Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-20


West" was the fervent reply.
The old man stared at his visitor in
silence for some moments, and. rising,
paced up and down the room. Presently
he made for the coffee urn and gulped
down a cup Of the cheering beverage. After
that he lighted fresh stogie and re-
sumed his seat
win you take hold of the case22 asked
Potter. anxiously.
Eyes" was the deliberate reply. las
far as 1 can see, It has nothing to do with
customs. but II interests me and / want
to serve you
"Can help your
mo, don't think So"
what shall I dor
go home; go ahead with your dinner
and leave the rest to me-"
But how can / give the dinner without
the opals3 II I don't get them before we
sit down at O'Clock I'll have to provide
other souvenirs. and IL do that Hazard
and winchell will think Tn a buffer"
II said go ahead with the dinner" re-
piled the chief, with trace of asperity
In his voice. you've got to take a chance.
I'm not infallible. may succeed or l
may fail. The thing for you TO do IL to
look and act as natural as possible. Don't
say anything to anyone. Simply play the
part of an agreeable and sef-contained
host"
Potter arose, shook hands all around and
left the room, looking far from satisfied.
Forward gazed at the chief inspector in a
curious manner.
This case seems to be without begin
ming or end" he ventured.
The old man. who was pulling of his
smoking jacket preparatory to leaving the
house, nodded.
Clancy" he remarked, you heard all
that was said. Go to the appraisers
stores, find out all you can there and II
necessary go TO the residence of the ex-
aminer who passed the opals and pump
him dry. Forward, I'm going to press
you into service also. Look up this man
West. Shadow him for the next two hours
and then you and Clancy report to me
here at o'clock tonight"
They separated and went their several
ways. Promptly at the hour designated
all three returned to the Washington square
apartments.
well. Clancy" said the chief to his
assistant what have you to report7'
The dapper little fellow seemed disturbed.
AS he spoke his voice trembled;
THE opals were delivered all right; they
have the receipts to show that, but queer
thing happened"
What was that?'
why. you know Harmer. the exam
iner7"
Certainly" said the old man, what
about him7''
Hes very Sick" replied Clancy. ''He
appraised the opals this afternoon and
started home in the best of spirits, but be-
fore he reached there he was taken with
a high fever and an hour ago he had to
be operated on for appendicitis The attack
came so suddenly that 1t unnerved the man
and all the members of his family. I just
left there. The doctor says the operation
was a success and that he will recover, but
he certainly had a close call"
us that all7" asked the chief. grimly.
That's ALL" murmured Clancy. land
think it's enough. too"
Without noticing the observation Of his
assistant, Barnes turned to Forward:
What did you find out about George
West?''
West got the opals all right" replied
the chemist, land apparently ellvered them
into the hands of Mary Martin, the servant.
at Potter's house, but by a strange fatality
he was afterward knocked down by a
team while crossing the street in front
of Washington square, and he is now in
St. Vincents hospital with a broken leg.
The surgeons set 1t and say 1t will knit
and heal up all right. But the poor fellow
will be on the broad of his back for the
next four weeks
Again the chief smiled that grim smile.
He spoke in a low voice:
II suppose 1 might as well hand in my
little contribution. l have verified what
you both tell me. The opals were deiv-
cred by Harmer and properly receipted
for. George West carried them to Potters
house and handed them to the servant
girl, and she insists that she placed them
in the desk in the library So far, so good;
but about an hour ago she was hurrying
through the dining room, when she slipped
and fell on the polished floor and smashed
a magnificent vegetable dish that had been
a family heirloom for over 100 years. The
dinner Is beginning now. but Mary Martin.
who was to have helped the caterer. Ia In
her room crying her eyes out"
what about the caterer7"
Mrs Potter vouchss for him. She says
that he came to the house this afternoon
and brought two colored assistants with
him. She sat In the reception hall, where
she could see or hear him all the time, and
she lie positive that he did not go upstairs
during the time he was In the house"
Clancy noticed a CLINT OF satisfaction in
the chiefs eye.
I'VE are all at sea- ne said; but you've
got something up your sleeve, What
is it?'
The old man smiled that inscrutable
smile OF his. He shook his head.
Never count your chickens before they're
Matched. I can tell you nothing at pres
emit"
Meantime the dinner OF the Last Mans
club had started at the home Of Clarence
Potter. The quaint dining room with its
old-fashioned Dutch decorations was pref
tily arranged for the occasion. A mirror
covering the center of the table, deftly
trimmed with moss, easily created the illu-
sion of placid stream OF water. Flowers
and lighted candles added to the cheer
fulness, while several musicians hidden be-
hind mass Of artificial shrubbery dis
coursed such sweet harmony that the sur
viving members OF the club. with one ex-
ception, felt as II they were in Elyslum
That exception was the host Potter,
who sat at the head OF the table, alter
mated between agony and bliss. II would
be the most successful dinner in the history
OF the club-h II were not for the opaIs
He had been reluctant TO begin without
the stones, but he remembered the explicit
directions OF the chief inspector and he was