Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-06-19
THE RADCLIFFE
DIAMOND
[Original.1

cliffe diamond was, I think. on the
whole, the queerest call it the Rad
cliffe to distinguish it, for Mr.. Rad
Life was its owner One morning on
reporting at the office the chief told me
nat the gentleman had lost very val
liable diamond, not much smaller than
some Of the famous diamonds of the
world, and wished detective to try to
vecover it. l called on Mr.. Radcliffe.
who took me into his study and said
g me:
"You have nothing to do in finding
sut who stole the diamond. know
yhat already. What I want Is its re-
surn. A diamond is SO easily put away
where il cannot be found that the
greatest care must be taken to trap the
person who possesses 1t. The chief
clerk at my office is the thief l took
the diamond there and put 1t in my
safe. The clerk-his name is Cole
MAINLAND myself alone knew the COM
hjnation. Coleman deliberately took
the diamond, knowing that | could not
srove him the thief and If l did
could not recover the property. / have
offered him $4,000 to return it, but he
will not admit that he stole 1t till
offer him the price he has fixed for its
return, with indemnity against prose-
cation. wish you to trap him with
the diamond on his person"
got an assistant to play detective
with Coleman, while I was to be his
real shadower. My object was to
drive him from his room and, indeed,
out Of town. expecting that he would
take the diamond with him. My stool
pigeon found him the same evening In
\. billiard room and made 1t appear
that he was watching him. Coleman
went at once, not to his home, but to
the house of relative. From there he
went to a railway station. OF course
was watching him from distance and
made up my mind that he had taken
the diamond from the house he had
visited and was going to try to get out
Of the country with 1t.
Coleman went to the ticket Office and
bought ticket to New York. was
N line behind him and bought ticket
for the same place. telephoned to
The Office for assistants to keep him
In view till the train, which was not
due to start for an hour. should be off,
keeping out Of his way. One Of them
signaled me when he got on the train,
and as 1t pulled out got on myself. l
had refrained from having him arrest
ed while In his own town, fearing that
he might have confederate keep the
gem till the train started or to hand
it to in case of arrest preferred to
take my chances with him in a region
strange to him.
I took along an assistant and when
we had been on the road couple Of
hours told him to let Coleman see that
he was watching him. Then went to
another car. My object was to drive
him from the train. also instructed
the assistant not to get Off the train II
Coleman did. I wished the fugitive to
think that he had eluded the detective.
At every station I looked out for my
man, and it was not long before saw
him, when the train stopped. alight
and stand on the platform. When the
train went on. he remained. Having
fancied he would get on before the
train started, remained on the car.
Seeing that he would remain, jumped
off. He cast a glance at me that told
me my game of secrecy was up and
henceforth must follow him as sus-
pected detective.
But it did not matter. The station
was at small village, which was as
good place as any to try to recover
the diamond. Coleman went to q ho-
tel. He did not enter his name on the
register, but sat down in the Office
sat down opposite him. He knew, and
I was willing that he should know,
that I was after him.
Presently he got up, walked out and
through the village and beyond, where
the road ran through wood. follow
ed him. keeping my hand on my re-
volver. Coming to a place where the
road turned through a cut, I was walk
ing with bank behind me when Cole
man suddenly turned and fired at me
SO quickly that I had no time to pro-
tect myself from the shot. l was not
scratched, and Coleman. instead Of FIR
ing again, threw away his pistol and
called out that he surrendered.
Somewhat puzzled, / advanced, hold
ing him covered. searched him for 9TH
er weapons and, finding none. for the
diamond
1t was not on his person.
/ was satisfied that he had tricked
me. But how? went to the side Of
the road and picked up his pistol. 1t
was an old fashioned one barrel pistol
Of very large bore. What had he to do
with such weapon? For moment,
and a moment only, was baked as
to his reason; then suddenly the whole
scheme flashed upon me.
Marching Coleman back to the vii
lage, put him in limbo. then returned
to the place where he had fired at me.
searched for an hour in the bank and
below it, then, when was about to
give up. concluded to scratch away
the earth in line extended from where
Coleman had stood To where | had