Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-05-08
Mr.. TAUBERYS
DIAMOND
(Contlnued.)


Wnen the cab door was swung opeL
and the detective sprang in. At the
same time / noticed covered cart
win black pony In the shafts pass
the other window at a leisurely pace.
Our driver must have had his orders,
Tor he turned his horse and followed
In the same direction. --..
Peace remained silent, so l left him
alone and contented myself with star
ing out of the window. We were
going northward towards Hampstead.
Inc lines Of houses broke up into sep
srate villas. Lilac and laburnum
pushes peeped over the garden walls.
Tne throng Of traffic grew thinner, the
pavement less crowded. 1t was past
nve when We drew up at little pub
hc house. Peace toddled out, and /
followed at his heels.
He is unloading his cart in Ashley
street, yonder." said the driver, lean.
ing from the box, as he pointed with
his whip to side road. do you want
me to walt, sir?"
The inspector nodded and disap-
peared through the inn door, leaving
me on the pavement AS he had given
me no orders l strolled back to the
corner and peeped down the road,
which ran at right angles to the one
In which was.
About forty yards away stood the
little covered cart with the gray
haired dealer of the auction room
talking to lad beside it. Presently
the lad crawled under the canvas
hood and handed down the identical
iong-tailed horse that had brought
about the public discontinue of the
gallant Colonel Gunton. The dealer
pushed 1t across the stone pavement
into little furniture shop, and the
boy, whipping up the black pony,
drove quickly away
turned back to find the detective
at my elbow.
Peace" l said. what is your inter.
est In that bicycle horse?"
1T happens to play the comedy part
In our little mystery"
What do you mean?"
Only that 1t has a hole in the sad.
die for a pommel should a little girl
ride in 1t. and the hole leads down to
hollow inside. Do you guess what
1t was that dropped into the hollow
inside?"
Not Mr.. Taubery's diamond?"
EXACTLY. Yet We have still to
hnd out the man who put it there"
But, In the meantime the old dealer
may"
tut, tut, Mr.. Phillips. The old
dealer has nothing tn do with It. He
is only obeying an order to buy the
toy whatever 1t cost, and to keen II
until called for. We may have to
waste some time, SO l have ordered a
steak and fried potatoes in an upper
room that conveniently overIooks the
eoor o his shop Let me show Won
the way"
We passed through a long par a,
which a dingy assemblage lounged
and smoked, and SO upstairs into n
private room, the windows of which
commanded Ashley street. We ate our
meal in relays-one watching at the
window, while the other disposed Of
his section Of stringy steak and
heavy beer. The daylight softly faded
the gas Jets sprang out along the
street, the tramp of HOMECOMING
fathers dropped into silence-but there
was still no caller at he furniture
shop. The shutters had been put nm
for the night. 1t seemed plain to me
that nothing would happen for that
evening at least, though Peace did NOT
seem to despond.
Nine o'clock-ten o'clock-ten.
thirty, and the customer arrived
had watched his cab come rattIinp
down the street with casual interest
for many had come and gone since we
first mounted guard. 1t had passed |
the little shop and was almost he.
meath US, when head was thrust ont !
of the window and voice cried irr,. |
tably to the cabman. A street lamp
showed him to me clearly-a white.
faced youth with straggly. brown
mustache and an indecisive chin.
The cab turned about. and pulled IN |
opposite the shop door. The inspector |
touched my arm, and we walked down
the stairs. picked up our driver, who
was smoking In the bar, and so bum
died into our own vehicle A few |
whispered instructions, and we drove
slowly round the corner into Ashley
street.
The customer had been expected.
As we passed the shop at walking
pace ] coulC see that the dealer and
his assistant were hoisting the bicycle