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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32411-h.zip b/32411-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad900a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/32411-h.zip diff --git a/32411-h/32411-h.htm b/32411-h/32411-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdb06c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/32411-h/32411-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2555 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Queen of the Flaming Diamond, by Leroy Yerxa + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.img1 {border:solid 1px; } + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 30%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; font-size:smaller;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft1 { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; + margin-top: 0.2em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +font-style:normal; +} + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Queen of the Flaming Diamond, by Leroy Yerxa + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Queen of the Flaming Diamond + +Author: Leroy Yerxa + +Release Date: May 18, 2010 [EBook #32411] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEEN OF THE FLAMING DIAMOND *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Amazing Stories January 1943. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="521" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<h1>QUEEN</h1> +<h3>OF THE</h3> + +<h2>FLAMING DIAMOND</h2> +<p> </p> +<h2>by LEROY YERXA</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>There it was, in a night club, the biggest diamond in the +world. Why was it here when a whole race depended on it for +existence?</i></div> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t1.jpg" alt="T" width="45" height="50" /></div> +<p>he Owl Limb Night Club was crowded with smoothly gowned women and +paunchy men as Owner George Lardner approached the hanging "mike" to +announce the midnight attraction. At Lardner's appearance "Puffy" +Adams nudged his well-dressed boss in the ribs and whispered thickly.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Jim. Let's get out of here."</p> + +<p>Jim Drake lifted a tousled head from the smooth linen. He gazed at his +right hand man with a washed-out expression.</p> + +<p>"Huh?"</p> + +<p>"Puffy" Adams stood up slowly. His coat was wrinkled and creased +across his powerful back. He pulled it down impatiently and rubbed a +warm hand across his face. Looking down at the unsteady figure of Jim +Drake he grunted. Three crooked teeth that seemed at odds with the +world, appeared coyly against "Puffy's" lower lip.</p> + +<p>He was accustomed to this old routine. Placing both hands under +Drake's armpits he lifted. Jim came to his feet with a surprised +gurgle.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," he protested. "Wanta' see dance."</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams pushed a thick arm around Drake and steered him across the +floor between the tables.</p> + +<p>"Special feature tonight—diamond of mystery...." The night club owner +was still talking, his voice drowning the murmur of voices and tinkle +of glasses across the big room. "Sylvia Fanton—girl from nowhere—!"</p> + +<p>Puffy struggled onward under the almost dead weight of his boss. Drake +was trying to hold back.</p> + +<p>"You gave me orders to take you home at midnight," Puffy protested, +"and, 'Cinderella' Drake, home you go."</p> + +<p>He succeeded in dragging his charge up the three low steps that led +toward the coat room. A silvery crash of music drowned out Puffy's +voice with the suddenness of striking lightning. He dropped his arm +from Drake's waist and pivoted, surprise on his broad face. Something +weird and lovely about the sound turned them both toward the stage. +His chin dropped in delight. This wasn't Lardner's usual nightly +feature.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="400" height="569" alt="She went into a weirdly sensuous dance...." title="" /> +<span class="caption">She went into a weirdly sensuous dance....</span> +</div> + +<p>They watched with hypnotized eyes as the girl's slim body twisted and +swayed from between the bright shower of curtains. It wasn't the girl +that caught Puffy's gaze. Cupped in her slim hands was the biggest +diamond he had ever seen. The gem was skillfully cut with the +perfection of a Tiffany. From its multi-faceted sides a million sparks +of rainbow fire quivered and danced through the room. The shadows +seemed to come alive and burn under its presence.</p> + +<p>Puffy gasped loudly.</p> + +<p>"Shhhhh!"</p> + +<p>"It ain't true," Puffy said. "A paste if I ever stole one."</p> + +<p>Blake leaned on the low rail that bordered the dining room. His legs +were spread wide, body balanced unsteadily with firm-gripped hands. +George Lardner had picked a winner this time. Clothed in ankle-length +silver cloth, she wafted across the floor lightly as a breeze. Sylvia +Fanton was a light, floating angel of beauty. Her hair was raven-black +drifting to her waist and the eyes, dark as her hair, seemed caught in +worship for the precious stone in her hands. She hardly danced yet the +smooth torso, the swaying hips held her admirers fixed.</p> + +<p>A sigh of longing escaped Drake's lips.</p> + +<p>"Wunnerful," he breathed.</p> + +<p>"Yea!" Puffy was still watching the great gem. "Not real though."</p> + +<p>"Perfect as a dream," Jim Drake went on, not hearing.</p> + +<p>"Perfect phony," Puffy insisted.</p> + +<p>Drake swung around unsteadily.</p> + +<p>"Who you calling phony," he lisped angrily. "That's girl's wunnerful."</p> + +<p>He staggered and collapsed against Puffy's barrel chest.</p> + +<p>"Home for you," Puffy decided.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="34" height="40" /></div> +<p>e retrieved Drake like a sack of spuds and placed him carefully on +his feet.</p> + +<p>"We're going out." He took a last look toward the dance floor and +pushed his boss through the curtains toward the outer lobby.</p> + +<p>The music behind them stopped. The lights in the dining room blinked +out and a woman screamed somewhere in the darkness. Adams didn't wait +to find out what had happened. He pushed Drake along the hall toward +the coat room. Beside the tall youngster, Adams assumed all the +importance of a harbor tug heaving away at an ocean-going liner.</p> + +<p>Mary, the checkroom girl, was waiting. When midnight brought Drake +from his whiskey, the girl had learned to expect a lavish tip. She +looked at Puffy with a puzzled smile.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong in there?"</p> + +<p>"Revolution," he answered shortly. "Light went out. Lardner probably +forgot to pay the light bill."</p> + +<p>Jim Drake fumbled uncertainly in his pocket and brought out a numbered +ticket.</p> + +<p>"Coat please," he said stiffly. "Coat please!"</p> + +<p>He waved the ticket under Mary's nose.</p> + +<p>She took the stub quickly and returned in a minute with a woman's +silver fox cape. It was a lavish, deeply rich fur.</p> + +<p>"How long since you started wearing these things?" she asked and +pushed it across the counter.</p> + +<p>"Hey!" Puffy grunted. "That ain't ours."</p> + +<p>Drake clutched the fur protectively.</p> + +<p>"Here—here," he cried. "My coat. Just grew whiskers. My coat just the +same."</p> + +<p>Before Adams could stop him, Drake was lurching toward the door and +into the waiting arms of the doorman. Puffy tossed a bill on the +counter and Mary's eyes popped a fraction.</p> + +<p>"We'll bring it back when he sobers up," he said quickly. "Must have +got the wrong number."</p> + +<p>"Thanks!"</p> + +<p>"Forget it." He went toward Drake and the grinning doorman. Rescuing +his drunken charge. Adams helped him across the walk toward the car.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Cinderella. You got a date with the sandman."</p> + +<p>Somewhere down State Street came the mournful howl of a siren.</p> + +<p>"Whee!" Drake waved the fur in the air above his head. "Fire—want to +go to fire."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p> crowd of patrons were pouring from the club behind them. With a +quick push Puffy deposited Drake in the streamlined coupe and rounded +the rear tires on the run. He jumped behind the wheel and turned the +key. Sirens were whining in close now.</p> + +<p>The door slammed and a girl landed squarely on Drake's lap.</p> + +<p>It was the dancing girl, Sylvia Fanton. Her face was flushed brightly +with fright.</p> + +<p>"Whee!" Drake shouted gleefully. "The Angel herself. Where's the +Tiffany?"</p> + +<p>He threw his arms about her slim, silver-clad waist and planted a +popping kiss on her cheek. The flat of the girl's hand caught his +face, hard. Drake sobered a degree.</p> + +<p>"My jacket!" her voice was strained and tense. "Please! I must have it +at once."</p> + +<p>Drake was interested. His pale eyes started to show fight.</p> + +<p>"Sure!" he said. "But it's <i>my</i> jacket."</p> + +<p>The sirens were dying now. A powerful police car shot to the curb +behind them. Puffy's eyes narrowed and he drove the coupe away from +the club smoothly.</p> + +<p>"Too hot around here," he said to no one in particular. "Can't stand +the smell of copper's feet."</p> + +<p>Sylvia Fanton's dress was badly ripped on one side. The silken +stocking and smooth flesh of her thigh was visible through the tear.</p> + +<p>"Please!" There were tears in her cold eyes. "I <i>must</i> have the +jacket. It <i>is</i> mine, you know."</p> + +<p>Drake was coy.</p> + +<p>"Aw," he insisted. "I had a ticket for it."</p> + +<p>She slipped between them, her arm around Drake's shoulder. Realizing +that he was drunk, she tried a different approach.</p> + +<p>"Now what would you do with it?" she asked sweetly. "You would look +funny wearing a silver fox jacket. You'd be just an old fox."</p> + +<p>Jim hesitated. Then he slipped the jacket from his arm and around her +soft shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I'll make a deal with you," he suggested. "Let us take you home and +you can have the old animal."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="33" height="40" /></div> + +<p>or the first time his eyes were clearing enough to get a really good +look at the girl at his side. He started to wonder vaguely how she had +gotten here. She was small and her tiny face seemed almost cupid-like +to his uncertain vision. Her eyes were frightened like the eyes of a +timid animal.</p> + +<p>"Okay!" Puffy said sharply. "You've made a bargain. I ain't driving +all night. Where to?"</p> + +<p>Her voice snapped out sharp and cold.</p> + +<p>"Nowhere. Stop right here."</p> + +<p>Jim Drake chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," he stammered. "Be a sport. You promised."</p> + +<p>He looked away for an instant, trying to shake some of the fog from +his head. When he looked back the girl was gone. There between them on +the seat was a small silver fox.</p> + +<p>He shook his head dazedly and groaned.</p> + +<p>"They got me," he moaned. "Stop car. I got to...."</p> + +<p>Puffy took his eyes from the road. A sharp oath escaped his lips. The +brakes squealed as he felt sharp teeth settle deeply into his wrist. +Howling with pain he twisted the coupe to the curb.</p> + +<p>The fox released its grip and leaped gracefully over the door into the +street. It was gone, weaving swiftly like a small dog through the +straggling crowd. It went out of sight quickly into a nearby alley.</p> + +<p>"Holy Ned!" Puffy held a bleeding wrist in his good hand. "I'm getting +this way from <i>being</i> with you."</p> + +<p>Jim Drake's lips quivered strangely and he turned pale.</p> + +<p>"I wanna' go home. Don't wanna' see anyone. No one, understand?"</p> + +<p>Puffy nodded, but Drake persisted brokenly.</p> + +<p>"Fox woman, that's what she is. Darned old fox woman wouldn't play +fair...!" His lips murmured off into something Puffy couldn't +understand.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="40" /></div> +<p>ong shafts of sunlight split the obscure shadows that had hidden Jim +Drake's room for the past twelve hours. Drake turned over carefully in +bed, groaned and reached for the full glass on the table.</p> + +<p>"Puffy!" His voice arose in shattering crescendo across the stillness +of the rich apartment and crashed against the door. "Puffy—it's me. +Take these damned rocks off my head."</p> + +<p>Adams opened the door and came forward with a sly grin on his face.</p> + +<p>"Okay—Okay." He was impatient. "I'm coming, Cinderella."</p> + +<p>Drake swallowed the contents of the glass in a single gulp and +stretched out with a sickly grin.</p> + +<p>"That was a wonderful dream I had last night," he said weakly. "Remind +me to call Walt Disney."</p> + +<p>Adams went across the room and drew open the curtains. A two o'clock +sun slipped into the room and Drake hid himself hurriedly in the +pillow.</p> + +<p>"Turn out that damned light," he shouted. "Now—about that fox woman. +Walt Disney oughta' pay...."</p> + +<p>Puffy had braced his feet and placed his stocky arms behind his back.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't any dream," he said calmly.</p> + +<p>"Yea, I know. I was drunk."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't a dream," Puffy said stubbornly. "That girl you saw really +was a fox. At least she turned into one. Oh! Damn!"</p> + +<p>He tossed the morning paper on the bed.</p> + +<p>"Read what the <i>Star</i> had to say about your dream," he said. "They got +the story straighter than I did. We took a lady for a ride, Cinderella, +and she turned into a silver fox."</p> + +<p>Drake sat up stiffly. The foolish look of surprise was gone. He +reached for the <i>Morning Star</i>. In huge headlines he read:</p> + +<h3> + DARING HOLDUP AT NEW<br /> + NIGHT CLUB</h3> +<h4> + World's Largest Diamond Stolen From<br /> + Under Eyes of Police</h4> +<p>Sober as a lord now, Drake sent his eyes wavering along the column of +newsprint:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Chicago, May 6.—A group of daring jewel thieves last night +stole the Lardner diamond, largest gem of its kind in the +world, from beneath the eyes of an armed guard.</p> + +<p>The stone was a perfect cut, pronounced priceless only last +week when it was first seen by Tiffany experts.</p> + +<p>George Lardner, the owner of the Owl Limb, one of the city's +newest night spots, had taken it from a private vault to +display in a special dance.</p> + +<p>Miss Sylvia Fanton, who danced with the gem has also +disappeared, but Lardner insists that she was well known to +him and could have had no hand in the robbery.</p> + +<p>This story is feasible, as the gown Miss Fanton was wearing +at the time has been discovered badly torn in a State Street +alley. Murder of the dancer is suspected.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>rake tossed the paper across the room.</p> + +<p>"Rubbish!" His eyes were clear and snapping now. The night of +adventure was thrown from his mind. "It couldn't happen, Puffy. We +were seeing things."</p> + +<p>Adams picked up the <i>Star</i> carefully, thumbed toward the last page and +held the news sheet where Drake could see another, much smaller +caption.</p> + +<p>"Look at this," he begged. "You'll sing another song."</p> + +<p>Jim took the sheet again, as though afraid he <i>would</i> believe the +impossible. This story was short, and wedged in at the bottom of a +last page.</p> + +<h3>ZOO OFFICIALS CAPTURE FOX RUNNING WILD IN CITY STREET</h3> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Captured while trotting calmly down a State Street alley +early today, a perfect silver fox has found its home at +Wildwood Zoo.</p> + +<p>Keepers chuckled when asked for a statement to the press. +They expect a fox farm to place a claim on the valuable +animal within twenty-four hours.</p> + +<p>The fox was in perfect condition, with a deep, rich black +coat, tufted with snow white tips on each hair.</p> + +<p>The Mayor has already offered to convert the pelt into a +cape for his wife, should an owner fail to claim the animal.</p></div> + +<p>Jim Drake shuddered.</p> + +<p>"I was drunker than I had any business being last night," he said +finally. "Did it all happen, what I saw?"</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams grinned woefully. He drew his arm from behind his back and +displayed a clean, bandaged wrist.</p> + +<p>"I got teeth marks an inch deep in my wrist," he said. "What do you +think?"'</p> + +<p>Drake was out of bed in one bound. He pulled his slippers on +hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of hot water for a shower?"</p> + +<p>"Coming up!"</p> + +<p>Puffy retreated toward the bathroom door. Over his shoulder he asked.</p> + +<p>"Going to the zoo?"</p> + +<p>"I'm crazy," Jim admitted. "But if they found a girl's dress a block +from where we parked, and there's a silver fox at the zoo this +morning, I want to know why."</p> + +<p>Puffy's stout figure was hidden behind the glass door. Water started +its inviting swish from the shower. His voice came out with a hollow +ring.</p> + +<p>"Well, Cinderella," he said whimsically, "we're on the make again, but +the odds are against us. If that dame can bite my arm and turn into an +animal in the same night she'll make a hell of a mate for Jimmy."</p> + +<p>Drake was already halfway across the room, knotting the sash of his +robe with long brown fingers.</p> + +<p>"It's the call of the wild," he shouted above the hiss of the shower. +"We all have to answer it some time."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="34" height="40" /></div> +<p>alf way out of town Jim Drake drew the coupe skillfully to the curb +and turned off the motor. He had parked opposite the city library. +Drake felt much better this morning. The sobering effect of the +<i>Morning Star</i> had made a new man of him in short order. Dressed +neatly in a brown sport suit, clean white shirt and white shoes, Jim +looked his type perfectly. Young bachelor with cash to burn, yet with +a certain dissatisfaction in himself that had etched little wrinkles +around the clear brown eyes.</p> + +<p>He pushed the door open and tapped Puffy Adams lightly on the +shoulder. Exhausted from the events of the night before, Adams was +cat-napping peacefully.</p> + +<p>He sat up stiffly under Drake's touch and his face reddened.</p> + +<p>"Huh?"</p> + +<p>"This is where you get out," Jim grinned. "You're going to do some +reading this afternoon."</p> + +<p>Puffy was dumbfounded. His only association with the printed page was +the <i>Morning Star</i> and the <i>Police Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," he protested. "Don't I get a look at that fox?"</p> + +<p>Jim piloted him skillfully from the car.</p> + +<p>"Look up a book on gems," he said. "I want to know how big the largest +diamond was that has been found to date, where it came from, and if +they've ever been found in the far north."</p> + +<p>Adams gulped, saw that the boss was sincere and started to turn away. +Jim halted him.</p> + +<p>"After that, go down to police headquarters and see what you can dig +up on George Lardner."</p> + +<p>Puffy's chin stiffened.</p> + +<p>"It'll be dirt," he said. "This boy Lardner comes from an old line of +dirty wash. He's the heel of the family shoe."</p> + +<p>Jim Drake nodded.</p> + +<p>"That's what I figure," he agreed. "But I want all the facts."</p> + +<p>Adams pivoted, took one look at the imposing granite building in which +he was about to trust his tender body and with a shake of his head +mounted the long flight of steps.</p> + +<p>Jim Drake stepped hard on the accelerator and sped away toward +Wildwood Zoo.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_o.jpg" alt="O" width="35" height="40" /></div> +<p>nce on the grounds he had little trouble finding the section of open +air cages that housed the small animals. Wildwood was built with a +complete lack of eye appeal. Down a tarred path he passed through +tangled brush and approached a short line of ugly wired cages.</p> + +<p>The silver fox was crouching at the rear of the last cage. She stood +up as he came near and started to trot slowly back and forth in front +of him. Looking around carefully, Drake saw that he was alone. +Afternoon crowds had long since deserted this uninteresting section.