The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-05
Anna Katharine Green

befoTe-she was attacked for her dia-
mond and murderedf''
last one seen talking to her. 10 Some ~ns one one
may yet be found who went in after
he came out, but as yet he is consid-
cred the last. Mr.. Ramsdell himself
told me 50. -
cit makes no difference" I e1-
pressed agitation. II am willing to
stake my life on his integrity and
honor. No man could talk to me as he
did early this evening with any vile
Intentions at heart. He was interested,
no doqpt, ike many others, in one who
had the name of being a captivating
woman, but
], paused in sudden alarm. A look
had crossed my uncle's face which
assured me that we were no longer
alone; Who could have entered SO
to- see. A gentleman was standing in
the doorway, who smiled as l met his
"Is this Miss Van Arsdalei" hs
asked.
astsP leave ss"1 nag r.s Rss had had
II an" said I. care you the in,
"Inspector Dalzell," he explained
with bow. which included my uncle.
Then he closed the door.
he Ia hope have sa1 not frightened you.'
gentlemanly air. "a little matter has
come up concerning which 1 mean to
be perfectly frank with you. 1t may
prove to be of trivial Importance, if
so, you will pardon my disturbing you.
Mr.. Durand-you know him7'
81 am engaged to him. 1 declared
before poor uncle could raise his hand.
You are engaged to him. Well,
that makes it difficult, and yet, in
some respects, easier for me to ask
certain question.
than easy, for he did not proceed to
put this question. Immediately, but
went on
"You know that Mr.. Durand visited
MIS-; Falrbrother in the alcove a little
~ have been told 500
he was seen to go in, but / have
not yet found any one who saw him
come out; consequently we have been
unable to fix the exact minute when
say Rs $40 som sa wRst is 't' You want to
7'No, NOT I protested, reconsider
ing my first impulse. Then, as I met
his look, "He can probably tell you
hesitate.''
I'VE will ask him later" was the
you ready to assure me that since thai
time he has not entrusted you with
little article to keep No, no, I do
not mean the diamond he broke in,
IN frow very ;m evident dismay; as I fell back
and alarm: "The diamond-weII, we
will look for that later; it is another
article we are in search of now, one
which Mr.. Durand might very well
have taken in his hand without real
izing just what he was doinn. AS it is
important for us, to find this article,
and as it is one he might very natur-
9 ally have passed over to you when he
found himself in the hall with it in
his hand, 1 have ventured to ask you
If this surmise Is correct.'
,, ct is not retorted fierceIy, glad
( ,".He has given me nothing to Keep for
him. He would not
Why that peculiar look in the in
q spector g eye9 Why did he reach out
0 for chair and seat me in it before he
: took up my interrupted sentence and
e HWould not give you anything to
hold which belonged to another
|, womanf Miss Van Arsdale, you do not
t know men. They do many things
n which a young, trusting girl like your
+ self would hardly expect from them
5 mot Mr.. Durand," I maintained
"Perhaps not; let us hope not"
Then, with quick change of manner,
q ne bent towards me, with a sidelong
a look at uncle, and pointing to my
h gloves, remarked, "You wear gloves
l. you carry another in that pretty bag
r HANGING from yOur arm''
d started, looked down, and then
It slowly drew up into my hand the bag
y he had mentioned. The white finger of
e glove was ,grotruding from the top.
n had. What did it meant 1 had
k brought no extra pair with me.
a "This is not mine," began, falter-
f ing into silence as 1 perceived nv
l. uncle turn and walk step or two
purs1s si sEi'3s .S zee are licking Sas Of
n long, white gloves, supposed to have
been worn by Mrs. Fairbrother when
she entered the aleove. Do you mind
showing showing me those. finger of which
!. The room and everything in n it was was
. whlrllng around me. But when / noted
q what trouble it was to his clumsy
= myers to open 1T, my senses returned
10 and, reaching for the bag, | pulled it
Il open and snatched out the gloves.
y They had been hastily rolled up and
), some of the fingers were showing.
Z "Let us have them,'' said he.
. With quaking heart and shaking
.. fingers I handed over the gloves.
= "Mrs. Fairbrother's hand was not
q small one,' he observed as he slowly
= unrolled them. "Yours is. We can
. soon tell
70 But that sentence was never finished.
1 AS the gloves fell open in his grasp he
\. uttered sudden, sharp ejaculation and
q I a smothered shrek. An object Of
% superlative brilliancy had rolled from
&c their midst. The diamond! the gem
which men said was worth.a kings
Z ransom, and which we all knew had
- :. just cost life.
q ITO be Continued Next Sunday.)
y