Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-05-05

ner WITHOUT ner being FORCED INTO any 4
unpleasant position, he desiring to
avoid the arrest he had threatened,
which was nothing more than a gigan- \
tic bluff. Turning to the young lady.
l said:
"Will you submit to an arrest for
the purpose of saving your property? 2"
I'D rather lose it." she replied In a
voice that trembled. The pretended 4
detective looked at me as much as to
say, 81 told you So"
would you be willing" 1 continued !
to her, ito leave the property in my 4
keeping till the true ownership can be 4
settledT'
For the first time she regarded me
critically. Then she said, 81 would
trust you implicitly"
l took out my card and handed 1t to /
her. 81 see no need for you to remain I
here longer" l said. when the mat |
ter is settled 1 will return the box and (
its contents"
mot SO fast, please" said the man. /
II will not release the young woman
until l am informed what you propose
to do with the find"
II will go with you to a police Of
Ace, where l will surrender the prop
erty. Then the young lady can go
there in company with her lawyer,
make her claim and prove that it be-
longs to her."
81 am not to be done out Of my fee
for the detective work / have accom-
plished In any such fashion," said the
man. Besides, there is a reward Of
fered for the return of the jewelry."
1t would seem that all / had to do
was to call a policeman and direct him
to take US to the station, where an In
yestigation would take place. My re-
spectability and that of the lady
would be proved, and she could also
bring evidence that the diamond cross
belonged to her; but, irrespective of
his dislike to going with a police off,
Ger, suppose the man should concoct a
story such as he had attempted to
palm off on me, adding that which
would implicate her? A sensitive per.
son shrinks from accusations, no mat
ter how false. Judging from what l
had seen Of the man l believed that he
would not hesitate to brand the girl
as a thief or to make q false statement
to show that I was implicated with
her.
"This affair."" l said to the man, CIV
ing him a knowing look, "had better
be settled between you and me. I
think I can persuade the young lady
to recompense you for any loss you
may make in your detective fees"
His case was not very strong, and
my suggestion that blackmail would be
paid had a wholesome effect upon
him. He assented to my proposition
and permitted the young lady to go
her way. So distressed was she at the
likelihood Of being accused of having
stolen her own property that l verify
believe she thought little of intrusting
her cross to a stranger and would have
preferred to be out of the scrape rath-
er than remain In 1t In possession of
her property.
I took her name and address, and
as soon as she had gone / said to the
man: "Come with me. This Is no
place to talk" We left the restaurant
together, and l asked him If he would
suggest a place where we could hold a
conference. He hesitated. l inferred
that he would be glad to take me
where he might get me In his power,
but did not believe that 1 would be
fool enough to go with him. At any
rate, he said:
Anywhere you like. All I wish is to
be assured Of my fees and that the
young lady is the real owner of the
property"
"How about the rewardT' l asked.
"As to that" he stammered, "if he
young lady can prove that she owns
the property, then it can't be the same
that l am employed to trace
would you object to going to my
rooms?" l asked
We were passing a third rate hotel,
and he said he would prefer going In
there, so we entered and went into the
writing room.
"How much do you want to let up
on this matter?" l asked.
"How would five hundred suit your"
snake it half that and 1t Is q 60"
agreed"
I took out a pocket check book. He
stopped me. Cash, please" he said.
My doubts as to his being a detec-
tive had given place to q belief that
he was not, and by this time l felt
sure that he had come down from a
scheme to get possession Of the cross
to leyying blackmail.
Every WE'LL" 1 said. "Of course l
haven't the amount about me, but l
can send to my bank for it"
drew a check for $3.50 and, calling
a waiter-for he would not permit me
to leave him-asked him to send the
proprietor to me. When the latter
came I asked him to send the check
To Tho hanL far the nash- On nv nhncL