The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-08-04

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him and fell into storm Of abuse He
/ pulled half crown out Of his pocket,
looked at 1t deliberately. while she was
demanding her property back with every
ugly word she could command.
The even tramp Of policeman be-
came audible. In an instant the girl
changed her tone, burst out cry
ing. implored his honor not to
rob poor hard working girl, de-
clared that her whole basket was sold
already. and that she dared not part with
any of its contents. Tramp, tramp. came
the heavy tread nearer and nearer. Sud
denly the girl flung away her basket,
the oranges ran in a golden shower
across the pavement, and she shot off
like an arrow.
Sir Meredith shouted like stentor to
the policeman. who started in pursuit
"Has telegram arrived for Sir Mere
dith Walton2" Col. Cannock was anx-
iously asking at that moment.
mo, sir-oh, here it u.s." the missiye
from Mr.. Martin was put into his hand,
which shook little as he tore 1t open
I'VE employed no detective; am COM
ing at once.'
All that Col. Cannock could do now,
having telegraphed to the police centers
already, was to await the arrival Of Mr..
Martin, who came as fast as O cab could
convey him, sprang out looking very
pale, and had his worst fears confirmed
on the instant.
.This is ruin to NO." he said shortly.
A little knot Of young men, who
wanted to turn into amateur detectives
on the spot, had gathered round Can
mock. They fattered themselves that,
knowing all about stolen dogs, and being
of special and extraordinary acumen,
their aid would soon clear up the mys-
terry. He was quite happy to oblige
them by relating every circumstance he
| could recall connected with the missing
| jewel. He totally forgot one item, how
ever; the little episode in the under.
| ground train.
Left alone surrounded by that golden
shower, and confident of the girl being
captured ere long, Sir Meredith emptied
his pockets of the spoil he had dropped
into them, and, almost as quickly select
ing one Of the oranges, threw down the
| rest Co JOIN Their fellows.
That one he held was in outward SEEM
ing exactly like the rest, but things"
we have been informed, 'are not always
what they SEEM" This particular speci-
men had been cut in half with a sharp
knife, the inside scooped out and stuffed
with cotton wool. A wire pin kept 1t in
its spherical shape. The pin came out
without any difficulty, and Sir Meredith
peered sharply into the bed Of wool, then
probed it with rather a hasty finger,
emptied the skin, and drew long
breath.
That orange girl had apparently over
reached him after all; it was not the
sort of thing to which he was accus-
toned. and probably he vowed vow
within himself that he would yet be even
with her, or him, or whosoever the
present holder or holders of the great
Orange diamond might be.
Repacking the improvised jewel case
that had, he made no doubt, served its
purpose, he went back to the exhibition.
Here he found two or three genuine de-
tectives and an inspector and Col Can
mock, apparently enjoying the excite
ment, for his countenance only fell oc-
casionally when he happened to glance
at Mr.. Martin, who was far from enter
ing into the spirit of the thing with his
own sporting instinct.
Before these assembled personages Sir
Meredith briefly told his tale. He had
not believed that that little incident be-
| tween Mr.. Gadd and the orange girl had
been accidental. To practiced eye it
appeared premeditated; therefore he had
left Ii Che to follow the pseudo detec-
tive, and himself followed the basket of
oranges, having noted the exact spot in
which Gadd had dropped the fruit he
had handled. The sham orange had
been, no doubt, in his pocket up to
that moment. Finally Sir Meredith pro-
duced the empty skin and opened it,
while every pair Of eyes present was CEN
tered eagerly upon 1t.
"The diamond was In this when Gadd
dropped it into the basket; the girl had
it out and concealed somewhere about
her within the next three minutes" he
said decisively; then looking at his watch,
he observed that the policeman might be
expected any moment with his prisoner
and the diamond.
He was not in the least boastftll Or
over elated by this fresh proof Of the
sagacity for which he had gained renown
in his professional services, but there
was CLINT of satisfaction In his fine eyes
! that broadened to smile when Mr.. Mar
tin burst into congratulations and warm
gratitude. He looked upon the diamond
as once more his, as certainly as though
he had it to handle at that instant
Alasi it turned out to be q case of the
proverhial chicken turning into an added
egg. The disheyeled figure of tho roguish
orange girl was presently brought in be-
tween two policemen, and, alters full and
systematic search, it was finally pro-
nounced that there was no such thing as
a diamond-'sn so much as q glass
bead therep as the woman said whose
business it was to make the investiga-
l ton.
Blank disnay fell upon the party, who
had been waiting in full expectation OF
hearing chat the stone had been recov-
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