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
he Owl Limb Night Club was crowded with smoothly gowned women andpaunchy men as Owner George Lardner approached the hanging "mike" toannounce 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 hisright hand man with a washed-out expression.
"Huh?"
"Puffy" Adams stood up slowly. His coat was wrinkled and creasedacross his powerful back. He pulled it down impatiently and rubbed awarm hand across his face. Looking down at the unsteady figure of JimDrake he grunted. Three crooked teeth that seemed at odds with theworld, appeared coyly against "Puffy's" lower lip.
He was accustomed to this old routine. Placing both hands underDrake's armpits he lifted. Jim came to his feet with a surprisedgurgle.
"Wait a minute," he protested. "Wanta' see dance."
Puffy Adams pushed a thick arm around Drake and steered him across thefloor between the tables.
"Special feature tonight—diamond of mystery...." The night club ownerwas still talking, his voice drowning the murmur of voices and tinkleof glasses across the big room. "Sylvia Fanton—girl from nowhere—!"
Puffy struggled onward under the almost dead weight of his boss. Drakewas 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 ledtoward the coat room. A silvery crash of music drowned out Puffy'svoice with the suddenness of striking lightning. He dropped his armfrom Drake's waist and pivoted, surprise on his broad face. Somethingweird and lovely about the sound turned them both toward the stage.His chin dropped in delight. This wasn't Lardner's usual nightlyfeature.
She went into a weirdly sensuous dance....They watched with hypnotized eyes as the girl's slim body twisted andswayed from between the bright shower of curtains. It wasn't the girlthat caught Puffy's gaze. Cupped in her slim hands was the biggestdiamond he had ever seen. The gem was skillfully cut with theperfection of a Tiffany. From its multi-faceted sides a million sparksof rainbow fire quivered and danced through the room. The shadowsseemed 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 legswere spr