The Washington times., 1906-09-09
1.-THE Case of DickSon'S Diamonds

Jake II, said Dickson, as ne sat down,
only since seeing your card said
Boyd. Il observe. however. that you
are married man, and very near
sighted"
Dear me! How is thaJ7 Do 7 wear
nay heart on my sleaveg"
Hardly that" smiled Boyd. But
spot has besn sponged from your
vest This morning, presumably by your
wife. since YOU scarce could have Wis
ited your tailor thus early. and /
notice the handle of "a reading glass
rro;ruding slightly from your inside
pocket"
That one of these deductions did not
ahect Dickson very pleasantly was
apparent in his Increased nervousness.
aJfd tho sudden trembling OF his hands
"n his knees. yet ne laughed q little
and cried.
"nb. yes, quite rght; you are quito
right, Mir Boyd. / am very near
sighted, very. when viewing objects
close at hand. Yet 1 do not even re-
quire glasses for observlngg things at
a distance"
That Is occasionally the case. un-
derstand"
very few are as sorely afflicted as I.
/ can read only with very powerful
glass rs you may see"
- y
And he now displayed his reading
glass. a thick lens nearly six Inches In
diameter, having a silver rim and an
ebony handle. Boyd merely glanced az
IT, then turned 20 Coleman, who had
risen.
Drop ln little later. Jimmie" said
he. "I imagine that Mr.. Dickson viii
not engage me-"
NO, Mr.. Boyd, not very long" said
Dickson, when they were alone 81
received I'm my mail this morning "a
letter which gives me great uueasiuess.
if not serious alarm. / took it 90 my
bankers for advice, scarce knowing
what else 20 do. and they advised me-
% consult you. 1 wish you would ex-
anime the letter. here il is. and eel
me what YOU think of it. and how ser.-
ously 1 should regard IL. I am tempted
10 place it in the hands Of the police
Tor investigation"
BO5d d examined the letter with inter
est. and was Immediately struck with
its peculiariues.
II neither was written nor printed in
the ordinary way. Instead. each word
had been cut slngly from some book or
newspaper, evidently with a peuknlfe.
and then pasted on a blank sheet Of
paper
Plainly the work had been very care
fully done. yet IL had been found 50
delicate that the completed lines rre-
sented considerable irregularIty. with
the separate words differently spsced
and slauted az various angles. The
communication thus conveyed was
quite brief and read as follows:
Nathan Dixon. Maiden Lane. You
look out for Yourself Persons dare
not name are about 10 execute a de-
sign against you. the character OF
which 7 cannot safely disclose. I am a
friend 90 you, and this is a warning
YOU viii not wisely ignore. Heed d.
Guard yourself and that most dear 70
you."
Boyd twice read this curious mls-
slve. then looked MP at the grave face
of his waiting visitor
Have YOU the cover in which this
was mailed" he asked
Yes. here II IS" bowed Dickson.
rendering the envelope
Printed with "a reu." observed BOYD.
and dropped IN one Of the street boxes
late yesterday afternoon. Evidently
She sender designed this method 10
prevent being traced by his handwrit-
ing"
That IS apparent" cried Dickson.
eT
itself2 IL has given me dreadful
shock. My nerves are completely un-
strung 10 is So indefinite. vet in a
way So threatening. I don't know
whether my life is in danger. or my
property. OF what ! am all OF a trem-
Ale from head o. foot"
(which really. IS very foolish OF
YOU" said Boyd indiffereutly. 'I do
not think your life is in any danger.
Mr.. Dickson. are YOU a man Of much
property2"
"Bradst~eot rates me az 800 600.
which is rather more than 7 possess"
replied Dickson, more composedIy. ct
own a modest summer place near ia
mdira Bay. where J dwell for about
six months Of the year. renting a
house IN town durins the winter"
AT present YOU are Wherc2'
II am stiu living ln town. 7 EXPECT
TO so down 20 nv shore mouse with
my family about the last OF this
month"
You do a large business in dia-
monds?"
quite so. as agent for foreign
houses; moreover. I carry a valuable
stock"
In part consigned to YOU. pre-
sumo observed Boyd, raising his
broWs.
YES, certainly
DO YOU consider your quarters in
Maiden Lane, and the safe or vault in
which YOU store your goods, perfect
lv secure against burglars" inquired
Boyd
Indeed, yes" exclaimed Dickson.
II never have felt otherwise"
Boyd smiled, and again glanced at
the patchwork letter.
who among your friends. Mr.. Dick
son. is a practical joker?" he asked,
a bit dryIy.
Really ] recall none"
Yet this letter is. in my opinion, the
work OF such a person"
A joke-a practical joke Sent only
% annoy or alarm me-" exclaimed
Dickson, with much eagerness. DO
Won relTI,- fHfuE 1o AZ r1cr-zr II