The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-20
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same nen he WdikcQ " tiC uOOi,
closed it softly, and turned the key in the
lock Any one with an eye to the key
hole might have seen Mr.. Beck drop
into an easy-chair with one of the two
cases in his hand, turning it slowly round
and round with that look, puzzled yet
confident, which so many people wore
when that delightful problem pigs in
Clover" was the rage.
A little later any one with an ear to
the keyhole might have heard Mr.. Beck
draw deep breath of relief, and then
ear was preternatarally acute, the lis
tener might have heard him lock some
thing in his own pet patent safe which
stood in a neat overcoat of mahogany in
corner of the room.
"Oh! how can people be so mean 2!
cried Lillian Ray, in voice that quivered
with indignation.
She was standing in the middle of her
own drawing-room, and the tattered
fragments of the extra special" edition
of the Evening Talebedrer huttered
round her like pink snowstorm.
EASY. Lii. easyW cried Harcourt from
the sofa where he sat. ct AXE it quietly,
my pet. It's the nature of the beasts.
Besides, it's true enough-most of it l
have been, as they say, "a wild young
scamp No one knows the amount of
my debts-because there aren't any.
| Mr. Ophir is gentleman of unimpeach-
able responsibility This is a most I'M
pleasant mystery for the Hon. Sydney
Harcourt' There's no denying that's
| true, anyway"
"I wonder at you, Syd-you. great
strong man, to sit there quietly and hear
such things said Why don't you go
straight to their low den, wherever it is.
! and-and-oh, how I wish were. man,
| for their sake y 80
Glad you're not, Lii, for my sake"
| he answered, in a tone that brought the
quick blood to her cheek. ITS because
YOU are a woman, and the dearest little
woman in the world, that you fare up
like this. But you must not think I'm
not riled by the haif-lies of those cads,
though I try to grin and bear it There
are lots of people who will take the lies
! for gospel truth I'm so thankful that
you"
A sharp knock came to the door.
Mr. Beck, sir said the footman.
"Show him up What does the fellow
want now, 1 wonder?"
| Il won't detain you a moment, Mr..
Harcourt," said the imperturbabie Mr..
Beck, walking quietly into the room.
4 "You have a clue, them"
We'll, yes, l think 1 may say have
clue"
He took from his pocket the old jewell
case which he had purchased for SOW
ereign, and set it on the table.
"You see this, Miss Ray. Is it at all
like the case that came with the dia-
monds?"
"The case that came without the dia-
, nonds you mean, Mr.. Beck" said Lillian,
smiling at is just like it in shape, but
I the other was quite new and shining"
That is a detail, miss. A clever hand
' could make that little change of new to
old in half an hour. Now will you kindly
!, open it,"
: AS Lillian opened it she thrilled with
the sudden unreasonable notion that the
t diamonds might be inside But it was
| quite empty, faded and empty.
The inside is just the same, too" she
:, said, only this is so faded. Anything
else. Mr.. Beck2"
2 Would you oblige me by taking the
5 case in your hands for one moment No,
S don't close it. Now will you kindly put
your thumb here and your other thumb
here on the opposite side?"
t Mr.. Beck guided the slender little
l thumbs to their places while Harcourt
D looked on in amazement.
Nov, kindly squeeze both together"
r Lillian gave a quick, sharp gasp of de-
l light and surprise. For suddenly, as IL
: by magic, there blazed on the slope of
: faded velvet a great circlet of flashing
diamonds with a star of surprising
: splendor in the centre.
"Ohl Oh! Obi" she cried breathlessly.
"They are too beautiful for any one.
How clever you were to find them, Mr..
" Beck; wasn't he, Syd1 Do tell US how
y and where and when you managed it'll"
d She so dubbed over with delight and
e admiration and gratitude that even the
a detective was captivated.
will you open the case again, Miss,
a struck dumb with blank amazement-
b The case was empty.
\ "a trick case" said Harcourt, after a
t pause.
Just so, sir, that's the whole story in
: three words. About as neat a bit of
: work as ever came out of hands. The
s closing of the case works the spring, as
b you see, sir. That's the notion of il, and
e not bad notion either"
And the diamonds are safe inside,
d cried Lillian; they were there all the
d my thumbs and they will come out again
O It's wonderful! wonderful But how
ever did you find it out? You must be
v. most wonderfully clever. / suppose you
l have worked up some marvellous system
It that nobody can understand but your
h self"
a Mr. Beck actually blushed under this
e shower OF compliments.
j. "A little common sense, Miss, that's
all. | have no more system than the
a hound that gets on the fox's scent and
e keeps on it. l just go by the rule oil
= thumb. and muddle and puzzle out my
cases as best l can"
i. when did you guess the diamond.
n were in the case?" said Haroourt
n 81 guessed it, sir, when | saw Mr.
,e Ophir, and l was sure of it when l saw
e you. You see how it is, sir; if Mr.. Ophil
# put the diamonds into the case and nc
one took them out, it stood to reason
d they were still there, whatever might bs
J. the appearance to the contrary Oh