The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-02

all the facts There was Lois Fox
TO be considered
"Stnbcr." | said. y haven't the
| fhinioat notion OF what ~ all
means. but there are one or two
facts within my knowledge that
seem 10 bear upon this tragedy and
the assault upon me that you ought
10 know. II you'll meet me st 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning at the
/ Citrus Exchange bank. I'll tell you
everything I know about IL. r.
that satisfactory"
You're on" was bis curt ar.
| quieEcence.
Then he surprised me with
glimpse into another side OF his
character.
when the coroner comes, Just
don't mention that gentle. lady
| like ring TO him. nor Miss Fo1s
name. II she don't mind my aayin'
NO. she's too swell girl To be mixed
| in n mess like this we've run into"
/ Notwithstanding the language,
his tone and manner were unmis-
takably respectful. and ! stared at
him In wonder.
as all right" he tried TO quiet
my quickly awakened alarm.
when Doc Harris asks you any
thing. follow my lead Let II 30 as
plain. every day case o. peter.
cracking. Hsrrisll think 40 any.
how when he finds out who that
stiff is"
who was hc?"
Steve Willets
In due time the coroner came
and the body was removed.
Tho next morning the papers
blazcd with the news OF Steve VII.
lets death. Lois took It quietly
like the sensible girl she was She
first read the news az the office.
and was shocked. OF course.
A. soon as she had ateadied a bit
she said TO me:
1T would be foolish 20 pretend
have any feeling OF grief, as IL a
loved one were gone. for never
even raw my father. It's an awful
horror"
But here stopped her. saying n
would be better for her not TO talk
about IL. and asked her 10 walk to
the bank with me.
On our way explained the
nature and canse Of my errand, and
why | wanted her present.
/ We paused long enough at a Jew.
elcr's 10 sec one OF the witnesses
had In mind. and then went on 10
find Struber waiting on the bank
steps.
lie observed Miss Fox's presence
with some surprise. youchEafed
no explanations. merely remarking.
! "One OF my witnesses.
We might "a well 20 inside and
sec Mr.. Hall" | added. naming the
banks president. Il am expecting
someone else along presently; wen
hay. TO wait a while"
Mr.. Hall greeted Us affably. Be
fore ] could offer a word to account
for our Intrusion. tho gentleman for
whom ] was waiting arrived. lie
vas n Mr.. Johannes Aartsen. dis-
mond buyer for tho jewelers. where
] had called. and regarded as one Of
the foremost diamond experts in
the United States He was a short.
stout. elderly Hollander. After in
Productions were made | addressed
tho banker.
Now then. Mr.. Hall. want first
20 get package from my safe
1 deposit box. then. II IL is con.
yerlcnt. | would like for all OF us to
retire To the directors room. I shall
not detaia you long; but wish
each OF you TO bear witness to a
I statement / shall make. and 10
something ] have TO show YOU"
] made haste TO secure the dia.
mond and rejoin them in the d.
rectogs room.
When l laid the crumpled ball OF
tissue paper upon the table. OF
those present Mr.. Aartsen alone, !
/ fancied, guessed the nature of its
| contents. AS We seated ourselves,
! caught CLEAN OF comprehension
behind the Dutchman's thick-lensed
glasses.
Without delay plunged into my
story. When had finished hand
ed the diamond to the jeweler.
Struber offered the first com.
ment
"Phoneye' he asked in a matter.
of.fact tone.
Aartsen glared al him. but Stru.
Der was in nowiso abashed. He
added:
Must be the real thing. then"
! addressed myself 10 the eN-
pert: There seems 10 be no ques-
ton OF the gems genuineness, Mr..
Aartsen: perhaps YOU can give US
an estimate OF it's probable value"
''Nalue!" he growled. III say
one hundred thousand dollars
maybe the first customer offer YOU
two hundred thousand-maybe
more. before somebody else ged IL.
II is OF little consequence. Not
many men can buy n diamond like
this"
His next words fairly lifted us
out Of our chairs.
What is OF consequence isl
know this diamond. Eighteen-20
years ago--l have the RECORD some
whereof was cut under my super.
vision in Amsterdam"
We stared at him dumbfounded.
Presently | found voice TO cry:
Man, how can you be so posi-.
tive?"
Aar:sen shrugged his shoulders.
1T is my pisiness TO know-to be
positif could identify all the
worlds famous diamonds"
He contemplated the brilliant
fondly as he pursued:
But this diamond. Il Is differ.