Charlevoix county herald., 1914-02-21

Precisely" said Mr.. Wray; and
then, with an air of business-"Well,
now, what is to be done? that is the
first question. The evidence is insult
ficient to charge either of the men
even with beng concerned in the
the robbery. The leather case proves
nothing. They might declare they
found it empty, and have concealed
il through fear of accusation, or they
might all three swear out statements
to be false, and absolutely accuse
YOU of being yourself the thief. And
until we can substantiate the charge
by positive proof, we must be careful
to conceal our suspicious from them.
Ii they think they are likely to be
brought to justice, they will quit
the country by the first steamer that
leaves Southampton-and we can not
stop them. The thing that must be
j done at once is to search for the dia-
mond. That is your affair" he said,
addressing the officer: undoubtedly
they have placed it somewhere in
Southampton, in readiness to take If
! flight becomes necessary"
"Ill have all the kens searched be
fore morning"
That is part Of your business, of
course. At the same time, ] would
suggest that it is far more important
to watch the men themselves. Van
Hoeck would not trust the diamond to
the keeping of ordinary thieves re-
ceivers; it would be safer merely laid
under a plant in the gardens down by
the dock. You may be sure he has the
ingenuity TO suggest a safe place for
its keeping"
"Jll have some plain-clOthes men
on the first thing tomorrow morning,
and I'd better 90 and telegraph to
Scotland Yard at once
AS soon as possible. But not
to alarm the men, you had better
make a pretense of continuing your
Investigations, and avail yourself of
some plausible preteXt for returning
to southampton. Everything at
this moment depends upon keeping
Van Hoeck and Brace in ignorance
Of our suspicion. And with that
view" he added. turning TO me, |
counsel you Mr.. Thone, to conceal
your own feelings. Not one of these
three ought to see any change in
your demeanor toward them"
This was sound advice, and | re-
cognized the Importance OF conform
ing with il; but | am the worst actor
in the world where my feelings are
concerned, and my very soul revolt
ed against the men who had plotted
together to take my life from the
mere insensate greed Of gain. ] felt
more bitterly toward Brace than to-
ward his accomplice, not because |
thought Van Hoeck less guilty, but
because had felt more kindly to-
ward the Judge, to whom ] seemed
linked by the brotherhood Of labor.
kept out OF his way when we
returned to the library, and avoided
/ looking at him, lest he should per-
ccivc that | was no longer his friend
But ] knew that he had his keen eyes
upon me, and was reading the signs
! of my newly-bOrn aversion, and this
made by acting worse.
When the officer had completed his
| investigation, he said sagaclously, as
he closed his notebook
Il have sufficient information for
my present purpose. may not
be able to discover the perpetrators
Of this outrage and robbery imme
diately, but ] think ! shall be in a
! position TO tell you something about
the lost diamond within twenty-four
hours"
Sir Edmund ACCOMPANIED him to
the door. When he returned and
/ took seat he had occupied at the
/ head of the long table, Brace arose,
and placing himself al the opposite
END, inclined his head first to the
barOnet, then to the right and TO the
/ left
Squire and gentlemen OF this com
mittee," he said, Il don't want TO
| speak disrecpetful of the police, but
/ the intelligent officer who has Jest
/ left US, as if he'd got hold Of the tail
end Of a rocket and meant fOllerin' il
right up, and holdin' tight on till it
! bust. amt goin' to do any good for
hissef or anyone else in this bust
ness The big diamonds lost, end he
amt goin TO find it iu twenty-four
hours, nor in twcnty-four years. IF
it was a haystack, ] don't say but
what. with the help Of Providence
and good lot of it--he might be up
TO the job he's undertook. But it
amt a haystack End e. he was TO
grind up the whole OF this country,
end every blessed thing upon it small,
buddled il in "a clean fume, and sifted
the tailins careful, he wouldn't find
it. End these bcin' my views, il
stands TO reason that amt goin, TO
hang about here lookin at the place
where I've come to grief like an old
female what's slipped OF the side
walk on bit Of orange-peel. With
your permission, squire Pm goin
away right Off
81 can not stop you, Brace, even
if ! wished to-" replied Sir Edmund,
who he it observed, knew nothing of
the suspicion against the Judge. 81
am inclined to think that you will be
happier in the seeking Of a new for
tone than in lingering about with the
faint hope of recovering the old If
the diamond is found you will hear of
it wherever you may be. Are you
going TO look for another diamond ?"
NO, squire; I'm goin TO find that
please God" Brace replied; then,
after a moments pause, he said,
There's a matter of business to fin
/ ish up before ! go, sir; all the mo-
ney | have in my pocket belongs to