The Raymer enterprise., 1911-01-19


Mr.. Observation-Disclosures been a most
unpleasant er-occurrence here con.
corning w.Iich-er-I-er desiah no
publicity, you understand, but which
ell want cleared up and -er-the
guilty persons punished"
She did not explain how the guilty
were to be punished without public.
ity. but Nagel let that pass, merely
saying:
III you will acquaint me with the
facts, Mrs. Bingham, shall be In a
position to understand and advise"
You're a detective. amt you?" In
quired the mistress OF THE Boulder.
dropping into the vernacula; 'sa"G
she ran an eat!ng-house II EGson0
Sometimes We are ,ai,ai 'nat,
Nagel responded getl,-
We'll, then, see v hrc you eau make
OF this: You M. fu0w that MY late
husband was partial TO precious
| stones. Jcs' hsinr. he G!ed ne bought
an gare NE d very swell stone-a
di'mon" ."'9.Jst rs big as a pigeons
egg. l..5 r0rth ali Of $4,000 !
neve- h0d Il set. cause some day !
! ir0pgh' might pick up Its mate. m
| thea /. wcarin' eardrops came into
iasnipn Id have pair, you see
Well. Mr.. Nagel, the night before last
while We was all az dinner somebody
started [ talk about dimAad5. Ny
niece. very foOlIshIy mentioned my
big di'mond, an uGtAin would do but
! must have Il down to show EN-. So.
sent my maid to get 1t out OF the
safe. always KEEP It In It's own
case. you know. an 1t was pas sged
round the table from one end to the
other. up one side an down again
FinIly II came back TO me, an shut
the lid an laid the case by my plate
After bit | told Celesfe-thats my
maid-to take tn thing upstairs an
put It away. Thinks | to myself. I'd
take lock at the beauty before II
went. so ! snapped back tn lid True
| as I'm scliIn' an breathin' here this
minute. Mi Nagel, tn stone was
gone, There was nothin' inside but
tn crimson plush linln'!"
And then what happened?'
queri'I NGgel as the shortbreathed
narrator paused. he: fat bosom pal.
plating and she herself hoarse with
emotion
why, tn whole table was in an
uproar My guests felt dreadfully.
Bein' lady, accused no one, Of
course-but some one took that
dt'monl, Mr.. Nagel, an | want to
know who 1t was pretty quick"
You are sure the stone was IN the
box when II came back to you after
| going the rounds Of the table,"
II Il was my last dying word I'd
swear to II" was the agitated answer.
How many were at table, not
counting the servants, Of course?"
Let me see" and Mrs. Bingham
began counting on her plump and
hideously bejeweled fingers. Why
er-we sat down IS all told"
Yes. And who was the last person
who handled the box and the stone
before II was returned to you?"
That's the most awful mart Of tn
whole thing. Mr. Nagel," returned
his hostess, lowering her voice and
almost whispering. Sir Nigel Deer.
Ing occupied the place of honor on
my right hand It was him who hand
ed the box TO me with one Of hts
bee.yu-tiful bows. 1t would mortiiy
me to death even to hint that he
knew anything about It."
What did your guests say and do?"
Why they all jumped up an
pushed their chairs back an began to
hunt for the stone. But | knew that
was no use-'causc I'd seen it in tn
box when 1t came back to me, an
so ! told EN-, Then some OF the men
oh, they all acted ike perfect gen.
uemen-laughed and tried to Joke it
OF, an said we'd ought to close the
doors and search every one present
An would you believe Il, Sir Nigel
Dcering behaved Just noble--said
that he'd volunteer to be tn first
one!"
And was the suggestion carried
out?" queried Nagel gently. For de.
spite the Inherent vulgarity OF his
hostess and employer. he somehow
could not help liking her
why, Mr. Nagel. OF course mott"
came the surprised ejaculation. =
hope know my duties to my guests.
Not for dozen such di'monds would
] so insult them-particularly Sir
Nigel Course, laughed 1t of
said | guessed ~ maids d find 4. In
tn mornin' when they swep an
turned 1t of like that. But true as
! sit here. Mr.. Nagol. haven't slep'
a wink thlnkin' OF IT, | don't wish
any scandal or any horrid talk, bu,
| do want my di'mond back"
Who suggested your application to
my firm'" was Nagel's next query.
Again Mrs. "Barty" lowered her
voice.
1T was Sir Nigel Deerlng,' she con
fessed. said he'd heard OF you In
London"
Percy nodded, rejecting that nigh,
very well be the case, and also that
| thu snrcn,fInn chnund Tho hn