The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-17
The Mirror Of PORTUGAL

was it really Mrs Hamcr? but there.
won't ask--kccping watch. He was
robbed of a small old wooden box. con
tanning charcoal and--a diamond. Nly
name is Dorr ington-firm of Dorring-
ton ~ Hicks, which YOU may have heard
of. That's my card. I've come to take
away that diamond"
Ilamcr was pale and angry, but in
his way. was almost as calm rs Dor
rington. He put down the card with
yon." he said How do YOU know I've
got it?"
Come. come. Mr. Hamcr." Darlington
replied. rubbing the barrel Of his revol-
yer on his knee. that's hardly worthy
OF you. You're a man OF business, with
a head on your shoulders-thc sort OF
man ] like doing business with. in fact
Men like ourselves needn't trine. I've
shown you most of the cards hold.
though not all. / assure YOU I'll tell
YOU, If YOU Ike. all about your little
tour round among the druggists with
the convenient toothache. all about the
evenings on which you watched Bou-
vier home. and so on. But. really. need
we, as men Of the world descend TO
such pcdding dctail?"
We'll. suppose I have got it. and
suppose ] refuse to give it you. What
then"
What then? Blu, why should We
talk OF unpleasant things? You won't
refuse, you know"
DO you mean you'd get it ou, Of
me by help Of that pistol"
Well said Darlington. deliberately.
the I!stGi IS noisy. and it makes
mess and all that. but it's useful
thing. ana | might do it with that. you
know, in certain circumstances. But
wasn't thinking of it-thercs a much
less troublesome way"
"Which?"
..yn,,,r . , -,
you for. Mr. liamer-or perhaps you
haven't quite appreciated me yet. If
were to go to that window and call
the police, what with the little bits of
evidence in my pocket. and the other
little bits that the druggists who sold
mo chloroform would give, and the
Other bits in reserve. that prefer not
To talk about just now-thcrc would be
rather an awliwarG!y complete case of
robbery with violence wouldn't there?
And you'd have To- lose the diamond
after all. 70 say nothing Of a little rest
in racl and general ruination"
That sounds Very well, but what
about YOUR client? Come now. you call
me man of the world. and am on.
How Will Your client account for the
possession OF diamond worth eighty
thousand pounds or 50? He doesn't
want to know about him as well as
about me. If YOU We're such fool as
to bring them in. Where did he steal
il. ch?"
Darlington smiled and bowed at the
question. That's very good card to
play, Mr.; Hamor." he said, "a capital
card. really. To superficial observer
II might look like winning the trick
But think can trump it," He bent
farther forward and tapped the table
with the pistol-barrel. Suppose don't
care one solitary dump what becomes of
my client? Suppose | don't care whether
he goes 10 saol or stays out OF tin
short. suppose prefer my own inter-
csts TO his?"
"Ho! ho!" Hamer cried Il begin to
understand. You want 10 grab the dia-
mond FOR yourself them"
Il haven't said anything of the kind.
Mr. Hamcr." Darlington replied. suave-
ly. Il have simply demanded the dia-
mond which YOU stole last night. and /
have mentioned an alternative"
oh. yes, yes. but VIC understand one
another Come, We'll arrange this How
much DO YOU Want!!'
Darlington stared at him stonily. 81
Il beg your pardon" he said, but /
don't understand. want the diamond