Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-23
The Daily Story
BIT OF SoLDER-BY MARION B. CURTISS.
Copyrighted by Associated Literary Bureau.

officials looked wise and said nothing.
They did not even watch the measiy
chap with the red head But Mrs.
Striker. to make sure that the news Of
the loss of her diamond reached New
York. cabled the fact TO her husband.
and an account of the robbery APP
peared in all the afternoon journals.
People in London were surprised at
the apathy of the police In the matter.
But there was one man among them
who was not apathetic, Chaplain
There was a supplementary game on
hand that he did not mention to Sti-
vers. He wished to discover that the
diamond was still in Mrs. Strikers pos
session and receive several thousand
pounds hush money. When the lady
left her room he entered it with a
pass key and looked in every nook for
the gem. There was not a hollow ar
ticle or one that could be made hol-
low in the room that he did not take
to pieces. The stone might be con-
tanned in one OF cluster of artificial
grapes ornamenting one OF number Of
hats he found in the room. and he de-
molished every grape without finding
what he looked for Some bell shaped
| buttons be cracked. with the same neg
alive result. At last he was obliged
to give up the job
Meanwhile the red headed man came
and went in and out OF the hotel. The
! landlord was anxious to get rid OF him,
| but had no excuse to turn him out.
Indeed. he was requested by Clapham
not to do so. Clapham was not sure
some cue might not yet be derived from
him. But nothing turned up. At the
sailing of the Romania, Chaplain stood
on the dock. After the gangplank had
been removed and the vessel was we'll
out. who should he see waving his hand
to him with sardonic smile on his
face but the measly red headed man
he had sat up all night to watch. The
Londoner stood gaping at the fellow
till he was out of sight. then turned
away muttering imprecatlons on the
! whole "blarsted" Yankee nation.
Mrs. Striker kept her stateroom for
day or two, then appeared on deck.
! Everybody on board had heard OF her
loss, and those who had an acquaint
ance with her commiserated with hez
for 1t. She tossed her head and
laughed as though the matter were OF
no great Importance to her, as indeed
It was not, for she was rich enough to
buy more gems at the same price.
When the Romania was steaming up
New York bay. among the crowd of
passengers standing on the deck was
Mrs. Striker. She wore n very large
hat. trimmed deliberately, that she had
bought in London not two hours be-
fore leaving her hotel for the steamer.
She deserted motorboat flying Pc
culiar flag put out from Staten Island
and heading directly for the steamer.
When 1t had come within a few hun
bred yards of her a gust of wind took
her beautiful hat and dropped 1t on
the water. But the motorboat that ar
rived so timely received it and sped
away merrily.
1t did not get very far before IL was
stopped. Soon after the Romania
passed Sandy Hook another motorboat
was seen following her, and the red
headed man from London from the
stern was making signals TO 1t. which
were evidently understood. AS soon
as the first boat rescued the hat the
second gave 1t chase. overhauled II and
took 1t in charge.
When Mrs. Striker reached the dock
in New York she was arrested for
smuggling. The hat was produced.
and in large swelling ornament was
the Hardcastle diamond. The face
had been removed. the stone inserted
and the face soldered in its place again.
How did you get on to the bust.
ness, Watkins asked the customs in
spector.
well. you see, l was sent over to
track the man who absconded from the
-th National bank and was In Lon
don when the lady bought the stone.
! reckoned she might try to get 1t In
free of duty, and took a room direct
~ opposite hers at the hotel. She put
up Job of robbery on the Londoners
I'm order that 1t might be cabled over
here and put you fellows Off your
guard A Scotland Yard man got on to
the business but not on to its true in
| hdTuHeSss Inc WI! 4 lOSdLtu IL Ndf
this: While shadowing the lady ] saw
her buy some solder. and the last thing
she bought in London was the hat that
blew off her head In the bay. Not long
ago, you may remember. we had a case
of hat blowing. / put the two together
and cabled our agency to be on the
lookout. The rest you know"
"Well, I'll report the case to the col
iector Of the port. You 80 up TO his
ONCE in few days and you'll find out
what the government will do for you
What do you expect:"
~ think. considering the goods are
worth 100000 and the duty will run
up pretty well into the thousands. they
ought to do something pretty nice for
me-"
II think so. too. especially since they
wouldn't have got q cent of duty them
selves II 1t hadn't been for you"
Something pretty nice was done for
Watkins. but since 1t was done from q
private fund It was never known how
much he got out of It.