Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-12-28
CHAPTER x.

| W AAO we lS WCoN Ill
Dssyss5 "a pretty strong chain about
ls4Gy our friend Tremaine. Blu,
| why should he have waited this long to
| look for the diamond?'
Perhaps he's just discovered its
loss" suggested Godfrey.
'Or perhaps this is the first oppor.
tunity he's had. I've never before left
him alone here, and keep the snap OIL
so that the door locks itself whenever
It's closed"
Godfrey sat for full minute motion.
less, his eyes fixed on the door.
"Of course" he said at last, at may
not have been the diamond he was
looking for, though I can't imagine
what else it could be. But I've the.
DRY want to test. Suppose we take
a look at your bedroom"
I followed him In and turned up the
light. He glanced around keenlys and
went finally to the closet, which was
almost opposite the door leading into
the sitting room. He entered, the closet
and closed the door behind him. After
a moment heard a soraping noissAnd
perceived knf6e blade working back
and forth in q crack Of the door
Finally the blade was withdrew, the
door opened and Godfrey came out. he
examined the lock. tried IL once OF
twice with the key. which was in 1t.
then he turned to me.
What time do you leave in the
mornlng2" he asked,
| about 7:3o."
"Sexen-thlrty. Very we'll. Now /
must be going, Look for me In the
morning"
Watt" said. for !. too. had sud
den idea. "You have a photograph OF
Thompson, supposed Bring 1t up in
the morning with you. should,like to
look at It"
"All right he said. and after I had
made sure that the coasee was clear he
stole away upon tiptoa
Scarcely was I out OF bed next morn.
Ing when there came Light tap on my
door and Godfrey slipped In the instant
opened 1t.
Il had a few properties to arrange
be explained. smiling rand so thought
I'd best come early
He went on into the bedroom and
opened the closet door, Then he took
from his pocket a stout bolt, with
screws and screw driver, aud pro.
ceeded to aflx it to the inside Of the
door
"Now, my dear Lester" he said, xn.
Ing when the task was finished. 'Gsll
have to ask you to run Up thls noon
and let me out"
"Let you out Of where1''
"Out Of the closet You see, unfor
tunately, this lock works only from the
outside, so you'll have to lock me in
before you go. I've put on the bolt as
an extra precaution.''
you mean you're going to spend the
whole morning In that closetT
That's precisely what 1 mean"
But you'll suffocate."
"No-you see I've cut hole through.
That will let In the air; besides,
through It one can get an admirable
view Of the outer ROOM"
"Ah!" 1 said, beginning to under.
stand. tits trapw
Eyes, trap. Maybe we'll catch
something and maybe we won't What
time do you usually go to lunch?"
about O'clock"
'"That ought to bring you here by
1:30. Very we'll; lock me In and take
the key with you"
l did as he babe me, though not with.
out some reluctance, and I confess that
l thought Of little else during the morn
ing.
One o'clock came at last and hur.
ried out and took the elevated uptown
as the quickest way Of getting there.
1t was just 1:20 when I opened my
door. With a little shiver Of apprehen-
sion I inserted the key In the lock of
the closet and threw back the bolt
Godfrey walked out on the instant
He was smiling, but pale with fatigue
IF you've got such thing as nip
Of brandy anywhere about, Lester" he
said, sinking into the nearest chair,
"Td be infinitely obliged for it. feel
rather shaky in the knees"
I brimmed glass for him, and he
set it down empty, with sigh Of sat
isfaction.
'"That's better. Do you know,
! thought for a time toward the last that
l was going to collapse. One little
J crack is scarcely ventilation enough
for an active pair of lungs. However,
I was repaid"
you wereW
YES" and he smiled at my impa-
thence. 'I'll tell you the story and see
what you make of it. First came the
chambermaid, who performed her du-
ties with neatness and dispatch. Then
dreary half hour passed. had about
come to the conclusion that I might
have spared my pains when l caught
the sound Of key in the lock Of the
outer door. heard the door open and
close, and an instant later our friend
Tremaine appeared within my range
Of vision"
"Tremaine" I exclaimed. "Then he
had Thompson's keyv
Eyes," agreed Godfrey. "But my
story's only begun. Tremaine took q
look through the rooms to assure him,
self that there was no one here. He
tried the closet door, but didn't seem
surprised or suspicious when he found
1t locked. Then he went back to the
outer room, dropped on his hands and