Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-27


gled In the tlghtest of knots that
lard was brought TO him by the twin
brother or tho heavy-footed bluocoat
who even then was supposedly on his
way to Hle Western Union Office with
the cable to Logan.
SHOW him in" said Britt after a
glance at the name and, as his visi-
tor entered, he swung his feet from
tho desk, advancing halfway to the
door. and extended his hand cordially.
How do you do, doctor?" he said.
Il hope SEQ you cheerful"
A wan smile broke the Gxity OF the
Doctors countenanco for an instant.
and he shook his head slightly.
Il don't see how there can be any
cheer for me-" he said "as long as
that poor girl is prisoner in tho
Tombs. When arc VIC going to get her
out2"
II know just how you feel about 1t,
doctor" said Britt enthusiastically
but you'll have to leave that in my
hands for the present. Miss IIolcomb
must stay where she is awhile lon
ger"
But surely" Persisted the physi-
ician, 1T cannot be necessary to leave
her there forever to establish her in
nocence. You know she is guiltless;
| know it, Mrs. Missioner knows It,,
and 1t would not take much to bring
all her acQuaintances to the same
view. Why must we watt"
Now, let us talk" said Britt. You
ard have fenced long enough along
this line; let's get down to business.
You know something about chemistry,
that's certain Do Won know enough
arout 1t to tell me wne;-C. aiiy p:U;-
ress has been made IN recent years
in the manufacture of paste Jewels?
Cant say do, haven't been much
Interested in that lire until this out
rageous attempt to prove Miss Hol-
comb a-thief."
We'll, it's about time you did" said
Britt meaningly. Il don't see what
good 1t is to girl to have an NJ. ID.
for lover If he can't be Of any more
use to her in a case Of this sort than
Binks of the Hardware Club. or jerks
of the Retail Groccrs' Association.
Now, you know how these false gems
are made, don't you?'
II know pretty we'll" and Fitch
gave him the formula with which the
minute men Of the jewel trade were
familiar for purposes of self-protec-
ton.
We'll, I'm quite free to tell you,
continued Britt, that the whole oues
ton of Miss Holcomb's stay in the
Tombs depends on our success in find
ing out who made the Maharanee dia
mond. know who turned out the
other stones-had Logan over there
for several weeks In Paris. You know
The detective then sketched rapidly
for Fitch the detailed Information sent
to him by his assistant across the wa
ter. But | cannot get a line on the
Maharanec diamond. I've been over
every place in this neck Of woods-ir
fact, I've gone over the whole country
with a fine-tooth comb. I've had every
iliIPol tuII NllN III I-ii pbN
and the sum.total OF all these inquiries
is that nobody knows any live mar
who could mako an imitation of the
real Maharance anything like goot
enough to deceive simple Simon
Now, you Just get that scientific think
ing apparatus Of yours going, and hell
me puzzle out the problem. We know
there was fake Naharanee diamond
1t was ground 70 pieces under Girls
wold's heel in Nr- Miss toner's oper;
box. 1t was picked up by man from
the Orient--this Swami-Whatever hi
name is, the sort Of combination prizes
and scholar who says he's here t
spread the propaganda of the Buddhis
faith among the eject of New Yorl
society. Sands saw the diamond
Miss March saw it; GrisWold saw IT
end, of course, Mrs Missioner hersel
had 1t in her own hand There is n,
doubt about its existence. In fact
here is a piece Of it now" and h.
showed Fitch flaLe of the false dia
mond. "But you don't know, and
don't know what we have both got T.
know, and that is who made it, whcr
II was made. by whom was it made
why was 1t made. and for whom wa
It made? The sooner We work on
that end of the game. my dear youn
man. the better 1t will be for that Iii
tie girl up in Centre Street"
The doctors eyebrows began t
contract. There was popularity 4
the facial gesture. Something wa
going on In his scientifically inquirin
mind. The brows drew together unit
their separate lines curved into tn
form OF a minute Interrogation point
little knobs of skin gnarlcl under tn
bristles; his eyes focused until the
almost crossed. He clasped his hand
behind his head and studied the Gel
ing. A rather long silence followed
Smoke spiraled from the detective
cigar and eddied upward. The Dc
tective's keen glance was leveled a
the doctors intellectually sharpenin
face.
1t was In reminiscent tone tina
Fitch at last spoke
when it comes 10 guessing, II
no good he said. Il haven't bee
trained to guess. The little know
l. a. Al.