</p> + +<p>His imagination told Drake that there was something feminine about the +smooth motions of the animal's body. The black eyes were +pleading—Sylvia Fanton's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Please," the girl in the car had said. "I must have the fur."</p> + +<p>The walk was deserted. He leaned over the fence and said softly.</p> + +<p>"Sylvia—Sylvia Fanton."</p> + +<p>The fox continued its restless pacing.</p> + +<p>Drake doubted his own sanity. If anyone heard him standing here alone, +talking to an animal.... He shook his head in disgust and started to +turn away.</p> + +<p>From the corner of his eye he caught the sudden flash of smooth, human +flesh. Whipping around, eyes wide, Drake was sure that for a fraction +of a minute a lovely nude girl appeared in the cage where the fox had +been. <i>It was Sylvia Fanton.</i> A flash of nude limbs molded +breathtakingly, snatched at his breath. Warm pleading eyes, full rich +lips that seemed to cry beseechingly.</p> + +<p>"Help me. You are the only one...."</p> + +<p>Then the vision was gone. The silver fox stood silently in its place, +head bent forward. Jim Drake suffered all the emotions of a man about +to go mad. He knew it was all a crazy dream, and yet.... Last night +he had been drunk. Now, here in the harsh light of late afternoon it +had been so real.</p> + +<p>Hurried footsteps crunched loudly on the tar walk. He slipped quickly +out of sight into the brush that grew beside the fox cage. Feeling +like a fool, Jim waited. The heavy slouching figure of George Lardner +heaved into sight. One of the keepers, trimly uniformed, was at his +side. They stopped before the cage and engaged in hurried +conversation. The keeper nodded several times and Lardner passed him a +bill.</p> + +<p>"Tonight," Drake heard him say in a low voice. "Make sure it's +unlocked."</p> + +<p>They were gone up the little incline when he stepped out on the path +once more. Drake had been forced to make a decision.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="16" height="40" /></div> +<p>n spite of his addiction to the bottle, Jim Drake's body was hard and +supple as he raced toward the car. Digging around in the trunk he +brought out a sharp file. Thank God for Puffy Adams and his early safe +cracking days. Returning to the cage he made sure no one was about. +The door was a strong affair behind the inner building, hidden on the +side of the hill. He started to file hurriedly on the Yale that held +the bolt in place.</p> + +<p>The fox came toward him and sat down patiently just inside the door. +Its eyes never left his face as he worked. The curve of the lock +separated and with a quick motion he tossed it from him. The animal +came out swiftly as he opened the door. It trotted at his heels and +they kept to the underbrush, running toward the car.</p> + +<p>Pushing the door open with shaking hands, Drake said, "In—quickly, +and stay on the floor."</p> + +<p>The beautiful animal leaped and settled close to the floor boards. +Drake rounded the car and in a minute they were purring swiftly toward +the main highway.</p> + +<p>From behind him somewhere in Wildwood Zoo, a sharp cry of alarm went +up. His theft had been detected. In five minutes the roads to town +would be blocked by police patrols.</p> + +<p>Jim's forehead wrinkled into tight furrows. The coupe was doing +eighty-five. With one hand he reached down and petted the fox's smooth +head.</p> + +<p>"You snap at me," he warned, "and I'll send you back to your cage."</p> + +<p>A warm tongue touched his hand softly.</p> + +<p>The police sirens were dying now, and he breathed with relief as they +passed the city limits and swept into heavy traffic. Slowing down a +little, his forehead smoothed out and a sly smile swept across his +face. Fifteen minutes later Drake eased the car into the alley behind +the apartment hotel.</p> + +<p>There was no one on duty at the freight elevator. With the silver fox +in his arms Drake made a hurried entrance and shortly they reached the +private floor of his apartment. He placed the animal carefully on the +floor and with his key opened the door.</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams was stretched across the bed. His eyes opened with a jerk +at the sight of Jim's passenger, and he drew himself toward the safety +of the far end of the bed.</p> + +<p>"Well," Puffy said hesitantly. "If you go for this kind 'a thing it's +okay with me. Just keep that four-legged Dracula away from me. No more +blood-letting this week, please."</p> + +<p>Jim ignored him. He locked the door swiftly and turned on the fox.</p> + +<p>"You can come out now," he said. "It's safe here."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he animal crossed the thick rug with a bound, pounced to the bed +with a stealthy spring and curled into a little ball of fur. Its eyes +closed and it was motionless.</p> + +<p>"I'll be damned." Drake slouched down in the leather chair beside the +cocktail table and dragged out a much smoked pipe. "That's gratitude +for you."</p> + +<p>Puffy gazed with growing respect and admiration for the faults of the +insane.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," he suggested, "that you expected that pint-sized bundle +of fur to kick one foot, toss off her coat and do a snake dance right +here in the bedroom?"</p> + +<p>Drake sat motionless. Smoke drifted in lazy circles around his head.</p> + +<p>"What about the diamonds?" he asked. "Get any dope?"</p> + +<p>Adams edged carefully away from the bed and glided safely away from +the sleeping fox. He dipped a slip of paper from his wrinkled pocket +and started to read mechanically.</p> + +<p>"Largest diamond came from Africa—weight one pound and a +quarter—didn't get the name of it, because I couldn't pronounce it +anyhow." He looked up anxiously. "Is that enough?"</p> + +<p>Jim put the pipe away carefully.</p> + +<p>"For brevity," he admitted. "It's perfect. But it will do."</p> + +<p>"So?"</p> + +<p>"From what I saw of that diamond last night," Drake continued, "it +must have weighed at least two pounds. Perfectly cut and yet by no one +in this country. Puffy, we've a perfectly swell mystery on our hands."</p> + +<p>"And the fox?" Adams added, with a suspicious look at the drowsy +animal on the bed. "What in hell's bells made you bring it here?"</p> + +<p>"George Lardner," Drake said slowly.</p> + +<p>"<i>What?</i>"</p> + +<p>"Lardner was at the zoo this afternoon," Jim explained. "He paid a +large sum of money to make sure he could steal the fox tonight. If +Lardner wanted it that bad, what could I lose?"</p> + +<p>He didn't mention the sudden vision of Sylvia Fanton he had seen, +haunting and lovely in the cage.</p> + +<p>"So he thinks Sylvia had the rock?" Puffy's face awakened with new +angles.</p> + +<p>"So do I," Drake admitted. "At least she knows a lot about it."</p> + +<p>He jerked upright suddenly, caught by the sudden movement on the bed. +Adams wheeled, his eyes following Jim's.</p> + +<p>"Holy Ned!" he shouted. "The girl...."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he silver fox was gone. Sylvia Fanton, more lovely than ever was +stretched comfortably across the bed, her slim limbs partly covered by +the fox cape. She was real this time. Drake caught the look of +gratitude in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Then you <i>are</i> real," he went toward her in long strides. "I was +beginning to wonder."</p> + +<p>She crouched away from him slightly, trying to stretch the short fur +to cover her rounded limbs. The task wasn't very successful.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," she whispered. He knew she <i>was</i> sorry. Sorry for all the +trouble she had caused him.</p> + +<p>"But why...?"</p> + +<p>She sat up, shielding herself carefully.</p> + +<p>"It's very simple," she explained. "I am doomed to wear the body of a +fox during those hours when the sun is high. At night...." She +motioned toward the window with slim fingers.</p> + +<p>Drake turned, saw that the sun had drifted behind the distant skyline +and darkness had come down on the city. He smiled, only partly +understanding.</p> + +<p>"At night you become a very lovely woman. I know that much."</p> + +<p>Sylvia Fanton blushed.</p> + +<p>"Thanks!"</p> + +<p>Puffy whistled.</p> + +<p>"Leave it to Cinderella Drake," he grinned. "Man, you sure hit the +jack-pot this time."</p> + +<p>Drake sat down on the edge of the bed.</p> + +<p>"Please tell us about yourself," he begged. "There's something I +should know? Some way I can help?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head sadly.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry. I owe you an explanation, and don't think I'm not +grateful. More than that I can't tell you now."</p> + +<p>"Listen," Jim said. "I may have been drunk last night. Perhaps I'm a +mild sort of rotter, but at least I want to try."</p> + +<p>The girl shrugged her shoulders helplessly.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," she said. "It may sound foolish, but the success of my +mission here depends on myself alone. The lives of many people are +hinged on my playing the game alone. The curse that holds me, binds my +people also."</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams' jaw dropped. He reached for the always ready bottle in +the small bar and poured a drink. He swallowed it with a loud gulp.</p> + +<p>"George Lardner shares your knowledge," Drake said.</p> + +<p>Sylvia's body shuddered under the fur.</p> + +<p>"Lardner is a snake." Her voice was as cold as ice. "His greed has +destroyed my people. Death will be his reward."</p> + +<p>"All of which means," Drake said evenly. "You have recovered the +diamond that you held in your hands last night at the Owl Limb."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he girl arose slowly. The fur draped itself about her body revealing +warm shoulders, slim, evenly tapered legs. She stood like something +apart from them, small and queenly. Her voice was strained and hurt.</p> + +<p>"I cannot say more. You have helped me in the quest of the flaming +diamond and you will be rewarded. Now, I must go before I cause your +death also."</p> + +<p>Jim felt helpless—lost. She had aroused emotions in his heart that +had been long buried. Now with stark death and worse threatening her, +Sylvia Fanton proposed to leave him forever. He was at her side, his +hand clasping the warm wrist tightly.</p> + +<p>"Let me help," he begged. "I'm not much on speeches but you're in +trouble. I can believe what I have seen. If there is a way of saving +you torture, I'm going to do it."</p> + +<p>Sylvia stared up at him, tears misting her dark eyes. For a moment he +was sure she would throw herself into his arms.</p> + +<p>"You're very nice," she said softly. "I'd be grateful forever if you +<i>could</i> help, but you can't. I know my task and I have others with me +who know theirs. It will be best if we never meet again."</p> + +<p>Drake's jaw grew stubborn.</p> + +<p>"And if I refuse to let you leave?"</p> + +<p>The girl's eyes were cold and she twisted the cape around her slim +body tightly, wearing it like a queen's robe. Words tumbled from her +lips swiftly.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing you can do to prevent it."</p> + +<p>A worried grin spread over Jim Drake's face.</p> + +<p>"If you insist on going," he said, "there isn't much else to say."</p> + +<p>"Don't think I'm not grateful to both of you." This time her smile was +for Puffy and his chest swelled a good three inches under its +influence. "If you'll promise not to follow me tonight, I'll return +here in the morning. If you insist on getting yourselves in trouble on +my account there isn't a thing I can do about it without appearing +ungrateful."</p> + +<p>"That's more like it," Jim said cheerfully. "Now, about your clothes. +You can't wear that fur without something under it, although the +effect is appealing."</p> + +<p>"And revealing," Puffy added.</p> + +<p>She blushed.</p> + +<p>"Could—could you find something for me. Some of your clothing?"</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams chuckled. "With those shoulders Cinderella's got, you'll +look like an ex-prizefighter," he warned.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>rake started a search in the closet. Ten minutes later Sylvia Fanton +made an appealing picture in tan slacks, light jersey sweater and a +pair of sport shoes Jim had discarded years ago but had forgotten to +throw away. She stood at the door holding the fox fur close to her +breast. Then smiling brightly, she tossed it into his arms.</p> + +<p>"Take good care of it," she said. "If it's not here in the +morning...."</p> + +<p>Drake stood close to her. He couldn't find words for what was in his +heart. A dull hurt feeling welled up in his throat. It was so damned +futile sending a girl out when he had promised not to follow. If she +didn't come back in the morning....</p> + +<p>Sylvia's eyes grew tender. Standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to +his stubbled chin.</p> + +<p>"You've been up for a long time, laddie," she whispered. "Better shave +and get some rest."</p> + +<p>The door slammed quickly and she was gone. Drake held the fur +carefully over his arm and rubbed his chin reflectively.</p> + +<p>"I'll be damned," he said.</p> + +<p>"So will I," Puffy spoke from somewhere behind him. "Looks like +Cinderella Drake is gonna go huntin' for that other slipper, and after +all these years."</p> + +<p>Jim looked around the room for a safe place to hide the precious +silver cape. He decided on the big cedar chest in the open closet. He +locked the fur in safely and dropped the key in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Ready for a little traveling?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Puffy had discarded his shoes and was stretched out comfortably, a +frosted glass in his hand. His chin dropped, jumped forward +protestingly.</p> + +<p>"Just let's relax," he begged. "I've worn the heels off my feet for +you today."</p> + +<p>Even as he talked the stout one started to tie the laces of his shoes. +They went down the quiet hall and into the private elevator.</p> + +<p>"What about George Lardner?" Drake asked as they shot toward the main +floor. "Find out his life history?"</p> + +<p>"At the police station." Puff admitted. Then in a puzzled voice he +added, "all but the last two years of it."</p> + +<p>"And those last two years?"</p> + +<p>They passed quickly through the rear lobby and into the alley. The car +was still where Jim had left it. As they drove out of the narrow alley +and into the street, Puffy talked.</p> + +<p>"George Lardner has been in every racket the law knows about," he +said. "The police have a complete record of him since he cut his eye +teeth stealing milk. But the last two years get me."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>rake settled down behind the wheel and they headed toward the rush of +downtown traffic.</p> + +<p>"Don't kill me with the suspense," he said. "What's Lardner been up +to that's so startling?"</p> + +<p>"Exploring," Puffy said dryly.</p> + +<p>"An expedition to the city's slums?" Drake queried.</p> + +<p>"No!" Puffy crossed his legs comfortably and scratching a match on the +bottom of his shoe, touched the flame to his cigarette. "I had to go +to the Explorer's Club to get the dope on him. Lardner has been +spending a lot of time in the Baker Lake district just east of Hudson +Bay in Canada."</p> + +<p>Drake's foot released its pressure on the gas pedal. "Thought that +country was pretty well explored years ago," he said mildly. "Nothing +much but snow and ice up there, is there?"</p> + +<p>"And maybe diamonds," Puffy said. "At least that's what Lardner and +some of the boys at the Explorer's Club think."</p> + +<p>Drake's interest was increasing.</p> + +<p>"Is that where he found that big gem he displayed at the club the +other night?"</p> + +<p>Puffy's lips split in a wide, toothy grin.</p> + +<p>"Cinderella Drake knows the answers," he admitted. "Yes! That's where +he found the diamond and that's how he happened to get in with the +stuffed shirts at the Explorer's Club."</p> + +<p>Drake was silent.</p> + +<p>Adams hesitated, then added,</p> + +<p>"Lardner showed up there six months ago claiming he had found the +world's largest diamond. He claimed he got it from a secret valley +somewhere in the Baker Lake district."</p> + +<p>"Fantastic!" They had reached their destination and Drake pulled the +coupe in smoothly to the curb. The lights over the door of the Owl +Limb Night Club were darkened.</p> + +<p>"The Explorer's Club doesn't think so. They are mighty stirred up +about his find. The only thing that puzzles them is how come the stone +is cut. Lardner refuses to tell them who did the job. As for finding +it where he did, it seems they've had an idea there were diamonds in +that country and were just waiting for someone to prove it."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Professor Hobbs of the University of Michigan has found +several small diamonds and diamond particles in the strata of the +glacial flow throughout certain northern states. +</p><p> +Hobbs, a careful and painstaking research worker, used his knowledge +of geology to trace the strata of the glacial flow. He determined +several years ago that the diamonds came from the north, somewhere in +the Hudson Bay area. Although his co-workers are confident that he is +correct, a rush of prospectors failed to find anything that would +prove his theory. +</p><p> +Although opinions among geologists vary, many believe in Hobbs and his +work. A consulting gem expert at the world famous Field Museum put +forth this story to your editor, and convinced him that Hobbs is a +clear headed expert who knows what he is talking about. Somewhere +under the waste of snow, probably a little east of Hudson Bay, there +is a fortune in uncovered diamonds. A fortune that could easily +eclipse the yield of Africa's richest diamond fields.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_j.jpg" alt="J" width="16" height="40" /></div> +<p>im Drake knew all he wanted to for the time being. He turned toward +the unlighted marquee of the Owl Limb.</p> + +<p>"Looks as though the police closed the place up," Puffy said soberly. +"Gonna stay sober tonight?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know where that check room girl lives; the one you call Mary?" +Drake asked.</p> + +<p>Puffy's face sobered.</p> + +<p>"She's married and has three kids," he said. "I don't know where any +married women live."</p> + +<p>Jim chuckled. He twisted the car into the traffic again, and with a +swift U-turn, headed the coupe toward home.</p> + +<p>"Just the same I need information from a married woman," he said. "And +you're getting out at the next corner in a perhaps futile effort to +find Mary."</p> + +<p>"And if her husband doesn't meet me at the door with a shotgun," Puffy +asked, "what do I ask her?"</p> + +<p>Jim shot an appraising look toward the deserted corner ahead, whipped +the coupe up beside a traffic officer and opened the door.</p> + +<p>"From now on," he said, "we are interested in Lardner. He's a busy man +these days. Mary ought to know where her boss is. Women like that have +an idea of everything that is going on. Find out where Lardner went +and meet me at the apartment as soon as you can."</p> + +<p>Puffy was already on the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"Leave it to me, Cinderella," he said. "I get the idea. If you can't +follow the fox, you're gonna follow the wolf and let him lead you to +her."</p> + +<p>Drake nodded and smiled after the sturdy figure with a growing +respect.</p> + +<p>"Move along there!" The gruff voice came from his side. "Can't be +holding traffic all night for you."</p> + +<p>Drake turned, saw the officer grinning at him, and shot into the +traffic.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he door of the apartment was ajar. The puzzled expression on Jim +Drake's face changed to one of worried interest. He pushed the door +open swiftly, and silently. The lights were out. A sound came from the +direction of the window and straining he thought he saw the curtain +blow in slightly. On tiptoe he went swiftly around the side of the big +room. The chair by the bed had been moved and he struck his shin on it +in the dark.