The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-10-31
"WhO took IT."

oaiu tuaI IL 1 uluu Tell ulun Wuci
the Hardcastle diamond was he woul'
kill me. To save my life / told hin
that 1t was under my pillow on tn
bed. He took 1t and left me as yo'
see."
The afternoon London newspaper
published the fact of the loss of tn,
diamond. but refrained from giving
any clew to the robber. Scotland YarC
officials looked wise and said nothing
They did not even watch the measly
chap with the red head. But Mrs
Striker, to make sure that the news o.
the loss Of her diamond reached New
York. cabled the fact to her husband
and an account of the robbery ap
peared in all the afternoon journals.
People in London were surprised al
the apathy Of the police in the matter
But there was one man among them
who was not apathetic, Chaplain
There was 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 a number OF
hats he found in the room, and he de-
molished every grape without finding
what he looked for. Some bell shaped
buttons he 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
some cue might not yet be derived from
him. But nothing turned up. At the
sailing of the Romania, Clapham stood
on the dock. After the gangplank had
been removed and the vessel was well
out, who should he see waving his hand
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 imprecations on the
whole "blarsted' Yankee nation.
Mrs. Striker kept her stateroom for
a 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 her
for it. 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 very large
hat. trimmed deliberately. that she had
bought in London not two hours be-
fore leaving her hotel for the steamer
She deserted n motorboat flying a Pc
culiar flag put out from Staten Island
and heading directly for the steamer
When it had come within a few hun
dred yards OF her gust of wind took
her beautiful hat and dropped it on
the water But the motorboat that ar
rived so timely received 1t and sped
away merrily.
1t did not get very far before it was
stopped Soon after the Romania
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 it chase. overhauled it 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 Hardcaste diamond. The face
had been removed, the stone inserted
and the face soldered in it's 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
til National bank and was in Lon
don when the lady bought the stone.
| reckoned she might try to get it ia
free of duty, and took a room direct
ly opposite hers at the hotel. She put
up a job Of robbery on the Londoners
in order that it 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 it's true in
wardness. The way l located 1t was
this: While shadowing the lady l 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 case
Of hat blowing. put the two together
and cabled our agency to be on the
lookout. The rest you know"
"WeIl, III report the case to the col
lector of the port. You go up to his
office I'm a few days and you'll find out
what the government will do for you.
What do you expect?"