Evening star., 1918-01-20

vaciously. It's the Harcourt diamonds
that have come to you. is it not? The
wonderful diamonds of which one
reception. They have disappeared, and
his lordship NJ. Beck, the great detec-
tive has come to me. l thought you
would. It's all here" and he handed
him across the table the Westminster
Gazette, with his finger on prominent
paragraph headed in big black letters:
The Vanishing Diamonds"
Mr.. Beck read it through carefully:
Quite a sensation has been created
in fashionable London by the sudden
premature to say robbery-of the
famous Harcourt Heirloom perhaps,
after the crown jewels. the. most IA
nous and valuable diamonds in London.
Our representative learned from the
eminent jeweler. Mr.. Ophir of Bond
street, that he had with his own hands
this morning put the jewels into a
case. sealed up the parcel and handed it
to the Hon. Sydney Harcourt. Mr..
Harcourt. on the other hand, states that
when the case was opened in his pres
ence by his f1ancee, Miss Ray-for
whom the jewels were meant as
Ophir and the Hon. Sydney Harcourt
both speak the truth-and we have no
reason to doubt either-the diamonds
must have vanished through the case
and brown paper in the hanson cab.
We not not say, that. in position and
respectabtlity, Mr.. Ophir stands at the
very head Of his business. and that the
Hon Sydney Harcourt. though he ran
loose for while on the race course,
contracted no serious pecuniary obli-
cations of which the world knows. All
these circumstances, of course, heighten
the mystery. We understand that the
famous detective. Mr.. Beck. at the in
stance of Mr.. Ophir. called subsequent
Inner OF
NJ. Grabeau watched Mr. Beck eagerly
Well he asked impatiently. when
Mr.. Beck at length came to an end at
is all right there?
pretty accurate for a newspaper re-
porter!'
And you have got the clue-you. the
famous detective"
Well. yes: monsieur. think 1 have
a bit of clue. But I came to hear
YOUR notion of the business. / have an
idea that you are the man to put me
on the right track. 1t would not be the
first time. you know"
Monsieur beamed at the rough com
n1iment. You must first tell me all
everything
Mr.. Beck told him. all-everything-
with admirable candor. not forgetting
the doubling of his own character at
Belgrade street
Well" he said at last" what do you
think. inonsieur?.
Mr.; ophir said NJ Grabeau shortly.
NJ: erien All Beck, IN a tone of
surprise and admiration. You don't
say 50, You don't think. then. There is
any truth in the hint in the paper that
young Harcourt himself made away
with the stones to pay some gambling
debts?"
No. my frierd. believe me. He kr,us
nothing more than he has said. II was
not what YOU call the worth of his
while. His father he is rich: his lady.
she is beautiful. l have seen her Re,
spectacle Mr.. Ophir gives to him the
Jewels. The risk is too great. even If
he have debts. which is not proved"
But how did Mr.. Ophir get them out
of the case?"
He did not even put them in. nv
friend. Helas. My great detective are
you not l1ttle-I will not say st,1pid
"a little innocent today You will not
th1hh harm OF NJ. Ophir. Tres ben
Give me for moment your watch and
chain
He leaned across the table, and as if
by magic Mr.. Beck's watch and cha in
were in his hands. A heavy gold watch
with a heavy gold curb chain that fft-
ted to the waistcoat buttonhole with
a gold bar.
Now observe; this will be our case"
With rapid. desterous fingers he fash
loned copy OF the Westminster Gazet-
te into the semblance of a jewel-case
with closely fitting lid He opened
the box wide, put the watch and chain
in, SO that Mr.. Beck could see it plain
ly inside. and closed the lid with two
fingers only.
There was no deception"
He pushed the box across the table,
cloth to Mr.. Beck. who opened 1t and
found 1t empty.
But where has 1t gomez" he cried.
Behold, it is there" said NJ. Grabeau.
tapping him on the capacious waist
coat.
"I could have sworn I saw you put
it into the case and leave it there"
80 -.
NJ. Ophir of whom you speak. I put it
in your nocket he put il In his own Re-