</p> + +<p>The room flashed white as he pressed the electric button. Hot anger +passed through his body. Every piece of furniture in the room had been +tipped upside down. Linings were torn from the chairs. His clothing +was heaped in an ugly pile in the middle of the floor. Drawers were +pulled out and emptied.</p> + +<p>The fur! He ran swiftly to the closet, twisted the handle and breathed +a sigh of relief. The cedar chest was broken and splintered around the +lock, but the cover hadn't been lifted. He inserted the key quickly +and drew out the fur cape. Its rich depth felt more precious than ever +in his fingers. Here in his hands was the link to his first real love +affair.</p> + +<p>A footstep sounded faintly behind him. His heart was in his throat. +Drake whipped around and sprang to his feet. He stared straight into +the barrel of a wicked automatic. Lifting his eyes slowly, he studied +the man who held the weapon.</p> + +<p>The stranger's face was hard as stone, almost barbaric. His bronze +skin stretched tightly over firm, high cheek bones. The mouth was open +slightly in a determined way. Teeth that flashed like an uneven row of +pearls seemed half savage, yet not unfriendly.</p> + +<p>"You will come toward me slowly," the man's voice was cultured, yet +hesitant, as though he hadn't spoken English for many years. "A false +move will destroy you."</p> + +<p>He backed away toward the center of the room.</p> + +<p>"How ... where?" Drake stammered.</p> + +<p>"You forgot to examine the bath," the gunman said. "You are not a +painstaking young man, Jim Drake."</p> + +<p>Jim started. The man knew his name, held a gun on him that threatened +immediate death, and yet his voice was friendly, ever courteous.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing here that you want," Drake said.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="34" height="40" /></div> +<p>e stood in the middle of the room now. The stranger reached down +carefully with one hand, still holding his aim. He twisted a chair +upright and sat down. For the first time Drake had a chance to look +him over more carefully. His eyes were the same deep black as Sylvia +Fanton's. Cold and yet somehow gentle.</p> + +<p>"You are holding in your hand what I need more than anything in the +world." The man relaxed but the gun didn't waver. Drake sat down +opposite him on the edge of the bed.</p> + +<p>"The fur?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The fox fur." The gun settled on the strange intruder's knee and he +leaned forward eagerly. "Give it to me at once. If I leave with it +now, you will be troubled no more. This is as our mistress demands."</p> + +<p>Then Sylvia Fanton had sent him. He must be one of the henchmen she +had spoken of. At once Drake felt relieved. He pushed the fur away +from him slowly, hating to part with it. The man stood up, took it +with his free hand and held it tightly.</p> + +<p>"You are very wise," he said slowly.</p> + +<p>He started to back toward the window.</p> + +<p>"Wait," Drake was on his feet, "Sylvia promised to return in the +morning. Why...?"</p> + +<p>A look of compassion spread across the gunman's face.</p> + +<p>"Sylvia Fanton is no more," he said pityingly. "You had but a brief +glimpse of an earthly woman who is the most perfect creation on earth. +Now she has completed her mission and will return to her people."</p> + +<p>"Then you did get the diamond?" Drake was sorry at once that he had +spoken. The man's eyes turned icy.</p> + +<p>"We have done what we came to do," he said shortly. "We appreciate the +part you played in our success. More than that, I am not at liberty to +discuss. Please do not follow me as I leave."</p> + +<p>Then, carefully,</p> + +<p>"Make no mistake, Mr. Drake. Our queen came very close to deserting +her sacred trust. If you were to see her again, you would not enjoy +the same close association. There is no place in her life for you, or +you would be going with me instead of staying here at the point of a +gun."</p> + +<p>Drake moved forward hesitantly, and then stopped with the gesture of a +man who knows he is beaten.</p> + +<p>"Okay," he admitted. "You've got me on the spot. But remember this: +George Lardner thinks more of that diamond than he does his life. He's +going to leave a trail of blood in every country of the world, but +he'll get it if you don't kill him first."</p> + +<p>The gunman's face was a mask of hatred.</p> + +<p>"Do not underestimate the power Lardner is fighting," he said grimly. +"There will be blood, yes. It will be Lardner's blood. He has a debt +to pay, and it is not our wish that you be involved when payment is +made. Our leader whom you know as Sylvia Fanton has one message for +you. Goodbye."</p> + +<p>He tossed a small envelope of paper at Jim's feet and was gone through +the window as silently as a floating cloud.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_j.jpg" alt="J" width="16" height="40" /></div> +<p>im stood speechless for a second, then he went toward the window and +looked down the long line shadow of the fire escape. There was no one +in sight. A small dog darted along the edge of the alley far below. Or +was it a dog? His bewildered mind told him the animal was more like a +fox in its quick, sly movements.</p> + +<p>Drake picked up the slip of paper in shaking fingers. He opened it and +stared at the neat longhand message:</p> + +<p><i>We were very close to love, Jim Drake. Love is not good for a woman +who has my obligations.</i></p> + +<p>The outer door rattled noisily. Drake took a second quick look at the +note and stuffed it into his pocket. Puffy Adams stormed in and +stopped abruptly with a shocked look in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Been havin' a party?" he asked whimsically. "Looks like the guests +came on a whirlwind."</p> + +<p>Drake was silent. He started to rearrange the room mechanically. Duffy +collected the clothing from the floor and replaced it in the closet. +The boss would talk when he got ready.</p> + +<p>From the chair by the cocktail table, Drake said suddenly, "What about +Lardner? Did Mary know where he went?"</p> + +<p>Puffy, his job completed, slumped across the bed.</p> + +<p>"That guy Lardner is off on another trip." He started to slip his +shoes off, thought better of it, and tied the laces again. "Mary says +he gave the employees all a month's pay and said he'd be back in time +to keep them in cash next month."</p> + +<p>Through a cloud of pipe smoke, Drake was placing more pieces into the +jigsaw of Sylvia Fanton's life.</p> + +<p>"Any idea where he's going?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Puffy shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest," he admitted. "Mary says her boss is tighter than +a bum's pocketbook when it comes to information."</p> + +<p>Drake had enough pipe smoke. He put it away carefully and stood up.</p> + +<p>"I see you didn't get the shoes off after all," he said a little +slyly. "Going somewhere?"</p> + +<p>Puffy arose, took a suitcase from the closet shelf and started tossing +clothing into it.</p> + +<p>"I think so," he said grimly. "If I'm half as good a stooge as I think +I am, we'll be needing overcoats before we get back."</p> + +<p>Drake was already waiting at the door when his companion lifted the +heavy bag to his shoulder and prepared to follow.</p> + +<p>"Got your long underwear?" he asked soothingly. "We're going to the +airport first, but after that I've got a hunch we'll go diamond +prospecting somewhere east of Hudson Bay."</p> + +<p>Puffy shivered.</p> + +<p>"Cinderella Drake hunts the silver slipper." His voice was doubtful, +his eyes were twinkling. "If you find it up there, you'll freeze your +foot trying the damned thing on."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he Municipal Airport was deserted, save for a small group of men +waiting just outside the main lobby. They were obviously the members +of a dance band. Instruments were packed and waiting on the baggage +truck outside as Drake and Puffy entered. Drake went straight to the +ticket window. The man behind the ticket cage looked up with a smile +as he approached. His eyes were tired and questioning.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?" in quiet friendliness.</p> + +<p>Drake tossed a roll of bills on the counter.</p> + +<p>"We're thinking of taking the night plane to Winnipeg," he said +indecisively. "Any empty berths?"</p> + +<p>The clerk grinned.</p> + +<p>"Fortunately for you," he said, "there aren't any priority passengers +tonight. The Winnipeg job has been full of flyers headed for the +Canadian border for the past two weeks. Nothing of importance tonight. +Five berths available."</p> + +<p>Drake looked around curiously.</p> + +<p>"Have you a passenger named George Lardner?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The clerk took down a small file and thumbed through it. He shook his +head.</p> + +<p>"No. Had you planned to meet him here?"</p> + +<p>Drake smiled.</p> + +<p>"We had a date," he admitted. "George Lardner is headed for the same +destination. He'll no doubt catch a later plane and meet us in +Winnipeg."</p> + +<p>The clerk was penning figures rapidly across the ticket.</p> + +<p>"You won't lack for entertainment," he laughed in a low voice. "That +gang at the door call themselves Harry's Rhythm Rascals. Headed for a +dance job up there."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather have a quiet berth," Drake admitted. "Need sleep more than +I need rhythm."</p> + +<p>The clerk collected the two fares and said sleepily,</p> + +<p>"Your plane will take off in twenty minutes, sir. May as well get +aboard. The berths are made up."</p> + +<p>"Thanks." Drake pocketed the tickets and motioned for Adams to follow. +As they passed Harry's Rhythm Rascals, Drake watched one of the men +turn slowly and follow him.</p> + +<p>"That guy must be the tuba player," Puffy said quickly. "He sure looks +as though he'd been pushed around."</p> + +<p>The luggage was disposed of and in ten minutes Drake was lying quietly +under the dome of the plane. A sudden throb of motors came from up +ahead. With half closed eyes he wondered, if at the end of this mad +journey, Sylvia Fanton might be waiting for him. George Lardner +wouldn't be far away. Although the plane trip had started like a wild +goose chase, at least he was headed in the general direction of +trouble, and the grandest girl he had ever met. Turning restlessly on +one side, he was aware that the bumpy ground was no longer under the +plane and the three great motors were purring smoothly as they drifted +ahead through the starlit night.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_j1.jpg" alt="J" width="28" height="40" /></div> +<p>im!—Jim!" Drake opened one eye with effort, remembered that he was +in a plane bound for Winnipeg, and sat up. Through the parted curtain +he could see the dark earth underneath sprinkled occasionally with a +handful of twinkling lights. Puffy Adams was leaning over the berth, +his body clad in oversized pajamas, eyes wide with excitement.</p> + +<p>"The orchestra!" Puffy was muttering. "They ain't! They're Lardner's +gunmen! Lardner's on board!" He babbled on.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" Drake was wide awake now. He helped Adams into the +berth, holding a warning finger over his lips. "Now," he said firmly, +"one thing at a time."</p> + +<p>"Those punks that called themselves Harry's Rhythm Rascals. They got a +plane full of tommy guns. They can't play but <i>one</i> tune on those."</p> + +<p>Drake's eyes narrowed.</p> + +<p>"How did you find out?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't sleep," Puffy said. "Went up front to get a glass of water +and find that pretty hostess to keep me company."</p> + +<p>"So?"</p> + +<p>Puffy gulped.</p> + +<p>"So she isn't aboard the plane. We landed somewhere last night right +after we took off. I didn't think nothin' of it. Ain't used to these +airplanes. Well, when I was up front I heard two of these punks +talkin' in their berths."</p> + +<p>He opened the curtain slightly and looked both ways along the narrow +aisle.</p> + +<p>"This whole damned plane is full of Lardner's men. They were laughing +at the trick they pulled on the airlines. Seems they forced the pilot +to land, threw out both pilots and the hostess. Lardner was waiting at +the private field and he came aboard."</p> + +<p>"You're sure Lardner's on this plane?" Drake asked. "You didn't dream +all this?"</p> + +<p>"Listen, Cinderella." Puffy was himself again. "This sky bird is +headquarters for every ex-con in Chicago. I don't know why they didn't +throw us off with the hostess, but I sure wish they had."</p> + +<p>A hard smile twisted Drake's lips.</p> + +<p>"I think," he said, "that we're going to see Sylvia Fanton much sooner +than I had planned. Unless we do some fast thinking we may not see her +alive."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>hey sat quietly as Drake studied the country under the plane. He +tried to discover some landmark listed on the map. There was nothing +but scarred, snowcapped mountain peaks. A sprinkling of toothpick +pines relieved the monotony of blinding snow, here and there. +Gradually, as the plane droned on, even these were left behind. +Ahead—only the white wastes.</p> + +<p>From somewhere forward in the plane came a hard chuckle of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Our hosts are coming to life," Drake said. "It's now or never." He +pushed bare feet into the aisle and dropped, stretching his arms +overhead with a yawn.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I'm out of sight," he whispered, "get back to your berth +and dress. I'll see you in the cabin ahead. Act as though you know +nothing. Understand?"</p> + +<p>Puffy grinned sadly.</p> + +<p>"That'll be easy," he answered, "but I've been around those violins +that talk death before. Don't like a tommy gun unless it's in my own +hands."</p> + +<p>"Okay," Drake said grimly. "Keep your mouth shut and you may get your +wish."</p> + +<p>He slipped into his shoes, dressing quickly, went toward the tiny wash +room halfway up the aisle. One of Lardner's men was making a hurried +exit. They met, heads down, with a jarring blow. The gunman started to +swear loudly, caught himself and said in a mock pleasant voice,</p> + +<p>"Good morning. Say, ain't this a darb of a trip?"</p> + +<p>Drake nodded.</p> + +<p>"Guess I'll splash a little water over my face if you're done."</p> + +<p>The man's heavy face lighted in an embarrassed smile. He stepped +hurriedly to one side.</p> + +<p>"Oh—oh sure. The sink's all yours."</p> + +<p>Once inside, Drake locked the door quickly. He washed the sleepiness +from his eyes. So the laugh was on him after all. Lardner was in +control of the ship, and headed for the lost Flaming Diamond. Where, +Drake wondered, did he and Puffy Adams fit into the picture?</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a difference in the tune the motors were humming. +The plane slanted down at an abrupt angle and Drake pitched forward +against the wall. Struggling up, he heard a sharp knock at the door.</p> + +<p>"Better strap yourself into a seat," a strange voice carried through +the wall, muffled and far away.</p> + +<p>He turned the lock quickly, lurched out, and felt an automatic in the +small of his back.</p> + +<p>"Hey!" Drake feigned surprise. "What the hell?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, buddy," the man gave him a sharp push toward the cabin, +"get yourself strapped in. We ain't got time to tell stories."</p> + +<p>A sharp prod of the gun settled the argument. Silently Drake went +forward. Puffy was already in his seat, his face an expressionless +mask.</p> + +<p>"Remember," he whispered, "keep your chin stiff and wait for a break. +The fun has really started."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he plane had dropped and leveled off. Lardner's men seemed to have +forgotten their captives in the excitement. They sat with faces glued +to the windows, watching curiously as George Lardner at the controls +brought them down in ever tightening circles toward the valley below.</p> + +<p>Adams nudged his companion.</p> + +<p>"Look at 'em," he whispered. "The rattiest looking bunch of bums I've +ever seen. What in hell does Lardner need so many guns for?"</p> + +<p>"To finish murdering a race of people," Drake answered coldly. "A job +that he started when he found the Flaming Diamond. If he has a chance, +he'll finish the task to get it back again."</p> + +<p>"Shut up, back there!" A lean, sharp nosed individual in the seat +ahead turned slightly. "No talk now. You'll have plenty of chance +later on."</p> + +<p>A ripple of hard laughter went through the cabin.</p> + +<p>George Lardner was an expert pilot. More than that, he was familiar +with the country over which they were flying. Realizing that any +attempt to escape now would be futile, Drake tried to memorize the +layout of the small valley into which Lardner seemed to be heading.</p> + +<p>With the entire country a white layer of blowing snow it was difficult +to make out the sharp walls of granite that arose from the cup-shaped +hole below. It was like a huge bomb crater, perhaps ten miles across. +On the valley bottom was the smoothly swept blue-green of a frozen +lake.</p> + +<p>The plane banked abruptly and Lardner cut the motors. Drake felt the +tenseness mount within the cabin. A fear was filling these State +Street gunmen that had never troubled them before. The motors were +silent. The ship dropped below the lip of the canyon wall and the wind +died smoothly. Circling, Lardner gunned the motors again and roared in +straight over the strip of frozen ice.</p> + +<p>Try as he might Drake could see no sign of life or human habitation. +Heavy fir trees came straight to the edge of the lake, standing guard +stiff and frozen.</p> + +<p>The plane zoomed up sharply and cut back over the lake leaving a black +shadow against the ice. It sank down, bounced gently and rolled ahead. +They went straight toward the high cliff at the far end of the lake.</p> + +<p>"This guy better know what he's doing." Puffy clutched the chair ahead +and held on grimly. "Or we'll crack up like a broken match against +that wall."</p> + +<p>Drake was silent. A murmur of anxious voices arose about them. They +still rolled swiftly toward the cliff. Lardner seemed to make no +attempt to cut speed. The plane took the bump at the edge of the lake, +and then Drake saw the cavern ahead. It was huge and black, cut at an +angle in the surface of the rock. A sudden blur of rock walls and they +were in the darkness of the cave. The plane settled back roughly on +its shock absorbers and stopped. Lights flashed on within the cabin.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_g.jpg" alt="G" width="33" height="40" /></div> +<p>eorge Lardner pushed through the small communication door between the +pilot's cabin and the waiting gangsters. As he came, he jerked the +helmet and goggles from his eyes. A hard smile on his heavy face left +no doubt as to his frame of mind.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Drake," the mouth a mask of expressionless hate. "I take my +hat off to you. Never gave Cinderella Drake credit for being anything +but a whiskey mill."</p> + +<p>Jim stood up slowly, knowing these minutes might be his last. Fear was +in his heart. Not for himself, but for the doom that faced Sylvia +Fanton unless she could be warned of Lardner's coming. There was no +doubt in Jim Drake's mind that this frozen valley was the home of the +fox people and their queen.</p> + +<p>Lardner wasn't the soft night club owner now. The man was short and +stocky, but with bulging arms that were tensed for action. The dark +face was filled with devilish purpose.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know why we weren't thrown out of the plane last night +with the others?" Drake said quietly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! That?" Lardner chuckled. "I knew you were headed toward this +valley and I thought you'd appreciate the lift."</p> + +<p>"For your information," Drake answered coolly, "we took the plane for +Winnipeg. Where we are now I haven't the slightest idea."</p> + +<p>George Lardner started toward the outer door. He whipped around +savagely, his face twisted into a hateful grimace.