The Washington times., 1912-09-02
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
THE DIAMONDS"
scopyrisht 1914 Frank A. Munsey Co.,

By J. S. FLETCHER

Mistress not being there, maid runs
shrieking up platform after her. Billy
Rider nt2s into carriage snatches jewel
case and disappears through opposite
door. "Pooh-it was like picking mush-
rooms on an August morning." con-
Gluded Mr.. Claye,. producing flask.
Have nip, my boy"
Mr.. Baxendale drank Mr.. Claye's good
health and again expressed his admlra-
tion of that gentleman.
$50 you see," continued Mr., Claye,
when he, too had drunk and had light
ed second very excellent cigar. "therc
are things, to be done on an ordinary
rail and boat journey like this /
thought we might have got that green
bag In the crush, but the travelling coat
Is bit of nuisance-however, well
see, my son, we'll see. AS there's no
one to criticise us let's have a harmless
hand at nap"
Occupying themselves with harmless
hands at nap, occasional drinks from
their TASKS, and with cigars and cigar
cites, Mr. Claye and his youthful COM
panlon progressed quite satisfactorily
through Manchester and Chester, where
they changed into the Irish mail, hav-
ing first taken good care to ascertain
that their quarry was calmly progress
Miss Driscoll, In fact, was shadowed
by these two exactly as a suspect ed
thief In shadowed by detectives who
wait for the crucial moment at which
than a few yards from her on the plat
forms at Manchester and Chester. They
followed her into the second-class sa-
loon which she entered, at the last
named station; they kept her under OBJ
servatlon the whole day.
During the run from Chester to Holy
head the conduct of Mr.. Claye and his
partner was irreproachable. AS they
which fiiled the saloon they eschewed
the cards, the TASKS, the cigars and the
cigarettes. and comported themselves
after the fashion of clergymen and gen.
uemen.
Mr.. Claye, who was a man of many
parts and of diverse interests, read the
Church Times when he was not discus
sing the coast scenery with his friend.
Mr.. Baxendale, in periods of silence,
solaced himself with the Daily Tele-
graph. Miss Driscoll who was expert.
encing those novelties and delights of
travel which appeal so strongly to folk
who have not had a holiday for some
years-and she had taken none since
setting UP in business-found much
pleasure in studying the faces Of her
fellow passengers and in framing con-
clusions about them.
She looked at the two clergymen IN
who occupied seats on the other side
of the saloon and thought that they
were a very pleasant cOuple-father
and son, or uncle and nephew, by the
confidential air which rested on and
| she thought, was little weak and
undecided. but he had pleasant
smile and manner and looked very
, nice in his Norfolk suit and blacl'
| straw hat. AS for the elder clergy
! man, she considered him a fine figure
| of a man with a clever face, and she
formed the opinion from the fact. thai
| he wore a clerical collar, was clean
! shaVen and read the Church Times
that he was a distinguished higt
| churchman.
The Irish mail was heavy and full
that day, and when its two engine:
pulled 1t alongside the steamer al
Holyhead. just as the clocks were
striking 2, there was the usual STAN
pede Of passengers across the plat
| form for the gangway.
, Ing the gangway in the company o1
the two clergymen who were wedgeC
| into with her among a crowd oj
struggling passengers The younger
who was slightly in advance of her
made some attempts to shield hel
from the crush; the elder, who was
at her side, made polite observation
as to the inconvenience occasionet
thought the? were both very nice
men and of very good manners.
once On board the steamer. the two
clergymen, after seeing their luggage
to the saloon, and, finding a quiet
corner. ordered lunch to be served i'm
mediately. AS most of the passenger!
had lunched on the train, there were
very few lunChing on the boat; the
saloon was consequently almost desert
ed. and Mr.. Claye and Mr.. Baxenda Il
were free to converse. Their conver'
sation, carried on in a low tone, wa!
IF 1t hadn't, been for that d
travelling coat" said Mr.. Claye. :"
should have had go for 1t then. AnC
yet don't quite know-lt would hav'
I l. ~
and turned round and found me will
the thing in my hands. OF course
| fatter myself that I'm a bit too exper
for that, but you never know what acci
dents will happen-and it's a bit diff
cult to work a thing like that whel
you're climbing a gangway."
And in broad daylight. too" sait
Mr. Baxendale.
"Ah! yes. the daylight's the Yer!
devil" responded Mr.. Claye. sippint
his experience of the world. knew t
| be quite a clergyman-lke beverage. Il
! would have been far better for me /
she'd travelled by the night mail-w'
should have had a much better chance
| in the darkness"
what's going to be done?" asker
| Mr. Baxendale.
! WGlI, wen see what chance offers a
/ Il.Igstown," replied Mr.. Claye, devot
| ing himself to his plate. Now tina
| we're on the hunt, we are not going 4
be set back by a few paltry obstacles
my son. If we cant do anything else
we'll have a try for the sinners at tn
| hotel"
How do we know what hotel she'l
go to-" inquired Mr.. Baxendale. Ssh
mayn't go to any hotel at all. I've beel
| looking at the railway guide, and I Sc
she can go right through to Lmericl
| tonight, II she likes"
But she won't my son." said MI
! NUiFh pOnfldnnCp. She
| stop in Dublin for the week end to haV
a look around You'll see. And nov
smell the briny, and let's see where ou
| quarry Is. And lift up your heart-w
| shall handle the sWag yet"
1t was at this juncture that agail
! fortune threw Miss Driscoll into tn
hands Of the conspirators.
A Continuation of This Story VIII
| he Found In TOmOrrOw's