Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-09-17

studying the setting The copy thus
procured, Mr.. Grey went to the ball
and, relying on his own seemingly I'M
assailable position, attacked Mrs. Fair
brother in the alcove and would have
carried off the diamond, if he had
found it where he had seen it earlier
blazing on her breast. But it was not
there. The warning received by her
a warning you ascribe to his daughter,
fact which is yet to be proved-had
led her to rid herself of the Jewel In
the way Mr.. Durand describes, and he
found himself burdened with a das-
tardly crime and with nothing to show
for it. Later, however, to his intense
surprise and possible satisfaction, he
saw that diamond in my hands, and,
recognizing an opportunity, as he
thought, Of yet securing 1t, he asked
to see it, held it for an instant, and
then, making use Of an almost incredi-
BILE expedient for distracting attention,
dropped, not the real stone but the
false one, retaining the real one In his
hand. This, In plain English. as 1 take
1t, is your present idea of the situa-
tion.'
Astonished at the clearness with
which he read my mind, answered.
"Yes, inspector. that is what was in my
mind
"Goodl Then it Is just as well that it
Is out. Your mind is now free. and
you can give 1t entirely to your duties"
Then, as he laid his hand on the door
knob, he added: 'In studying so in
tently your own point of view, you
seem to have forgotten that the last
thing which Mr.. Grey would be likely
to do, under those circumstances, would
be to call attention to the falsity Of the
gem upon whose similarity to the real
stone he was depending. Not even his
confidence in his own position, as an
honored and highly esteemed guest.
would lead him to do that"
mot If he were a well known con-
noisseur," l faltered, with the pride
of one who has handled the best gemsl
He would know that the deception
would be soon discovered and that it
would not do for him to fail to recog-
nize 1t for what it was, when the make
believe was in his hands"
Forced, my dear child, forced; and
as chimerical as all the rest. 1t can
not stand putting into words. / win
go further-you are a good girl and
can bear to hear the truth from me.
don't believe in your theory; can't.
have not been able to from the first,
nor have any of my men; but If your
ideas are true and Mr.. Grey is In
volved In this matter. you will find
that there has been more Of a hitch
about that diamond than you, in your
simplicity, believe. If Mr.. Grey were
In actual possession OF this valuable.
he would show less care than you say
he does. So would he IL 1t were In
Wellgood's hands with his consent and
q good prospect of its coming to him
In the near future. But L. it Is in
Wellgood's hands without his consent,
or any near prospect of his regaining
1t, then we can easily understand his
present apprehensions and the grow
ing uneasiness he betrays."
'grrue," / murmured.
'If. them, the inspector pursued,
giving me parting glance not with
out its humor, probably not without
really serious underlying its
humor, 1--WE should find, in following
up our present clew. that Mr.. Grey
has had dealings with this Wellgood
or this Searsl or If you, with your ad-
vantages for learning the fact. should
discover that he shows any extraordi-
nary interest in either Of them, the
matter will take on different aspect.
But we have not got that far yet At
present our task is to find one or the
other OF these men. If we are lucky.
we shall discover that the waiter and
the steward are Identical. in spite Of
their seemingly different appearance.
A rogue such as this Sears has shown
himself to be would be an adept at
disguise"
'You are right" I acknowledged 4
''He has certainly the heart of a Grim
inal. II he had no hand in Mrs. Fair
brothers murder, he came near having
one in that of your detective. You
know what mean. could not help
hearing, Inspector"
he smiled, looked me steadfastly In
the face for moment and then bowed
me out.
The inspector told me af.orward
that, in spite Of the cavalier manner
with which he had treated my sugges-
ton, he spent very serious half hour
head to head with the district attorney.
The result was the following order to
Sweetwater. the detective:
You are to go to the st. Regis, make
yourself solid there and gradually, as
you can manage it, work yourself into
position for knowing all that goes
on In room -. If the gentleman mind
you, the gentleman; we care nothing
about the women) should go out, you
are to follow him If 1t takes you to
-. We want to know his secret, but
he must never know our interest In 1t