The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-10-29
"oh. what was that"

the older one took something out OF
the parcel as the other was a-carryin,
and threw It over the bridge-plump!"
Did you see what II was?"
mot loikely, at that distance!
Thought as they were a'feedin' the
fishes, that's all, with some sand.
wiches they 'adn't used up in the
train. Then, as 1 said afore, a cop
per came up an moved me on, an /
lost sight O. the gents. Thank you,
sir, you're a real gentleman! 'Opes
you'll catch 'em If you wants EN-, sir"
passed thoughtfully out of the sta.
tions. Events had taken a strange and
unexpected turn. Clearly the jewels
had been thrown into the river. Cast
your bread upon the waters, and
no, the proverb could not apply.
1t was very mystifying. Did War.
rington Stout belong to the tribe Of
fanatics? l had heard of a man who,
turned teetotaler, caused all the con-
tents of his valuable wine cellar 10
be poured down the drains. Had
Stout suddenly perceived the extreme
sinfulness Of his wifes wearing jew
els and taken this summary method
Of putting them out Of temptations
reach for everybody?
But that would have been a mad
mans act, and Stout was sane enough.
Then the jewels must be false.
l stopped dead on the pavement, and
a man who was following Immediately
behind me cursed audibly For l had
suddenly caught sight of a poster on
an advertisement boarding. In big
capitals it started thus: There are
thousands Of professional burglars
known to the police. Insure against
burglary with me Lion Insurance
Company"
My problem was solved. And the
solution was so ridiculously simple
felt ashamed of myself for not hav.
ing discovered it long ago.
managed to restrain my impatience
until 10 o'clock. At that hour l enter
ed the Office of the Lion Insurance
Company, in Cornhill, and asked for
my friend, Percival Austin, the man.
ager. He had not arrived yet, the
clerk informed me, but was expected
within a very few minutes. Oh, these
city magnates, who pretend they are
so heavily overworked! | waited.
He strolled in at a quarter past 10,
and considerably gave me precedence
over the contents Of the mail | fol-
lowed him into his private room.
well, Phillips, you're an early
bird"
I'm sorry can't retrrn the compli.
mert."
"Geastly public dinL-l last night!
Had to go though | hate them like
poison. Got some news for US,
hope?"
"News?"
yes, about this Melvil. Court bur.
glary. Warrington Stout wired that
he was not content with the efforts Of
the Graltham police to find the thief,
but had put the matter in the hands
Of your firm at we'll Very good of
him, | thought it, taking all that
trouble, at his own expense when he
was so well insured"
looked into my hat, for my expires.
sion was a tell tale enc. So mine were
not the only eyes in which Warrington
Stout had contrived to throw DUST
"Ah!" said, of-handedly. Il real.
ly forgot to ask him whether he was
insured or not. Not covered entirely
with you, SUPPOSE"
mo, the amount was too large for us
to take the entire risK. We share 1t
with another company and with
Lloyds."
Then it will be rather a big loss
altogether"
Yes, unless you manage to recover
any of the Stolen things for us. BY
the way, what did you come about, II
not about this burglary?"
"Oh, I'll tell you in a moment. You
are going TO meet the claim, | sup
poser"
"Of course! It's all sound and
square. The Stouts have been most
obliging in giving our representative
every possible assistance"
"Ah!"
What is it, Phillips? Your manner
is most mysterious"
81 came here for information. I'm.
consciously, you've supplied me with
all / want to know. Now, I'll give
you a piece of advice, Austin. Don't
pay Warrington Stouts claim-not one
penny Of it,"
why not?" he gasped.
Because, firstly, the diamonds were
poota tho iawe1e worthless with no