Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-11-01

of unique and invaluable gem-ah,
that is different! He might risk a
crime. History tells us of several"
Here I paused to take breath, which
gave the inspector chance to say:
"In other words, this is what you
think. The Englshman, DESTROYS Of
covering up his tracks, conceived the
idea of having this imitation on hand.
in case it might be of use In the dar
ing and disgraceful undertaking you
ascribe to him. Recognizing his own
inability to do this himself. he dele
gated the task to one who in some way.
he had been led to think, cherished a
secret grudge against its present pos
sessor-a man who had had some OPP
portunity for seeing the stone and
studying the setting. The copy thus
procured, Mr.. Grey went to the ball.
and, relying on his own seemingly I'M
assallable position, attacked Mrs. Fair
brother In the alcove and would have
carried of the diamond, IL he had
found 1t 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 proyed-had
led her to rid herself of the jewel in
the way Mr.. Durand describes. and he
found himself burdened with 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 it, he asked
to see 1t, held 1t for an instant, and
then. making use of an almost lncredl-
BILE expedlent for dstracting attention,
dropped, not the real stone but the
false one, retaining the real one in his
hand. This, in plain English. as take
it. Is your present idea of the situa-
ton
Astonished at the clearness with
which he read my mind, l answered.
Yes, inspector. that is what was in my
mind"
Good! Then it is just as well that it
Is out. Your mind is now free. and
you can give it entirely to your duties"
Then, as he laid his hand on the door
knob, he added: I'm 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 falsty 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 we'll known con-
noisseur." | faltered, with the pride
Of one who has handled the best gems?
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. l will
go further-you are a good girl and
can bear to hear the truth from me.
1 don't believe in your theory; | can't.
l have not been able to from the first.
nor have any of my men; but if your
volved in this matter. you will find
that there has been more of 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 if it were In
Wellgood's hands with his consent and
good prospect of its coming to him
in the near future. But /. it is in
Wellgoods hands without his consent.
or any near prospect of his regainins
1t. then we can easily understand his
present apprehensions and the grow
Ing uneasiness he betrays."
"True." | murmured.
'If. then" the inspector pursued.
giving me Il parting glance not with
out its humor probably not without
something 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 Sears 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 rs this Sears has shown
| himself to be would be an adept at
disguise"
"You are right" l acknowledged.
He has certainly the heart of Grim
inal. If 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 a moment and then bowed