Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-12-06

"What?" he cried, "and me jealous
dktective,"
'Yes, I'm aware that one of your col
leagues-Howland- rather envious.
But do you know of anyone who not
only hates you, but who is likely to be
aware that we put this diamond in the
desk? What about the fellow you so
nearly nabbed-the fellow from whom
you captured the stone-the fellow that
escaped? Look here, Joseph Kinch,
my boy, I'm going to stand by you. So
don't get into fuster. Sit down and
listen. That's right Now we can
20 on smoothly. OF course, shall de-
prive you of your liberty, but only for
your good, l hope. Besides, it's my
business. Now, it so happens that
I'm the man who found the gem in your
hat. Therefore, / know it wasn't
planted by the finder. OF course, had
Q witness. Sergt. Stavely was here,
helping me to search. And when
looked in your hat, which was hanging
on the peg there-well, told him what
had discovered-for my own sake, you
know-for my own sake, Kinch, old fell
low. Besides, it was such a curious
place TO select; both for hiding and for
seeking. Who would have thought that
a thing was again in place where one
had seen it taken from?'
That's precisely what ought TO prove
my complete innocence" said Kinch.
"But 1 haven't yet accused you; I've
merely arrested you. And in addition,
as / said, I'm going to help you. Now,
Kinch, my boy, | remember that you
slept in this room last night; and
also remember that, owing to the heat,
left the window open. IT is just pos
sible--only iust-but still II is possible
that the fellow you tried TO nab fol-
lowed you here. He is the only person
to our knowledge-who was aware
that the diamond was in our possession,
except the jewel merchant and his as
sistants. But, there! What would any
OF them want 10 plant the thing for?
Why didn't they take il with them? So
IL may resolve itself into-into-shall
we say your friend Rowland? In
any case, I'm going TO see If the man
who planted that diamond in your hat
is coming back for it. Tonight you
will use the same armchair that you
used last night; only tonight you will
be crouched behind it-and awake!"
To my plan Kinch readily agreed.
was a reader of novels; but only a
certain class of novels; and that mere
IL for professional purposes. My ia
vorite authors were Emile Gaboriau,
Fortune Du Boisgobey, Edgar Allan
Poe and wilkie Collins. Now, l had
just finished reading The Moonstone.'
1t will be remembered that in this work |
a certain diamond is lost, and that the
man to whom ii is of the greatest i'm
portance that the stone shall be found |
is the inviting cause of its loss. He
walks in his sleep. and transports the |
gem from place OF comparative safety |
to a place from whence 1t is taken by |
the real thief.
I wanted to see If Joseph Kinch were
a somnambulist. remembered that
he had dropped asleep with his mind
full of the diamond, its value, its hid
ing plaee-selecte6 by me; and its car
rying place-selected by himself. And |
l thought that, in his troubled slum-
bers, his subconsciousness might have
been at work telling him TO mistrust
nv selection and to use one more his |
own. And / also thought drawing |
again upon Wilkie Collins) that, IL
Kinch were placed in almost his iden-
teal position OF the night before, he
might possibly repeat almost his iden-
teal movements.
That night, az a spy-hole in the wall
just above a picture, l stationed Sergt.
Stavely. WANTED a witness, for Kinch's
sake, and perhaps for my own. As for
me. / hid in a cupboard which had
hole bored in a panel The window
was left open; the gas was turned
down; and Detective Kinch was en-
sconced behind a chair. That l was
the only occupant of my miniature
Black Hole of Calcutta pleased me
greatly, and l applied to the small
drilled hole opening in the panel my
mouth more often than my eye. Would
no one come? Would nothing happen?
Would 1 prove TO be wrong? Hours
passed. / languishedl Kinch slept. At
any rate. heard him snorel And, after
awhile. l saw that there was no need
for him to watch. Then / grew proud
of myself; and hoped that Stavely
was looking. After all, liked Kinch.
and / was glad.
He rose; he began slowly TO pace the
room: he murmured to himself. 81
wonder il the diamond is safe?" said
he. Later, in q dreamy. gliding sort of
fashion, he moved the desk. lifted the
lid, fumbled at the corners, picked out
the gem flor. unknown to him, / had
replaced it there), and. walking to the
door. he took down his hat (Which had
also replaced), and he carefully put the
diamond between the silk and the felt.
Nv theory was indicated. Well,
there was some good in those writer