Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-17
THE GER.EN D.

.iNU WY nO., pfaII Nnat reason Slodlu
There be for conccaiment? Explain what
You mean"
Tho last speaker was n tall slightly-built
man, with blanchcd hair closely-cut, thin
cheeks clearly shayen. and a long dropping
moustache. silyery-white. His small green
grey eyes cleaned anglily, like the eyes OF
an lIritatcd cat, as he fixed them uron his
companion from beneath bushy white eye
brows, meeting over them in a frown that
Wrink!ed the c~olorless skin Of his high mar
row forehead.
He had himself much Of The look of one
Dy profession habitually employed IN inveS-
legations requiring care and Cu~nuinG-blood-
less, emotiOnlcsS, unsympathe;ic. You
might, q physioyncmjSt would have sad,
have moved such a man to hatred and long
enduring revenge, but never to love.
But Sir Richard Fordyce occupied no
magistelial or inquisitorial o0ice: at least,
such a description could not have justly de-
scribed the various important duties per-
formed by him as head OF one OF Her Ma
jcsty's highest government offices.
The house in which the dialogue took
place was Sir Richards, an oll-fashioned
rcd-brick mansion close to the banks OF the
Thames ut Fulham, and The scene enacting
'IS vi ~ skiNi-o "i' pAiib' tN"' ''HN
drama, with the curiously complicated plot
Of which we shall nave now, If il please
you. to deal.
''What reason should there be for conceal
ment?' repeated Sir Richard angrily, stamp
ing his foot.
NO exact reason that know of" replied
Mr.. Cuthbert Craven, his secretary, sex
cept that, as Il rule, 1 have always been led
t. understand these enquiries, when placed
in the hands of an ordinary poiice-onicer,
are conducted with 50 much unnecessary
publicity"
IF publicity lead to the detection Of the
thief, and the restoration Of my poverty, L
see no reason to object 10 it,"
1T is only for you to say; | await your in
structions."
You have them. Send for the police"
Certainly" replied the secretary with n
slight bow, and moving towards the door,
whilst Sir Richard, turning his back upon
him, rested his foot upon the fender, and
drummed with his long thin fingers impa-
tiently upon the mantelpieco.
Before Mr.. Craven had had time TO gently
close the door behind him, he was called
back.
These fellows are clumsy, are they?
Make a great fuss? Upset one? Turn ones
house topsy-tTry? is that what you mean?"
II have known several cases OF their do
ing so" replied Craven; land that is not
| the worst"
Indeed! What else do they do"'
1.-The code of the ordinary laundering
police-officia,, " said Mr.. Craven, after care
fullr closing the door behind him, is not
that of the rest Of humanity. With him any
and every ONE is guilty until proved TO be
inEocent-not that all are innocent until
proved to he guilt. The first duty of II
spcctor lIGrdst0tf. when called in To make
an enquirs, is TO find a clue. This TuSt be
done. and must be done without d%elay-that
Is q sinC4ptd nor. Anything looking like
g. clue is therefore greedily seized upon and
adhered to, in spite Of all outside Sugges-
ton, AMI in the meanwhile the real cuiprit,
seeing the turn things have taken, has
plenty of leisure TO clear away any traces OF
the deed he may, in the hurry or the mo-
ment, have overiookel.'
"lOu 30 not appear to have a high opinion
4 of the police said Sir Richard, who sill
stood with his back tuTned towards bis conf
paniol.
"Isave verv little personal kno4 ledge of
them" said Craven with a bright smile,
that lit up his fresh honest face aad clear
blue ,cyes like a CLEAN Of summer sunshine.
II olly sneak at secondhand. Certainly
onev,asc did come within my experience. 1t
was a case of robbery, in which il the end,
after BENZ hadgered 10 death by enquiries
as te how, when, and where he can g by the
article stoiel, the wner Of II himself, who
had raised ;he alarm, actually found him.
self in the cock for perjury. il is true he
had some strong reason for wishill. 70 keep
50 himself some secret connected With the
past history of the diamoni."
[ p0n the mirror placed above the1nantel'
pierre. Sir Richards eyes, throughout the
others talk, had been steadfastly H. ed.
Reflected there. he could see distinctly
every movement of the others face in the
brighter background, whilst the feahres Of
his own were yelled by shadow. IL the
word ''diarond' his half-closed eyes open
ed suddenly with a startled glare, and he
repeated the word in q loud sharp tone, We;
without turning.
~ beg p%loion, sir" said the secretary;
"nw mind was, at the moment, running on
the ~diamord,you had lost. In the ease OF
tie person ] was speaking Of, it was a ruby
bracelet, belonging to some lady between
when and tie prosecutor there existed 81
intrirua-tllEt was, in fact, why he pre-
Eaficated with the police.'
The other made no reply, but slowly the
cold rey shade crept back t. his face, from
which a transient flash of color had banislt-
ed il . while ago. and his eyes half-closed
again rs they we're usually.
The secretary seemed 10 be respectfully
awaiting his commands. a light-haired,
s.rongiy-built, good.looking young fellow
this secretary, with, perhaps, if fault must
be Gun with him, rather too heavy q jaw,
and too thick a throat. One would hayeeX
pected him u haze been found more prof
cient in athletic sportS-in the h%untingfe,d
on the riyer-than in the duties Of q private
secretary, but Sir Richard, but little giver
to praise, had pronounced him 'invaluable.'
Il am at your orders" said Craven after
pause. Shall l go tviaelocai police-oficc?'
NO."
"Do you intend to employ the services O
a private detective! in that case-"
"Do you know one?'
Not even by name. But their addresses
are advertised in the newspapers. / meant
II you would give me your instructions
could act for you. Your w time is Of too
much value"
Il am the best judge Of that, perhaps. No,
thank you, Mr.. Craven. Iwill 70 bymvseif."
Shall find you the address, 81? Oh,
here they are"
'(iya IL IN maj