</p> + +<p>"All right, play boy," he snapped. "You asked for it. Now it's my +turn. I know you helped Sylvia Fanton to escape. I know you had a part +in stealing the diamond, and I also know you are in love with the +girl. That, if you'll have the truth, is why you are with us now."</p> + +<p>A hissing sigh escaped Puffy Adams' lips. He was beginning to +understand now why Lardner had not shot them both long ago.</p> + +<p>"So I am to act as decoy," Drake said. "If you think I'll let you +torture that girl, you're a madman."</p> + +<p>Lardner ignored him. He pushed the outer door of the cabin open and +dropped heavily to the cave floor.</p> + +<p>"Unpack your stuff, boys," he ordered crisply. "And keep an eye on our +guests. I want them to be safe and comfortable."</p> + +<p>The gangsters closed in, and some of them started for the baggage +compartment.</p> + +<p>A ring of steel closed about the pair.</p> + +<p>"Out, quick," one of the plug uglies mumbled. "And don't try to get +away."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>o Drake's surprise the cave was warm, as though heated from some +vast, hidden source of fire. Lardner was well ahead of them, going +cautiously down the long tunnel. A flash-light sent its beam ahead of +his outstretched hand. The baggage was handed down quickly and tommy +guns came into sight from the instrument cases. They were smoothly +polished and glistened under the dull light of lanterns. They followed +Lardner slowly down the vast hall that led under the lip of the +mountain. It was warmer and more humid now.</p> + +<p>"The boss knows what he's doing," a voice said behind Drake. "These +fox people can't do us any harm during the day. By night we'll be +ready to blast them down in short order."</p> + +<p>Unable to speak to Puffy, Drake was thinking plenty. If they went on +to wherever the tunnel led them, it would be too late to face Lardner +with any show of force. Drake knew that Sylvia Fanton would be caught +off guard if she were here. Could he raise some sort of alarm?</p> + +<p>The man at his side seemed a trifle sleepy and disinterested in what +was going on. Making sure the man's gun was pointed away where he +wouldn't jerk the trigger, Drake lifted an arm high, pointing toward +the dark roof of the cave. Pretending fright, he shouted:</p> + +<p>"Oh my God! Look!"</p> + +<p>Before Lardner could control them, two men had raised their guns and +sent salvos of lead screaming into the darkness. Lardner's voice, +ahead in the shaft, shattered the silence that followed with wild +oaths.</p> + +<p>"Who the hell did that?" He stormed back toward Drake, but Jim was +well satisfied with what he had done. The sound would carry for miles +into the base of the mountain. If Sylvia or her people were here....</p> + +<p>From far down the shaft a faint bark echoed clearly. It was the bark +of a fox, followed in quick succession by more of the same sounds.</p> + +<p>George Lardner faced him, neck red and arms akimbo.</p> + +<p>"You're getting too damned clever for your own good," he shouted. "I +oughta' knock some of the cockiness out of you."</p> + +<p>Drake had a slow temper. But behind the Cinderella Drake who had soused +himself so thoroughly in Lardner's whiskey still lurked the keen eyed +air patrol cadet who had only six months ago put his body through +every air battle on the west coast. Some of the old strength and nerve +were coming back now. Coming with a rush of hot blood to his head.</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams had sworn he'd stick by Drake until that spirit returned. +Now, ringed in by steel death, Adams' face lighted with interest. Yet, +he realized that Drake had small chance against these bums.</p> + +<p>The cave was dead silent again. Lardner breathed hard, crouched like +an oversized wrestler about to spring.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>rake's face was suddenly cold, emotionless.</p> + +<p>"If your men weren't ready to shoot me down the minute I move," he +said slowly, "I'd pound you within an inch of your rotten life."</p> + +<p>Lardner's face lighted slowly and a sardonic grin crossed his face.</p> + +<p>"Talk big, play boy," he urged. "I don't need lead to put you out of +the way."</p> + +<p>Drake's slim body shot forward with the suddenness of a catapult. His +shoulders were low as they struck Lardner's thick belly. Caught off +guard, Lardner's heavy, ape arms twisted about Jim's waist and he +started to crush Drake's body against his own. With a quick twist +Drake was loose, dodging backward as a light left caught Lardner on +the chest. Lardner jumped in quickly, puffing hard. His right arm +swept out and brought blood to Drake's nose.</p> + +<p>The slim air cadet shook his head, feeling the sting on his face. He +brushed an arm across his nose, and felt warm blood on his fingers. +This time Drake went in low, caught Lardner with his left hand just +above the belt. The big man bent over with a grunt as Drake's right +climbed under his chin like a looping Spitfire. Jim Drake's right fist +went home with the entire impact of his shoulder behind it. He felt a +twinge of pain shoot through his arm as Lardner's head swept backward +with a jerk. The fat man stumbled and sat down abruptly. He looked +surprised and frightened, shaking his head back and forth like an +angry bull.</p> + +<p>"You dirty...." Lardner didn't attempt to rise. His face was flaming +red. "Shoot the legs out from under him."</p> + +<p>A tommy came up swiftly, trained on Drake.</p> + +<p>"Hold it!" A harsh, almost frightened voice came from the shadows by +the wall.</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams stood, back to the granite, sweeping a tommy gun around on +the gang of men. His trigger finger was poised easily, the gun slung +carelessly in the curve of his arm. His voice, frightened for Drake, +became cool as he saw the last gun drop toward the floor.</p> + +<p>"One shot," he said, "and I'll poke enough lead into your boss to keep +you rats from ever flying anywhere again."</p> + +<p>Drake was at his side now.</p> + +<p>"How did you manage it?" he whispered.</p> + +<p>"Black-jack," Puffy grinned. "They were interested in you. It wasn't +hard."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_g.jpg" alt="G" width="33" height="40" /></div> +<p>eorge Lardner was frightened. The tommy gun was aimed at his head and +he knew Puffy Adams wouldn't hesitate when the time came to shoot. He +sat up slowly, eyes on the pair by the wall. Then like a shot he +rolled quickly over and over into the darkness beyond the lighted +area. His voice, harsh and powerful shouted.</p> + +<p>"Get them, quick!"</p> + +<p>A hail of lead swept the air over his head as Puffy jerked backward.</p> + +<p>"It's the firing squad," Adams shouted. He dropped to one knee and +opened up wide.</p> + +<p>Lardner was snarling something unintelligible. Guns swept around on +the men by the wall. Then from within the circle of men compressed +hell broke loose. Someone was opening up a deadly fire from within the +ranks. Gunmen screamed in pain and turned their guns in every +direction, trying to determine who had betrayed them.</p> + +<p>"Run for it, Drake. Down the tunnel."</p> + +<p>The voice was vaguely familiar. Drake didn't hesitate. He clutched +Adams' arm and together they dashed into the blackness ahead. From +behind them, the sound of gun shots ceased. Only loud groans of pain +drifted to them as they went forward through the midnight blackness. +Then, far behind, single footsteps followed them hesitantly.</p> + +<p>Lardner was still alive. Drake had heard him curse softly as they +passed him. He felt blood on Puffy's arm.</p> + +<p>"You're hurt," he said quietly. "Where did it hit?"</p> + +<p>"Just a nick." Puffy sounded game. "Glanced off the shoulder. A bit of +shirt will fix it up. Say! That was a nice poke you took at Lardner."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he tunnel grew wider. Far ahead a pale shower of colored light tossed +against the walls like a weak rainbow. There wasn't a sound ahead or +behind them. Drake led the way swiftly. The light seemed stronger, +drawing them toward its source.</p> + +<p>Then they stood on the edge of a great chamber. From the walls of the +circular room a barbaric curtain of rainbowed color sprayed down +toward its center.</p> + +<p>It flashed and changed as they watched with wide eyes, changing into +rich shades of purple, gold, orchid and startling the eye with its +everchanging spectrum.</p> + +<p>In the direct center of the chamber on a raised dais stood the huge +carved statue of a marble polar bear. It towered ten feet high, a +magnificent standing beast with lifted outstretched paw. On the back +of the bear a small throne had been carved. The blinding flood of +color that converged on the throne, hid anything that might be seated +there.</p> + +<p>Drake clutched his companion's arm.</p> + +<p>"Look!"</p> + +<p>He pointed toward the low pit that surrounded the statue.</p> + +<p>Puffy nodded.</p> + +<p>"The biggest fox farm in the world," he said dryly. "Or I'm going +nuts."</p> + +<p>As their eyes grew accustomed to the changing light, the pit grew +clear. The animals became visible against the floor of the pit. There +were thousands of them lying about the chamber. They spread over the +floor carpeting it with rich fur like a deep rug of precious black and +silver.</p> + +<p>One thing held Jim Drake spellbound. Every animal had its head lifted +toward the throne atop the bear's back.</p> + +<p>His eyes lifted again slowly. His vision broke through the bright haze +of light. Stretched out in sleep across the stony back was the perfect +nude figure of a girl. She seemed frozen in death, yet the bronzed +flesh was alive and throbbing. It was the same girl he had saved from +Wildwood Zoo—<i>Sylvia Fanton</i>!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="34" height="40" /></div> +<p>e tried to take his eyes away from the vision but could not. Color +seemed to splash and caress her body as though it alone gave her the +power to exist. Then he knew what it was that made her look human. The +light preserved her body during daylight hours, or she would have been +forced to enter the body of a fox and mingle in the pit with her own +kind.</p> + +<p>A queen, Queen of the Flaming Diamond, doomed to lie dead until she +could be restored to her normal life.</p> + +<p>"What do we do now?" Puffy asked in a tense whisper.</p> + +<p>"What I want to know first," Drake said wonderingly, "is who saved us +from Lardner's mob?"</p> + +<p>"Whoever it was," Adams offered, "he'll never escape them alive."</p> + +<p>Soft footsteps came from behind them.</p> + +<p>"But you are wrong!"</p> + +<p>Drake pivoted, and faced the same man whom he had met in the apartment +that night he lost the fur. The man who brought his last message from +Sylvia Fanton.</p> + +<p>"You see," the man went on quietly, "I am not your enemy. I asked you +to stay out of this, but I could not desert you."</p> + +<p>Drake's face was lighted in a relieved smile. His hand gripped the +other's.</p> + +<p>"Now you have saved our life, why did you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Because," the man said simply, "you are human and you are good. +Sylvia Fanton asked me to help you, and I am her brother."</p> + +<p>Puffy Adams sat down abruptly on the cave floor.</p> + +<p>"And I," he said unbelievingly, "am the keeper of Cinderella Drake, +the sap who still looks for the silver slipper."</p> + +<p>"But Sylvia is no fox woman," Drake protested. "She's too warm, too +human!"</p> + +<p>For a moment there was silence. Then a warm smile lighted the +stranger's eyes.</p> + +<p>"We are all human," he said. "We are early settlers who came to this +valley and sought its sanctuary. Only the curse of George Lardner has +spoiled our paradise and driven us into animal form. Perhaps you will +see...."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="34" height="40" /></div> +<p>e looked hurriedly at the light that was growing dimmer above them. +The rainbow had faded swiftly and darkness was coming down on the +cavern.</p> + +<p>"I am Silvaris, King of the Fox People," he said swiftly. "On the +Flaming Diamond depends our ability to exist. Night is almost upon us +again, but unless the diamond can be restored to the paw of the bear, +there will be no more night or day."</p> + +<p>"But you have it!" Drake protested. "Lardner came here to get it back +again...."</p> + +<p>"Lardner came by mistake to this valley six months ago," Silvaris said +brokenly. "We welcomed him as we welcome all people. He betrayed our +trust and stole our life source. We took him to our hearts as Sylvia +and I were taken many years ago."</p> + +<p>"Then you aren't really of the same race?" Drake's voice was filled +with relief.</p> + +<p>Silvaris shook his head.</p> + +<p>"We are here by our own choice," he went on. "Sylvia and I, lost +children, found our way here from a trapper's cabin when we were very +young. We never tried to leave. When Lardner stole our precious gem, +she and I alone knew the ways of civilization. It was our task to +return the stone to its rightful place."</p> + +<p>"If that diamond is the solution of this mess," Puffy asked in a +puzzled voice, "why don't we clean up the mystery right now?"</p> + +<p>"Wait!"</p> + +<p>Silvaris went slowly down the long steps to the fox pit. He climbed +the steps to the side of the polar bear and his sister's lifeless +body. From her armpit, he took a huge gem. As he came toward them, +Drake knew it was the Lardner stone, flashing and alive in the +semi-darkness.</p> + +<p>He pushed it into Drake's hands.</p> + +<p>"Somehow Lardner pawned a paste imitation of the real Flaming Diamond +off on us that night in Chicago," Silvaris said sadly. "The real stone +is the only gem that will make the transformation."</p> + +<p>Drake examined the diamond curiously.</p> + +<p>"Hey!" Puffy said excitedly. "Wait a minute. How come Lardner is so +almighty hot after us, if he thinks we've only got a paste?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot explain," Silvaris admitted helplessly. "I purposely +disguised myself to mingle with his men. He came to destroy us and yet +he knows our life is short now that the diamond is gone. We cannot +live long as animals."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="33" height="40" /></div> +<p>ar away toward the mouth of the tunnel came the sound of an idling +motor. Drake sprang into action.</p> + +<p>"I think," he said, "that we can outplay Lardner at whatever game he's +playing. He must be wounded. Perhaps too badly to fly."</p> + +<p>The face of Silvaris, the Fox King, lightened.</p> + +<p>"You are a pilot?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Puffy chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Cinderella can fly the blind spots off a Jap Zero," he said. "Just +strap a pair of wings on him."</p> + +<p>They charged toward the mouth of the tunnel. A few hundred feet from +the entrance Drake stopped. He picked up a tommy gun where it had been +dropped by the fleeing gunmen. Going forward more slowly they saw +three men at the entrance, guns pointed into the darkness.</p> + +<p>On one knee, Drake fingered the trigger. He picked up a large rock +with his free hand and tossed it ten feet to one side. It struck with +a loud thump. Immediately red fire cut loose around the place where +the rock had hit. Drake brought his finger back lightly against the +trigger and watched coldly as the men went down. They pitched forward +like alley pins, bleeding and screaming with the pain. There was no +time to lose.</p> + +<p>Dropping the gun he went forward swiftly, whipping an automatic from +his pocket as he ran. Then, seeing Lardner, he took a head dive into +the deep snow as the vicious crack of lead whizzed over his head. He +rolled over silently coming to his feet with a bound. Lardner, waiting +by the plane, shot again and the lead burned into Drake's shoulder. He +sprang forward as Lardner's foot lifted toward the open door to the +cabin.</p> + +<p>Clutching his foot, Drake jerked the man back into the snow with all +his strength and they rolled into a white, seething mass of fury. With +a short, terrifying blow on the chin he snapped the man's head +backward. It twitched queerly and his eyes bulged. Lardner's neck was +twisted to one side, stiff and broken.</p> + +<p>"The diamond?" Puffy was at his side. Jim Drake bent over the dying +man, watched his face as it twitched in pain.</p> + +<p>"You want the girl," Lardner croaked. "You'll never get her. Even +with the diamond, you'll never...."</p> + +<p>His body relaxed suddenly, as though deflated of life. Drake pushed +him back into the drifted snow, a look of disgust in his cold eyes.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_g1.jpg" alt="G" width="51" height="40" /></div> + +<p>ive me that paste imitation," Drake said. "Perhaps somehow...?"</p> + +<p>Silvaris nodded helplessly.</p> + +<p>"It's of no use," he groaned. "We tried, but it has no power."</p> + +<p>Puffy, a knife in his hand once more, was working slowly over the gem +with its keen blade. His face was solemn and deep with interest. In +spite of themselves, the two men stood close to him watching the thin, +case-like stuff that he peeled away from the surface.</p> + +<p>"This ain't paste," he said excitedly. "It's a kind of silicate. +Lardner must have dipped the gem into it and let the stuff harden as a +protective cover."</p> + +<p>Drake took the gem eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Then he realized that whatever the power was that this stone has, it +couldn't work unless the diamond itself was clean and unprotected."</p> + +<p>The late afternoon sun was fading slowly beyond the far end of the +frozen lake. They turned and went into the cave of the Fox People. +Perhaps the gem would work. But if it didn't, Lardner had died with +the secret on his lips.</p> + +<p>"<i>You'll never get her</i>," he had said, "<i>even with the diamond</i>."</p> + +<p>At the edge of the pit they stopped. Silvaris spoke in a faraway, +silencing voice.</p> + +<p>"Our lives depend on you. I am no longer able to control myself. In a +few hours we will all be dead...."</p> + +<p>He hesitated and the voice trailed off into nothingness. Before their +eyes the man fell away into a light mist. Instead, a large fox stood +at Drake's feet, tail drooping and its eyes staring ahead dully. +Silvaris the Fox King had returned to the stature of his people.</p> + +<p>The chamber grew silent as death. The fox turned slowly and walked +down the steps into the marble pit. He mixed quickly with the others +and no movement came from below. The spot of color over the throne +wavered and went out. The cave was black as pitch.</p> + +<p>"Now or never," Drake muttered. His tongue was rough and dry. His +hands shook under the weight of the diamond. It and it alone seemed +alive and glittering in the cold unnatural tomb of the cave.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="34" height="40" /></div> +<p>e went toward the bottom of the pit and gently forced his way through +the sleeping animals. Up toward the throne his legs carried him step +by step, and each step was a million years. A torture of uncertainty +and hope.</p> + +<p>He lifted the diamond and without hesitation pushed it with all his +strength into the outstretched claws of the marble bear.</p> + +<p>The Flaming Diamond suddenly glittered more powerfully than ever +before. The claws seemed to grasp it tightly, as though the power of +the gem must stay where it could never be stolen again.</p> + +<p>Bright flames of every hue sprang from the surfaces of the stone. They +bathed his body like colored lightning and he fell backward down the +steps, his arm upraised in protection. The place came alive with +sound. Pealing, silvery tones of rich bell-like music tore the air +asunder and the light of the diamond flashed warmly against the flesh +of the girl on the throne.</p> + +<p>On his feet now Drake stumbled toward Puffy Adams at the entrance of +the chamber. Puffy was on his knees, face blinded with the light.</p> + +<p>"Holy Ned," he shouted. "Now look what you've done, Cinderella."</p> + +<p>Drake didn't answer. His eyes had grown accustomed to the glare. The +chamber was hot and brilliant with some new world born from the cold +womb of the old. Men and women arose from where animals had been +waiting for the end.