Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 11 December 1903, Page 4

Literature.

LOVE'S STRATAGEM. i It was early in the days of the Kimberley diamond boom that the shareholders of the different mines came to the conclusion that something must be done to put a stop to the wholesale stealing of the rough stones which reduced their dividends so considerably. After a great -deal of exertion- they succeeded in getting a law passed, by which Illicit Diamond Buying (or 1.D.8., as it was called) became a criminal offence.

I Felix Urogaii, a rising young detective, had come to Kimberley with the idea of getting some of the. liberal rewards which wvre offered for the conviction of the diamond thieves, or, rather, receivers—for it was the Kallirs working in the held who stole the stones, concealing them until the opportunity offered of selling them, often for the merest trifle. To track down the receivers was a difficult task, since, to secure a conviction, the stones must be found in the actual possession of the accused person ; and five years' penal servitude was the penalty for detection.

Grogan was a good looking man, and his fancy had been taken by Nora Sullivan, the daughter of Tim Sullivan, who kept a little restaurant in Kimberley, and was said to be making a fortune by it. Nora was a line girl of about 20, handsome and strong. Outspoken in the extreme, she gained the respect as well as the liking of everyone, with whom she came into contact.

Old Tim had a nephew, n namesake, who was a bit of a horsedealer and who also speculated in shares. It was an open secret that he, too, was in love with Nora, and it was generally supposed that they would make a match of it as soon as his business affairs, which had become, a bit shaky, improved. There was no love lost, as may be supposed, between young Tim Sullivan and Felix Grogan. In spite of what people said, Tim was none too sure of Nora, and he became wildly jealous whenever he saw Grogan hanging round, trying to win a word or smile from th« That was M often ?r.ough, as the detective kept ntinually on the watch for eppormties.

bne evening, as Nora was going |r a walk outside the town, Grogan pertook her.

" Taking a stroll, Miss Nora ?" he " Sure, and that's me own lmsiss, Mr Grogan," replied the girl, ortly. " Well, I should like to make it ine," Grogan said, good-humoured- " May I come with you '.'" " No, thank you ; and it's a sight itter off you'd be attending to your tsiness. Aren't there any respectable ;oplo about having aiamonds consaled ?" " Come, now, Miss Nora, you ight be a bit more fair. I can't ?lp it if it's my business to cutch lieves. If therp were no thieves lere would be no mvd «f detectives. ut let's forget my business, and avo a walk together." " Thank you, but I tell you a spy > not the company I care for. In eed, if I had to choose, I think I ould rather walk with the man ;ho picked up a tew stones —sure, here's plenty of 'cm an' to spare—han I'd walk with the one who goes oking his nose into other people's' iffairs," replied Nora. " Thank you for your plain spcakng, Miss Sullivan, and you may be lure I won't forget it. Good cvtnng" " Good evening," said Nora, as he walked on, " And I hope I'vt ;ot rid of you for good and all." " What can she mean ?" thought Grogan, angrily. '• She would •ather walk with the man who j.ickr >d up a few stones —surely she can't ncan young Tim ? It looUb queer. I'll keep my eyes on him." Meanwhile. Nora and Tim were talking together as sho wandered through the dry scrub. " Tim," the girl was saying, "Iv'e just one word to ask. Are you quite straight, fpr I'll no more take the man who isn't thwi I'll take the man who tries to catch him," "So ye'vo been philandering with Srogan, have ye?" said. Tim. "I don't blame him. Where's the boy that could resist you, darlin'v" " Never mind that, Tim, I want to know about the stones —have jou done with that business now, good an' all'.'" •• Well, Nora " " Tho truth, Tim, for it's serious I am. I've never given you the j.romise yet, an' I never will if I think you're deceiving me, so you'd better tell me-4or it's suspicious I am." " It's tho truth I'll tell you, Nora," said Tim, " if you'll give me a kiss to put tho heart into me." "Well, take one and make haste, for that srcake in the grass, Grogan. As sneaking about to-night." The two heads were close together, and curiously aliko they looked, for Tim was slightly built for a man. They both hod the clear blue eyes and dark wavy hair peculiarly typical of the real Irish peasantry.

[ ■' 'Tis true, Nora," said Tim, "I've |u few stones concealed, but L came [by them honestly, and when the lawwas passed making it illegal for a [poor boy to deal in them without a ilicenso what could Ido but keep I them until I saw a chance to sell them, in spite of the law. I've made imy arrangements, and the first dark •night, I shall be over the border, [where I've a friend who will luij them, and then, Nora darlin', we can start the housekeeping. You won't say ' No,' Nora, will y»u ?" I " I dpn't like it," said Nora. " I don't like i,t a bit ; it isn't safe."

" What do you mean ?" " I said something to tliat .sneaking Grogan to-night thaf will set him on thinking of this." " Nora ! What for did vou do it?" • • . . jr " How dW I know t'v4 you'.d got ■ diamonds ? Oh, Tim, Tim, voi. ! mustn't go across the IwW with i them. My lieart would break if yojj ! , were taken." , I " Cheer up, darlin' ! J)on't g<o meeting trouble half way." " Promise me, Tim—promise you ; won't go without letting me know," said Xora. " ()i course. I'll promise, ' said Tim, putting his arm round the girl, whibf his heart gladdened at the thought that she did tare for him* after alt. They little thought that Crognn had been watching them and had overheard a good deal of their conversation. Not many days after this t.'i-ognn sought out Nora. I " Miss Xora, J've something to say to you," he began. "Do you know that Tim Sullivan rides into the Transvaal to-night with a package of rough diamonds? J've got him sure. Yon know what it means—live years on the breakwater." " Well, Mr Crogan, and what then?" said the girl, whitp to the lips, but with a fine show of spirit , " and why do you tell me this ?■" (To be cpfl.clu.cled jn next issue.)