Evening star., 1923-11-18

| decision as his Cdlier. w ltn the lSnt-
ming motions Of a prestidigitator his
hand opened a drawer and reappeared
holding a revolver. The unset jewels
on the table amply justified his pre-
caution. Also the clerk had followed
the visitor into the private office. and
! he was armed.
! But Minturn laughed. Send your
clerk out of the room" he said.
Keep your gun trained on me if you
like. But do l look like a robber?"
Lewis motioned to the clerk, who
promptly stepped across the thres-
hold and closed the door.
What do you want?" asked Lewis.
His weapon was ready. and his small
black eyes stared at his visitor.
IT am going to put my hand in my
pocket. but I'm not going to produce
a gun" smiled Minturn.
Lewis shrugged. You won't if
you're WISE" he stated.
His visitor took the words as per-
mission to go ahead. From the inner
pocket of his coat he produced the
tissue paper parcel that he had taken
| the night before from the Dayless
safe. He placed it upon the table
and opened it. Lewis glanced at it:
drops of moisture appeared suddenly
upon his forehead. His tongue
showed between his thick lips, as he
moistened them.
my foot is on a button" he said.
less than five minutes the police will
be here"
Minturn smiled again. But you
aren't going to press it," he retorted
confidently.
Get to the point" snapped Lewis.
These are the Dayless diamonds;
you know that without my telling
| you. If you deliver me to the police,
| you may get ten thousand dollars as
| reward. If you buy them from me,
your profit should be quarter of a
million. You don't look like a fool"
do I look like a thief?" said
Lewis.
"Do II" continued Minturn. "I can't
see that our appearances matter par
ticularly. Do we do business?" He
carefully rewrapped the necklace and
placed 1t in his pocket. ''Well?" he
demanded.
Come back this afternoon" said
Lewis hoarsely.
| X
NEINTURN nodded. and without an.
lNl other word left the Office. He
walked toward Broadway, but few
doors from that street he seoppeG
into a taxi drawn up at the curb. Sc
1t was that, when the olive skinned
clerk emerged, a few moments later
from the jewelry establishment, he
was followed by a taxicab whose
driver, having some difficulty with
his carburetor, could proceed only
at snail's pace
! The clerk was watchfully suspi.
cious, but it never occurred to hiIr
that if he were followed 1t was by 6
person in an automobile. And Min
turns taxi man was clever. Al.
though the clerk. entering an auto
mobile near Park Row, lodged ant
doubled and retraced his course
when at last he entered an apartment
house in West End avenue, Minturr
was close enough to note the mum
Der. He was then driven to UnioI
!Square. There he dismissed the tax
man. and walked rapidly toward the
apartment which he had left a cou
pie of hours earlier. He was whis
tling as he unlocked the door of hi
apartment. But the whsle died ava!
, as he entered the room.
For three men awaited him ant
were upon him. One of them was th'
Tyron operative who had converset
with him the previous night. Hand
{ cuffs were on his wrists before n
could utter word Of protest.
mot so clever as you thought, MI
Minturn." said one of the men.
Minturn held out his hands.
"Take these blasted things Off" h
ordered. I'm Pelham"
One Of the men ran his hands owe
his clothing and brought to light tn
tDayless necklace. ''Sure you ain
the King of Spain?' he laughed.
Their prisoner gave up protest. Al
right, rush me down to headquarter
as fast as you can; 1 won't argu
with YOU"
. Sensible man." said his acquaint
ance Of the night before.
g Now, detectives are ordinary humal
beings; it was not to be expected
THAT, having achieved SO brilliant
Icapture. they should fail to inform
1.-The newspaper men whom they foun'
lettering in the corridor outside tn