Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-12-20
hSLEEP OR AWAKE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

the detective department l had put
Liuch on an important case of LIB
Now. the detective department OF
which l was chief was connected with
large manufacturing town in the
north Of England, and the important
case Of Lob. was illicit diamond SELL
inc ri her than illicit diamond buy
irg. A man, not unknown to me (pro-
fesg orally speaking), had attempted
t. Oispose of fine uncut stone to
the principal jewel merchant OF the
town. This jewel merchant had sus'
riciors: these suspicious he COM
nuricated to me. However, before
sending to me, the dealer had ar
RANGED with the would-be seller to
call again on the morrow. l sent De-
tectve Kinch, with orders to be con-
cealed witness of the bargaining.
Knch went; Kinch heard; Kinch
captured. But this last he did only
partially. The LIB. man proved his
gull by escaping, and his bad luck
by leaving the diamond behind. When
Iinch recovered an upright posture
he nut the stone in the lining of his
hat. Then he carefully set forth. He
did not return at once to the office
and to me. Instead, he watched the
Temporary haunt of the illicit dia'
mond seller. This he did for IS hours.
At the end of that somewhat tire
some period he crawled back to where
I was anxiously awaiting him. And
as he entered the sitting-room of the
Office rose to my feet with pleasant
greetings.
"What luck, Kinch, my boy?"
He told me everything.
"Well. never mind" 1 said, soothing
", you've already done enough to
make Rowland yet more jealous;
you've got the stone; the man we'll
have later. Meanwhile, I'll put this
precious little pebble in my desk"
I did so. In addition, 1 made to lock
the desk. 1 found that had left my
KEYS in the front office; l went there
Then l found that I had no matches
Fumbling about in the dark, 1 at last
came upon my knees. BY the time l
had returned to the sitting-room some
minutes had elapsed. And Detective
Kinch was asleep.
7 was not surprised. The dutiful
man had been on his feet about one
aud-.wenty hours. 1t was now fivS
n n. | determined not to awaken
him. Tie could sleep in that coy arm
chair very well for the next hour or
two; and, as for myself, [ could have
a nj ch on the bed upstairs. 1 saw
K,rcb's bowler hat lying on the floor
p.clcd it up and put it on a peg be-
hind tho door. Should 1 close and
f. stem the window? Well, l am man
Of many suspicious; the nature OF my
business and the disposition of my
VIE have made me so. But there was
littl2 Canger, and on that sultry sum-
mer u;cht the room was already too
hot. 7 turned down the gas. AS L
Icr thc room-quietly, so as not to
disturb the slumbering man - 1t
seemed to me that, even then, there
WIS something that I had forgotten
70 d.: but not for my life could l
have determined the nature of that
something.
Tn the morning 1 was forcibly re-
minded Entering the room l found
tie Tinch was still asleep. L softly
moved o the desk. 1t was not locked;
flat. Zen, was what l had forgot
| ten % Go. 1 lifted the lid, looked in,
| I f1abled about-the diamond was
gone.
We'll. we raked that desk as a starv-
ipr man might rake his pockets for
money. and with just about as much
hcre md, look where we would, we
failed TO fluid the diamond. And that
W. ow Detective Kinch came to tell
me that he was baffied.
"N0 one entered the ROOM" l
asked.
"Not 10 my knowledge"
"You were asleep all the timer
"Ar the time" he answered, stoutly.
After more searchings and more
orestions and more answers-all equal
" fruitless, all equally baftiing-l sug-
g.sted that Kinch had better go down
Stairs into the wardroom and have
some breakfast. He took that sugges-
ton and his departure. But, first, he
made TO take his hat. l pointed out,
quietly as l could, that such was not
necessary. He admitted as much, and
left his hat hanging on the peg where
had placed it overnight Evidently the
loss of the diamond had rather upset
him.
When he had gone from the room ]
pursued my search. Its result was
sneedv. curious and astounding. de-
TRIMMED to communicate that result to
detective Kinch. l summoned him. He
entered. l requested him to be seated
He sat. 1 told him that | had learned
q little matter connected with the dia-
mond. | asked him few questions.
defective Kinch, arrest you"
"Why?"
"The diamond has been found!"
"Where?
IN the lining of your hail"
It's a plant!" clustered Kinch.
"I'Ne no doubt" l murmured.
Done 10 put me away!"
sit will probably have thatresult."
"But it's got to be proved"
"What iaas?'
chat 1 did it,"
There was a short silence.
And l am going to help"
ITO put me away?"
"To prove your"
"Gut?"
'Junocence"
The lsllow need not have been &C
"toucly." / am a man of many suspi
cions: the nature of my business anc
tbe Csposition of my wife have made
m SC. But often have suspicious con
corning both sides of case. And, after
al. "A this case, my suspicious wer
cu,y suspicions; had no certainties t