</p> + +<p>Silvaris, the Fox King, came toward them. His face was alight with +thanksgiving. Looking over his shoulder, Drake saw something that made +him lose all interest in the others. Something that he had prayed for +was taking place atop the polar bear's throne-back.</p> + +<p>Sylvia Fanton, her body alive and glowing, sat upright. No false +modesty marred the perfect, classically molded body. She slipped down +from the beast's back and caressed its side with slim fingers. Then +she came toward him slowly.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he men and women parted as she went among them gracefully. Her eyes +were wide and wonderfully warm as she came up the steps toward him. +Her gaze never wavered from his. They had changed from a cold black to +soft, gold-flecked brown.</p> + +<p>"I knew you would come," she said softly. "It was necessary that we +have each other."</p> + +<p>With a happy sob she was in his arms. He only knew that her body was +pressed tightly to his. That the warmth of the Flaming Diamond had +brought her life, and that Jim Drake would never be lonely again.</p> + +<p>Voices arose happily in the chamber. The heat, now, was almost +unbearable. He heard Silvaris's voice say happily:</p> + +<p>"It is good that the Ice Gods have played their part."</p> + +<p>Strong arms were on Drake's shoulder. He stumbled after the men toward +the open valley. Then, with his emotions under control, he saw the +transformation that had taken place because he had done his job well.</p> + +<p>"You have once more breathed life into a lost valley," Silvaris was at +his side. "We will be forever thankful."</p> + +<p>Drake looked down at the wisp of loveliness at his side. She was +partly clothed now in a small fur jacket. Somehow it displayed rather +than enshrouded her charms.</p> + +<p>Away toward the head of the lake frozen cliffs jutted up to the sky +from green, lush fields of deep grass. The valley had come suddenly +alive. Trees waved gently under the warm wind that rushed from the +cave. Small cabins were visible where they had been brought to life +from under the deep snow. Deep flower-splashed meadows crept to the +water's edge and the ice of the lake was gone. This, he realized with +a lump in his throat, was the magic power of the Flaming Diamond.</p> + +<p>"The plane is ready," Silvaris reminded him. "It is best that you +leave while my people will let you. They are very grateful."</p> + +<p>Jim Drake looked questioningly at the girl. Her eyes answered his with +a smile. As much as she loved the Fox People, her place was with him.</p> + +<p>They went slowly toward the waiting plane.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>rake looked back once as he sent the big ship skimming along the +meadow at the far end of the lake. Silvaris and his people were +gathered in a tight, worshipping little group, watching the bird plane +take to the air.</p> + +<p>At three thousand feet he leveled off. Something soft and warm brushed +his cheek. He turned and saw Sylvia's eyes close to his, warm and +promising.</p> + +<p>The valley was no longer visible. From the air one could see only +vast sweeps of snow and ice. The secret of the Fox People was well +hidden.</p> + +<p>"Well," Puffy said from behind them, "Tiffany will never see another +diamond to equal that one."</p> + +<p>"Everyone is happy," Drake answered.</p> + +<p>Adams chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Cinderella Drake found the silver slipper after all," he said. "And +man, what a queen there was in it."</p> + +<p>Sylvia blushed prettily.</p> + +<p>"I'll try to dress a little more modestly in civilization," she +offered.</p> + +<p>"Not for me," Drake urged. "When a man comes home from a hard day's +work shooting down Japs, he likes to see as much of his wife as +possible. Namely, in a very small fox fur."</p> + +<p>"Yea!" Puffy said. "Guess you're right. Excuse me while I go curl up +with a good book."</p> + +<p>He blundered noisily toward the row of empty berths at the rear of the +plane.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Queen of the Flaming Diamond, by Leroy Yerxa + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEEN OF THE FLAMING DIAMOND *** + +***** This file should be named 32411-h.htm or 32411-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/1/32411/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Queen of the Flaming Diamond + +Author: Leroy Yerxa + +Release Date: May 18, 2010 [EBook #32411] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEEN OF THE FLAMING DIAMOND *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Amazing Stories January 1943. Extensive + research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this + publication was renewed. + + + QUEEN + + OF THE + + FLAMING DIAMOND + + + by LEROY YERXA + + * * * * * + + + + +[Sidenote: _There it was, in a night club, the biggest diamond in the +world. Why was it here when a whole race depended on it for +existence?_] + + +The Owl Limb Night Club was crowded with smoothly gowned women and +paunchy men as Owner George Lardner approached the hanging "mike" to +announce the midnight attraction. At Lardner's appearance "Puffy" +Adams nudged his well-dressed boss in the ribs and whispered thickly. + +"Come on, Jim. Let's get out of here." + +Jim Drake lifted a tousled head from the smooth linen. He gazed at his +right hand man with a washed-out expression. + +"Huh?" + +"Puffy" Adams stood up slowly. His coat was wrinkled and creased +across his powerful back. He pulled it down impatiently and rubbed a +warm hand across his face. Looking down at the unsteady figure of Jim +Drake he grunted. Three crooked teeth that seemed at odds with the +world, appeared coyly against "Puffy's" lower lip. + +He was accustomed to this old routine. Placing both hands under +Drake's armpits he lifted. Jim came to his feet with a surprised +gurgle. + +"Wait a minute," he protested. "Wanta' see dance." + +Puffy Adams pushed a thick arm around Drake and steered him across the +floor between the tables. + +"Special feature tonight--diamond of mystery...." The night club owner +was still talking, his voice drowning the murmur of voices and tinkle +of glasses across the big room. "Sylvia Fanton--girl from nowhere--!" + +Puffy struggled onward under the almost dead weight of his boss. Drake +was trying to hold back. + +"You gave me orders to take you home at midnight," Puffy protested, +"and, 'Cinderella' Drake, home you go." + +He succeeded in dragging his charge up the three low steps that led +toward the coat room. A silvery crash of music drowned out Puffy's +voice with the suddenness of striking lightning. He dropped his arm +from Drake's waist and pivoted, surprise on his broad face. Something +weird and lovely about the sound turned them both toward the stage. +His chin dropped in delight. This wasn't Lardner's usual nightly +feature. + +[Illustration: She went into a weirdly sensuous dance....] + +They watched with hypnotized eyes as the girl's slim body twisted and +swayed from between the bright shower of curtains. It wasn't the girl +that caught Puffy's gaze. Cupped in her slim hands was the biggest +diamond he had ever seen. The gem was skillfully cut with the +perfection of a Tiffany. From its multi-faceted sides a million sparks +of rainbow fire quivered and danced through the room. The shadows +seemed to come alive and burn under its presence. + +Puffy gasped loudly. + +"Shhhhh!" + +"It ain't true," Puffy said. "A paste if I ever stole one." + +Blake leaned on the low rail that bordered the dining room. His legs +were spread wide, body balanced unsteadily with firm-gripped hands. +George Lardner had picked a winner this time. Clothed in ankle-length +silver cloth, she wafted across the floor lightly as a breeze. Sylvia +Fanton was a light, floating angel of beauty. Her hair was raven-black +drifting to her waist and the eyes, dark as her hair, seemed caught in +worship for the precious stone in her hands. She hardly danced yet the +smooth torso, the swaying hips held her admirers fixed. + +A sigh of longing escaped Drake's lips. + +"Wunnerful," he breathed. + +"Yea!" Puffy was still watching the great gem. "Not real though." + +"Perfect as a dream," Jim Drake went on, not hearing. + +"Perfect phony," Puffy insisted. + +Drake swung around unsteadily. + +"Who you calling phony," he lisped angrily. "That's girl's wunnerful." + +He staggered and collapsed against Puffy's barrel chest. + +"Home for you," Puffy decided. + + * * * * * + +He retrieved Drake like a sack of spuds and placed him carefully on +his feet. + +"We're going out." He took a last look toward the dance floor and +pushed his boss through the curtains toward the outer lobby. + +The music behind them stopped. The lights in the dining room blinked +out and a woman screamed somewhere in the darkness. Adams didn't wait +to find out what had happened. He pushed Drake along the hall toward +the coat room. Beside the tall youngster, Adams assumed all the +importance of a harbor tug heaving away at an ocean-going liner. + +Mary, the checkroom girl, was waiting. When midnight brought Drake +from his whiskey, the girl had learned to expect a lavish tip. She +looked at Puffy with a puzzled smile. + +"What's wrong in there?" + +"Revolution," he answered shortly. "Light went out. Lardner probably +forgot to pay the light bill." + +Jim Drake fumbled uncertainly in his pocket and brought out a numbered +ticket. + +"Coat please," he said stiffly. "Coat please!" + +He waved the ticket under Mary's nose. + +She took the stub quickly and returned in a minute with a woman's +silver fox cape. It was a lavish, deeply rich fur. + +"How long since you started wearing these things?" she asked and +pushed it across the counter. + +"Hey!" Puffy grunted. "That ain't ours." + +Drake clutched the fur protectively. + +"Here--here," he cried. "My coat. Just grew whiskers. My coat just the +same." + +Before Adams could stop him, Drake was lurching toward the door and +into the waiting arms of the doorman. Puffy tossed a bill on the +counter and Mary's eyes popped a fraction. + +"We'll bring it back when he sobers up," he said quickly. "Must have +got the wrong number." + +"Thanks!" + +"Forget it." He went toward Drake and the grinning doorman. Rescuing +his drunken charge. Adams helped him across the walk toward the car. + +"Come on, Cinderella. You got a date with the sandman." + +Somewhere down State Street came the mournful howl of a siren. + +"Whee!" Drake waved the fur in the air above his head. "Fire--want to +go to fire." + + * * * * * + +A crowd of patrons were pouring from the club behind them. With a +quick push Puffy deposited Drake in the streamlined coupe and rounded +the rear tires on the run. He jumped behind the wheel and turned the +key. Sirens were whining in close now. + +The door slammed and a girl landed squarely on Drake's lap. + +It was the dancing girl, Sylvia Fanton. Her face was flushed brightly +with fright. + +"Whee!" Drake shouted gleefully. "The Angel herself. Where's the +Tiffany?" + +He threw his arms about her slim, silver-clad waist and planted a +popping kiss on her cheek. The flat of the girl's hand caught his +face, hard. Drake sobered a degree. + +"My jacket!" her voice was strained and tense. "Please! I must have it +at once." + +Drake was interested. His pale eyes started to show fight. + +"Sure!" he said. "But it's _my_ jacket." + +The sirens were dying now. A powerful police car shot to the curb +behind them. Puffy's eyes narrowed and he drove the coupe away from +the club smoothly. + +"Too hot around here," he said to no one in particular. "Can't stand +the smell of copper's feet." + +Sylvia Fanton's dress was badly ripped on one side. The silken +stocking and smooth flesh of her thigh was visible through the tear. + +"Please!" There were tears in her cold eyes. "I _must_ have the +jacket. It _is_ mine, you know." + +Drake was coy. + +"Aw," he insisted. "I had a ticket for it." + +She slipped between them, her arm around Drake's shoulder. Realizing +that he was drunk, she tried a different approach. + +"Now what would you do with it?" she asked sweetly. "You would look +funny wearing a silver fox jacket. You'd be just an old fox." + +Jim hesitated. Then he slipped the jacket from his arm and around her +soft shoulder. + +"I'll make a deal with you," he suggested. "Let us take you home and +you can have the old animal." + + * * * * * + +For the first time his eyes were clearing enough to get a really good +look at the girl at his side. He started to wonder vaguely how she had +gotten here. She was small and her tiny face seemed almost cupid-like +to his uncertain vision. Her eyes were frightened like the eyes of a +timid animal. + +"Okay!" Puffy said sharply. "You've made a bargain. I ain't driving +all night. Where to?" + +Her voice snapped out sharp and cold. + +"Nowhere. Stop right here." + +Jim Drake chuckled. + +"Wait a minute," he stammered. "Be a sport. You promised." + +He looked away for an instant, trying to shake some of the fog from +his head. When he looked back the girl was gone. There between them on +the seat was a small silver fox. + +He shook his head dazedly and groaned. + +"They got me," he moaned. "Stop car. I got to...." + +Puffy took his eyes from the road. A sharp oath escaped his lips. The +brakes squealed as he felt sharp teeth settle deeply into his wrist. +Howling with pain he twisted the coupe to the curb. + +The fox released its grip and leaped gracefully over the door into the +street. It was gone, weaving swiftly like a small dog through the +straggling crowd. It went out of sight quickly into a nearby alley. + +"Holy Ned!" Puffy held a bleeding wrist in his good hand. "I'm getting +this way from _being_ with you." + +Jim Drake's lips quivered strangely and he turned pale. + +"I wanna' go home. Don't wanna' see anyone. No one, understand?" + +Puffy nodded, but Drake persisted brokenly. + +"Fox woman, that's what she is. Darned old fox woman wouldn't play +fair...!" His lips murmured off into something Puffy couldn't +understand. + + * * * * * + +Long shafts of sunlight split the obscure shadows that had hidden Jim +Drake's room for the past twelve hours. Drake turned over carefully in +bed, groaned and reached for the full glass on the table. + +"Puffy!" His voice arose in shattering crescendo across the stillness +of the rich apartment and crashed against the door. "Puffy--it's me. +Take these damned rocks off my head." + +Adams opened the door and came forward with a sly grin on his face. + +"Okay--Okay." He was impatient. "I'm coming, Cinderella." + +Drake swallowed the contents of the glass in a single gulp and +stretched out with a sickly grin. + +"That was a wonderful dream I had last night," he said weakly. "Remind +me to call Walt Disney." + +Adams went across the room and drew open the curtains. A two o'clock +sun slipped into the room and Drake hid himself hurriedly in the +pillow. + +"Turn out that damned light," he shouted. "Now--about that fox woman. +Walt Disney oughta' pay...." + +Puffy had braced his feet and placed his stocky arms behind his back. + +"It wasn't any dream," he said calmly. + +"Yea, I know. I was drunk." + +"It wasn't a dream," Puffy said stubbornly. "That girl you saw really +was a fox. At least she turned into one. Oh! Damn!" + +He tossed the morning paper on the bed. + +"Read what the _Star_ had to say about your dream," he said. "They got +the story straighter than I did. We took a lady for a ride, Cinderella, +and she turned into a silver fox." + +Drake sat up stiffly. The foolish look of surprise was gone. He +reached for the _Morning Star_. In huge headlines he read: + +DARING HOLDUP AT NEW +NIGHT CLUB + +World's Largest Diamond Stolen From +Under Eyes of Police + +Sober as a lord now, Drake sent his eyes wavering along the column of +newsprint: + + Chicago, May 6.--A group of daring jewel thieves last night + stole the Lardner diamond, largest gem of its kind in the + world, from beneath the eyes of an armed guard. + + The stone was a perfect cut, pronounced priceless only last + week when it was first seen by Tiffany experts. + + George Lardner, the owner of the Owl Limb, one of the city's + newest night spots, had taken it from a private vault to + display in a special dance. + + Miss Sylvia Fanton, who danced with the gem has also + disappeared, but Lardner insists that she was well known to + him and could have had no hand in the robbery. + + This story is feasible, as the gown Miss Fanton was wearing + at the time has been discovered badly torn in a State Street + alley. Murder of the dancer is suspected. + + * * * * * + +Drake tossed the paper across the room. + +"Rubbish!" His eyes were clear and snapping now. The night of +adventure was thrown from his mind. "It couldn't happen, Puffy. We +were seeing things." + +Adams picked up the _Star_ carefully, thumbed toward the last page and +held the news sheet where Drake could see another, much smaller +caption. + +"Look at this," he begged. "You'll sing another song." + +Jim took the sheet again, as though afraid he _would_ believe the +impossible. This story was short, and wedged in at the bottom of a +last page. + + ZOO OFFICIALS CAPTURE FOX RUNNING WILD IN CITY STREET + + Captured while trotting calmly down a State Street alley + early today, a perfect silver fox has found its home at + Wildwood Zoo. + + Keepers chuckled when asked for a statement to the press. + They expect a fox farm to place a claim on the valuable + animal within twenty-four hours. + + The fox was in perfect condition, with a deep, rich black + coat, tufted with snow white tips on each hair. + + The Mayor has already offered to convert the pelt into a + cape for his wife, should an owner fail to claim the animal. + +Jim Drake shuddered. + +"I was drunker than I had any business being last night," he said +finally. "Did it all happen, what I saw?" + +Puffy Adams grinned woefully. He drew his arm from behind his back and +displayed a clean, bandaged wrist. + +"I got teeth marks an inch deep in my wrist," he said. "What do you +think?"' + +Drake was out of bed in one bound. He pulled his slippers on +hurriedly. + +"Plenty of hot water for a shower?" + +"Coming up!" + +Puffy retreated toward the bathroom door. Over his shoulder he asked. + +"Going to the zoo?" + +"I'm crazy," Jim admitted. "But if they found a girl's dress a block +from where we parked, and there's a silver fox at the zoo this +morning, I want to know why." + +Puffy's stout figure was hidden behind the glass door. Water started +its inviting swish from the shower. His voice came out with a hollow +ring. + +"Well, Cinderella," he said whimsically, "we're on the make again, but +the odds are against us. If that dame can bite my arm and turn into an +animal in the same night she'll make a hell of a mate for Jimmy." + +Drake was already halfway across the room, knotting the sash of his +robe with long brown fingers. + +"It's the call of the wild," he shouted above the hiss of the shower. +"We all have to answer it some time." + + * * * * * + +Half way out of town Jim Drake drew the coupe skillfully to the curb +and turned off the motor. He had parked opposite the city library. +Drake felt much better this morning. The sobering effect of the +_Morning Star_ had made a new man of him in short order. Dressed +neatly in a brown sport suit, clean white shirt and white shoes, Jim +looked his type perfectly. Young bachelor with cash to burn, yet with +a certain dissatisfaction in himself that had etched little wrinkles +around the clear brown eyes. + +He pushed the door open and tapped Puffy Adams lightly on the +shoulder. Exhausted from the events of the night before, Adams was +cat-napping peacefully. + +He sat up stiffly under Drake's touch and his face reddened. + +"Huh?" + +"This is where you get out," Jim grinned. "You're going to do some +reading this afternoon." + +Puffy was dumbfounded. His only association with the printed page was +the _Morning Star_ and the _Police Gazette_. + +"Wait a minute," he protested. "Don't I get a look at that fox?" + +Jim piloted him skillfully from the car. + +"Look up a book on gems," he said. "I want to know how big the largest +diamond was that has been found to date, where it came from, and if +they've ever been found in the far north." + +Adams gulped, saw that the boss was sincere and started to turn away. +Jim halted him. + +"After that, go down to police headquarters and see what you can dig +up on George Lardner." + +Puffy's