davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16

starting to his feet. 1.-THE sooner it's
done, inspector, the better. These gen
tlemen must be convinced that none of
us have the diamond. l could not
leave their Office with a shadow of
doubt upon my integrity. I'll be the
first to submit to a search. and my son
shall be the second"
But THIS is beastly!' protested
young DETER. obviously annoyed by
his fathers eageTness to give ocular
proof of his honesty. such a humili
alton"
Bah! Absurd, The inspector must
make sure, Reggie, that neither of
us"
THE inspector already knows, or
should, that we have no wish to steal
the Internal stone. We've had an OPP
portunity for that, if so inclined. Only
two fools would have brought the dia-
mond here with a design TO steal it,
That's true enough, yet
IN not submit to being searched
like a common thief. It's a beastiy
outrage, I say. and I'll not submit
to
You stop right there, young man. 80
Donald sternly interrupted. Il shall
take any step this situation seems to
require Such a protest as yours is not
to my liking. 1 shall, if necessary,
search every person in this ROOM"
His threatening austerity BRIEFLY 81
fenced his every hearer. Young DeX-
ter turned as white as his shirt front.
The face of the army officer grew dark
as a thunderclOud under the threaten
ing rebuke. The countenance of Miss
Venner was a picture OF dismay over
the prospect. and, for a moment, both
Delmore and Bragg appeared about to
interfere.
Donald instantly checked them with
a gesture Unobserved by any. with
one band held behind his back, he now
was pressing against the window pane
on which Kelley still was at work an
open page of his note book, upon which
ne quickly had written few words
during the alterca ton between the two
Englishmen Kneeling on the stone
slab outside, Kelley could not well help
seeing and reading the plainly written
lines:
when 1 open this window Kelley.
you leap down and run as if for your
life. Don't stop till l overtake you"
Mr. Morris Donald did not attempt
to learn whether the instructions so
carefully impaired were seen and un-
derstood. With his frowningSeyes still
fixed Upon his startled hearers, ne
quickly added, with undated stern
ness:
Understand me, all of yOui l charge
none of you with attempting theft. yet
the missing gem, if still in this room.
must be found. When Chief Gibson
returns with the janitor, l shall insist
upon All, they are here nowl"
AS the two men mentioned abroptly
re-entered the Office, the true suspi-
cions and designs actuating Donald ap-
peared to show on the surface He
gave none of his observers an oppOr-
tunity to speak. With voice that
rang through the room. he suddenly
shouted
Gibson, hold that man Hogan. The
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16
BY SCOTT CAMPBELL.
Copyright 1906 by the AuthOr.)

diamond was passed in one of the win
dow cloths to his confederate, Leave
me to catch the latter"
He turned while speaking and threw
open the window. Kelley instantly
sprang down FROM the slab outside and
darted away through the adjoining
court. Without a backward glance.
Donald bounded over the sill and fol-
lowed him. whipping out pair Of
handouts while he ran.
The sudden turn of affairs. the eX-
element of the moment, the fierce
struggle which instantly ensued be-
tween Gibson and the enraged janitor
all combined to have startling eff
feet upon young Dexter. His thin, col
orless features took on an ashy hue,
twitching cOnvulsively for a moment,
and before a hand could be out
stretched to support him, he fell heav-
lily to the floor, stricken with an cpl
t. leptic fit
Twenty minutes had passed when
AIr. Morris Donald, wet with perspira-
ton, came striding back into the Jew
eler's private office
L failed to catch the rascal, Glib
son, and have started the police on his
track" he abruptly cried. What has
become of Hogan?"
Bound for the Tombs," terseIy an
swered Gibson. shTewd enough to sup
port any move made by Donald, how-
ever blind it appeared.
Very good. It's lucky we have HIN,
though Kelley is the rascal who now
has the diamond. We shall land him
later. Twas a flimsy trick on Ho-
CAMS part that Of picking up the gem
in his window cloth and slyly passing
both to his assistant. He should have
known
But he denies it. Mr.. Donald. denies
it emphatically, and l find it hard to
believe Hogan is dishonest" interrupt
ed DelmOre. He has been in my en-
ploy for a dozen years"
Though II were two dozen ii would
not alter my convictions" Donald fiat
ly declared. You will believe it all
right, sir, after few days behind
prison bars serves to open the rascaTs
mouth. I suspected the trick from the
first. Hogan saw where the Jewel fell
probably within easy reach. if not be-
meath one of the cloths then lying on
the floor. and he seized upon this
| chance to enrich himself. It's plain
enough tnat Kelley saw and entered
into the scheme, also that ne now has
the stone, or why should he have fled
so moment / ordered Hogan's arrest
and turned to seize him?'
q You may be right, Donald. yet"
You'll soon find l am right. gentle
men. For what other reason did KEEL
ley take to his heels? No grOundless
fear of arrest would have started him
off in that fashion. We soon shall To-
cate him. however, and you then will
find Hello! what's happened here2'
Donald now appeared to notice for
| the first time the group at one side OF
the room. Stretched in spasnodic con-
WILSON'S on the floor with A whifa
fToth fecking his gray lips. Reginald
Dexter still was unconscious, despite
Continued on Page 2.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16

