The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-08
I---HARDACRE'S EMERALD

A MOS FREE hung up the tele-
"a phone receiver as If he had been
answering a casual call AS a
matter of fact, he had been talking to
his master. Valentine West, who had
not been near his chambers In Bruton
street for a week. and had sent him
no message during that period. Amos
may possibly have been anxious about
him, but no one would have supposed
so from his manner. and he exhibited
no sign of relief now he had heard.
About an hour later there was ring
at the bell.
els Mr.. Valentine West in?"
The inquirer was a Hindu. speaking
English precisely and slowly. He wore
a turban. but otherwise was dressed in
European fashion, which had the effect
of giving him a mean appearance. In
his native dress he would have been an
imposing figure. possibly.
Amos shook his head
He is not in? When will he return %
Amos shook his head again, and
shrugged his shoulders to give empha-
sis to his ignorance.
cit is a pity. I have a message for
him most important"
Write it." said Amos. producing pad
and pencil.
at is too important" said the Hindu,
waving them aside with a flicker of his
hands.
Tell me-" said Amos.
The other shook his heed slowly.
1T is too important; besides, If he
does not get it at once. 1t will be too
late. 1t is for his his own safety. Now,
think again. Is he not in, and can see
him?"
He Is out" Amos answered. and his
figure was set a little more squarely-
a danger signal. The Hindu seemed to
recognize this. Apparently he swore
in his native tongue
1T is your own affair." he said, 'but
am rather impressed that you are a
liar"
He Kissed out the belief quickly and
scuttled down the stairs, not waiting
to see the effect of his belief. It was
piled physically had the visitor held his
ground. but it was not worth while
following him down the stairs.
"One OF them balloons as they calls
EN- Amos said as he closed the door
The Hindu might have been amused
at the ignorance of a man who took
him for a babu. For a moment. in
scuttling down the stairs, he had lost
his dignifed pose; now he became
more dignffled than ever as he went
cityward. He attracted little notice
and evidently he was no stranger tc
London. He presently walked into
Fenchurch street as a man who was
accustomed to have business there.
At the entrance to a passage lead
ing into one of those seemingly Quiet
backwaters of the city where. as otter
as not some famous firm. whose bust
ness activities join East a West. has
its offices, two men suddenly stepped
in front of the Hindu.
Where are you going?" asked one
politely enough. but firmly.
ION my own affairs
''This way?" and the questionel
pointed down the passage.
The Hindu shook his head and would
have passed on.
ct am afraid 1t must be this way
said the man. and the Hindu went with
them, perhaps because two or three
people had stopped to watch them. an6
might prove the nucleus of a crowd
or perhaps because com p1iance would
the sooner get him out of a difficulty.
Through the passage were the office.
OF Wilkinson. Brandon & Co., merch.
ants, well known in the city, trading
with India and the East. Evidently
something unusual had happened Twt
or three men were talking excttedfy II
the doorway, and the coming Of TIL
Hindu gave them keen interest
His captors. for such they virtual!
were, led him to the rear of the build
ing toward a private room where Mr.
| Brandon. the present head of the firm
sat at his desk answering the ques
| tons OF a man who was obviously
| detective.
There Is nothing more I can tel
YOU" said Brandon. "Of course SCI
many people during the day-some reg
| ular visitors, some more or less stran
/ sers-and I have Hindu callers. Thi
morning the safe was found broker
open and the stone gone"
Had it been there long?"
-Four or five years. Colonel Hard
acre asked me to keep it for him an
! say nothing about it. Knowing the col
| onel well, I asked 10 questions. anc
| indeed, thought no more about tn
| stone until a week ago. when some on
called on me from the foreign office
a Mr.. Valentine Vest
L know Mr.. West" said the detec
tive.
II trust the man you know Is tn
! same man who called upon me-" Bran
| don said. His credentials Statistic,
me, and as he carried a government
order, I showed him the stone. Thi