chin stiffened. + +"It'll be dirt," he said. "This boy Lardner comes from an old line of +dirty wash. He's the heel of the family shoe." + +Jim Drake nodded. + +"That's what I figure," he agreed. "But I want all the facts." + +Adams pivoted, took one look at the imposing granite building in which +he was about to trust his tender body and with a shake of his head +mounted the long flight of steps. + +Jim Drake stepped hard on the accelerator and sped away toward +Wildwood Zoo. + + * * * * * + +Once on the grounds he had little trouble finding the section of open +air cages that housed the small animals. Wildwood was built with a +complete lack of eye appeal. Down a tarred path he passed through +tangled brush and approached a short line of ugly wired cages. + +The silver fox was crouching at the rear of the last cage. She stood +up as he came near and started to trot slowly back and forth in front +of him. Looking around carefully, Drake saw that he was alone. +Afternoon crowds had long since deserted this uninteresting section. + +His imagination told Drake that there was something feminine about the +smooth motions of the animal's body. The black eyes were +pleading--Sylvia Fanton's eyes. + +"Please," the girl in the car had said. "I must have the fur." + +The walk was deserted. He leaned over the fence and said softly. + +"Sylvia--Sylvia Fanton." + +The fox continued its restless pacing. + +Drake doubted his own sanity. If anyone heard him standing here alone, +talking to an animal.... He shook his head in disgust and started to +turn away. + +From the corner of his eye he caught the sudden flash of smooth, human +flesh. Whipping around, eyes wide, Drake was sure that for a fraction +of a minute a lovely nude girl appeared in the cage where the fox had +been. _It was Sylvia Fanton._ A flash of nude limbs molded +breathtakingly, snatched at his breath. Warm pleading eyes, full rich +lips that seemed to cry beseechingly. + +"Help me. You are the only one...." + +Then the vision was gone. The silver fox stood silently in its place, +head bent forward. Jim Drake suffered all the emotions of a man about +to go mad. He knew it was all a crazy dream, and yet.... Last night +he had been drunk. Now, here in the harsh light of late afternoon it +had been so real. + +Hurried footsteps crunched loudly on the tar walk. He slipped quickly +out of sight into the brush that grew beside the fox cage. Feeling +like a fool, Jim waited. The heavy slouching figure of George Lardner +heaved into sight. One of the keepers, trimly uniformed, was at his +side. They stopped before the cage and engaged in hurried +conversation. The keeper nodded several times and Lardner passed him a +bill. + +"Tonight," Drake heard him say in a low voice. "Make sure it's +unlocked." + +They were gone up the little incline when he stepped out on the path +once more. Drake had been forced to make a decision. + + * * * * * + +In spite of his addiction to the bottle, Jim Drake's body was hard and +supple as he raced toward the car. Digging around in the trunk he +brought out a sharp file. Thank God for Puffy Adams and his early safe +cracking days. Returning to the cage he made sure no one was about. +The door was a strong affair behind the inner building, hidden on the +side of the hill. He started to file hurriedly on the Yale that held +the bolt in place. + +The fox came toward him and sat down patiently just inside the door. +Its eyes never left his face as he worked. The curve of the lock +separated and with a quick motion he tossed it from him. The animal +came out swiftly as he opened the door. It trotted at his heels and +they kept to the underbrush, running toward the car. + +Pushing the door open with shaking hands, Drake said, "In--quickly, +and stay on the floor." + +The beautiful animal leaped and settled close to the floor boards. +Drake rounded the car and in a minute they were purring swiftly toward +the main highway. + +From behind him somewhere in Wildwood Zoo, a sharp cry of alarm went +up. His theft had been detected. In five minutes the roads to town +would be blocked by police patrols. + +Jim's forehead wrinkled into tight furrows. The coupe was doing +eighty-five. With one hand he reached down and petted the fox's smooth +head. + +"You snap at me," he warned, "and I'll send you back to your cage." + +A warm tongue touched his hand softly. + +The police sirens were dying now, and he breathed with relief as they +passed the city limits and swept into heavy traffic. Slowing down a +little, his forehead smoothed out and a sly smile swept across his +face. Fifteen minutes later Drake eased the car into the alley behind +the apartment hotel. + +There was no one on duty at the freight elevator. With the silver fox +in his arms Drake made a hurried entrance and shortly they reached the +private floor of his apartment. He placed the animal carefully on the +floor and with his key opened the door. + +Puffy Adams was stretched across the bed. His eyes opened with a jerk +at the sight of Jim's passenger, and he drew himself toward the safety +of the far end of the bed. + +"Well," Puffy said hesitantly. "If you go for this kind 'a thing it's +okay with me. Just keep that four-legged Dracula away from me. No more +blood-letting this week, please." + +Jim ignored him. He locked the door swiftly and turned on the fox. + +"You can come out now," he said. "It's safe here." + + * * * * * + +The animal crossed the thick rug with a bound, pounced to the bed +with a stealthy spring and curled into a little ball of fur. Its eyes +closed and it was motionless. + +"I'll be damned." Drake slouched down in the leather chair beside the +cocktail table and dragged out a much smoked pipe. "That's gratitude +for you." + +Puffy gazed with growing respect and admiration for the faults of the +insane. + +"I suppose," he suggested, "that you expected that pint-sized bundle +of fur to kick one foot, toss off her coat and do a snake dance right +here in the bedroom?" + +Drake sat motionless. Smoke drifted in lazy circles around his head. + +"What about the diamonds?" he asked. "Get any dope?" + +Adams edged carefully away from the bed and glided safely away from +the sleeping fox. He dipped a slip of paper from his wrinkled pocket +and started to read mechanically. + +"Largest diamond came from Africa--weight one pound and a +quarter--didn't get the name of it, because I couldn't pronounce it +anyhow." He looked up anxiously. "Is that enough?" + +Jim put the pipe away carefully. + +"For brevity," he admitted. "It's perfect. But it will do." + +"So?" + +"From what I saw of that diamond last night," Drake continued, "it +must have weighed at least two pounds. Perfectly cut and yet by no one +in this country. Puffy, we've a perfectly swell mystery on our hands." + +"And the fox?" Adams added, with a suspicious look at the drowsy +animal on the bed. "What in hell's bells made you bring it here?" + +"George Lardner," Drake said slowly. + +"_What?_" + +"Lardner was at the zoo this afternoon," Jim explained. "He paid a +large sum of money to make sure he could steal the fox tonight. If +Lardner wanted it that bad, what could I lose?" + +He didn't mention the sudden vision of Sylvia Fanton he had seen, +haunting and lovely in the cage. + +"So he thinks Sylvia had the rock?" Puffy's face awakened with new +angles. + +"So do I," Drake admitted. "At least she knows a lot about it." + +He jerked upright suddenly, caught by the sudden movement on the bed. +Adams wheeled, his eyes following Jim's. + +"Holy Ned!" he shouted. "The girl...." + + * * * * * + +The silver fox was gone. Sylvia Fanton, more lovely than ever was +stretched comfortably across the bed, her slim limbs partly covered by +the fox cape. She was real this time. Drake caught the look of +gratitude in her eyes. + +"Then you _are_ real," he went toward her in long strides. "I was +beginning to wonder." + +She crouched away from him slightly, trying to stretch the short fur +to cover her rounded limbs. The task wasn't very successful. + +"I'm sorry," she whispered. He knew she _was_ sorry. Sorry for all the +trouble she had caused him. + +"But why...?" + +She sat up, shielding herself carefully. + +"It's very simple," she explained. "I am doomed to wear the body of a +fox during those hours when the sun is high. At night...." She +motioned toward the window with slim fingers. + +Drake turned, saw that the sun had drifted behind the distant skyline +and darkness had come down on the city. He smiled, only partly +understanding. + +"At night you become a very lovely woman. I know that much." + +Sylvia Fanton blushed. + +"Thanks!" + +Puffy whistled. + +"Leave it to Cinderella Drake," he grinned. "Man, you sure hit the +jack-pot this time." + +Drake sat down on the edge of the bed. + +"Please tell us about yourself," he begged. "There's something I +should know? Some way I can help?" + +She shook her head sadly. + +"I'm sorry. I owe you an explanation, and don't think I'm not +grateful. More than that I can't tell you now." + +"Listen," Jim said. "I may have been drunk last night. Perhaps I'm a +mild sort of rotter, but at least I want to try." + +The girl shrugged her shoulders helplessly. + +"I'm sorry," she said. "It may sound foolish, but the success of my +mission here depends on myself alone. The lives of many people are +hinged on my playing the game alone. The curse that holds me, binds my +people also." + +Puffy Adams' jaw dropped. He reached for the always ready bottle in +the small bar and poured a drink. He swallowed it with a loud gulp. + +"George Lardner shares your knowledge," Drake said. + +Sylvia's body shuddered under the fur. + +"Lardner is a snake." Her voice was as cold as ice. "His greed has +destroyed my people. Death will be his reward." + +"All of which means," Drake said evenly. "You have recovered the +diamond that you held in your hands last night at the Owl Limb." + + * * * * * + +The girl arose slowly. The fur draped itself about her body revealing +warm shoulders, slim, evenly tapered legs. She stood like something +apart from them, small and queenly. Her voice was strained and hurt. + +"I cannot say more. You have helped me in the quest of the flaming +diamond and you will be rewarded. Now, I must go before I cause your +death also." + +Jim felt helpless--lost. She had aroused emotions in his heart that +had been long buried. Now with stark death and worse threatening her, +Sylvia Fanton proposed to leave him forever. He was at her side, his +hand clasping the warm wrist tightly. + +"Let me help," he begged. "I'm not much on speeches but you're in +trouble. I can believe what I have seen. If there is a way of saving +you torture, I'm going to do it." + +Sylvia stared up at him, tears misting her dark eyes. For a moment he +was sure she would throw herself into his arms. + +"You're very nice," she said softly. "I'd be grateful forever if you +_could_ help, but you can't. I know my task and I have others with me +who know theirs. It will be best if we never meet again." + +Drake's jaw grew stubborn. + +"And if I refuse to let you leave?" + +The girl's eyes were cold and she twisted the cape around her slim +body tightly, wearing it like a queen's robe. Words tumbled from her +lips swiftly. + +"There is nothing you can do to prevent it." + +A worried grin spread over Jim Drake's face. + +"If you insist on going," he said, "there isn't much else to say." + +"Don't think I'm not grateful to both of you." This time her smile was +for Puffy and his chest swelled a good three inches under its +influence. "If you'll promise not to follow me tonight, I'll return +here in the morning. If you insist on getting yourselves in trouble on +my account there isn't a thing I can do about it without appearing +ungrateful." + +"That's more like it," Jim said cheerfully. "Now, about your clothes. +You can't wear that fur without something under it, although the +effect is appealing." + +"And revealing," Puffy added. + +She blushed. + +"Could--could you find something for me. Some of your clothing?" + +Puffy Adams chuckled. "With those shoulders Cinderella's got, you'll +look like an ex-prizefighter," he warned. + + * * * * * + +Drake started a search in the closet. Ten minutes later Sylvia Fanton +made an appealing picture in tan slacks, light jersey sweater and a +pair of sport shoes Jim had discarded years ago but had forgotten to +throw away. She stood at the door holding the fox fur close to her +breast. Then smiling brightly, she tossed it into his arms. + +"Take good care of it," she said. "If it's not here in the +morning...." + +Drake stood close to her. He couldn't find words for what was in his +heart. A dull hurt feeling welled up in his throat. It was so damned +futile sending a girl out when he had promised not to follow. If she +didn't come back in the morning.... + +Sylvia's eyes grew tender. Standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to +his stubbled chin. + +"You've been up for a long time, laddie," she whispered. "Better shave +and get some rest." + +The door slammed quickly and she was gone. Drake held the fur +carefully over his arm and rubbed his chin reflectively. + +"I'll be damned," he said. + +"So will I," Puffy spoke from somewhere behind him. "Looks like +Cinderella Drake is gonna go huntin' for that other slipper, and after +all these years." + +Jim looked around the room for a safe place to hide the precious +silver cape. He decided on the big cedar chest in the open closet. He +locked the fur in safely and dropped the key in his pocket. + +"Ready for a little traveling?" he asked. + +Puffy had discarded his shoes and was stretched out comfortably, a +frosted glass in his hand. His chin dropped, jumped forward +protestingly. + +"Just let's relax," he begged. "I've worn the heels off my feet for +you today." + +Even as he talked the stout one started to tie the laces of his shoes. +They went down the quiet hall and into the private elevator. + +"What about George Lardner?" Drake asked as they shot toward the main +floor. "Find out his life history?" + +"At the police station." Puff admitted. Then in a puzzled voice he +added, "all but the last two years of it." + +"And those last two years?" + +They passed quickly through the rear lobby and into the alley. The car +was still where Jim had left it. As they drove out of the narrow alley +and into the street, Puffy talked. + +"George Lardner has been in every racket the law knows about," he +said. "The police have a complete record of him since he cut his eye +teeth stealing milk. But the last two years get me." + + * * * * * + +Drake settled down behind the wheel and they headed toward the rush of +downtown traffic. + +"Don't kill me with the suspense," he said. "What's Lardner been up +to that's so startling?" + +"Exploring," Puffy said dryly. + +"An expedition to the city's slums?" Drake queried. + +"No!" Puffy crossed his legs comfortably and scratching a match on the +bottom of his shoe, touched the flame to his cigarette. "I had to go +to the Explorer's Club to get the dope on him. Lardner has been +spending a lot of time in the Baker Lake district just east of Hudson +Bay in Canada." + +Drake's foot released its pressure on the gas pedal. "Thought that +country was pretty well explored years ago," he said mildly. "Nothing +much but snow and ice up there, is there?" + +"And maybe diamonds," Puffy said. "At least that's what Lardner and +some of the boys at the Explorer's Club think." + +Drake's interest was increasing. + +"Is that where he found that big gem he displayed at the club the +other night?" + +Puffy's lips split in a wide, toothy grin. + +"Cinderella Drake knows the answers," he admitted. "Yes! That's where +he found the diamond and that's how he happened to get in with the +stuffed shirts at the Explorer's Club." + +Drake was silent. + +Adams hesitated, then added, + +"Lardner showed up there six months ago claiming he had found the +world's largest diamond. He claimed he got it from a secret valley +somewhere in the Baker Lake district." + +"Fantastic!" They had reached their destination and Drake pulled the +coupe in smoothly to the curb. The lights over the door of the Owl +Limb Night Club were darkened. + +"The Explorer's Club doesn't think so. They are mighty stirred up +about his find. The only thing that puzzles them is how come the stone +is cut. Lardner refuses to tell them who did the job. As for finding +it where he did, it seems they've had an idea there were diamonds in +that country and were just waiting for someone to prove it."[1] + +[Footnote 1: Professor Hobbs of the University of Michigan has found +several small diamonds and diamond particles in the strata of the +glacial flow throughout certain northern states. + +Hobbs, a careful and painstaking research worker, used his knowledge +of geology to trace the strata of the glacial flow. He determined +several years ago that the diamonds came from the north, somewhere in +the Hudson Bay area. Although his co-workers are confident that he is +correct, a rush of prospectors failed to find anything that would +prove his theory. + +Although opinions among geologists vary, many believe in Hobbs and his +work. A consulting gem expert at the world famous Field Museum put +forth this story to your editor, and convinced him that Hobbs is a +clear headed expert who knows what he is talking about. Somewhere +under the waste of snow, probably a little east of Hudson Bay, there +is a fortune in uncovered diamonds. A fortune that could easily +eclipse the yield of Africa's richest diamond fields.