What's the matter with you, Hogan?
What are you grumbling abOut?"
About me fires" Hogan desperately
rejOined. "The furnace hampers are
open, and the buildings like to catch
fire unless"
Unless you go down to the furnace? '
That's the what sir; but the chief
says
"WhO cares what the chief says
Donald sharply interrupted. I'm the
one now running this affair. I'll find
this lost gem, or know the reason why.
Go down to the furnace with him, Glib
son, since the need is so pressing. Hold
on, Hogani Leave this window-clOthl'
With the last he deity whipped the
crumpled cloth out of HOgan's hand,
giving it a shake and glancing quickly
at the floor, much as if he thus expect
ed to discover the missing jewel.
The futile move served only to bring
an angry snarl from the startled jani-
tor, however, and before he could utter
the resentful words that sprang TO his
lips, Donald forcibly thrust him from
the office. crying impatiently:
Go with him, Gibson, and keep an
eve on him. We can't stand for a fire
along with a theft, if that's the truth of
the matter. Bring him back when his
fires are right, and waste no time over
it. Watch him constantly, mind you.
for this stone must be found, though we
search all hands to the buff, as the col
onel suggested
1t was obvious enough that Delmore
had aimed to shift upon the detectives
the responsibility of making such a
search, yet not one of DOnald's observ-
ers could fathom the change that had
come over him. His Impotence seemed
to be merging into anger as he no1sily
closed the office door, and. with knit
brows and an ugly glow in his searching
eyes, he next peered hurriedly about the
floor and under the table.
Has this rug been raised?" he de-
manded, with a flashing glance at Del
more.
Certainly We also have looked
Answer only my questions. Time
may be worth more than you imagine.
stand UP. my girl, and shake your
skirts The gem may have lodged
among the ruffles."
Miss Venner already has carefully
examined her garments"
Pardon me once more. Mr. Del
more" cried Donald. FIll look into
this case in my own way, or not at all.
That will do for the present. Miss Ven
ner. if that's your name. Have any of
you gentlemen got your trousers
turned up? If so, look into the fold.
How about that waste basket? Have
you searched it carefully"
Certainly we have
Also every inch of the room, in
spector, take my word for that" the
army surgeon gruffly added. And, to
my way of thinking. inspector, our
eyes are as good as yours
"And your judgment may be even
BETTER retorted Donald. wheeling
sharply about and bringing his back
to the window outside of which Kelley
still was at work. ut looks. indeed.
as il a personal search was imperative,
however distastefu it may be to-
NONSENSE" groWled Colonel Dexter,
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16

oned they'd tackel me at night, when I
was sleepin rush the camp. tip it over
and end things with a grand hooroosh,
glorious an easy. with me at the bot
tom of the heap.
Tell you what L done some purity
tall thinkin' mister, an / acted jec' as
fast as 1 thought. / rushed out my
supplies, powed things over lively an
fished up an old induction-coil from
the bottom O my kit-chest. Then l cut
out my batt'ries from the cable circuit
an wired the inductiOn-coil inta lit
tie private electrocution-line O. my
own, which ] grounded careful, on the
metal dOOr-knob o the camp. With six
crow-foot batt'ries back o. the coil,
caPlated she'd take care o. the door at
least. The winders at each end was
0. X. fer shotgun defense, so that left
only the bind back, toward the me-
skeet, ia be considered, an l must adj
init that thar back gin me cOnsid BILE
of a sweat. Take m oath l didn't see
ar first how l was a'gOin ia prevent
rush from the thicket with subsequent
tippin s-over and a lively free-fer-all
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16
BY GEORGE ALLAN ENGLAND.

