The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-15
Stories of Strange Cases Solved in Secret by
Banker-Detective-- By ROBERT CARLTON BROWN

Constance Van Wendt was eScitedly
arranging her attire with the hclp OF
her sojicitous mother
s'Your diamonds The Duchess Dia-
nond!' cried Mrs. Van Wendt sud.
| denly. 'Where is its''
Miss Van Wendt's hand went to her
| throat, cropping for the chain on which
| the famous stone had swung. Why
| it S gone,' She felt among the triiis
| of her dress, her face nnXIously lined
and ghastly white in the glare Of Bow
en- 8 falling rockets,
| The deck was searched, Miss Van
| Wcndt IS clothes were shaken out, and
when the launch was finally moored at
San Marco the whole party fell TO ex-
amining the floor planks for crevices.
But nothing came 20 light, until Bclas-
co Bowen, beside himself with anx-
iety for having Indirectly caused the
loss, caught a CLINT Of gold on the gun
vale, and found the chain hanging
down, on the outside, almost toucning
the water.
Van Wendt grasped the thin chain
and jerked it of.
1.-The stone slid into the water, Con
stance!'' he cried, holding up the finely
linked chain. "lt's gone down to the
bottom of the Grand canal!''
81 must replace it!h cried Belasco
Bowen anxiously. "It was my stupid
awkwarduess that caused it all, In
fighting the fire some one must have
accidentally torn 1t from her throat, -
THE chain, was specially made,
through it, explained Van Wendt,
holding it up. 81 thought it was safe. -
Hc passed it into the hands Of Chris
topher Poe "See! it must have caught
on something. An awful wrench. Didn t
you feel it, Constnncen'
''In the excitement and everything, -
she murmured, 81 don 1T know what /
felt,'
The party, already having dwindled
to dozen, fled sadly into cafe for
supper, :.
~ We heard of the stone, - whispered
one of the college youths, as the pa
trlotic party took seats. 'EIt's worth
cool hundred thousand. Van Wendt
is the Chicago grain operator, you
know
All the madness of celebration had
tickered out, and the remaining tour
lists sat lowering over ices, hushed,
hanging on the words of Van Wendt.
'There is just chance that some
body might have picked up the stone,'
suggested Bowen, glancing about the
table thoughtfully.
No, there is no chance, the chain
was trailing in the water; [ should
have had the stone fastened to it, but
the Jeweler said it must slide, and L let
him have his way. But, come, don t
let this put damper Oh us. Let's all
Wendt' 3 forced cheerfulnes chilled
them all, and the nightcap was me-
chanically drunk in silence.
Half an hour later there remained at
the table only Belasco Bowen and
Christopher Poe.
"Mr. Hardy, what would you do in
q position like mine2' asked Bowen,
earnestly addressing the Now York
banker, whose unaffected simplicity and
;. You see,. am morally to blame for
the loss, but the stone could not be
duplicated. J. might send them another
anonymously to make up for it.
Mr. Van Wendt seemed satisfied
that 1T was only an unavoidable acci-
dent; am sure he can stand the loss,'
replied Christopher Poe.
You don't think en- harbor any
resentment toward mo7''
He came along with us, aud the acci~
dent happened, that's all. You are no
more responsible than l am. -
But | urged the Van Wendts to Join
us, said Bowen ruefuly.
Its mighty unfortunate, but I'd
forget If | were you. You started a
good time. and we all enjoyed it; let
think Of that instead Of the unfortu-
nate climax
'',t guess you're right, but ] do feel
guilty, I suppose there's no chance
TO dredge the canal?"
OF course not. The diamond IS
gone, let the dead rest. Let's change
the subject. Tell me something to
see i'll Venice; it 3 all new to me, and
you seem quite at home
:" The galleries and castles of course
you We seen?''
eyes, but ism there some Summing
or something to do in this city Of
bridgesf I've been looking for some.
body who could show me an exciting
place or two. Something different,
that s what L want
'lll take you to the fish markets
tomorrow if You like It's quite q
sight, ,, offered Bowen
;. Bully Would youG like that
sort Of thing, and it isn't often one
meets kindred spirit
"That's IS right, replied Bowen heart
Now forget all about that stono,"
advised Poe in parting. "You are
blameless, and don t let It WORRY vou.
We will meet here at ten tomorrow.>'
They went to their separate hotels.
ana Delore gong TO bed Christopher
Poe sent cable to his friend Burns.
Was the name OF the suspect in
the Farmers National burglary
Belasco Bowen7 I remember he
posed as society chap. When
did he sail from New York?
On returning from an interesting
excursion with Bowen to the fish
market next day, Christopher Poe
found the following cipher message
awaiting him:
Right. Saw q newspaper notice
last month that after a house
party at Van Wendt IS he went
aboard the same boat with them.
Having torn up the reassuring note.
Christopher Poe went to his room
and sat Tor all hour concentrating on
the missing Duchess Diamond. Then
he sent word t., Bowen inviting him to
dinner that night,
Poe turned the talk to a glowing ap-
probation of Naples after the meal.
and before ne and Bowen parted Il
had been decided that they would take
the trip together.
At Naples Christopher Poe rna,,ooa