The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-11-29
CHAPTER XVI.
Tho Third Degree.

And now we will take your state
ment," said Martin MCGEE.
The first brutal processes OF the
third degree were finished--the third
degree. that modern system OF torture
more terrible than the medieval by
just SO much as the mind IL more
sensitive than the body We do we'll.
as Rosalie lie Grange has said. not to
witness it. Miss Estrilla lies back on
the couch. bruised and broken soul,
ready now to tell all the truth be
cause there is In her no more strength
TO lie. The door has half-opened In
the midst OF the preliminary proceed
ings, and into the shadow outside
creeps Rosalie lie Grange. to listen
with all her ears. The victim on the
couch is no msre pale and drawn than
Resale as she stands there. one hand
on the Intel.
Your name and all about yourself
first" says Inspector MCGEE, urging
gently now.
Let me omit. as the expert police
stenographer did. certain explosives,
repetitions. divagations. which always
mar testimony. Let me just give the
document, as II was filed away In the
archives OF the New York police de-
partment.
My name is Margarita Perez. / am
thirty-nve years old. and unmarried. 4
was born in the Island OF Trinidad,
where lived all my life. Juan Perez
is my half-brother, ten years younger
than !. Our father was the same, but
my mother was an Englishwoman, my
brothers mother was Spanish. My fa-
Their was n cacao grower. He was very
money. When he died. four years ago.
he left my brother the plantations. and
me very small income and the family
jewels-they were worth twenty thou
sand dollars of your money. My
brother came into his property when
he was twenty-one. He managed poor
ly; and then he had bad luck. BY last
summer. he was SO near failure that
there seemed to be only one way out
for me to sell my jewels and give him
the money. l wanted to do that, but
he wouldn't let me make the eacrince.
He saw one more chance TO save us-
We had rich relatives In Caracas, on
the Venezuelan mainland. He went
there to see IL they would help. He
was gone three or four weeks. He sent
me only one letter; and II was 80 dis
couraging that felt sure there was no
hope.
Just before that letter arrived, and
after Juan left for Caracas, Captain
John H. Hanska came TO Port OF Spain
from Antwerp. Though my father war
Spanish, we lived In the English fash
ion: was free TO meet men. i met
Captain Hanska and fell In love with
him.
(Here the police stenographer cut
corners. In this last phrase he con-
densed many divagations and evasions
on the part OF the witness; indeed. In
spector Martin MCGEE, expert inquisi-
tor that he was, spent Ave minutes
in bringing out that simple declaration
and the next
He said that he loved me. i be-
lieved him. II was all very quick
Within week we were secretly en-
gagged. supposed that he was an
American army officer on special duty.
And after we were betrothed. told
him about our troubles and my wish 10
help Juan. My mind was made up by
that time-I would sell my jewels be
fore my brother returned to prevent
me- told this 10 Captain Hanska. He
offered to help. He said that he must
20 to England the next week. and IN
England he could sell them 10 much
better advantage than In Port OF Spain.
! agreed trusted him absolutely, you
see. Then he told me that he could
dispose OF them more easily. and for
more money. II he appeared to be the
owner. SO l made out and signed n
bill OF sale. describing in detail every
piece to the last ring and pin. and
transferring them absolutely to him.
Now know what foolish thing ! did.
For that made the jewels his property
in law, as surely as though he had
bought them from me.
The steamer on which he planned
10 sail for England-he told me--was
due to leave Port OF Spain on wednes-
day morning. On Monday night ne
visited me and took away the jewels
lie said that he wanted to register
them In advance with the purser. He
promised TO come again on Tuesday
night He did not appear. learned
the next morning that he had left on
Tuesday for New York. / started for
the pier from which the Southampton
steamer sails. IN order TO see II there
was any mistake. On the way. met a
friend OF the family who had been
waiting TO warn me. He had found out
about Captain Hanska's career In Cara
cas-. He proved to me that the captain
was an adventurer and almost a pro
fessional gambler Then UNDERWOOD.
] told no one about the jewels until
Juan came back but wrote letter
u