Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-04-28


This step soon brought to light some
thing which, Mr. lIydcnseke felt,
might perhaps have an important bear
ing on the case. In day or two's
time the man appointed to spy on Mrs.
Quilter informed his chief that there
was something up" between the grass
widow and Paul Dymock. The latter
had been for some while frequent
visitor at her house, often remaining
there till quite late in the evening.
And the cook, to whom he (the spy
had been making up, had given him
such information of "Missus' goings
on" as left no doubt that Dymock at
present occupied the position of Mrs.
Cutters lover. "a
Mr.. HydeDsckc thought very long
time over this intelligence. And then
an idea occurred to him which APP
peared to cause him some satisfaction
1t had been suggested to him by DIR.
Miller that Dymock might have taken
the diamonds to give to one of his mis-
tresses. Surprising that mistress to be
Mrs. Quilter? A very pretty stroke that,
to give her her own jewels but .the
executor is liable, of course" reflected
Mr. Hydenseke, land woman like
that might think she'd like the dia-
monds, and their value as we'll. She's
safe to be hard up for cash, living in
that free and easy style on small al
lowance."
Following out this idea, it was equal
ly possible that she had stolen them
herself. But Mr.. Hydenseke didn't
like that notion quite so we'll. 1t was
more like woman, he thought, to set
some one else to do the dangerous and
dirty work. And, besides, the altcrna-
tive theory was much the prettier-to
his professional way of thinking.
In either case, however, II the idea
was correct-which there was nothing
to show it was-the diamonds would
now be in Mrs. Cutters possession.
For, of course, she would not venture
to sell or pledge them yet awhi lie, even
if she contemplate doing so at all.
Mr.. Hydcnseke, therefore, decided
on bold stroke-one of those auda-
cious coups in which his adventurous
spirit delighted He waited for an
evening when Mrs Quilter was en-
gagged to go to the opera, and made his
arrangements accordingly The spy
who had been making up to "cooky"
went to see his inamorata that even
ing, accompanied by a friend to flirt
with the housemaid; and while that
worthy quartctte were feasting and
making merry in the basement Mr..
Hydenseke did the ladder thief" trick
with one of the first floor windows, and
overhauled Mrs. Cutters jewel-case in
perfect peace and quietncss. For her
house-in the Regents park-stood
back in u garden by itself, and rem
dered burglarious entrance superla.
lively safe and simple.
Our friend had better luck than he
really expected. At the bottom of the
jewel case he found small wooden
box, which, on being opened, exposed
to view-the missing diamond star!
But as he brought his dark lantern to
bear more closely upon it, something
seemed to strike Mr. Hydensekc,
which caused him to scratch his head
and frown perplexedly He had some
knowledge of diamonds--far more thar
most amateurs have; for his profes
sional services had been called into q
good many jewel robberies before
now. And-and-. Well, he would
make sure at once. There was Jew
eler whom he knew professionally
and could trust, within twenty min
utes of where he stood. That would
give him time to go there, have thu
star looked at, and, If necessary, re
turn and replace it, before the orgie il
the kitchen was over.
Putting Mrs, Cutters case, there
fore, back where he had found it, ant
locking it up he scrambled out of tn,
window with all haste, and went, q
fast as he could go, to the jewelers. II
question. At word from him, tn
latter took him into his private offic
and examined tho diamonds, as Nh
Hydensekc requested him.
After u minutes scrutiny he handle
them back with the one word: paste!
II thought So" replied the detec
tive. "Thank you"
= And, without stopping to say more
, he hurried out of the shop and wen
straight back to Mrs. Cutters. Their
| was some further complication in tn
case, evidently, and while matters wer
: still inchoate, the lady's suspicion
must not be reused. So, having lis
| tened at the kitchen shutters and sa'
l isfed himself that both the Abigail
, were still making merry there wit
their admirers, he reascended INTO Mrs
! Cutters bedroom and replaced tn
diamond star just as lie had found Il
t That having been done successfully
l he put the ladder back in the coac
house, from which he had taken il
, and returned to h's owr lingo. $50.
l Every minute, since his suspicio
5 about the genuineness of the diamond
9 had been awakened, his brain ha
/, been working at the problem-wha
s this new departure in the case mean
: In the first place, he did not for on
a moment believe that Mrs. Quilter ha
. sold or pledged the real stones. Sh
was too clever woman to do such
b, fatuously risky thing at present Br
4 Diminishing that supposttion-ah! brigl
t idea! Very pretty, indeedl Mr.. Hydel
n seke, in the course of his profession,
= experience, had come across Pa,
e Dymock, directly and indirectly.
e would be just like that mean, fox
G scamp-exactly like hin-to steal til
e real diamonds for Mrs. Quilter,
e order to gain her favors thereb,
l. have paste substitute made, and the
e palm the trash upon her and keep tt
| rnnl fhin,r hi1nSnlf