Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-01-09
daughter, he returned to the old place
and with very little

money"
But he had the diamond?"
Eyes, he had that; and, as | said be-
fore, some one had been sent from
England to trace the jewel and offer
price for it. This agent discovered
Drawn about the same time did.
Drawn accepted the offer, and brought
the stone to London"
"And You had no chance on the way
over?'
my dear Winton, apart from the
fact that Drawn has the strength of
six men and never seems to sleep,
you must remember that a steamer is
not London street, where you can
make snatch and run round cor
ner. That kind of business Is more in
Hammond's line than mine"
"And, if 1 mistake not, here is
| Hammond now"
A series Of loud knocks reverberated
through the house, and in few min
utes the door Of the back room was
opened little way and a rubicund
face, surmounted by closely-cropped
head Of the bullet type, was humor-
| ously wagged at the occupants,
"Evenin', gents all. Mr.. Percy
Twist. sir, your humble to com
mand; glad to see you back. Mr.. Win
ton, my lord, my respects"
ooh, come in and close the door,
and your mouth at the same time!"
"That amt 'orspitable, Mr.. Winton,
seem as the bottle an glasses is
ready"
"Well, help yourself, then attend to
business"
Business! I'm full of business.
Anybody as knows Bill Jack Ham
mond'll tell yer that; lor', when
used ter buff in the ring at ten stone
six l."
"Will you be quiet, and listen?"
| "Suttingly, boss; suttingly."
| Mr.. Hammond, or, to give him the
name by which he was known in his
own immediate circle, Noisy Ham
mond. helped himself to whisky, ac-
| cepted a cigar, and continued his fur
| ther remarks in occasional husky ejac-
ulations.
"Now to continue, said Twist.
although Mr. Drawn is giant in
strength and stature he is singularly
! thildlike and guileless in talking about
/ his own affairs, and / was not long in
/ discovering that he had received an
4 offer for the diamond amounting to
! sixty thousand pounds"
What! Sixty thou for a sparkler!'
/ calculated Hammond
| met half it's value" said Winton
"Why it is a perfect rose diamond OF
! two hundred and eighty carats, and
one of the greatest specimens in the
world
"We need not discuss its value
which is exactly what it will fetch
The man who negotiated it's purchase
was sent out by Dodson & Dicks, the
lawyers, on behalf of one of their
clients. The arrangements were com
4 pleted to-day and tomorrow Joe
4 Drawn delivers the jewel to the pur
chaser"
"And did you find out who the
| purchaser was?"
1T is not likely that would neglect
such an important point. When the
1 diamond changes hands it will pas
4 into the possession Of John Brent q
Stallfeld, Kent"
John Brent of Stallfeld!" With M
exclamation Of surprise Winton starr
ed to his feet.
.'Why, do you know his?" ,,sket
Twist.
tt am interested in his daughter
Mary Brent, who is at present will
4 Miss Dauncey at Lechmere Hous,
i school; but John Brent lives in a lit
4 tie three-roomed cottage and exists
like a begger."
"All the better for our purpose
A man is an eccentric rniser. cracked o,
4 the subject Of diamonds, and ka
& been tracing the Empire Dream sine,
it disappeared at the sack of Delhi ii
'57.r
4 "And are we going to nick it?" ask
4 ed Hammond.
''That Is our intention" said Win
ton; "and now let us arrange details
It Is. OF course, impossible for me t
take part in the actual robbery 70
fear Of being seen by Joe Drawn"
ut amooses me the careful way II
which the boss looks after his skin,
observed Nosey. Hammond can d
the punchin' part, an the boss ca
y smoke his Hintimidad ceegar ar
drink his sherry wine."
BE quiet" put In Twist. Now,
propose that Hammond and go dow,
!. tomorrow evening by motor car; tn
goggles will form an excellent dis
guise, and anticipate no trouble. TIL
question is, What are we going to d
with It when we have got it.? Ate
our last little affair don't care abou
crossing the channel with it. Wha
do you think, Winton?''
.rhan ss Is cs.he: :: risk sss !:
II quisitiveness Of the French police
] second time"
why not let me take it over!
= asked Hammond. Isl
J My dear Hammond, / can trus
your right arm for a good knock-o1
II blow, but your tongue is trifie u
ruly If-you once had the diamond
!. your possession you would want
II n. - 81