The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-20

| the room, keeping his back as much as
possible to the light as if secrecy had
grown a habit with him. He was stout, |
Strongly built man in dark gray tweed,
suggesting respectable retired milkman
more than a detective. His face was
ruddy, and his hair light brown There
was a chronic look of mild surprise in
| his wideopen blue eyes, and his smile was
as innocent as a childs.
Harcourt knew the man by reputation
as one of the cleverest detectives in Lon
don But looking at him now he could
i hardly believe the reputation warranted
"Mr. Beck" he said, will you take a
chair? You come, / presume; about
About those d aa... said Mr.,
with Mr.. Ophir when your note came.
He asked me to take charge of the case.
i Your cabman lost no time, and here
am"
And you think"
/ 81 don't think. am quite sure know
where and how to lay my hand on the
II am delighted you think So" said
Harcourt; 81 am exceedingly anxious
about the matter. Did Mr.. Ophir sug-
gest@"
Nothing" broke in Mr.. Beck again.
az didn't want his suggestions. Time is
of importance, not talk Is that the
| jewel-case?"
yes" said Harcours, taking it up and
opening it "just as it came, empty"
Mr.. Beck abruptly closed it again and
put it in his pocket.
! That's the paper and Irvine that was
around it, I suppose?"
| Harcourt nodded. Mr.. Beck picked it
up carefully and put it in the other
pocket.
i 81 must wish you good-day, Mr.. Har-
i court" said the unceremonious detec-
tive. "Good-day, Miss. l have found
all I wanted and expected. When l have
more news to tell I'll write. Good-day
for the present
Il Before Harcourt could reply Mr.. Beck
was out of the room and down the stairs,
and the hanson which he had kept wait
ing whirled him away at headlong speed.
j Scarcely FIVE minutes had passed since
he disappeared down one side of the
,, street when another hanson, driven at
| the same rapid pace, came tearing up the
other Lillian and Sydney had not fully
recovered from their surprise at Mr..
Becks abrupt departure when a second
. knock came to the door. and Tomlinson
: entered again with a salver and card
a clean one this time:
Mr. PAUL BECK
t Private Detective
i Harcourt started, and Lillian uttered
little cry.
} THE same man, Tomlinson?"
THE same, sir; leastways he seems a
one been here for the last ten minutes >
he said breathless-like. when I opened
: the door You was, sir I said, not FIVE
} minutes ago. oh, was II says he
with a queer kind of a laugh. that's
quick and no mistake. Am l here now ?
OF course you are, sir, l said, looking
at him hard, but he seemed no way in
liquor; there you are and there you
stand oh, I mean did I go away at
all" Fast as hanson could carry you,
sir I said, humoring him for he was as
serious as judge, and seemed quite put
tout to hear he had gone away in han
4 som. That's bad, that's bad he said :
ten minutes late. Well. young man.
there is no help for it. Take this card
/ to Mr.. Harcourt' Shall l show him up,
: sir?"
l "Of course"
"Mr. Paul Beck, sir"
There was a slight Undesirable
change in the manner of Mr.. Beck as he
tive and less abrupt in his movements,
: and he seemed no longer anxious to
keep his back to the light
You are back very soon, Mr.. Beck, :"
, said Harcourt; ''have you got clue?"
Il wish l had come FIVE minutes soon
err" said Mr.. Beck, his voice quite
: changed I'm afraid I have lost clue.
: have lost the clue, in fact, and l must
set about finding it. Where is the jewel
t case?"
: Why, l gave it to you not ten minutes
: ago"
ITO mef" began Mr. Beck, and then
stopped himself with a queer smile that
a was half a grimace. ooh, yes, you gave
L it to me. Well, and what did l do with
S it,"
l You put it in your pocket Mr.. Beck,
Y and carried it away"
Was l in hurry"
:, You were in great hurry"
Was | dressed as am now?"
4 Exactly"
:. And looked the same?"
i Precisely"
And I kept my back to the light,
s warrant"
Your memory is wonderful"
L have the honor to wish you 4 very
e good morning. Mr.. Harcourt, and you
d also, Miss" There was a touch of sd-
S miration in his voice as he addressed
Miss Lillian
closed behind him, isn't it Just thrilling
d There never was such a rlixed-up mys-
+ tery, / do wonder which is the right Mr.
t Beck"
which, OF course they are both til.
n same Mr.. Beck
i Meanwhile Mr.. Beck was being driver
as fast as hanson could carry him bacl
e to Mr.. Ophir's, in Bond Street.
g He found the eminent jeweler in hi
Il little glass citadel at the back of hi
IS glittering warehouse
" 'Well?" he said, when Mr.. Becl
s stepped into the little glass room, closin,
the door carefully behind him.
re Wen responded the detective, &c
m think l have a clue. 1 can make fai
ID guess who has the diamonds. Who mad