The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-05-02

"Would you mind II walked about
q bit?" said he. Its no earthly use,
you know. May 60 into the house",
He moved toward the door and thus
came face to face with Martha Hill,
the suspected maid, who was just CON-
ing out. She was worn. faded, pa
tent woman of fifty, not without intel
ligence and meant perhaps for better
station, yet now a creature of lifelong
servitude. Her mouth had peculiar
droop at the corners, SO that she must
have looked sad at all times. She had
shed many tears that day, and her eyes
were red; her nose, too, poor woman,
and altogether she was picture Of
woe.
Donald kept his eyes upon her as she
crossed the veranda toward her mis-
tress. When she had taken her place
behind the chair in which Mrs. Kelvin
had sat down. she turned and looked at
Donald. 1t was clear that she knew
who he was and why he had come.
'YOu were quite right, Mrs. Kelvin
said my boy. Your maid is perfectly
innocent
At these words Martha's feelings
overcame her. She walled distressful-
ly and fell upon her knees. not because
she thought the act appropriate. but
because she could not help it.
Donald turned hastily toward the
house and made three attempts to open
the door | describe his action as it
appeared There was an ordinary
tn hllf 10
tried three times and failed. Then he
shook his head and walked across the
veranda to the steps. returning imme-
diately to the door. by which he stood
for some seconds. hesitating.
"TEe diamonds are, not in the house."
said he at last.
That's easy" said Reedy. 1--WE
been hunting for 'em since II O'clock"
ut may be that that's why l feel
that they're not there" returned Don
aid. as if gratitied to receive this ex-
PLANTATION. You never can tell where
these foolish notions come from. Have
you searched outside the house,
"'Outside the house is wide prOpo.
sition.' rejoined Reedy. lit includes
most everywhere. But I've looked
around bit"
Donald groaned.
Il do hate this business so like the
! old Harry" he said. But it's got to
be done. Would you mind if | walk
| around the house? | don't know what
| I'm doing it for. yet can't sit STILL
He ran down the steps of the veran-
| da, and we all followed him. as he
raised no objection. In an absurd
| struggling procession we made the cir
cult of the great old mansion.
We'll" said Reedy as we stood
| again before the main entrance. did
you see 'em anywhere"'
Donald shivered in the heat of the
summer day.
i've been mighty close to them" he
said. Let me try that once more"
| This time be led us less than hall
| way around. and we came to halt
| beside a pile of coal that had beer
dumped that day before an entrance
to the cellar. Kelvin is u thrifty man
He buys coal not when he needs it
but when it is cheapest. The pile may
have amounted to about three tons
Donald regarded it steadily for some
seconds and then walked hestatinglJ
toward the cellarway.
you've been down there. Mr.. Reedy 2
he queried, and then suddenly anG
with decision be said, THE diamonds
| are therev'
| He pointed directly toward the hear
of coal.
"There?" echoed Kelvin. 'In thai
coal? Why. the stuff wasn't brought
here till this forenoon. How do yor
I suppose the diamonds could get into
it,"
Donald dashed the perspiration from
his forehead with a gesture of de
spair.
Il don't know a blessed thing abou
it, Mr.. Kelvin" said he, except tina
they're there
Kelvin seemed somewhat take1
aback. He regarded it as perfect!
obvious that the diamonds could not b,
hidden in the coal which had not beer
delivered until after the arrival Of De
tective Reedy. Why had Donald com
m1tted himself to such clear absurd
lty! 1t looked like trick. and Kelvin
glanced quickly at Reedy as if to reat
advice in his eyes. The detective ele
waited his eyebrows and his shoulder
simultaneously and spread out hi
hands with the palms forward. 1t wa
equivalent to saying Il pass in :
game of cards
The iron lips of our amiable hos
came together firmly and he settle'
himself upon his broad, fiat feet in tn
manner of an orator who has reaches
the great, convincing argument of hi
discourse.
Now, | call this a clear cut issue,
said he. We've got this thing local
lied, so to speak. Either those dia