The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-29

and sell it dear in India-or rather I
charge for risk and carriage!''
But now i don't know-how did,
How it got to the bottle, exactly, /
can't tell yet; but It's pretty certain
that the man who put it in was Hahn.
the fellow I told you of, who got me to
bring the wine to England-to save the
risk he feared, as / see well enough
now. And, to add another interest to
the chase, he's after the bottles now.
in competition with me! Lord! what a
taking he was in when he found I'd
sold the wine!"
..And to think! Great Scott. Mr..
Crook-to think of the fool thing did
when showed off them magnums at a
couple o. dollars each or so! But I'VE
got one back; didn't tell you that. I
changed my mind and bought one back
the very same night!
Where is it?''
IT'S In London at the Langham-
safe enough in the middle of trunk,
locked tight. Great thunder! The
diamond may be in that! And McNab
-' but here Merrick broke into a fit Of
laughter in the midst of his wonder.
"MeNab? What? The chief steward? !?
What-?''
Lord, Mr.. Crook. it's the very
greatest sort of amusement to think OF
the face of McNab, If ever he hears
he has sold that diamond for five
pounds! The very greatest!" And
Merrick told the story of the recovery
of the first magnum sold.
Crook took a little note from his
pocket That" he said, was lot 81
star then, with no name. I had no
idea the steward was buyer. That
accounts for four magnums altogeth-
er, including the one we drank. If
you have the lucky bottle, Mr.. Merrick,
the sooner we see it the better; the
sooner the better, in fact, in any case.
But there's the inquest, and they want
me here. Which brings me back to
my story I was visiting your old
friend, Mr.. Clifton, on this very matter
of the Tokay. He had magnum him
self"
what? No! You don't say!"
'sYes, do. And more-he bought it
himself at the sale, SO that you and
he must have been in the room to-
gether here at Lawsen's four days
ago-rubbed shoulders, as likely as
not!'
Lyman W. ,Merrick rose and tramp-
ed agitatedly about the room.
I've reckoned myself hustler" he
said as he went, with his fingers in the
hair over each of his ears; I've reck-
oned myself hustler most o. my life,
and I've been called hustler by them
tnat can hustle feW on their own;
but these hustlings are getting a shade
too jumpy for me. Getting older, I
s'pose. What I've seen and heard since
I opened that paper at breakfast this
morning is enough to hustle the senses
out Of any mans head, and I'm not
sure whether I've got any Of 'em or
not now. / say" he added, turning
suddenly to Crook, IT s'pose I really
am awake? Do you low I'm awake,
Mr.. Crook?"
Quite awake, Mr.. Merrick," Crook
answered with a smile, "and waiting to
hear about my last nights adventure,
I've no doubt"
Merrick sat down and Crook told
his story in detail. He produced Mr.
Clifton's letter, inviting him to Downs
lodge to exhibit the old Chinese kake-
mono, he told of how he had learned
Mr.. Clifton's name and address from
Symons, the auctioneer's clerk; he de-
scribed the curious house and his
more curious reception; and last, drop
ing his voice with something of a fur
tive look toward Daisy Merrick, he de-
scribed the disappearance of his false
host, and his CHASTITY discoveries in
kitchen and library.
Merrick rose again, and walked
about as he had done before.
Poor old fellow" he said, with gen.
uine distress in his voice; poor old
man. A splendid old gentleman. like
hin-for he was splendid, up an down,
though only saw him once, barring the