Graham guardian., 1913-11-28

recollect the topic they were dls-
cussing when l entered the room and
discovered that the diamonds were
missing.
"Now, what am to do? The case is
singular one. and ! do not care to
call the police into the matter. al
] though the loss is a greater one than
/ l can afford to withstand. The gift
/ to my wife was rather an important
matter financially" He smiled ruefully.
! Mr.. Rogers put up his notebook and
donned his hat.
"where is Pun Shah now, Mr.. Glib
SOM" he asked.
"Down at Shorecliffe, I presume. He
was there at noon when ! motored up
/ to town"
Can you take me to Shorecliffe at
onceT"
Certainly; my car Is at the door
| Rogers dictated a brief message for
, his partner and left the Office with Mr.
Gibson. In five minutes they were
spinning toward the Thirty-fourth
street ferry to Long Island City.
Shorecliffe was a handsome estate
on the north shore Of the sound, and
Mr.. Gibson and the young lawyer
] reached the gates within an hour after
leaving Rogers office.
A grave eyed Hindu In snowy tur-
ban admitted them to the house, and
Rogers was conscious of a peculiar
sensation along his spinal column as
he met the mans piercing glance.
He felt in that moment that Pun
Shah knew the reason for his coming
as well as many other things that he
would not divulge.
He followed his host into the library
and listened intently while Mr.. Gibson
pointed out the table where the jewels
had lain during his absence at the
telephone. The table was between
two French windows that opened upon
the front veranda.
Were the windows open last even
ingY asked Rogers.
They were both closed, 1t was
chilly and we were enjoying fire
on the hearth"
Rogers was silent for a long time.
His eyes wandered from one spot to
another. Once they glimpsed the
corner Of Pun Shah's snowy turban
outside the door. and again he was
sure that the mans jetty eyes were
regarding him from a heavily beaded
curtain that separated the library
from a smaller adjoining study.
well. Mr.. Rogers. | am wondering
II you exonerate all my friends. My
theory does not permit Of suspicion
pointing to one of them" remarked
Mr.. Gibson at last. ...
my theory, MIR. Gibson, is that all
your six guests were accessory to the
deed"
what? My dear SIR
wait a moment. sir. did say that
they were accessories to the deed. but
It was quite unconsciously so on their
part. Have you several strong men
on the place. men whom you can
trustT'
"Yes. There is Baker. the gardener,
with his assistants. besides my chahf.
feur and the second man, four alto
gether. Why, may | ask?"
please summon them to this room.
and after that" continued Rogers in a
low tone, have the man. Pun Shah.
sent in"
Mr.. Gibson smiled grimly. $50 that's
II, is It? couldn't see how the rascal
had a chance. Excuse me, II you please.
while send for the men,"
He left the room and Rogers waited
there alone. Presently he heard a
stealthy footstep behind his chair and
q hot breath on his neck. He jumped
just in time to escape the wicked
knife of Pun Shah. whose dark face
was convulsed with anger.
Rogers had whipped out a revolver,
and so the two were standing facing
each other when Mr.. Gibson returned
with his four servants.
"What is this, Pun shah?" demanded
his master quickly. but the man only
bowed his head In silence.
"Your man was about to kill me-"
said Rogers coolly. because ! have
discovered that he Is the one who stole
your diamonds"
rs 1t possible? Pun Shah. what have
| you to sayT"
The Hindu fastened q look Of deadly
hatred on the young lawyer and.
snatching off his turban. drew from its
folds the string of diamonds that had
so mysteriously disappeared. He flung
the ornaments on the floor at his mas
ter's feet and with swift. gliding
movement vanished from the room.
No one made movement to follow,
and an instant later they saw the
flicker OF his white turban as he dlsap-
peared down the driveway.
Mr.. Gibson dismissed his servants
with gesture, dropped the string OF
diamonds in his coat pocket, and faced
Rogers
How did you fasten the crime upon
Pun Shah so quickly? | had evidence
that no one saw him enter the room.
and
Rogers put up hand. ut Is easily
explained. Your butler possesses un-
usual hypnotic powers. He simply
hypnotized the six guests in your draw.
ing room. took the diamonds from be-
meath their noses and disappeared.
They might have been puzzled by the
incident which made them accomplices
in his crime. but they were quite inao-
cent Of any wrongdoing, In fact, they
didn't know what had happened aftet
he left the room"