Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-12-06

cob, Mr.. Allen, is it you, sir? I'm so
glad to see youl Things is in an aw-
ful mess. Afore any of us were up this
morning that AIr. Smith--or DIR. Smith
(contemptuously) leaves the house.
Soon after the master was up there
was an awful row. He swore he'd
been robbed, and when he heard as
this Smith man had gone thought he
was going mad, sir; indeed did. He
rayed round the place like a regular
luny and then ran to the railroad sta
ton"
Mr.. Allen had no difficulty in obtain
ing the vial, but Westlock learned moth
ing at the station. There had not been
a single passenger either to arrive or
depart. These two doctors seemed to
have vanished completely.
The green sediment was aDalyzed,
proved to be nothing but copperas in
solution, and with that solitary piece
Of information the police and all CON
cerned in the matter had to be content.
Allen had almost forgotten about his
pebble, when Westlock, the detective,
called again.
''Well, Mr.. Westlock, any news|
asked Allen, somewhat surprised.
ave got your diamond, Mr. Allen.
As no outside news was obtainable,
came to the conclusion that there had
been some foul play, and for the last
fortnight I've been searching the
neighborhood, and met with success
this morning Both doctors bodies
were lying in Meridon quarries hidden
among a lot of underground. To me it
is clear. DIR. Reford must have seen
Smith hiding or seeking shelter, and
the two must have had struggle on
the cliff and in their frenzy have fallen
over"
Allen took the pebble and examined
it and declared it was the one he had
extracted from the meteor. He said he
wanted 10 sell it at once. 1t was de-
cided that he should run up to town
and If possible dispose of it, Allen had
provided himself with plenty Of work
to occupy him during the journey and
was quite absorbed in it when q hand
somely dressed woman entered the
compartment wherein he sat. This
rather disconnected him, for he smoked
heavily. The train was again in mo-
tlon, when the door was suddenly
opened and an elderly gentleman stun
bled in.
Ten minutes later, without any warn
ing, the elderly gentleman stood up,
covered Allen with q revolver and de-
manded the diamond
Don't move, my good sir, OF you'll
find yourself perforated with a chunk
of lead, and you, madam, had better
keep quiet also, as the threat I am
sorry to say, must extend to you. You
see, our friend there has in his pos
session a diamond worth nearly half a
million OF money. and we don't pick
UP fortunes like that every day of the
week
"Now, then, sir, hurry UP; / can feel
the train is slowing up, and must
skip out lively. you bet Don't get out
your precious diamond liurriesIiy or I
may think you mean mischief, and pull
this trigger. That's the ticket, slow
and sure. Thank you; just place it on
the seat here. I'm much obliged. All,
the train is slowing up nicely Give
my regards to Inspector Westlock, will
you, and tell him only for his untiring
efforts our little gang would never
have got this plum. Smith got the
doctor fooled, but made mess of It.
Good evening, madam"
All smiles and contentmeut, the ell-
erly gentleman got ready to skip"
The train was running into the station,
and stille covering Allen, he tried to
open the door, but it was stiff and ne
cessitated his STOPPING awkwardly,
and, of course, removing his "beadp
from Allen. The handle went click,
and when the elderly gentleman looked
round, his face was picture.
.Moye and you're dead,' said in a
voice that unmistakably meant it.
To Aliens utter astonishment it was
the lady passenger, who was standing
and leyeling two businesslike revolv-
ers at the elderly gentleman.
drop that revolver on the floor be
fore I count five or fire. One, two
three, four"
The revolver was dropped on the
carriage floor.
The lady passenger thereupon walk
ed up to the man, one revolver dead set
all the time, and calmly slipped on
handouts just as the train came to a
standstill.
The man was walked off into Gus
tody, the lady and Allen following.
"You don't recognize me, Mr.. AllenY p
the lady asked
"No-Fm sure l don't"
"My name is Westlock John West
lock-"
"Welle' was all Mr.. Allen could say.
eyes, sir. I got my cue the day but
one before yesterday. saw our gent
there, but he didn't spot ne in the togs
of a farm laborer The rest was easy,
although I should like to find out who
Smith really was" Boston Traveller.