Tombstone epitaph., 1915-10-03

on. 1 knew you recognized me-
 said Poe. Some of my baggage IS marked with (. F.. ana | knew that
 wouldn't escape your sharp eyes. | You ye called me Hardy with rather elaborate exactness. thinking you had
 joke on me. 1 didn't miss it, nor did | 1 miss noticing your eagerness to have
 the Van Wendts join that wild party; saw you were quick-handed, too. | when you spilled the sparks over Miss
 Van Handt. and nipped on the plsti-
 mum wire with your little nail-clippers. on which l found the nick made in cutting the chain. The hand IS quick er than the eye but net quicker than
 the imagination
 What the devil do you mean?" cried Bowen. putting down his glass, and turning with his back to the rail. Do you accuse me of stealing the Duchess Diamond?"
 Yes. and with attempting to snug | gle it into New York"
 | Where have l got it concealed them" cried Bowen, his hand sneak. ing toward his hip-pocket. l oh, don't trouble to find that little | pearl-handled gun. I've seen it bulg- | ing out beneath your coat before. Look over there. Do you see that officer in white and those three in blue?" Poe pointed to a crowd of customs officers who had just climbed up to the ships deck from the doctors boat. and were already coming toward them.
 Bowen's expression changed to one of terror
 q cabled a friend of mine in New | York to send customs-house officers on ! board at quarantine, and take you be- fore you succeeded in smuggling in the | Duchess Diamond"
 But I haven't got it; never did i have f. You cant prove a thing" cried Bowen eEcitedly, leaning threat | elingly toward Poe.
 Poe turned. and signaled to the GUS | toms-house men. who hurried up. He replied evenly to Bowen:
 "Of course you haven't it now; but | suspected your interest in those | thick-necked wine-bottles. noticed the corks were unusually large, and | experimented with one in my room. One of those corks would nicely con- ceal big stone like the Duchess"
 But I have thrown all the corks away," cried Bowen desperately. as the customs-house officers quietly sur. rounded him.
 "Yes, you just threw the one con. | taining the stone into the water. and your fishermen accomplices have | picked it up by now and are making | for shore this minute. Look" He l put his hand on Bowen's shoulder, and | pointed toward the fshermens boat, ! making for shore At that moment trim gray launch flying the police flag leaped out from behind the stern of the great ocean liner, and in a minutes time overhauled the big dory with the two dazed pseudo fishermen. Bowen trembled as he saw the police | board the boat and search iiis accom-. | plices. He saw them. remove, after a | struggle. a small object from the coat l pocket Of the larger fisherman. Then | Bowen turned 10 his captors, and, his arms slack and limp. his lips quivering, | | eyes sought Poe's. But how the devil did you know planned to throw the cork overheard right here at quaran. | tine?"
 That was easy" smiled the banker, as the officials in white slipped hand. cuffs over Bowen's wrists After 1 surprised you sending long code mes sages questioned you about the boat. | and found that you knew We slowed down at quarantine. I felt that was the most logical place for you to throw over the little cork. Your fishermen could row close while the doctor was being picked up. and if you threw the cork carefully it might land right in the boat. or at least near enough so 1t would float until they could pick it up. unseen because the crowd would be watching the officials boarding on the | other side. That is all just took a chance. same as you did when you pulled of that carefully planned little party of yours on the Grand canal"
 On landing at the dock in New York. Christopher Poe looked for his | friend Burns. anxious to clasp his hand after the lengthy parting, and thank him for his assistance in cap | turing Bowen.
 Finding no trace of Burns, Poe went to a telephone booth on the dock board. and called his friends office.
 Hello. that you. Poe?" came cheery voice from the other end. Yes" exclaimed Poe "I missed you at the dock. Couldn't you make it?"
 No. Mitchell called me away just half an hour before you were due. Everything all right"
 Yes. fine. They got him at quaran. tine all right. thanks to your loDg-dis. tance work"
 oh. that wasn't anything" an- swsred Burns. But tell me, did you get any rest at all on the trip? I'm mighty glad you're back safe" No rest 10 speak of" said Poe quickly. Two or three other jobs turned up. But I got a change, any. I