Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-26

You left a message, l believe, at my
house that you wanted TO see US at once?
Mr.. Fenton said jerkily.
yes" Angus replied easily. He made
a sign, and the stranger who had accom-
panied him entered the room.
Another detective" Terry murmured,
under his breath.
Angus caught the words, and nodded.
Quite true, Terry, and hope the last
one needed in this business" He took
up case that the man had been holding,
and proceeded to unlock ii. Mr.. Fen
ton, you have had your diamonds stolen.
A5sw me to restore them" and opening
the lid he lifted out. one by one, all those
glittering, flashing treasures that the own
er had sorrowfully deemed lost to him
forever. IL think you will find that there
is not one missing''-and he stepped back
to allyw the dazed owner to examine them.
The silence and stiffness lasted no long
er. In their place reigned the din and
hubbub of excited voices, questioning and
exclaiming. Moyra stood with a look of
great pride on her flushed face, while Ter
~ and Billy, hardly conscious of their
actions, shook the hero of the hour, and
dealt him resounding slaps on the back.
but how on earth came you by them? =
Mr.. Fenton succeeded in making his
question heard at length. This is most
extraordinary affair. / can't make head
or tail of it at ALL
"Well, it's a very long story, and we
had better take our time for it, for there
are parts that are not very pleasant hear
ing'-his face clouding. I've several
explanations to make, both to the Rector,
to Moyra, and to yourself; but just at
present / think your claim comes first
turning to Mr.. Fenton. Il have been
told that I've been suspected as the orig
inal thief of these diamonds. Well, | adj
NIT circumstances looked very black
against me, and in one way the suspicion
was correct Mr.. Fenton, your diamonds
were stolen twice the night before last.
was the thief in the second place. 1t
came about in this way. / found that
after all / was able to conclude my bust
ness in town in time TO arrive here for
part of the dance. l did not let any one
know | was coming for tive reasons-I
wanted to give my friends a surprise, and
also wanted to see a person in whom
was rather interested without that per-
SON peing aware of my proximity.
1T was about ten, l suppose, when l
arrived at the station, and / walked up
here. My FIRST idea was to come in and
see the Rector, bat as the house was in
darkness l concluded to go across to the
big house. | was crossing the lawn when
was attracted by light flashing in
rather strange way in an upper win
dow.
Now | must explain that some few
years ago / did some journalism for a
friend in Chicago who runs big paper
there. He employed me to find out all
could concerning certain gang-it is
really a well-organized society, compris-
ing men and women of all ranks and con-
ditions, who are birds of prey, and live
on other people. They are thieves but
intensely clever, and their operations ex-
tend all over the world. I got to know
great deal about them-I was to a GER
tain extent in their confidence, and really
quite friendly with their leader, who was
always named the chief My father
reminded me of him in many ways, and in
lest | started calling him the chief also,
though the name was not new to him.
believe"-appealing to the Rector.
mo. He was always called the chief
at college. He was always leader"
Exactly so. Now when l saw that
light l recognized at once that it was
one of the signals used by this society or
gang, and l knew, though" he added
slowly, II was little prepared for it, that
some of the lot were about. Ny thoughts
instantly went to the diamonds, and be-
gan to move very cautiously about and
investigate matters. / expect to those
who, it appears, were watching me, my
movements must have appeared exceeding
" suspicious. In the end l was awarded
by the sight of one Of the cleverest of the
lot, whom l had met in America, and the
other whom 1 did not know, making their
way up a ladder to a bedroom window.
| need not go into details. 1t was a
cleverly worked robbery, the hour was
particularly well chosen, their informa-
ton was perfectly correct, and-they had
confederate in the house. Little did
you and your guests imagine. Mr.. Fen
ton, that Whine you were all at supper
your safe was being rifed.
'Srhey descended by the ladder, which
they took to pieces, and then walked
quietly away up the avenue. Had any
one met them they would have imagined
them to h. two guests leaving early.
followed them I knew it was of no use
heard, and ! knew both would be armed,
and would not scrupie to shoot
AT the gate they separated; the one
1 knew struck across country, the other,
who carried the diamonds. went down to
the ferry. We crossed to Caterham, he
hailed cab, so did l, and we caught the
early mail train for town. l really
thought that journey would never end.
and l was almost at my wits end. We
were alone in the same compartment, and
| suppose he took me for simple green
horn, for after time. just as we were
drawing near Rugby. 1 think it was, he
opened the bag be was carrying to look
at the diamonds A SUD len inspiration
came to me. 1 pretended 20 be asleep I'M
I'll the train had commenced slowing, and
then sprang up, grabbed the bag and
flung open the door. making dash up
the platform.
"0f course he was after me In a second,
yelling, Stop thiefr and equally of course
was stopped by two porters. There
was a tremendous scene"-his eyes twink
ling at the recollection. Each OF us
vowing the one had robbed the other, and
demanding justice from the bothered sta
ton master. l don't crite know what
would have been the end had not my
, friend Mr.. Forbes walked on the plat
form. and taken the law into his own
hands The magic words Scotland Yard
treasured the station master, and we were
taken to his Office for an investigation.
Once there l told my tale, and could see
was believed. although the cautious
Forbes knew better than TO say so.'
A smile fickered over the detectives
fare.
by the time we had both been Ques-
tioaed and cross-questioned. thief number
on, was losing his nerve and bounce,
ard suddenly brought the matter TO a
close by declaring that spoke the truth.
4 Y - 81 bot ho kraxr Ia