The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-10-19

upon me as he concluded his deduc-
ton concerning the theft OF julius
Tqubery's diamond. with an express
Rion of hopeful enthusiasm. and lit a
Cigarette at my reading lamp.
This unknown criminal genius has
got the diamond, anyway" I said.
II am not so sure OF that. Consider
the position OF the actual thief on the
discovery that the stone was false. he
must have been In a state OF blind ter
ror. II we may suppose that Colonel
Gunton is innocent. the believing OF
that worthy gentleman must have
frightened him the more. TO be
searched. discovered, and actually dis
graced-a pleasant prospect. surely!
We may take II that he was heartily
sorry for the part he had played: that
he wished the diamond a thousand
miles away. To get rid or II previous
TO the ordeal before the colonel and
Professor Endicott in the library
that would be his object.
y Yet here am met by the simple
difficulty that cannot find the dia-
mond. have made the closest inyes-
tigation without result. AS Colonel
Gunton told us, Mr. Taubery remained
In the dining room TO see that none
OF the guests returned after they had
been searched. The door was subse-
Quently locked and policeman sta
toned In the passage outside; the
windows were fastened Therefore
the thief could not come back TO re-
cover what he had temporarily hidden.
All OF which might seem 10 prove that,
though Colonel Gunton afiirms that he
went through the guests with an ex-
pert hand, one OF them managed to
keep the diamond about him and carry
IL away. Yet such an achievement
suggests rather the professional than
the amateur criminal. And, IL for
that reason alone. believe that the
stone is still In the house. We ought
10 be able to decide that point within
q week"
Il can't see why. Peace" said.
mo? Then. pray don't trouble
about It. And really, Mr.. Phillips. as
have a long days work before me. II
is time was OF to bed. DO you know
II IL one o'clock?"
l knew how useless II was TO ques-
ton the little man when he thought
he had told enough SO | babe him
good night with the best grace that
disappointment would permit II had
been kind OF him 10 trouble about me.
after all.
Three days went by, and l had not
- the chance OF asking Peace Tor
vs.. For two nights. as discovered
by inquiry, be slept out. only appear
ing for an hour about noon TO change
his linen; for be was most careful OF
his appearance and as cleanly as a
cat. Indeed. had secret belief that
his nails were regularly manicured In
Bond street. When | did see him IL
was by accident, and. TO be frank,
nothing he had done gave me greater
surprise.
was walking through Kensington
gardens about eleven o'clock on a
visit to a friend whose studio lay to
the north Ql the park II Yas charm
Ing weather. The fresh leaves on the
smoke.black boughs. the flower beds
rich In variegated coloring. the deep
throated COO OF the pigeons, the chat
ter OF innumerable sparrows, all told
that winter had passed and spring was
calling a welcome 10 summer. i had
Just turned from a long shrub-walled
walk into an open space when ! came
upon the amazing spectacle or Ad-
dington Peace flirting with very
pretty nursemair.
Whatever the little inspector had
been, whatever ne was, there was
nothing OF the Don Juan in his COM
position. had already noticed that
he took pains to avoid the opposite
sex. with that uneasy consciousness
OF their presence which marks the
bachelor with principles. Yet there
he sat, sharing the same bench and
talking earnestly into her ear, while
before them a little boy pedalled In
dust fously up and down upon tri-
cyciS-horse. long-maned, long-tailed
toy set on three wheels and propelled
by Indifferent pedals. Il was idyllic,
domestic. but distinctly surprising
As passed the bench. Peace stared
al me without a glimmer or recogni'
ton in his keen gray eyes.
had Just finished my breakfast
next morning when in walked the In
spector. laughed indeed could not
help e: and he answered me with a
quick glance. half annoyance. half re-
preach.