The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-02

a perfectly logical explanation OF the
fact"
Gas logical as 1 think I may fairly
say romantic, replied the inspector as
he set his glass down. "In one sense it
was the most ticklish problem that I've
ever had to tackle. OF course you've
heard some version or other of the dis
appearance of the great De Beers dia-
mond?'
81 should rather think had. said,
with decided thrill of pleasurable an
ticipation, for felt sure that now, if
ever: was going to get to the bottom
of the great mystery. Everybody in
camp seems to have a different version
of it, and Of course every one seems to
think that if he had only had the man
agement of the case the mystery would
have been solved long ago"
cit is invariably the case, said the
inspector, with another of his quiet,
pleasant smiles, ''that every one can do
work better than those whose reputation
depends upon the doing of it. We are
not altogether fools at the department.,
and yet have to confess that myself
was in ignorance as to just how that
diamond disappeared or where it got to
until within IL hours ago.
CHOW, am going to tell you the
facts exactly as they are, but under the
condition that you will alter all the
names except, if you choose, my own
and that you will not publish the story
for at least l2 months to come. There
are personal and private reasons for this
which you will probably understand
without my stating them. OF course it
will in time leak out into the papers,
although there has been and will be no
prosecution, but anything in the news
papers will OF necessity be garbled and
Incorrect aad-well, | may as we'll
confess that l am sufficiently vain to
wish that my share in tho transaction
shall not be left altogether to the tender
mercies Of the imaginative peuny-a-
! liner. I"
I acknowledged the compliment with
a bow as graceful as the easiness of the
inspectors chair would allow mo to
make, but said nothing, as wanted
! to get to the story.
81 had better begin at the begin
ming" the inspector went on as he
meditatively shipped the end of a fresh
cigar. Gas suppose you already know,
the largest and most valuable diamond
ever found on these fields was o really
magnificent stone, perfect octahedron,
pure white, without a flaw and weigh
ing close on 500 carats. There's pho.
tograph Of it there on the mantelpiece.
I've got another one by me. I'll give it
you before you leave Kimberley.
"Well, this stone was found about
six months ago in one,of the drives Oh
the 500 foot level of the Kimberley
mine. 1t was taken by the overseel
straight to the De Beers Offices anc
placed on the secretary's desk-yor
know where he SITS on the right Ahand
side as you go into the boardroon
through the green baize doors. Their,
were several Of the directors present a
) the Time and, as you may imagine
f they were pretty we'll pleased at tn
find, for the stone, without any exag
/ geration, was worth princes ransom
"Cf courseI needn't tell you that tn
t value per carat of diamond which i
perfect and of good color increases il
: a sort of geometrical progression wit
i the size. dare say that stone wa
h and GO, 900, 900, according to the dept
? of the purchasers purse. twas worth
! to adorn the proudest crown in TIL
world instead of-but there, you'll
d think me very poor story teller if
# anticipate.
Y "Well, the diamond, after being dul
r admired, was taken up stairs to the dis
f mond room by the secretary himsel,
IS accompanied by two of the directors
v OF course you have been through til
q new offices of De Beers, but still pei
II haps had better just run over til
d ground, as the locality is rather in
/. portant.
< "You know that when you get u
stairs and turn to the right on the lant
l. ing from the top of the staircase thel
J. is a door with little grille in it. 70
!. knock, a trapdoor is raised, and if yc
d are recognized and your business wa
i. rants it you are admitted. Then you 6
e along little passage, out of which
|e room opens on the left, and in front
n you is another door, leading into til
1t diamond rooms themselves.
v "You know, too, that in the mai
If room fronting Stocldale street al
d Jones street the diamond tables ru
le round the two sides under the window
and are rallied off from the rest of IL
ir room by single light wooden raj
/ There is table i'll the middle of I'll
o. room, and on your right hand as ye
It go in there is big safe standir
If against the wall. You will remembe
too that in the corner exactly facil
le the door stands the glass case contain
lie ing the diamond scales. want W
sr particularly to recall the fact that the
lie scales stand diagonally across the co
,e ner by the window. The secondal
ID room, as you know, opens out on to ii
: left, but that is not of much cons
ID quence. !"
+? l signified my remembrance of the
IL details and the inspector went on.