gown with her face turned to the setting sun." Frank did not reply.. He was watch ing the woman closely. His eyes fol lowed her gaze down tho beautiful ave nue upon which the carriages from the station were traveling to the hotel. He know Intuitively that the woman dread ed each new arrival at tho hotel lest he or she might prove to be the person of fear. The Bracebridge cousins had been guests at the famous gambling and health resort, Saratoga, for several weeks. Attorney Frank Bracebridge, one of the best-known young criminal lawyers In New York, was resting at the resort after a severe nervous breakdown following his victory In a noted murder case. He had saved his client from the gallows only by the most superhuman efforts, and his col lapse followed. He was accompanied to the Springs by his cousin, Reginald, who come partly of his own volition, for he liked his cousin Frank as much as his self ish, shallow nature could like any one, and partly at the behest of his father, James Bracebridge, the multl-mllllon- alre Wall street magnate. A Secret, James Bracebridge, a sturdy old fel low, about whose ancestry there were mysterious stories told, had arrived In America with his brother, John, when a youth of 19. Their speech and clothing proved conclusively that they had come of good family, but whatever was the se cret which led to their emigration pen niless and alone to America they had never betrayed It. James Bracebridge had saved and scrimped all the first part of his life; he had schemed and combined and frozen out competition from the time he made his first success In business, and now at the age of 68 he had but one sorrow—the profligacy of his only son, Reginald. The boy had been expelled from two colleges, he had gotten Into countless scrapes, some of them serious enough to impress his cousin's legal powers; he In debt over his head constantly. eyes gazed as If blaste sight of a handsome foreign-looking man coming up the steps. She swayed and would have fallen had not Frank grasped her arm firm ly, shielding her at the same time from the gaze of the man whom she so evi dently dreaded. "Courage," he whispered. "He has not seen you. Command me If I can help you." She turned her glorious eyes upon him for an Instant. Then he felt her arm stiffen under his grasp. Must See Him. "It does not matter If he sees me,' she said. “He must know that I am here or he would not have come, must see him sooner or later.” She was perfect mistress of herself again. All the haunting terror of her eyes, the agitation of her manner was gone. It was as If she had suddenly drawn a colorless mask over her face. Frank saw that whatever her secret fear of the foreigner was she would not share It. "As you will," he said, and drew back bowing as she swept past him Into the lobby of the hotel. The stranger stood at the desk regis tering. He was tall, dark, striking, with the beard and mustache that many foreigners of position affect. Reginald, with the curiosity of the very young man, was standing near him as he registered. “His name Is Dr, Carl Mueller, of Cleveland,” he whispered to Frank ex citedly a moment later. "There he goes now. As I live, she Is going to speak to him." The beautiful girl was Indeed talking to the stranger, whose face was dark and frowning as he looked at her. Then the girl disappeared In the elevator, while the stranger strolled to the cigar counter. His eyes, dark and piercing, were fixed upon Frank. Despite Frank's as surances to the beautiful unknown, Dr. Mueller had seen the two In close con versation, and his glance was not only curious, but Insolent, with Its smiling sneer. A curious, nlmost psychic, feeling came Into Frank Bracebrldgc's ndnd as he returned the stare of the othor, a feeling that there was that between him and this dark, devilishly smiling for eigner which could only be wiped out by the death of one or the other. It was only a moment that the two men stood with eyes Axed upon each other. Then Dr. Mueller turned on hla heel with an Insolent gesture and went to his room. Frank stood gazing at him trying to shake off the uncanny feel ing that in dome nnciertt time ho ami thin foreigner had flown at each other’s throats with the ferocity of tigers. Reginald brought him back to his surroundings by a firm clutch upon his arm. "Wake up, old man; you look as though you had seen a ghost." he said. 'Wake up. I have found out her name." Frank turned to his chattering cousin calmly. Come out on the veranda, Reg," he said, "and don’t gfet excited. What is the fair unknown’s name?" Madame Vera fllavfnsky," returned DRINK A BOTTLE EVERY WHERE His father had threatened to cut him , _ , ,. ... ..... . , . off without a penny and tho young chap Reginald, with a little shiver of pre- had sobered up a bit. tended disgust. "Slavlnsky! Can you It was after a terrific scene with * Imagine It?’ his father that Reginald had consented "'A rose by any other name, mur- to accompany his cousin to Saratoga, mured l*rank absently. Then to him- old Bracebridge having the greatest re spect for his nephew's high character, as well as for his legal ability. Frank Bracebridge was the antithe sis of his cousin, Reginald, In charac ter. In appearance they were curious ly alike, both tall, well-built chaps, blue-eyed and fair-haired, although the hair of the elder Bracebridge was tinged with silver and his face showed the lines of deep culture and worldly experience.. The polished, courtly man of the world, Frank Bracebridge, gave one the Impression of a tremendous force of reserve power, and perhaps passion also, were he ever to allow any emotion to rise above the barrier of well-bred reservo he had built up around him. Walt for tho Train. These were the men who sat on the piazza of the hotel and watched tho girl who gazed at the