The Washington herald., 1915-09-19
Copyright. 1881

tater: "Yes. This is Capt. Burbage
speaking he added, and stood sill
ent, waiting. Not for long, however
Almost instantly the connecting line
hummed with the sound of some one
ut the other end whistling the open
ing bars of God Save the King" and
that settled it.
You, is it, Mr.. Narkom'" Cleek
veid as the anthem broke off at an
agreed point; which point, by the
way, was altered every twenty-four
hours. "a great hurry, eh' Yes;
start this minute if that will do.
What's that Yes; | know the place
we'll. All right; I'll be there almost
as soon as you are Good-byv'
Five minutes later, accompanied by
Dollops-bearing the inevitable
brown leather kit bag. in case
change OF attire should be found ne
cessary-he emerged from the house
in Charges street, walked down Pic
cadilly as far as Duke street, turned
from that into Jermyn street. and
strolled leisurely along in the direc-
ton OF the Geological Museum. keep
ing sharp lookout. however. for the
red limousine.
OF sudden il came pelting round
the corner OF Regent street, whizzed
along until Lennard, the chauffeur,
caught sight OF the captains" we'll
known figure, then swung to the curb
close to the corner of York street,
and came to an abrupt halt. In an
other moment. Cleek had taken the
brown kit bag from Dollops. stepped
with it into the vehicle and was by
Narkom's side.
WELL" he said. gripping the su-
perintendent' welcoming hand and
settling himself comfortably as the
motor swung out into the roadway
again and continued on its way, at
isn't often you give me hurry CALI
like this, and at 3 o'clock in the aft
ernoon, so it's fair to suppose that
you have something of unusual i'm
portance on hand
"If you said l had something posi-
lively amazing on hand you'd come
a deal nearer the mark, my dear fel-
low" returned the superintendent.
The thing happened behind locked
doors, and there's no clew to when,
where, or how the assassin got in,
nor the ghost of an explanation to be
given as to how he got out again.
Yet the house was filled with COM
pany. A reception was in progress.
Yet not only was one of the best
known figures in London society
done to death under the very noses,
so to speak, OF her friends and
acquaintance. but jewels of immense
value-jewels of historical interest, in
fact-were carried off in the most un-
accountable manner. In brief, my
dear Cleek, the victim was the aged
Duchess of Netherlands. The jew
els that have vanished are those two
marvellous blush-pink diamonds
known to the world OF gem collectors
as the silva Stones"
And so those remarkable dia-
monds have been stolen, after all,
have they" said Cleek. And that
vulgar and overbearing old shrew,
the Dowager Duchess Of Heather
lands. has paid for the possession OF
them with her .life, All, my dear
Mr.. Narkonl, what disastrous thing
lust OF power and craving for posi-
ton is, The lady would better have
stuck to her fathers beer watts and
the glory OF Hobson and Simkins
entirc-and Heatherlands might bet
ter have left her there instead Of
selling her the right to wear his ducal
coronet They both would have lived
and died deal happier, / am sure"
"Ges," agreed Narkom. They lived
a vcritable cat and dog life. be-
icve His grace didn't find Miss
Simkins. the brewers daughter. so
cnviable possession after marriage
as she had appeared before; and he
got precious little but abuse and un
happiness out OF the bargain; so it
was, perhaps. just as we'll for all con-
ccrned that there were no children"
And at the dukes death some ten
or a dozen wears ago the title passed,
] believe. to his Younger brother,
who. in his turn, died about eighteen
months ago. and passed it on to a
cousin. young fellow Of about two
and-twenty who had recently mar
ried girl as little blessed with this
worlds goods as he was himself"
Yes" replied Narkom. Last
night the old duchess was murdered,
and so far as can be ascertained with
certainty. he was the last person with
her and the last to see her alive"
"Hum-m-m"' said Cleek. pulling
down his lower lip and frowning at
his toes Not nice that for the duke,
] must admit"