l don't sabby much Spanish talk, as
1 said before, but / knowed enough
that time ia tell me they all thought
the very Old Nick was arter 'em. They
all scampered off hell bent an crooked,
that is. all that could. an L was left
alone with my ketch. A dunn lively
ketch it was, too, an don't We doubt
it-it made the door rattle like a good
un, an KEEP" up one continuous holler.
after a bit 1 strikes a light with
dew declaration draws on my line
mans gloves an unlOcks the door.
when / pulled it open, in come The
alcaldy, who'd fairly grOwed Onta that
thar knob. an along with him my OF
friend Benny de la Trinidad, both of
em yallerern punkins-thats the way
them fellers has, i'm low latitOods, OF
turnin' pale-an' both on 'em jumpin'
an twistin like a combination. S'nt-
Vitus-dOuble-shuffle show. You ever
heerd tell of anyone bein' electrified?
Well that's what them two Dons was.
l caPlate-anyway, l never seen the
beat of 'em fer agility.
Well bOysH says I, friendly an
sOcia ble-like, amt this a bit unseem-
ly. doin' a Spanish-nigger cakewalk
on my doorstep an never knockin' tn
come in? Won't you deign to enter
my mis'ble abode? It's your'nl' says
/ W on you toiH5 III 4. iuiS Is my
reception, my dance. Hagame lie favor
de ent-aF.
q" Senior. SenorT walls the alcaldy.
between spasms. 'Pluck-a me off.
Ayudemei Be'old. l die mel Me niue
70! oh, pluck-a me Off 1 prickle. oh,
L paralyZe, O-O-O-O-O-O-O-
with that he falls down on the
floor, half in the camp an half out,
still anchored ia the knob; an Benny,
he falls down, too an throws a reg
latiOn fit. I see faint no great time
ia parley, cause they's both about all
in, as folks say nowadays, so 1 jes'
pits it to 'em plain whether they'll
surrender at discretion er not.
Isl. 81. tsenOr.' chatters the alcady.
oh, yes, yes, yes ST, only quicklee.
senior. Senior. Very quicklee help.
Prontissimor
Well I callated they meant it. all
right. 50 ! cut off the current dashed
'em up good an tight. back Ia back.
with my RATA q reckon they'd a-felt
it some, too. if they hadn't been so far
gOne), an rolled 'em over inta a corner
fer the rest o. the night. Then 1 laid
down Ia sleep agin, bur 'twan't no use.
cause fore I ed doze off they'd coma
to a little an began cussin' me agin.
I had Ia git up an gag EN- both NItn
tent pegs before | ed rest in the arms
of Murphy's at all satisfactory.
Mex morning I seemed ia be the
main thing in them parts. They want
much tucker left in the populace, nov
I'm a-goin' Ia tell We! Both gen'rals
captured, the army dispersed, an not
a drop O patriot blood spilled sort-a
Jared EN- Up-they want used ia any
sech p'liteness. Bout 8 a. m. a depu-
tatiOn come out with another white
flag. an we had parties, treaties an
drinks all round.
They amt nothin' more Ia tell,
RELY. The tug from Domingo come
putin an tOotin' along mex aft'no0n
an took me off ia Las Nela whar the
cable struck Brazil. Last I seen Of
Cerdos she was drOwsin' in the. tropic
twilight, peaceful as if she Want
plumb full o. potential Capn Kids"
(Copyright)
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16

