Evening star., 1923-11-18
THE DA NESS
DIAMONDS
4 x~,
BY Arthur SOmerS Roche
- ELHAM slipped his key into
the lock, but before he could
turn it the door was opened
from within Slim Diclausop

ueuCe OF Il time 10 come nome. MT.
Pelham said the ex-guide severely.
You may picture yourself gay
young buck, but YOU look eighty
flve.
Pelham surrendered his hat and coat
and walked into the living room of
his apartment. He surveyed the
bubbling percola{or upon a table and
rubbed his hands together in delight
full anticipation. He spoke over his
shoulder. slim. you're a jewel" He
sat down before the laden table and
reached for a napkin.
Slim crossed the little living room
almost in a stride. Then he reap
peared. bearing q bowl of oatmeal
81 went to bed at IL last night. but
didn't go to sleep. And at got
up, and I've been; up ever since he
said acidly.
Pelham rose with a suddenness OF
movement that bespoke nervous en-
ergy allied to trained muscles. His
arm went around the ex-guide's
shoulders. Some day I'm going TO
forget what a puny specimen YOU
are, smiled Pelham. And I'm going
to show you what' a right cross is
like"
The dour look ,left Dickensons
eyes; his mouth parted ina grin.
How many times have you filled
that percolator since o'clock::" de-
manded Pelham.
Plenty" replied Slim
Then you're due to drink some of
It,"
A light OF mischief appeared in
njoIarSnn'c irh
/ know my place"
''YoAr place will be standing on
your ear in a corner in about a
second"
Dickenson's grin grew broader. "Oh.
well. if that's the way you feel" But
he sighed hungrily as he pulled up
chair to the table.
Pelham was famished. and so was
Slim. AS often together in the Maine
woods, ravenous from a days fishing.
they had eaten in silence. so they ate
now. But finally Pelham lighted a
cigarette. Not for a bath and ten
hours sleep" he announced.
"It seems to me that before you
pound your ear. you ought to be
maxim some comment on. "a remark of
mine" suggested Slim.
Pelnam S gray eyes lWlnkieu
quite true" he agreed. I've been
talking. arguing. pleading, cajolng,
bribing. and promising all might long,
with the sweetest collection of ras-
Gals ever gathered together in one
room"
"The Gray Ghosts gang" asked
Slim.
Those of them whom. On various
occasions, we've managed to capture.
There isn't one of themswlo doesn't
face at least fifteen years in prison.
and yet not a single word did | get
that would lead me one inch nearer to
the Gray Ghost than | am at this
minute. They won't betray Aim. The
district attorney rounded them all up.
and kept after them all nieht."
Didn't you get anything?s' asked
Slim.
We'll" conceded PeIhami reluc-
tantly. maybe the barest possible
clue-but 1 don't think so. And now
I'm going to bed
But on the threshold Of his bedroom
he paused. Sorry, Slim. that didn't
think to telephone you where 7 was"
That's all right. Mr.. Pelhar4," re-
DiIcu Eoillll uHis. lit bu's Il iCN
minutes clearing away the breakfast
dishes. Then silence descended upon
the little apartment.
TT was in the afternoon when
insistent knocking on the front
door broke the slumbers of master
and man. Slim opened the door: dis
closing the aggressive face of Jerry
Tryon, the ex-lieutenant of police.
who now headed the detective agency
in which Pelham was consulting part
ner. In his hand he bore a copy of
"A Sunday newspaper.
Mr.. Pelham isn't up yet" said
Slim.
Eyes, I am too called Pelham
from his bedroom.
The two men met in the living
room.
Haven't read the papers eh?" de-
manded Tryon. He unfoided the
Sphere as he spoke, and showed an
illustrated dopble-page article in the
magazine section. Pelham glanced; at
it carelessly, then looked at Jerry
What does it say?" he asked.
This man Dayless," cried Jerry.
world-and the Gray Ghost-evGry
safeguard that he has used to pro-
tect his house. He has described in
detail every painting, every jewel in
the collection. And when the re-
porter-Ill say for that lad that
he has a lot more sense than Dayless
asked him If he wished the details
published, Dayless replied"
He snatched the paper from Pei
hams hand and read the offensive
sentences.
Certainly replied the former
governor. I'm not afraid of bur-
glars. In fact. I'll be glad to have
them warned of the uselessness of
attempting to rob my home. And
if these electrical alarms. and the
presence of ten armed watchmen, are
not sufficient to warn criminals awaf-
from my house, perhaps the fact that
the Tryon Detective Agency is under
contract to keep operatives here daY
rent" Jerry hurled the paper intG
a corner, and almost danced in his
rage.
Pelham laughed at him. II don't
see anything to become excited about.
jerry" he said. you're afraid that
the Gray Ghost will rob Dayless, and
that we will be laughed at again."
said Pelham.
Jerry shrugged his thick shoulders.
81 don't care how much we're laughed
at" he said. "But, you know. we did
hot Ia o.