--ED.] + + * * * * * + +Jim Drake knew all he wanted to for the time being. He turned toward +the unlighted marquee of the Owl Limb. + +"Looks as though the police closed the place up," Puffy said soberly. +"Gonna stay sober tonight?" + +"Do you know where that check room girl lives; the one you call Mary?" +Drake asked. + +Puffy's face sobered. + +"She's married and has three kids," he said. "I don't know where any +married women live." + +Jim chuckled. He twisted the car into the traffic again, and with a +swift U-turn, headed the coupe toward home. + +"Just the same I need information from a married woman," he said. "And +you're getting out at the next corner in a perhaps futile effort to +find Mary." + +"And if her husband doesn't meet me at the door with a shotgun," Puffy +asked, "what do I ask her?" + +Jim shot an appraising look toward the deserted corner ahead, whipped +the coupe up beside a traffic officer and opened the door. + +"From now on," he said, "we are interested in Lardner. He's a busy man +these days. Mary ought to know where her boss is. Women like that have +an idea of everything that is going on. Find out where Lardner went +and meet me at the apartment as soon as you can." + +Puffy was already on the sidewalk. + +"Leave it to me, Cinderella," he said. "I get the idea. If you can't +follow the fox, you're gonna follow the wolf and let him lead you to +her." + +Drake nodded and smiled after the sturdy figure with a growing +respect. + +"Move along there!" The gruff voice came from his side. "Can't be +holding traffic all night for you." + +Drake turned, saw the officer grinning at him, and shot into the +traffic. + + * * * * * + +The door of the apartment was ajar. The puzzled expression on Jim +Drake's face changed to one of worried interest. He pushed the door +open swiftly, and silently. The lights were out. A sound came from the +direction of the window and straining he thought he saw the curtain +blow in slightly. On tiptoe he went swiftly around the side of the big +room. The chair by the bed had been moved and he struck his shin on it +in the dark. + +The room flashed white as he pressed the electric button. Hot anger +passed through his body. Every piece of furniture in the room had been +tipped upside down. Linings were torn from the chairs. His clothing +was heaped in an ugly pile in the middle of the floor. Drawers were +pulled out and emptied. + +The fur! He ran swiftly to the closet, twisted the handle and breathed +a sigh of relief. The cedar chest was broken and splintered around the +lock, but the cover hadn't been lifted. He inserted the key quickly +and drew out the fur cape. Its rich depth felt more precious than ever +in his fingers. Here in his hands was the link to his first real love +affair. + +A footstep sounded faintly behind him. His heart was in his throat. +Drake whipped around and sprang to his feet. He stared straight into +the barrel of a wicked automatic. Lifting his eyes slowly, he studied +the man who held the weapon. + +The stranger's face was hard as stone, almost barbaric. His bronze +skin stretched tightly over firm, high cheek bones. The mouth was open +slightly in a determined way. Teeth that flashed like an uneven row of +pearls seemed half savage, yet not unfriendly. + +"You will come toward me slowly," the man's voice was cultured, yet +hesitant, as though he hadn't spoken English for many years. "A false +move will destroy you." + +He backed away toward the center of the room. + +"How ... where?" Drake stammered. + +"You forgot to examine the bath," the gunman said. "You are not a +painstaking young man, Jim Drake." + +Jim started. The man knew his name, held a gun on him that threatened +immediate death, and yet his voice was friendly, ever courteous. + +"I have nothing here that you want," Drake said. + + * * * * * + +He stood in the middle of the room now. The stranger reached down +carefully with one hand, still holding his aim. He twisted a chair +upright and sat down. For the first time Drake had a chance to look +him over more carefully. His eyes were the same deep black as Sylvia +Fanton's. Cold and yet somehow gentle. + +"You are holding in your hand what I need more than anything in the +world." The man relaxed but the gun didn't waver. Drake sat down +opposite him on the edge of the bed. + +"The fur?" he asked. + +"The fox fur." The gun settled on the strange intruder's knee and he +leaned forward eagerly. "Give it to me at once. If I leave with it +now, you will be troubled no more. This is as our mistress demands." + +Then Sylvia Fanton had sent him. He must be one of the henchmen she +had spoken of. At once Drake felt relieved. He pushed the fur away +from him slowly, hating to part with it. The man stood up, took it +with his free hand and held it tightly. + +"You are very wise," he said slowly. + +He started to back toward the window. + +"Wait," Drake was on his feet, "Sylvia promised to return in the +morning. Why...?" + +A look of compassion spread across the gunman's face. + +"Sylvia Fanton is no more," he said pityingly. "You had but a brief +glimpse of an earthly woman who is the most perfect creation on earth. +Now she has completed her mission and will return to her people." + +"Then you did get the diamond?" Drake was sorry at once that he had +spoken. The man's eyes turned icy. + +"We have done what we came to do," he said shortly. "We appreciate the +part you played in our success. More than that, I am not at liberty to +discuss. Please do not follow me as I leave." + +Then, carefully, + +"Make no mistake, Mr. Drake. Our queen came very close to deserting +her sacred trust. If you were to see her again, you would not enjoy +the same close association. There is no place in her life for you, or +you would be going with me instead of staying here at the point of a +gun." + +Drake moved forward hesitantly, and then stopped with the gesture of a +man who knows he is beaten. + +"Okay," he admitted. "You've got me on the spot. But remember this: +George Lardner thinks more of that diamond than he does his life. He's +going to leave a trail of blood in every country of the world, but +he'll get it if you don't kill him first." + +The gunman's face was a mask of hatred. + +"Do not underestimate the power Lardner is fighting," he said grimly. +"There will be blood, yes. It will be Lardner's blood. He has a debt +to pay, and it is not our wish that you be involved when payment is +made. Our leader whom you know as Sylvia Fanton has one message for +you. Goodbye." + +He tossed a small envelope of paper at Jim's feet and was gone through +the window as silently as a floating cloud. + + * * * * * + +Jim stood speechless for a second, then he went toward the window and +looked down the long line shadow of the fire escape. There was no one +in sight. A small dog darted along the edge of the alley far below. Or +was it a dog? His bewildered mind told him the animal was more like a +fox in its quick, sly movements. + +Drake picked up the slip of paper in shaking fingers. He opened it and +stared at the neat longhand message: + +_We were very close to love, Jim Drake. Love is not good for a woman +who has my obligations._ + +The outer door rattled noisily. Drake took a second quick look at the +note and stuffed it into his pocket. Puffy Adams stormed in and +stopped abruptly with a shocked look in his eyes. + +"Been havin' a party?" he asked whimsically. "Looks like the guests +came on a whirlwind." + +Drake was silent. He started to rearrange the room mechanically. Duffy +collected the clothing from the floor and replaced it in the closet. +The boss would talk when he got ready. + +From the chair by the cocktail table, Drake said suddenly, "What about +Lardner? Did Mary know where he went?" + +Puffy, his job completed, slumped across the bed. + +"That guy Lardner is off on another trip." He started to slip his +shoes off, thought better of it, and tied the laces again. "Mary says +he gave the employees all a month's pay and said he'd be back in time +to keep them in cash next month." + +Through a cloud of pipe smoke, Drake was placing more pieces into the +jigsaw of Sylvia Fanton's life. + +"Any idea where he's going?" he asked. + +Puffy shook his head. + +"Not the slightest," he admitted. "Mary says her boss is tighter than +a bum's pocketbook when it comes to information." + +Drake had enough pipe smoke. He put it away carefully and stood up. + +"I see you didn't get the shoes off after all," he said a little +slyly. "Going somewhere?" + +Puffy arose, took a suitcase from the closet shelf and started tossing +clothing into it. + +"I think so," he said grimly. "If I'm half as good a stooge as I think +I am, we'll be needing overcoats before we get back." + +Drake was already waiting at the door when his companion lifted the +heavy bag to his shoulder and prepared to follow. + +"Got your long underwear?" he asked soothingly. "We're going to the +airport first, but after that I've got a hunch we'll go diamond +prospecting somewhere east of Hudson Bay." + +Puffy shivered. + +"Cinderella Drake hunts the silver slipper." His voice was doubtful, +his eyes were twinkling. "If you find it up there, you'll freeze your +foot trying the damned thing on." + + * * * * * + +The Municipal Airport was deserted, save for a small group of men +waiting just outside the main lobby. They were obviously the members +of a dance band. Instruments were packed and waiting on the baggage +truck outside as Drake and Puffy entered. Drake went straight to the +ticket window. The man behind the ticket cage looked up with a smile +as he approached. His eyes were tired and questioning. + +"Yes, sir?" in quiet friendliness. + +Drake tossed a roll of bills on the counter. + +"We're thinking of taking the night plane to Winnipeg," he said +indecisively. "Any empty berths?" + +The clerk grinned. + +"Fortunately for you," he said, "there aren't any priority passengers +tonight. The Winnipeg job has been full of flyers headed for the +Canadian border for the past two weeks. Nothing of importance tonight. +Five berths available." + +Drake looked around curiously. + +"Have you a passenger named George Lardner?" he asked. + +The clerk took down a small file and thumbed through it. He shook his +head. + +"No. Had you planned to meet him here?" + +Drake smiled. + +"We had a date," he admitted. "George Lardner is headed for the same +destination. He'll no doubt catch a later plane and meet us in +Winnipeg." + +The clerk was penning figures rapidly across the ticket. + +"You won't lack for entertainment," he laughed in a low voice. "That +gang at the door call themselves Harry's Rhythm Rascals. Headed for a +dance job up there." + +"I'd rather have a quiet berth," Drake admitted. "Need sleep more than +I need rhythm." + +The clerk collected the two fares and said sleepily, + +"Your plane will take off in twenty minutes, sir. May as well get +aboard. The berths are made up." + +"Thanks." Drake pocketed the tickets and motioned for Adams to follow. +As they passed Harry's Rhythm Rascals, Drake watched one of the men +turn slowly and follow him. + +"That guy must be the tuba player," Puffy said quickly. "He sure looks +as though he'd been pushed around." + +The luggage was disposed of and in ten minutes Drake was lying quietly +under the dome of the plane. A sudden throb of motors came from up +ahead. With half closed eyes he wondered, if at the end of this mad +journey, Sylvia Fanton might be waiting for him. George Lardner +wouldn't be far away. Although the plane trip had started like a wild +goose chase, at least he was headed in the general direction of +trouble, and the grandest girl he had ever met. Turning restlessly on +one side, he was aware that the bumpy ground was no longer under the +plane and the three great motors were purring smoothly as they drifted +ahead through the starlit night. + + * * * * * + +"Jim!--Jim!" Drake opened one eye with effort, remembered that he was +in a plane bound for Winnipeg, and sat up. Through the parted curtain +he could see the dark earth underneath sprinkled occasionally with a +handful of twinkling lights. Puffy Adams was leaning over the berth, +his body clad in oversized pajamas, eyes wide with excitement. + +"The orchestra!" Puffy was muttering. "They ain't! They're Lardner's +gunmen! Lardner's on board!" He babbled on. + +"Wait a minute!" Drake was wide awake now. He helped Adams into the +berth, holding a warning finger over his lips. "Now," he said firmly, +"one thing at a time." + +"Those punks that called themselves Harry's Rhythm Rascals. They got a +plane full of tommy guns. They can't play but _one_ tune on those." + +Drake's eyes narrowed. + +"How did you find out?" + +"I couldn't sleep," Puffy said. "Went up front to get a glass of water +and find that pretty hostess to keep me company." + +"So?" + +Puffy gulped. + +"So she isn't aboard the plane. We landed somewhere last night right +after we took off. I didn't think nothin' of it. Ain't used to these +airplanes. Well, when I was up front I heard two of these punks +talkin' in their berths." + +He opened the curtain slightly and looked both ways along the narrow +aisle. + +"This whole damned plane is full of Lardner's men. They were laughing +at the trick they pulled on the airlines. Seems they forced the pilot +to land, threw out both pilots and the hostess. Lardner was waiting at +the private field and he came aboard." + +"You're sure Lardner's on this plane?" Drake asked. "You didn't dream +all this?" + +"Listen, Cinderella." Puffy was himself again. "This sky bird is +headquarters for every ex-con in Chicago. I don't know why they didn't +throw us off with the hostess, but I sure wish they had." + +A hard smile twisted Drake's lips. + +"I think," he said, "that we're going to see Sylvia Fanton much sooner +than I had planned. Unless we do some fast thinking we may not see her +alive." + + * * * * * + +They sat quietly as Drake studied the country under the plane. He +tried to discover some landmark listed on the map. There was nothing +but scarred, snowcapped mountain peaks. A sprinkling of toothpick +pines relieved the monotony of blinding snow, here and there. +Gradually, as the plane droned on, even these were left behind. +Ahead--only the white wastes. + +From somewhere forward in the plane came a hard chuckle of laughter. + +"Our hosts are coming to life," Drake said. "It's now or never." He +pushed bare feet into the aisle and dropped, stretching his arms +overhead with a yawn. + +"As soon as I'm out of sight," he whispered, "get back to your berth +and dress. I'll see you in the cabin ahead. Act as though you know +nothing. Understand?" + +Puffy grinned sadly. + +"That'll be easy," he answered, "but I've been around those violins +that talk death before. Don't like a tommy gun unless it's in my own +hands." + +"Okay," Drake said grimly. "Keep your mouth shut and you may get your +wish." + +He slipped into his shoes, dressing quickly, went toward the tiny wash +room halfway up the aisle. One of Lardner's men was making a hurried +exit. They met, heads down, with a jarring blow. The gunman started to +swear loudly, caught himself and said in a mock pleasant voice, + +"Good morning. Say, ain't this a darb of a trip?" + +Drake nodded. + +"Guess I'll splash a little water over my face if you're done." + +The man's heavy face lighted in an embarrassed smile. He stepped +hurriedly to one side. + +"Oh--oh sure. The sink's all yours." + +Once inside, Drake locked the door quickly. He washed the sleepiness +from his eyes. So the laugh was on him after all. Lardner was in +control of the ship, and headed for the lost Flaming Diamond. Where, +Drake wondered, did he and Puffy Adams fit into the picture? + +Suddenly there was a difference in the tune the motors were humming. +The plane slanted down at an abrupt angle and Drake pitched forward +against the wall. Struggling up, he heard a sharp knock at the door. + +"Better strap yourself into a seat," a strange voice carried through +the wall, muffled and far away. + +He turned the lock quickly, lurched out, and felt an automatic in the +small of his back. + +"Hey!" Drake feigned surprise. "What the hell?" + +"Never mind, buddy," the man gave him a sharp push toward the cabin, +"get yourself strapped in. We ain't got time to tell stories." + +A sharp prod of the gun settled the argument. Silently Drake went +forward. Puffy was already in his seat, his face an expressionless +mask. + +"Remember," he whispered, "keep your chin stiff and wait for a break. +The fun has really started." + + * * * * * + +The plane had dropped and leveled off. Lardner's men seemed to have +forgotten their captives in the excitement. They sat with faces glued +to the windows, watching curiously as George Lardner at the controls +brought them down in ever tightening circles toward the valley below. + +Adams nudged his companion. + +"Look at 'em," he whispered. "The rattiest looking bunch of bums I've +ever seen. What in hell does Lardner need so many guns for?" + +"To finish murdering a race of people," Drake answered coldly. "A job +that he started when he found the Flaming Diamond. If he has a chance, +he'll finish the task to get it back again." + +"Shut up, back there!" A lean, sharp nosed individual in the seat +ahead turned slightly. "No talk now. You'll have plenty of chance +later on." + +A ripple of hard laughter went through the cabin. + +George Lardner was an expert pilot. More than that, he was familiar +with the country over which they were flying. Realizing that any +attempt to escape now would be futile, Drake tried to memorize the +layout of the small valley into which Lardner seemed to be heading. + +With the entire country a white layer of blowing snow it was difficult +to make out the sharp walls of granite that arose from the cup-shaped +hole below. It was like a huge bomb crater, perhaps ten miles across. +On the valley bottom was the smoothly swept blue-green of a frozen +lake. + +The plane banked abruptly and Lardner cut the motors. Drake felt the +tenseness mount within the cabin. A fear was filling these State +Street gunmen that had never troubled them before. The motors were +silent. The ship dropped below the lip of the canyon wall and the wind +died smoothly. Circling, Lardner gunned the motors again and roared in +straight over the strip of frozen ice. + +Try as he might Drake could see no sign of life or human habitation. +Heavy fir trees came straight to the edge of the lake, standing guard +stiff and frozen. + +The plane zoomed up sharply and cut back over the lake leaving a black +shadow against the ice. It sank down, bounced gently and rolled ahead. +They went straight toward the high cliff at the far end of the lake. + +"This guy better know what he's doing." Puffy clutched the chair ahead +and held on grimly. "Or we'll crack up like a broken match against +that wall." + +Drake was silent. A murmur of anxious voices arose about them. They +still rolled swiftly toward the cliff. Lardner seemed to make no +attempt to cut speed. The plane took the bump at the edge of the lake, +and then Drake saw the cavern ahead. It was huge and black, cut at an +angle in the surface of the rock. A sudden blur of rock walls and they +were in the darkness of the cave. The plane settled back roughly on +its shock absorbers and stopped. Lights flashed on within the cabin. + + * * * * * + +George Lardner pushed through the small communication door between the +pilot's cabin and the waiting gangsters. As he came, he jerked the +helmet and goggles from his eyes. A hard smile on his heavy face left +no doubt as to his frame of mind. + +"Hello, Drake," the mouth a mask of expressionless hate. "I take my +hat off to you. Never gave Cinderella Drake credit for being anything +but a whiskey mill." + +Jim stood up slowly, knowing these minutes might be his last. Fear was +in his heart. Not for himself, but for the doom that faced Sylvia +Fanton unless she could be warned of Lardner's coming. There was no +doubt in Jim Drake's mind that this frozen valley was the home of the +fox people and their queen. + +Lardner wasn't the soft night club owner now. The man was short and +stocky, but with bulging arms that were tensed for action. The dark +face was filled with devilish purpose. + +"I'd like to know why we weren't thrown out of the plane last night +with the others?" Drake said quietly. + +"Oh! That?" Lardner chuckled. "I knew you were headed toward this +valley and I thought you'd appreciate the lift." + +"For your information," Drake answered coolly, "we took the plane for +Winnipeg. Where we are now I haven't the slightest idea." + +George Lardner started toward the outer door. He whipped around +savagely, his face twisted into a hateful grimace. + +"All right, play boy," he snapped. "You asked for it. Now it's my +turn. I know you helped Sylvia Fanton to escape. I know you had a part +in stealing the diamond, and I also know you are in love with the +girl. That, if you'll have the truth, is why you are with us now." + +A hissing sigh escaped Puffy Adams' lips. He was beginning to +understand now why Lardner had not shot them both long ago. + +"So I am to act as decoy," Drake said. "If you think I'll let you +torture that girl, you're a madman." + +Lardner ignored him. He pushed the outer door of the cabin open and +dropped heavily to the cave floor. + +"Unpack your stuff, boys," he ordered crisply. "And keep an eye on our +guests. I want them to be safe and comfortable." + +The gangsters closed in, and some of them started for the baggage +compartment. + +A ring of steel closed about the pair. + +"Out, quick," one of the plug uglies mumbled. "And don't try to get +away." + + * * * * * + +To Drake's surprise the cave was warm, as though heated from some +vast, hidden source of fire. Lardner was well ahead of them, going +cautiously down the long tunnel. A flash-light sent its beam ahead of +his outstretched hand. The baggage was handed down quickly and tommy +guns came into sight from the instrument cases. They were smoothly +polished and glistened under the dull light of lanterns. They followed +Lardner slowly down the vast hall that led under the lip of the +mountain. It was warmer and more humid now. + +"The boss knows what he's doing," a voice said behind Drake. "These +fox people can't do us any harm during the day. By night we'll be +ready to blast them down in short order." + +Unable to speak to Puffy, Drake was thinking plenty. If they went on +to wherever the tunnel led them, it would be too late to face Lardner +with any show of force. Drake knew that Sylvia Fanton would be caught +off guard if she were here. Could he raise some sort of alarm? + +The man at his side seemed a trifle sleepy and disinterested in what +was going on. Making sure the man's gun was pointed away where he +wouldn't jerk the trigger, Drake lifted an arm high, pointing toward +the dark roof of the cave. Pretending fright, he shouted: + +"Oh my God! Look!" + +Before Lardner could control them, two men had raised their guns and +sent salvos of lead screaming into the darkness. Lardner's voice, +ahead in the shaft, shattered the silence that followed with wild +oaths. + +"Who the hell did that?" He stormed back toward Drake, but Jim was +well satisfied with what he had done. The sound would carry for miles +into the base of the mountain. If Sylvia or her people were