another move to leave this office with
out my permission, III clap you in
irons
But me fires"
Bother your fires!"
Faith, thin, if the buiIdin burns
down, it's no fault of mine," snOrted
Hogan, under his breath.
Down or up" retorted Gibson;
you'll do what ] say
Obviously this lank, long-limbed HO-
gan was a janitor 1t was equally plain
that he had been cleaning the office
windows. for his sleeves were rolled
above his elbows and he held in one
hand a large, crumpled cloth. while on
the broad stone slab outside of one of
the windows his assistant was kneel-
ing, still engaged in polishing the lower
pane
OF the above depression. Occasioned
by Hogan's repeated attempts to leave
the office, Morris Donald took imme-
date advantage. With merely a nod
to the younger of the two Englishmen
"a tall cadaVerous man, whose sallow
features indicated i'll health-he drew
off his glove and extended his hand to
the elder.
Il am pleased to know you, Colonel
Dexter" said he.
The army surgeon arose from a chair
near the table, drew no good six feet
of bone and muscle, and gave Donald's
hand grip that made him vince.
Il am much obliged, Mr.. Donald,
very much obliged" ne rejOined, with
a piercing scrutiny and a sonorous
voice. Il have heard you well spoken
of while we've been waiting for you.
hope you'll be able to help these gem
tlemen out of this deplorable matter.
L,aS
no doubt you WILL
This complimentary speech, made
with a gruff grandiloquence nearly
merging into buster, gave Donald an
excellent opportunity to observe the
man more clOsely-his swarthy, sun
burned features and shock of raven
black hair and beard, his searching
eyes. his protruding white teeth. his
great breadth of shoulders and length
of arms, a figure plainly endowed with
extraordinary vitality and leonine
strength.
With no outward sign of the impress
sion made upon him by this man, Don
aid turned almost Immediately to the
senior member of the firm and said:
What is this deplorable matter, Mr.
Delmore?'
1T is even more than deplora ole, -
was the reply 1T is both so serious
and mystifying that l was at a loss
how to act, and have called upon Chief
Gibson to handle the case in his own
way. He has deemed il wise to sum-
mon you, also"
THE matter, MIR. Delmore. II you
please?" queried Donald, with brows
lifting.
I'VE have lost very valuable dia-
mond here in my office. and it cannot
be found. Yet no person has left the
room, nor has any entered ii except
Gibson and yourself The diamond was
accidentally dropped upon the floor
"Oh, begin at the beginning, Del
more, not in the middle" interrupted
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16
Che exploits 81 a Private Detective

the Iuckless bauble disappeared. II
must be somewhere within these four
walls inspector, for none of us have
stirred, out or in, since the gem van
ished. We've searched every mock and
corner, every square inch of the office
and now, l say, search every mothers
son of US as well. That's my advice in
spector, for good or i'll, and I'll be the
first TO run the gantlet if you say the
word"
Not quite yet, colonel" protested
Donald, with a subtle CLEAN pickering
in the depths of his keen gray eyes.
Though your advice is not half bad
sir, I'm averse to thinking a deliberate
theft has been committed here"
POUNDS. Inspector, but the diamond
certainly is LOST"
Just how was it lost, Mr.. Delmore
and how long ago was it brought
here?" inquired Donald, again reverting
to the senior partner.
Less than an hour ago, Mr.. Donald.
Yesterday we were notified by Colonel
Dexter that the stone was in his trunk
at the pier, and would be delivered as
soon as the import duty had been paid.
1t was properly invoiced to us, you un-
derstand, and this morning l went with
the colonel and his son and paid the
charges We then brought the stone
here to examine it. 1t was in the small
leather case now lying on the table
and while passing if from one to an
other"
zone moment" interrupted Donald,
quite CURLY. I'll ask a few questions.
Merely answer them, if you please"
His abrupt change of voice and bear
ing was somewhat startling. With a
sharp glance at his several hearers he
II, 4,l1 L. v,x.l
jewel-case. A depression in the lining
showed that the missing stone was
nearly round and ABOUT the size of an
ordinary marble. while the case itself
plainly had no secret interior.
After a moment, and with an impa-
thence for which Gibson could not then
account Donald tossed the case back
upon the table and CURLY demanded:
'Who were present Delpore, when
the diamond was lost?"
"Only those you see here, barring
yourself and Gibson
How did the accident occur?"
"Tll explain that, inspector" cried
the army officer. half starting from his
chair I'm attempting to pass the open
box over the table / tripped on a fold
of this fioor-rug.' The stone flew out of
the box and rolled off the edge of the
table; and that's the last we saw of It.
WAS your office door open, Del
more?"
1T was not"
1.-The windows"
Both were closed, though Hogan and
his helper were cleaning them
His helpers name?" Donald sharply
demanded, with a quick glance at the
shrewd face of the young man still at
work outside of the windows.
Tim Kelley. he's called. though"
1T doesn't natter snapped Donald.
eff the windows and door were closed
the diamond cannot have gotten out of
this office. - not on the floor, it must
be on the person of some one Of
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16
V.-THE IDOLS EYE.

