The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-10-16

nlmSel1 as we followed the stranger
out of the bank. FOR heavens sake,
don't mention IL. I should be ruined
IL 1t was known"
The man In the gray suit got into an
omnibus going westward. We got In
after him. There were latent reserves
of youth still left in Mr.. Bruff. as
sert 1t positively-when he took his
seat In the omnibus he blushed!
The man with the gray suit stopped
the omnibus and got out in Oxford
street. We followed him again. He
went into a chemists shop.
Mr.. Bruff started. my chemistr' he
exclaimed. II am afraid we have made
a mistake"
We entered the shop. Mr.. Bruff and
the proprietor exchanged a few words
in private. The lawyer joined me
again with a very crestfallen face.
Its greatly TO our credit he said
as he took my arm and led me out
that's one comfort!'
what is to our credit" I asked.
"lr. Blake, you and l are the two
worst amateur detectives that ever
tried their hands at the trade. The
man in the gray suit has been thirty
years in the chemists service. He was
sent to the bank TO pay money to his
masters account-and he knows no
more of the moonstone than the babe
unborn"
/ asked what was to be done next.
"Come back TO my Office" said Mr..
Bruff. "Gooseberry and my second
a have evidently followed somebody
else. Let us hope that they had their
Eyes about them, at any rate"
When we reached Gray's Inn square
the second man had arrived there be-
fore us. He had been waiting for
more than a quarter of an hour.
well" asked Mr.. Bruff, whats
your news:'
II am sorry to say. sir" replied the
man, that / have made a mistake. |
could have taken my oath that saw
Mr.. Luker pass something to an elder
ly gentleman in a light colored paletot.
The elderly gentleman turns out, sir,
to be a most respectable master iron
monger III EdStcuedp.
"Where is Gooseberry?" asked Mr..
Bruff resignedly.
The man stared. II don't know, sir.
/ have seen nothing of him since l left
the bank"
Mr.. Bruff dismissed the man. Zone
Of two things" ne said TO me. Either
Gooseberry has run away or he is hunt
ing on his own account What do sou
say to dining here on the chance that
the boy may come back in an hour or
two? / have got some good wine III
the cellar, and we a get a chop from
the coffee house"
We dined at Mr.. Bruff's chambers.
Before the cloth was removed the man
who had been employed to follow Mr..
Luker when he left the bank was an
nounced.
The report in this case presented no
feature of the slightest interest. Mr..
Luker had gone back to his own house
and had there dismissed his guard.
DO you think Mr.. Luker has aiken
the moonstone home with him:' l ASK
ed.
"Not he" said Mr.. Bruff. "He would
never have dismissed his two police
men If he had run the risk of keeping
the diamond in his own house again.
We waited another half hour for the
boy, and waited in vain. 1t was mel
time for Mr.. Bruff to go to Hampstead
and for me to return to Rachel III
Portland place. | left my card IN
charge of the porter at the chambers.
with n line written on it TO say that
should be ut my lodgings at half past
10 that night. The card was to oe CIV
en- to the boy if the boy came back.
Ny servant handed nj a morsel or
paper when he let me in.
! read. in a neat, legal handwriting
these words: IF you please. sir, am
getting sleepy. l will come back to-
morrow morning between 8 and I.
Inquiry proved that n boy. with very
extraordinary looking eyes. had called.
had presented my caro- and message.
had waited an hour, had done nothing
but fall asleep and wake up again, had
written a line for me and had gone
home-after gravely Informing the
servant that "he was fit for nothing
niles he got his nights rest"
At o the next morning l was ready
for my visitor. At half past 8 heard
steps outside my door. Come in.
Gooseberryr' | called out. THANK
you, SIR" answered u grave and mel
ancholy voice. The door opened.
started to my feet and confronted
Sergeant Cum.
Il thought l would look in here, Mr..