Evening star., 1914-08-23

UNDA9a MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST IS. 10
he set watchers that not soul left the house
Widen, of the keenest wits in the house.
taken into confidence from the first and he frankly
advised that it for Casars wife, who was
above suspicion but that the property of every
guest should be searched suggesting that the detectives
should begin with his
Raymond groaned; but when the detectives arrived
they were of the same mind. They summoned other
men, invisible Gordon round the house, and pro
ceeded who had left it for any time in the night
secrete the jewels.
Interrogation produced fairly positive evidence that
of the had their parlance put
their outside And this basis we had to found
theories All the guests swore, well, to having
remained indoors.
TWAS too unhappy and too mortified over the situation
in which my loss placed Raymond to note all that
followed can only say that rigorous and microscopic
search was foot In the midst of it all, while
Widen good-naturedy helping the detectives to
sound the walls in his the theory being that
of the servants might guest blind, | found
myself drawn into Moncref's apartment by that man
himself.
was about to shake myself free of his stupid CLUTCH
when | sharply arrested by total change in the
whole The affected droop of his eyes gone:
they blazed with keen, searching intelligence The
listess vacuity of his features superseded by lines
of interest, and when he spoke his clean quick
sentences dazed me.
"Listenl7 he said pushing into chair. @F want
word with you. Give chance and III get back those
stones
"The deucel'
"Not so loud! Give me your attention, Dyson.s
aBy Jove You have it.
a know what I'm called here--called everywhere"
@Oh, we'll"
@Don't apologize. l started the sobriquet myself.
Let people think you clever, and they forever
watching you Let them you fool, and you
safely ooker-on in Venice. have watched-I know.
Will you put yourself in my hands,
But
a am no amateur. l am in reality professional. If
win back your gems do it for a return; for pay, in
short But you must keep my secret. remain the fool,
except to you You see Dyson, am gentleman born.
This my talent. But my caste (my people the
arrogant Southern ype orbids my CHASING myself
as detective. must practise under cover, trusting to
mems honor to keep my secret. Money must have
have helpless relatives to support, and this is the
only way
"You certainly have advantages l said slowly.
@Whether it is fair to
@To society? Where does the unfairness lico Is it
wicked protect people from their carelessncss-
such as you exhibited when you Dragged of those
stones?"
Al spoke of them slghtingy before the servants and
showed them only to my equals. How could l think
that they would steae
"You are simpleton,' said the ei-depant fool
temptuousy, IF you think that birth arms humanity
against temptation.
Temptations? But Raynonds guests people of
means"
Like myself, he said mockingly.
@The companion excepted, l said buntly. "She-'
Looks like cat-so you think she is one? Well,
shall But if call you for support in any step,
support me. And you will keep my secret?'
"Ycs-yes' l stammered @But what traces have
YOU found of the thief Has She"
Moncrief drew from his pocket paper. We sat down
the table, and he carefully unfoded it, discovering
to my rapt gaze merely some dirt and dust
Il could match that anywhere in the yard | said