approaching ’busses. The guests thronged out upon the broad veranda. ^ A ... The ’busses came to the steps and the porters bustled down to get the suit cases of the incoming guests. Mine host stood a little to one side of his broad entrance door surveying the scene with quiet satisfaction. He also glanced at the beautiful statuesque figure by the pillar. A puzzled look came Into his eyes and he shook hla head ever so slightly. The usuul quota of visitors streamed up the broad steps to be welcomed by mine host personally, as was his cus tom. A famous motor racer, who held the world’s championship, his wife, whom scandal whispered he had mar ried only five days after his divorce and hers, an Episcopal bishop, a race track tout, a divorcee of more than doubtful reputation, two spinster school teachers, a deacon afflicted with rheu matism, and his wife who had come nfmr "fathpr" an actress along to look after "father, an actress whose coon songs spelled dollars every time she opened her throat—these and many other types entered tho doors of the cosmopolitan resort. Reginald’s eyes were upon the girl by the pillar. Frank’s upon the people coming up the steps, yet it was i-rank who reached her side first when her beautiful white hand went up to her BOSTON, MASS., AND RETURN «==VIA=== a SOUTHERN RAILWAY $28.00 via Norfolk and Steamer. $29.15 at.t. RAIL via New York. Tickets on sale July 25 to 28th, limited August 5; can be extended to August 20,1907. Stop-Overs at Norfolk, Washington and New York. Ticket office No. 1 Peachtree street; phone 142. New Terminal Station phone 4900. J. C. LUSK, District Passenger Agent, Atlanta, 6a. self; “l wonder why she <Irea<l» Mueller no. Why, she feels ns strong a repulsion toward him ns I do- He cut himself short with an angry gesture. "Have I reached thlrty-llvo," asked himself contemptuously, "to have a pair of eyes affect me like this?" Reginald Interrupted hi. mu.tng., "Come along to Canfield's, Frank," ho said Invitingly. "No." said Frank decidedly, "and you are not going, either. 1 promised your father that I would keep you away from there.” "All right," replied Reginald with suspicious meekneu. "Let's go for n stroll, then." They walked along the paths of Con gress Pnrk. Tho new moon was shining a silver bow In the heavens, but Its light was faint nnd the shadows were dense beneath the trees. "Well, I think I'll turn In, yawned Reglnnld, after tho cousins had strolled for half an hour. All right," returned Frank. "I’ll sit on the veranda nnd smoke a cigar.” Reglnnld went up to his room and the elder man sat smoking. In the spiral smoke from his cigar the beau tiful face of Madame Vera—he would not rnll her Slavlnsky to himself—and tho evil mocking countenance of Dr. Mueller floated together. What was the secret of the man's power over the woman ? Frank's cigar went out while he was dreaming of tho two faces that had come Into his life that day. Reginald Milling. "I'll turn In," he thought, Tm get ting foolish.” He went to the suit of rooms the cousins occupied together. Reginald was not there. Frank clinched his hands with annoyance. "I might have known,” he said. "He has gone to the CBBlno." He caught up his hat and hurriedly left the rooms, going down the avenue and croeelng to the Monte Carlo America. He atood a moment In the doorway watching the scene within. It was one to hold the attention, to fascinate the Interest of any man. A long velvet-carpeted room, with priceless draperies at the ellken (haded windows, with roulette wheels and other gambling devices scattered about, held as conglomerate a crowd Si one would wish to see. Women In costly evening gowns rub bed elbows with country housewives In simple dresses; the Sunday echool teacher and the deml-mondalne sat aide by side at the roulette wheel which the practiced eye and steady hand of the gray-hatred croupier was speeding merrily. The pampered wife of a millionaire was throwing down 1100 gold pieces upon the red or the black as If they were pennies. A timid little echool teacher watching became so fascinated that she ventured her savings of a year dollar by dollar, until all were, swept away, when she gilded from the room. Gray-bearded men were playing faro In the corner, risking thousands of dol lars upon the turn of the cards. Found in Gambling Den. Every table In the room was crowded with a swaying, kaleidoscopic throng that feverishly watched every move ment of the wheels, listened eagerly to every chanting Intonation of the crou piers. At the most crowded table Frank found Reginald. He was winning, and piled up before him were stacks of chliis with which he was waging his battle agulnat the wheel. Continued in Tomorrow’s Georgian. HIGH'S HIGH’S HIGH’S HIGH’S GREATEST Furniture Bargain EVER OFFERED ■n (Exactly Like Cut, Every Piece Drawn from the Model) This Offer Borders on the Sensational No Furniture Store Ever Announced the Equal of This Bargain Special Bedroom Outfit Consisting of Twelve Pieces, Exactly Like Cut. Cash or Credit, For Only 158.50 1 Oak Dressing Case, 1 Oak Wash Stand, 2 Oak Chairs, 1 Oak Rocker, 1 Oak Center Table, 1 Iron Bed, Brass Trimmed, 1 Fair Springs, Pair Pillows, 30-lb. Cotton Mattress, 10-piece Toilet Set, For a Few Days, COMPLETE OUTFIT ONLY $5850 This is the MOST EXTRAOR DINARY BARGAIN wo’vo ever known, and we urge you to place your order for this outfit as early as possible. There’s only a lim ited number to be sold at this absurd price, and they’ll go like “Hot Cakes." The Dresser and Wash Stand are of Qolden Oak, Serpentine “ Swell Finish.” French Beveled Mirror, Oak Chairs, with cane seats. Tho rocker has leather seat. Oak Center Table with brass claw feet, etc., etc. This outfit would be cheap at $90.00. The Whole “Outfit” for a Few Days Only $58.50, ON EASY TERMS. j. M. HIGH co.