here.... + +From far down the shaft a faint bark echoed clearly. It was the bark +of a fox, followed in quick succession by more of the same sounds. + +George Lardner faced him, neck red and arms akimbo. + +"You're getting too damned clever for your own good," he shouted. "I +oughta' knock some of the cockiness out of you." + +Drake had a slow temper. But behind the Cinderella Drake who had soused +himself so thoroughly in Lardner's whiskey still lurked the keen eyed +air patrol cadet who had only six months ago put his body through +every air battle on the west coast. Some of the old strength and nerve +were coming back now. Coming with a rush of hot blood to his head. + +Puffy Adams had sworn he'd stick by Drake until that spirit returned. +Now, ringed in by steel death, Adams' face lighted with interest. Yet, +he realized that Drake had small chance against these bums. + +The cave was dead silent again. Lardner breathed hard, crouched like +an oversized wrestler about to spring. + + * * * * * + +Drake's face was suddenly cold, emotionless. + +"If your men weren't ready to shoot me down the minute I move," he +said slowly, "I'd pound you within an inch of your rotten life." + +Lardner's face lighted slowly and a sardonic grin crossed his face. + +"Talk big, play boy," he urged. "I don't need lead to put you out of +the way." + +Drake's slim body shot forward with the suddenness of a catapult. His +shoulders were low as they struck Lardner's thick belly. Caught off +guard, Lardner's heavy, ape arms twisted about Jim's waist and he +started to crush Drake's body against his own. With a quick twist +Drake was loose, dodging backward as a light left caught Lardner on +the chest. Lardner jumped in quickly, puffing hard. His right arm +swept out and brought blood to Drake's nose. + +The slim air cadet shook his head, feeling the sting on his face. He +brushed an arm across his nose, and felt warm blood on his fingers. +This time Drake went in low, caught Lardner with his left hand just +above the belt. The big man bent over with a grunt as Drake's right +climbed under his chin like a looping Spitfire. Jim Drake's right fist +went home with the entire impact of his shoulder behind it. He felt a +twinge of pain shoot through his arm as Lardner's head swept backward +with a jerk. The fat man stumbled and sat down abruptly. He looked +surprised and frightened, shaking his head back and forth like an +angry bull. + +"You dirty...." Lardner didn't attempt to rise. His face was flaming +red. "Shoot the legs out from under him." + +A tommy came up swiftly, trained on Drake. + +"Hold it!" A harsh, almost frightened voice came from the shadows by +the wall. + +Puffy Adams stood, back to the granite, sweeping a tommy gun around on +the gang of men. His trigger finger was poised easily, the gun slung +carelessly in the curve of his arm. His voice, frightened for Drake, +became cool as he saw the last gun drop toward the floor. + +"One shot," he said, "and I'll poke enough lead into your boss to keep +you rats from ever flying anywhere again." + +Drake was at his side now. + +"How did you manage it?" he whispered. + +"Black-jack," Puffy grinned. "They were interested in you. It wasn't +hard." + + * * * * * + +George Lardner was frightened. The tommy gun was aimed at his head and +he knew Puffy Adams wouldn't hesitate when the time came to shoot. He +sat up slowly, eyes on the pair by the wall. Then like a shot he +rolled quickly over and over into the darkness beyond the lighted +area. His voice, harsh and powerful shouted. + +"Get them, quick!" + +A hail of lead swept the air over his head as Puffy jerked backward. + +"It's the firing squad," Adams shouted. He dropped to one knee and +opened up wide. + +Lardner was snarling something unintelligible. Guns swept around on +the men by the wall. Then from within the circle of men compressed +hell broke loose. Someone was opening up a deadly fire from within the +ranks. Gunmen screamed in pain and turned their guns in every +direction, trying to determine who had betrayed them. + +"Run for it, Drake. Down the tunnel." + +The voice was vaguely familiar. Drake didn't hesitate. He clutched +Adams' arm and together they dashed into the blackness ahead. From +behind them, the sound of gun shots ceased. Only loud groans of pain +drifted to them as they went forward through the midnight blackness. +Then, far behind, single footsteps followed them hesitantly. + +Lardner was still alive. Drake had heard him curse softly as they +passed him. He felt blood on Puffy's arm. + +"You're hurt," he said quietly. "Where did it hit?" + +"Just a nick." Puffy sounded game. "Glanced off the shoulder. A bit of +shirt will fix it up. Say! That was a nice poke you took at Lardner." + + * * * * * + +The tunnel grew wider. Far ahead a pale shower of colored light tossed +against the walls like a weak rainbow. There wasn't a sound ahead or +behind them. Drake led the way swiftly. The light seemed stronger, +drawing them toward its source. + +Then they stood on the edge of a great chamber. From the walls of the +circular room a barbaric curtain of rainbowed color sprayed down +toward its center. + +It flashed and changed as they watched with wide eyes, changing into +rich shades of purple, gold, orchid and startling the eye with its +everchanging spectrum. + +In the direct center of the chamber on a raised dais stood the huge +carved statue of a marble polar bear. It towered ten feet high, a +magnificent standing beast with lifted outstretched paw. On the back +of the bear a small throne had been carved. The blinding flood of +color that converged on the throne, hid anything that might be seated +there. + +Drake clutched his companion's arm. + +"Look!" + +He pointed toward the low pit that surrounded the statue. + +Puffy nodded. + +"The biggest fox farm in the world," he said dryly. "Or I'm going +nuts." + +As their eyes grew accustomed to the changing light, the pit grew +clear. The animals became visible against the floor of the pit. There +were thousands of them lying about the chamber. They spread over the +floor carpeting it with rich fur like a deep rug of precious black and +silver. + +One thing held Jim Drake spellbound. Every animal had its head lifted +toward the throne atop the bear's back. + +His eyes lifted again slowly. His vision broke through the bright haze +of light. Stretched out in sleep across the stony back was the perfect +nude figure of a girl. She seemed frozen in death, yet the bronzed +flesh was alive and throbbing. It was the same girl he had saved from +Wildwood Zoo--_Sylvia Fanton_! + + * * * * * + +He tried to take his eyes away from the vision but could not. Color +seemed to splash and caress her body as though it alone gave her the +power to exist. Then he knew what it was that made her look human. The +light preserved her body during daylight hours, or she would have been +forced to enter the body of a fox and mingle in the pit with her own +kind. + +A queen, Queen of the Flaming Diamond, doomed to lie dead until she +could be restored to her normal life. + +"What do we do now?" Puffy asked in a tense whisper. + +"What I want to know first," Drake said wonderingly, "is who saved us +from Lardner's mob?" + +"Whoever it was," Adams offered, "he'll never escape them alive." + +Soft footsteps came from behind them. + +"But you are wrong!" + +Drake pivoted, and faced the same man whom he had met in the apartment +that night he lost the fur. The man who brought his last message from +Sylvia Fanton. + +"You see," the man went on quietly, "I am not your enemy. I asked you +to stay out of this, but I could not desert you." + +Drake's face was lighted in a relieved smile. His hand gripped the +other's. + +"Now you have saved our life, why did you do it?" + +"Because," the man said simply, "you are human and you are good. +Sylvia Fanton asked me to help you, and I am her brother." + +Puffy Adams sat down abruptly on the cave floor. + +"And I," he said unbelievingly, "am the keeper of Cinderella Drake, +the sap who still looks for the silver slipper." + +"But Sylvia is no fox woman," Drake protested. "She's too warm, too +human!" + +For a moment there was silence. Then a warm smile lighted the +stranger's eyes. + +"We are all human," he said. "We are early settlers who came to this +valley and sought its sanctuary. Only the curse of George Lardner has +spoiled our paradise and driven us into animal form. Perhaps you will +see...." + + * * * * * + +He looked hurriedly at the light that was growing dimmer above them. +The rainbow had faded swiftly and darkness was coming down on the +cavern. + +"I am Silvaris, King of the Fox People," he said swiftly. "On the +Flaming Diamond depends our ability to exist. Night is almost upon us +again, but unless the diamond can be restored to the paw of the bear, +there will be no more night or day." + +"But you have it!" Drake protested. "Lardner came here to get it back +again...." + +"Lardner came by mistake to this valley six months ago," Silvaris said +brokenly. "We welcomed him as we welcome all people. He betrayed our +trust and stole our life source. We took him to our hearts as Sylvia +and I were taken many years ago." + +"Then you aren't really of the same race?" Drake's voice was filled +with relief. + +Silvaris shook his head. + +"We are here by our own choice," he went on. "Sylvia and I, lost +children, found our way here from a trapper's cabin when we were very +young. We never tried to leave. When Lardner stole our precious gem, +she and I alone knew the ways of civilization. It was our task to +return the stone to its rightful place." + +"If that diamond is the solution of this mess," Puffy asked in a +puzzled voice, "why don't we clean up the mystery right now?" + +"Wait!" + +Silvaris went slowly down the long steps to the fox pit. He climbed +the steps to the side of the polar bear and his sister's lifeless +body. From her armpit, he took a huge gem. As he came toward them, +Drake knew it was the Lardner stone, flashing and alive in the +semi-darkness. + +He pushed it into Drake's hands. + +"Somehow Lardner pawned a paste imitation of the real Flaming Diamond +off on us that night in Chicago," Silvaris said sadly. "The real stone +is the only gem that will make the transformation." + +Drake examined the diamond curiously. + +"Hey!" Puffy said excitedly. "Wait a minute. How come Lardner is so +almighty hot after us, if he thinks we've only got a paste?" + +"That I cannot explain," Silvaris admitted helplessly. "I purposely +disguised myself to mingle with his men. He came to destroy us and yet +he knows our life is short now that the diamond is gone. We cannot +live long as animals." + + * * * * * + +Far away toward the mouth of the tunnel came the sound of an idling +motor. Drake sprang into action. + +"I think," he said, "that we can outplay Lardner at whatever game he's +playing. He must be wounded. Perhaps too badly to fly." + +The face of Silvaris, the Fox King, lightened. + +"You are a pilot?" he asked. + +Puffy chuckled. + +"Cinderella can fly the blind spots off a Jap Zero," he said. "Just +strap a pair of wings on him." + +They charged toward the mouth of the tunnel. A few hundred feet from +the entrance Drake stopped. He picked up a tommy gun where it had been +dropped by the fleeing gunmen. Going forward more slowly they saw +three men at the entrance, guns pointed into the darkness. + +On one knee, Drake fingered the trigger. He picked up a large rock +with his free hand and tossed it ten feet to one side. It struck with +a loud thump. Immediately red fire cut loose around the place where +the rock had hit. Drake brought his finger back lightly against the +trigger and watched coldly as the men went down. They pitched forward +like alley pins, bleeding and screaming with the pain. There was no +time to lose. + +Dropping the gun he went forward swiftly, whipping an automatic from +his pocket as he ran. Then, seeing Lardner, he took a head dive into +the deep snow as the vicious crack of lead whizzed over his head. He +rolled over silently coming to his feet with a bound. Lardner, waiting +by the plane, shot again and the lead burned into Drake's shoulder. He +sprang forward as Lardner's foot lifted toward the open door to the +cabin. + +Clutching his foot, Drake jerked the man back into the snow with all +his strength and they rolled into a white, seething mass of fury. With +a short, terrifying blow on the chin he snapped the man's head +backward. It twitched queerly and his eyes bulged. Lardner's neck was +twisted to one side, stiff and broken. + +"The diamond?" Puffy was at his side. Jim Drake bent over the dying +man, watched his face as it twitched in pain. + +"You want the girl," Lardner croaked. "You'll never get her. Even +with the diamond, you'll never...." + +His body relaxed suddenly, as though deflated of life. Drake pushed +him back into the drifted snow, a look of disgust in his cold eyes. + + * * * * * + +"Give me that paste imitation," Drake said. "Perhaps somehow...?" + +Silvaris nodded helplessly. + +"It's of no use," he groaned. "We tried, but it has no power." + +Puffy, a knife in his hand once more, was working slowly over the gem +with its keen blade. His face was solemn and deep with interest. In +spite of themselves, the two men stood close to him watching the thin, +case-like stuff that he peeled away from the surface. + +"This ain't paste," he said excitedly. "It's a kind of silicate. +Lardner must have dipped the gem into it and let the stuff harden as a +protective cover." + +Drake took the gem eagerly. + +"Then he realized that whatever the power was that this stone has, it +couldn't work unless the diamond itself was clean and unprotected." + +The late afternoon sun was fading slowly beyond the far end of the +frozen lake. They turned and went into the cave of the Fox People. +Perhaps the gem would work. But if it didn't, Lardner had died with +the secret on his lips. + +"_You'll never get her_," he had said, "_even with the diamond_." + +At the edge of the pit they stopped. Silvaris spoke in a faraway, +silencing voice. + +"Our lives depend on you. I am no longer able to control myself. In a +few hours we will all be dead...." + +He hesitated and the voice trailed off into nothingness. Before their +eyes the man fell away into a light mist. Instead, a large fox stood +at Drake's feet, tail drooping and its eyes staring ahead dully. +Silvaris the Fox King had returned to the stature of his people. + +The chamber grew silent as death. The fox turned slowly and walked +down the steps into the marble pit. He mixed quickly with the others +and no movement came from below. The spot of color over the throne +wavered and went out. The cave was black as pitch. + +"Now or never," Drake muttered. His tongue was rough and dry. His +hands shook under the weight of the diamond. It and it alone seemed +alive and glittering in the cold unnatural tomb of the cave. + + * * * * * + +He went toward the bottom of the pit and gently forced his way through +the sleeping animals. Up toward the throne his legs carried him step +by step, and each step was a million years. A torture of uncertainty +and hope. + +He lifted the diamond and without hesitation pushed it with all his +strength into the outstretched claws of the marble bear. + +The Flaming Diamond suddenly glittered more powerfully than ever +before. The claws seemed to grasp it tightly, as though the power of +the gem must stay where it could never be stolen again. + +Bright flames of every hue sprang from the surfaces of the stone. They +bathed his body like colored lightning and he fell backward down the +steps, his arm upraised in protection. The place came alive with +sound. Pealing, silvery tones of rich bell-like music tore the air +asunder and the light of the diamond flashed warmly against the flesh +of the girl on the throne. + +On his feet now Drake stumbled toward Puffy Adams at the entrance of +the chamber. Puffy was on his knees, face blinded with the light. + +"Holy Ned," he shouted. "Now look what you've done, Cinderella." + +Drake didn't answer. His eyes had grown accustomed to the glare. The +chamber was hot and brilliant with some new world born from the cold +womb of the old. Men and women arose from where animals had been +waiting for the end. + +Silvaris, the Fox King, came toward them. His face was alight with +thanksgiving. Looking over his shoulder, Drake saw something that made +him lose all interest in the others. Something that he had prayed for +was taking place atop the polar bear's throne-back. + +Sylvia Fanton, her body alive and glowing, sat upright. No false +modesty marred the perfect, classically molded body. She slipped down +from the beast's back and caressed its side with slim fingers. Then +she came toward him slowly. + + * * * * * + +The men and women parted as she went among them gracefully. Her eyes +were wide and wonderfully warm as she came up the steps toward him. +Her gaze never wavered from his. They had changed from a cold black to +soft, gold-flecked brown. + +"I knew you would come," she said softly. "It was necessary that we +have each other." + +With a happy sob she was in his arms. He only knew that her body was +pressed tightly to his. That the warmth of the Flaming Diamond had +brought her life, and that Jim Drake would never be lonely again. + +Voices arose happily in the chamber. The heat, now, was almost +unbearable. He heard Silvaris's voice say happily: + +"It is good that the Ice Gods have played their part." + +Strong arms were on Drake's shoulder. He stumbled after the men toward +the open valley. Then, with his emotions under control, he saw the +transformation that had taken place because he had done his job well. + +"You have once more breathed life into a lost valley," Silvaris was at +his side. "We will be forever thankful." + +Drake looked down at the wisp of loveliness at his side. She was +partly clothed now in a small fur jacket. Somehow it displayed rather +than enshrouded her charms. + +Away toward the head of the lake frozen cliffs jutted up to the sky +from green, lush fields of deep grass. The valley had come suddenly +alive. Trees waved gently under the warm wind that rushed from the +cave. Small cabins were visible where they had been brought to life +from under the deep snow. Deep flower-splashed meadows crept to the +water's edge and the ice of the lake was gone. This, he realized with +a lump in his throat, was the magic power of the Flaming Diamond. + +"The plane is ready," Silvaris reminded him. "It is best that you +leave while my people will let you. They are very grateful." + +Jim Drake looked questioningly at the girl. Her eyes answered his with +a smile. As much as she loved the Fox People, her place was with him. + +They went slowly toward the waiting plane. + + * * * * * + +Drake looked back once as he sent the big ship skimming along the +meadow at the far end of the lake. Silvaris and his people were +gathered in a tight, worshipping little group, watching the bird plane +take to the air. + +At three thousand feet he leveled off. Something soft and warm brushed +his cheek. He turned and saw Sylvia's eyes close to his, warm and +promising. + +The valley was no longer visible. From the air one could see only +vast sweeps of snow and ice. The secret of the Fox People was well +hidden. + +"Well," Puffy said from behind them, "Tiffany will never see another +diamond to equal that one." + +"Everyone is happy," Drake answered. + +Adams chuckled. + +"Cinderella Drake found the silver slipper after all," he said. "And +man, what a queen there was in it." + +Sylvia blushed prettily. + +"I'll try to dress a little more modestly in civilization," she +offered. + +"Not for me," Drake urged. "When a man comes home from a hard day's +work shooting down Japs, he likes to see as much of his wife as +possible. Namely, in a very small fox fur." + +"Yea!" Puffy said. "Guess you're right. Excuse me while I go curl up +with a good book." + +He blundered noisily toward the row of empty berths at the rear of the +plane. + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Queen of the Flaming Diamond, by Leroy Yerxa + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEEN OF THE FLAMING DIAMOND *** + +***** This file should be named 32411.txt or 32411.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/1/32411/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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