The Washington times., 1912-08-31
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
THE DIAMONDS"
Copyright. isia Frank A. Mun,sy Co.,
By J. S. FLETCHER

placed there for the purpose OF ventila-
ton. One of them had been artfully
enlarged by Ninian in such fashion
that II commanded full view of his
fathers room.
When he had at first planned this
post of advantage and observation for
himself he had ascertained that the
door was locked and the kew on his
fathers side of It, Next day. during
his seniors absence, he took the Key
from the lock and dropped It into the
well In the yard. AS for the other door.
he took good care that its lock was well
oiled and the key in the right side, SO
that he could, II he pleased. lock HIM
self in.
1t was to this observatory that MIN
ian Baxendale now swiftly and noise-
lessly repaired-his movements quite
unseen in house wherein nobody but
himself, his father and two old women
board and his eye was at the peep.
hole almost as soon as Miss Driscoll
had seted herself In the CHR which
placed %a saferafe fer her Hsn near a Ris deck And
from that point forward Ninian COM
manded all that was said and done.
The first sentences exchanged be.
tween the solicitor and client were not
prolific of much interest to the listener.
Miss Driscoll explained that for private
reasons of her own she wished to feaVe
the town as soon as possible, ana hau
therefore arranged to sell her pusniess S
would ask Mr.. Bavendale to ORA" up
the necessary papers. M
Mr.. Baxendale said that this should
be done with all dispatch. Then Miss
Driscoli said that she would like the
late Mr.. Finney's affairs to be settled
as soon as possible. and Mr.. Baxen-
dale replied that he did not think there
need be any great anxiety. He had gone
into the matter that very morning and
he had found that things could be set
tied quickly.
estate consisted of ready cash lying at
his bankers In Leeds; the remainder
was in short loans at high percentages,
all of which could be called In at once:
"Well. there's another matter ] want
said Miss Driscoli. "out of Mr.; Fin.
Chippendsie chi bureau-rm fond Of old
furniture, and thought I should like
pers pc @ Of MIR. Finney's old books docu-
ments and so on. And l found some
thing Of value, Mr.. Baxendale.'.
IT shouldn't wonder. ma,am salu
the solicitor. Just what should have
bank notes, no doubt?
mo" answered Miss Driscoll. who
! believed thoroughly and had decided In
her, own mind that her G best a plah ,v,aS %aS
her solicitor. "No-a diamond necklace,
Mr.. Baxendale."
"a diamond necklsee? is4an, Dear Dear Gnsid msln
said the solicitor NOW; !. rnad wnad necEl DeCIo
lace? Strange thing. indeed. Is the
ornament Of much value, do you tnink'
| raa'am?"
70 a small travelling bag of dark green
crocodile leather which she had brought
with her and had set on the edge or Mr.
| Baxendale's desk. She opened the
clasp, put her, hand into the bag drew ,nS
1t out, and held up the necklace to the
solicitors wondering gaze.
God bless my soul, ma'am." gasped
Mr.. Baxendale. "Do-do you think
! they're real?"
Driscoii, with great emphasis. Lady
Bryde taught me all that an amateur
, can know about diamonds. ! know
tell you within a few hundred Of what
they're worth. Fifty thousand pounds"
| Fifty thousand pounds! God bless
me! And found In Finneys bureau.
lictor in a burst of exclamation. How
do you account for It. ma ann"
well, Mr.. Baxendale. I've formed my
"i've searched high and low. but ! can't
find. a scratch of writing that refers to
these diamonds. MY notion Is that Fin.
ney either acquired them In payment OF
a debt or that they're IN pledge to him
Excellent. maam. excellent! That
must be the explanation said Mr..
Baxendale. And what do you propose
..SImply this" replied Miss Driscoll.
"If Finney took them in payment OF
debt, these diamonds are now my sole
security for loan. why. then. the per-
son to whom they belong must produce
evidence of it to me, and pay me the
Wise, Mr.. Baxendaie" Miss Dris-
coll put the necklace pack into the bag
and snapped the clasp--'..otherwise ]
shall stick to the diamonds"
Baxendale, "I must say that i, think
you are quite right In your statement
Of the legal position, though It's a
pity there are no memoranda OF any
you're not going to keep fifty thous-
and pounds worth of diamonds in the
house with your"
No" replied IN Miss i DrisSfoIl sf@H "PeT 1SS;
to the bank to have the necklace
locked up safely until the morning
leave for Ireland. Then I'll put the
package into this bag and secure 1t tc
can trust me to take care of anythins
that's valuable, Mr.. Baxendale. Anc
now you'll hurry matters forward a.
quickly as you can, won't your
Mr.. Baxendale once more promised
to do his best in every way. and Mis-:
Driscoll departed, carrying the greer
bag with her
!. When she had gone Ninian Baxen
} dale quietly left his hiding place. wen
downstairs, put on his overcoat anC
hat, told the boy in the outer offc'
that he wouldn't be back that after
noon, and strolled away In the di
rection of the Station Hotel.
He took a meditative drink at tn,
bar there, and then crossed to the sta
ton and bought a ticket for Leeds.
A Continuation of This Story Wi
BE Found In TOmOrrOw's