The Washington times., 1912-09-03
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY.
THE DIAMONDS"
Copyright. 1912. Frank A. Munssy Col
By J. S. FLETCHER

| deck and made acquainted with all that
| had passed.
It's a perfect godsend." he said as
ne lighted fresh cigar. Wen man.
age II at the hotel tonight as sure as
eggs are eggs. Never mind how, just
now, my son; it's maturing in my mind
What lovely afternoon he exclaimed
barring his head to the breeze. II won
DER when we might, as respectable par
sons, have another whisky and soda?"
II should think even parson Is al
lowed bit of latitude on a holiday" &"
said Mr.. Baxendale.
c,avo I shogld d,, think SO. too" said Mr..
Mr.. Claye, being an essentially wise
man, did not press himself upon Miss
priscoll again. He exchanged a friend
y and very polite bow with her on
leaving the boat and again at Westlani
Row, where he and his companion and
Miss Driscoll were all quickly swallowed
up in wildly confused mass OF passen-
gers, porters and outside cars.
Mr.. Claye knew quite well that two
things were absolutely certain-the first,
that Miss Driscoll would take good care
OF her green bag; the second. that she
would present herself at North Wall to
claim her trunks. He also felt almost
as certain that she would stop the
night at the hotel he had recommended
to her.
In these surnises Mr.. claye proved to
Ssss5 be quite e., correct. The car which con.
Westland Row to North Wall followed
another car wherein sat Miss Driscoll.
Miss Driscoll had just booked her room
at the hotel when Mr.. Claye and Mr..
Baxendale arrived there. They saw her
name In the register against the No. 10.
Presently their own names appeared in
the register against the Nos. % and a.
or, rather, one should say the names by
mated, and the initials of which ap-
peared on their portmanteaux. Rev.
Herbert Meredith, NJ. A., Oxon; Rev.
Frank Somerville, B. A., Oxon. Moth
ing could have been more respectable.
Mr. Claye and Mr.. Baxendale, after
Performing their ablutions and donning
clean clerical collars in the privacy Of
tneir respective rooms, met again in the
conee room and proceeded to dine on
the best which the house afforded
While they were dining. Miss Driscol,
entered and took a seat at an adjacent
table. and favored the senior clergyman
with a bow and a smile, to which he
gr,aNeiy responded. Both men noticed,
wlthout seeming to do so that Miss
Driscol, although she had changed the
tailor made coat and skirt in which she
nag traVeied for a gown more suit
aoie Tor evening wear, still wore the
that the steel chain which thev knew
girdle WIZ" eiiheh
Mr. Clay, was greatly pleased when
reason to Mr.. Baxendale when, dinner
being at an end. they repaired TO a
quiet corner OF the smoking room for
coffee and cigars.
since we left the boat" he added, was
that when she got here she'd intrust
the bag to the management and have II
,Gcked tbare o,,pbi up in the hotel safe. My son.
sort of thing. Lord! when I think of
the beautiful hauls that I might have
had II 1t hadn't been for thai d
piacard which they stick up in hotel
tanning valuables in their own hands.
her room all night"
How do you know" asked Mr.. Bax-
ofice. efaSse .after sne al nav hand 1T in at the
cision. She'll stick to it. II she'd m meant
to have 1t locked up in the safe she'd
she went to dinner. I'll lay you 100 to
/ that she sleeps with II around her
nigh dress" concluded Mr.. Claye, nod
ding his head emphatically.
..,d And how are you going to get it?"
quite see the game vet"
We're going to get 1t, that's certain"
remarked Mr.. Claye. Now. YOU listen
to me-you've got your little part to
be as careful about 1t as ever you can"
I'm wide awake enough" responded
Mr.. Baxendale. You can trust me.
'Sh-no names, or else sh'an't trust
YOU" said the mentor. Now listen:
The North Wall boat from Holyhead
gets into the river here about o'clock,
and as it's fair weather tonight 1t will
be about punctual. Soon after the boat
arrives, they begin unloading the pas
senger luggage. They bring 1t up to
the station. outside the hotel here, and
they pile 1t up on a sort of barrier, so
that each PASSENGER may claim his or
her own. Sometimes the process Is
soon over; sometimes. 1t takes a little
time.
Now listen: At about 9 o'clock you
will go down into the station. You will
playing the part Of an innocent young
curate who finds great interest in
watching the people who come off the
steamer and who crowd about the bar
rier. You will keep a sharp lookout
tor the lady-when YOU catch sight OF
her, either as she comes from the hotel
or If she is already in the station be-
fore You. you will go up to her and
blushingiy and nervously ask II you
can assist her to find the missing
trunks, of which your vicar has told
you.
You will purposely delay finding
them as long as possible, which you
can easily accomplish by rushing up
youthful curate would, and you'll keep
her there as long as you can. Then.
when they're found. you'll get porter
to carry them into the hotel, and you
yourself will repair to the smoking
room and wait for me. Got 1t all per-
fect?"
Every word" answered Mr.. Baxen-
dale. "I'll do 1t. like an actor
"Then, as we've got an hour to spare
yet said Mr.. Claye, "we'll just do
stroll along the dock side %,
While the worthless were doing the
stroll which Mr.. .Claye had suggested
Miss Driscoll, sitting in solitude In the
drawing-room of the hotel, was en-
deavoring to make up her mind about
question which perplexed her greatly.
She knew that she had $4,000 pounds
worth of property on her person, and
that she was among strangers in a
strange hotel. and that by ali the rules
of common sense and common prudence
she ought to deposit the valua bles in the
custody of the manager. But. like most
women, she had distinct objection to
letting her yaluables pass out of her
own custody.
First of all, she said to herself it was
not very likely that thieves would select
that particular hotel and that particular
night whereat and whereon to commit
depredations; secondly. her room was
fitted with what appeared to be a good
lock and a good bolt. But third
ly, and chiefly, nobody in the world
saving her solicitor, who was far
away by that time and quite be.