Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-21

| So sure was he Of her that when a man enter
ed the establishment he turned his attention TO
this new, possible customer Bertha, he instinct
lively felt, would resent his assistants attention
Had he felt otherwise, however, he would rot
have missed an almost imperceptible tremor
which passed over Bertha's entire person, causing
a positive agitation in the plumes of her hat,
For she, too, had caught glimpse Of the new
| comer--not directly, but in the big mirror be-
hind the showcase
He was just an ordinarily dressed and appear
ing man. There were thousands of his type in
the street outside. He had not single charac-
terizing mark about him. And yet she knew
him instantly.
How-intutively, or with that animal instinct
which detects the approach Of an unseen enemy
she did not know. But she did know he was
detective. Her momentary tremor had been in
stinctve, involuntary
But it was only momentary. There was no
haste, concern,o or emotion visible in any portion of
her whole personality as she anguidly pushed the
tray from her, gathered up her gloves, and, with
sigh of ennui, lJwered her elbows from their
polished restng-place.
Really" she said to the jeweer-agan all at
tention-"some of those stones are gems l be-
lieve after all, shall not trouble you to send
for the brooch will bring it down myself to-
morrow afternoon, and pick out each Of the
stones. / am sure can make an exquisite clus-
ter"
1t was the first enthusiasm she had shown but
it was only tinge, a mere modicum.
eve shall be delighted to serve you," replied
the diamond merchant, bowling and ruboing his
hands placidly 81 am sure we can please you.
As Bertha passed the newcomer, she could not
resist full glance in his face. 1t would have
been a glance of defiance of eternal hatred, had
she permitted her face to betray in the least her
real attitude. But she was too much of an art
ist in her profession for that Instead, the glance
was mere casual one, that rested on him in
place of something else, simply because he hap
pened to be there.
The man, however, repaid the glance as she
sauntered by, with an intense scrutiny of her
back, a careful observation of the carriage she
entered, and mental picture Of the driver, livery
and ALL
"Aren't you trihe careless about letting peo-
pie examine stones that way? he asked affably
of the jeweler, meanwhile leaning over the tray
of diamonds Bertha had just left. ''Or perhaps
you know the lady,"
ooh, no. replied the jeweler, complacently;
'I never saw her before in my life. But have
a little system of my own for keeping record of
the stones. You see"-with self-satis6ed air of
count them before / set them
out and then again as soon as the customer is
DONE know they are all there before anyone
leaves the place, 1t has never failed me vet"
"A-h-e-m,'' agreed the detective, that is pret-
"
myself
He carelessly-an observer might have said un-
up one of the diamonds and
held it to the light. Tt was as lifeless and un-
responsive as the mere cut glass he knew it at
a glance to be. He barely restrained start A
peculiar tinge of joy thrilled through his every
nerve fibre. The detective became rampant with
in him.
TAnd you never had person try to take one?"
he queried, with patronizng air of Difference
to the others superior ingenuity.
ooh, / won't say that" replied the man. re-
spending to the subtle fattey of the detective.
'Those are trade secrets. ! wouldn't dare tell.
1t might involve some prominent people, you
see''
well, yes do begin to see" replied the 9TH
er, with, for some reason, an unaccountable ac-
cent on the See"
One by one, without appearing to intend
to do so, he had examined each and every stone
on the tray before him. OF the entire eighteen,
twelve had shmmered and shone in his fingers
ike living things; six had remained clear but in
animate. And yet, lying close together on the
tray, refracting and DETECTING the rays from the
i've stones, the six worthless ones could hardly
be differentiated from the others without sepa-
rate inspection.
Now, had the detective been a public officer,
t is impossible to state to what degree of fine
ness he would have at ground the jewelers.
opinion of his own cleverness But he was only
l private detective; detective by instinct, and
not by duty, either moral or civil Therefore, it
uited. him best-both his instinct and his sud
lenly conceived plan-to leave the man in igno-
ance.
"Well," he laughed '1 wouldn't care for the
of seeing that diamond never
tolen, even with the help Of that little scheme |
II yours"
The jeweler laughed complacently. And
here's nothing can show you today" he quer-
ed, as the man reached the door.