L don't care what you want Hogan!
You wait right here"
But me fires
Never mind your fires"
iBut they'll burn down"
"Let 'em burn! You can't go. and
that settles it. Not a person shall leave
this office before Morris Donald en-
tiers it, I'll have his opinion of this
affair before l let one of you go out
or See who knocksr'
It was Norris Donald who knocked.
Before rapping sharply on the panel
of the closed door, however, the cane
poised in the glOVed hand of the noted
private detective hung fire for several
seconds, while he listened to the words
sternly spoken within. He had Tecog-
nized the familiar voice of the speaker,
that of Chief Gibson, of the detective
bureau: and il was Chief Gibson HIM
self who FASTENED TO open the office
door.
It was the private office of Mr.. ia
cob Delmore, of Delmore, Curley &
Bragg, the wealthiest jewelry firm in
New England. and a house having a
national reputation as importers of
rare art treasures and costly gems
That some serious situation existed
was Obviehs to Morris Donald as he
passed through the magnificent store
TO approach the several enclosed Of
fees at the rear: for the numerous
clerks back Of the counters gazed aft
er him with anxious eyes, and one in
dictated with gesture the office in
which his services were required.
Yet when Donald entered the office,
the door of which Gibson Immediately
closed, his air was that of Indifferent
curiosity rather than of serious interest
and qqickened misgivings.
why have you sent for me, Glib
SOM" he inquired, with a cursory
glance at the several occupants of the
room.
1t was a commodiOus room, with two
broad windows opening upon rear
court. A roil-toR> desk in one corner. a
stenographer's stand and typewraer
nearby, a baize-top table i'm the mid
ole of the room. several chairs uphol-
stored with red leather a heavy Turk
D.. ish rug-these were the chief furnish
ings.
why have / sent for you?" growl-
ed Gibson. as he closed the door "A
needless question. Donald. For the
same old reason, of course. There's a
mystery mere which completely baf-
fles-stay! you know both Delmore and
Bragg, I'm sure, also Henderson, their
head buyer"
Very WELL" nodded Donald, with
glance at the three men mentioned
Two were members of the firm, and
the third, Byrd Henderson. was an ex-
port judge of diamonds and precious
stones All three were standing near
Delmore's desk in the corner.
VERY good" Gibson glibly contin-
ued, This young man is Mr.. Reginald
Dexter, and here is his father, Colonel
Mortimer Dexter, lale surgeon OF the
British army in India, from which
country he has just arrived. A dia-
mond has been lost here under circum-
stances so peculiar that No, no, Ho-
gan, you can't go yet! Ii you make
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16

the chief inspector, a bit impatiently
Give Mr.. Donald all the facts, as you
gave them to me-
They may be briefly stated" said
Delmore, who appeared much disturb
ed. THE diamond, which has strange
and uncanny history, was secretly pur-
chased some months ago by Mr.. Sig
Quincy, our agent in India. 1t is known
that half a century ago the stone
which has value approaching sixty
thousand dollars, formed one of the
eyes of an Indian idol, said to have
been worshiped by one of the native
tribes of the farmland country; also
that the diamond was removed. if not
stolen, at the time of the Sepoy rebel
lion, and for a considerable period
could not be located. 1t is said that
the gem since has been the incentive
to numerous terrible crimes
Pardon me- interposed Donald.
| Are these remote details essential to
my approaching the more immedia te
circumstances? %
"Only in that they explain our agents
action in the matter" rejoined Del
more Just how the stone came into
the hands of Mr.. Sigourney is not ma
terial. Its unenviable history and great
value, however gave him some mis-
givings about sending US the stone by
the ordinary way of transportation, and
upon learning that Colonel Dexter and
his son, both of whom were his per-
sonal friends, were about coming to
America, SigOurney prevailed upon the
colonel to bring the stone along with
him and deliver it to us, which he to-
day has done"
ALLOW me just a word, if l may in
terrupt," said Colonel Dexter, with So
Z 3l.Se aI,.
under serious protest. / would have
done the service for no less friend
than Sigourney, whom I have known
and admired for a dozen years. | had
heard of this wonderful gem long be-
fore and that it had a nasty way of
bringing beastly bad luck to any who
owned or handled it, Yet what was a
friend to do, under the circumstances?
My sons health had been ruined by the
Indian climate-yOnder he is, and you
may see for yourself inspector. Only
an ocean voyage and a radical change
of scene gave promise to restore him.
So when Sigourney begged me to take
charge of the Idols Eye and deliver it
to these gentlemen here. what was l to
do? l ask again, inspector, what was
to do?"
The 'just a word" OF the rugged
army officer had developed into quite a
bombastic harangue, yet Donald heard
him patiently, though not without an
odd smile stealing about his thin red
lips
Just what you have done. colonel.
no doubt" said he But / still fail to
see how these details affect the more
immediate matter. The diamond was
there, I understand: also that it is lost
and you wish to find 1t. When and how
was il lost"
There you go. Inspector. straight at
the last redoubt,' cried the English
man. with a resOunding slapNupOn his
muscular thigh Those are the first
words / have heard to the point since