The Washington times., 1912-08-14
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY.
THE DIAMONDS"
By J. S. FLETCHER
FrankA MunseyC Co)
Copyright. 1919. Frank A. Munsey Co..
By J. S. FLETCHER

ohu ~ NoS "ith thS hLlhc tho'
he killed him"
Killed him2'
Yes. he killed him in this very room.
The man was found sitting In your
chair tabled through the heart"
Lindsay left his seat hastily.
Here" he said, none o. your nasty
tales to me. Dye mean to say that
stefano stabbed the man to death in
that that sGs there chair, where I've been sit
Yes, 1t is So" answered the Hindu.
Lindsay surveyed the chair with a
certain amount of repugnance:
We'll. I'm blowedl'' he said. Here,
I ain't going to sit there any more. Go
have 1t standing. =.
Il was in Plymouth at the time
continued the Hindu. II read 1t in all
the newspapers-the case before the
perior court-the assizes, are they not
called2-and everything.
THE defense was that stefano had
intrusted valuable property to the care
Of the landlord Of this little inn, and
on coming back for 1t he could not get
1t restored to him, and SO lost his tenn.
per and began fighting, with the result
that he used his knife and killed the
man who had misused the property. At
first everybody said he would be hang
ed, but in the end the court found him
guilty Of granddaughter. and he was
sentenced to ten years penal servi-
tude."
why didn't they hang him?" growl-
Of the way altogether"
You perceive now why I made my
self acquainted with this house, con-
tinued the Hindu. There was talk and
chatter Of the affair among folk that l
wanted to know what property It was
that Stefano had been SO eager to re-
claim. ! kept my ears open. The
widow of the dead man retained this
house for a time. and there was much
custom for the oI,op people were curious She
talked: 1t was for small reason. she
said that Stefano had killed her man.
She spoke with contempt of the goods
which Stefano had left.
They were not worth a couple OF
pounds" she said. over and over again:
"A man to be killed for couple Of
poundsr That was all her cry. But
she never knew what had become or
the things. They had been put away
membered. Her husband might have
sold them for a trifie that Stefano
owed him, or they might have been
stolen-she knew nothing-a bit of a
box and a bundle Of clothes, that was
find out Stefano was sent off to pris-
on; the dead mans widow gave up this
house. and people forgot the affair"
The Hindu paused and drew his chair
nearer 10 LlnuSdy. l1iS ~" eohes o"fN
But i did not forget. see-I have
searched this house from top to bot
tom; they have not even known that
was in 1t when I was searching; The
box was not here-that I soon discov-
cred. Not until today did know where
1t was. That's my story"
Lindsay drew a long breath and stared
at Lal Dass questioning eyes.
And didn't know where my box was
,nfl TODAY ~ he said at last And IL
was by accident that know now. Well
I'll be getting out of this place. / amt
thin-skinned, but to sit where murders
has been performed doesn't come agree
able"
But we must first settle our busi-
ness" said Lal Dass.
Our business? ! guess it's settled" -"
said Lindsay angrily. THE box is mine'
The contents are the Joint shares OF
three men" began the Hindu.
Contents! You're not such an infer
nal fool, Mr.. Dass, as to Imagine that
are your said Lindsay, with q sneering
laugh. Contents, indeed!'
THE contents are today what they
always were," answered Lal Dass
quietly.
Lindsay's face flushed purple. changed
to white, and then to purple. HIS hands
twitched and trembled.
"By God" he said. 'if they are. why
should We be-but no. it's impossible.
sure impossible. In a pawnbroker' 3
hands, too! Why. he'd look through
that there box as soon as he bought 1t. D."
He might look through 1t thou
sand years." said the Hindu. but he
would never discover the false bottom. "
Lindsay drew a deep breath. His eyes
sought Lal Dass observant face.
What are we to do?" he whispered.
"Tve already frightened him with
threats Of the law. 1t may make him
take the alarm and get the box away,
and then swear he'd sold 1t.
The Hindu's face darkened.
THAT was mistake" he said.
Come, we must act tonight. He will
close his shop at 9 o'clock. We must
be with him soon after. You are
agreed? That box Is to be ours, and
its contents are to be shares on the
old terms?"
Yes" answered Lindsay. But
how"
Lal Dass motloned him to silence. He
rose and pointed to the door.
Let us go somewhere where there
are not even walls to ovrhear our
words" he said. Come. l know of a
spot that will suit u.s."
He opened the door and led the way
into the street outside be walked away
at a brisk pace. Lindsay followed him
at twenty yards distance.
A Continuation of This Story Will
BE Found In TOmorrow's