The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-07

IeennSly inquired. But Inat reverence
to precious s'ones had left me dis
tinctly Interested
Because" he said in lowered tones,
Il have been asked to carry a diamond |
OF rather formidable dimensions to
some sort of a goldsmith in your city,
to a man named August Zwack. at $40
Coryeu street"
But why should you be carrying
it?'' 1 casually inquired.
IT was told that the traveller who
should have delivered it met with an
accident a couple Of days ago. He was
beaten and robbed in the streets of
your city in open daylight. And I have
no wish to share his fate. Yet absurd
as it sounds. for the last fifteen hours
I have been oppressed by the feeling
that am being followed"
But who is there to follow your"
asked. roun6-eyed with studied Won
der. We're all very humble and hon
est-looking in this neighborhood."
You are, I know" he said. looking
me right in the eye. And that
prompts me to ask if you would pos
sibly take load off my mind; if you'll
be generous enough to give me ten
minutes OF your time delivering this
stone to Zwack's work shop. at 319
Coryel street, on your way home" He
reached into the pocket OF his black
waistcoat and brought out something
about the size of a bantam's egg. He
removed the wrapping of tissue paper
and Il saw a huge diamond cut briol
cite. after the Indian fashion, and OBJ
long in. shape. yet larger at one end
| than at the other. I knew at a glance
that I was looking at the Blue Pear,
which had been stolen from Eleakim
| Grosset's house that night when he had
been found dead.
| AS we drew toward Detroit he cross
ed TO his own section. I watched him
closely, 3 he dropped the Blue Pear
into manila envelope moistened the
| flap, and carefully sealed it. Then with
sigh OF relief he stepped back across
the aisle to my side. He sighed again
as I took the envelope from his hand.
I glanced down at my watch, shook it.
and held it against my ear.
Its stopped" I complained, as
made an unsuccessful effort to open
the case for inspection.
Perhaps my nails are stspng," he
i suggested. 1 watched him in silence
as he took the little disk Eof simmer
ing gold and vainly struggled to open
the case. Then he stopped, looked at
| the dial. and handed the timepiece
back to me.
It's going again." he explained. with
his lugIbrious smile.
! so it is" acknowledged as he go.
up from the scat. for the porter had
announced Detroit" While that sed-
entary back in black broadcloth was
still turned to me I clapped my hand
kerchief about the watch and dropped
1t into MY handbag.
|
| It had not escaped my attention, dur
ing the last quarter OF an hour. that
| my conference had been under the dis
Greet inspection of Toosey ,AttriIl.
Not once, however, did L look in her
direction. Yet as I stood up to make
my way out of the sleeper I sent her
a message. I did this by turning my
back to her and casually Withdrawing
an amber hairpin from my hair just
behind my right ear and re1nserting il
just back of my left ear. which, in our
little system of code signals which
Toosey and I had worked out. said:
Trail this man, for there's something
wrongi"
1t wasn't until I'd pushed my way
out through the station crowd and
stood bag in hand at the carriage en-
trance that my melancholy eyed friend
in black unexpectedly reappeared.
you're going in a taxi. aren't you p
he quavered, with apprehension still In
his distracted eyes. And announced
to him that 1 was. The next minute
noticed he was wig-wagging with hi.
ridiculous black umbrella. It brought
a driver wheeling in to the curb witt
: a swoop like hawks. I detected Z
vague something flash between hin
and the somber figure beside me,
/. silent message which prompted me tc
make mental note Of his license num-
ber-3S960.
Yet it was too late to draw bach
l from that proffered conveyance. So
did the next best thing. AS the cal
: swung out from the curb and SLOWED
Y down again before the usual stree
l corner congestion of traffic, 1 f1unl
$ open the door opposite the one
l had entered by, and stepped to thu
e running board. bag in hand From
there 1 dropped to the pavement an.
K hoped lightly up into an open-bodiet
j old roadster in which sat plump ant
genial-eyed youth Of about eighteen
Gould you take me to S1e Coryel
: street?" demanded. And quicl
e enough to save life?"
!. There's no such street in this burg
g he announced.
3. The truth came over me in a fash
remembered the old State-fair con
= trick. With one jerk OF the fingers
Il tore the end off that manila envelop