The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-01-11

AS already mentioned, the whole of
Tricks property, which was about three
or four acres and laid out in garden,
was closed in by high iron railing.
The distance between the rails was SO
little that even a child could not equeeze
himself through 1t was not altogether
improbable, though difficult enough, that
a daring and agile man might have
climbed over the ratings, notwithstand-
ing the spikes.
It was, however, easy to find out it
any one had got over in that way. 1t
had lately rained good deal, and the
ground on either side of the railing was
soft. Any footstep would therefore
leave trace. especially on the outer side
where there was newly pioughed field
l went all round the garden; no
one had come that way.
Old Prick was patrolling to and fro
at the gate when returned.
Nobody has got over the fence to-
day." said /.
mo-" he answered thoughtfully; that
has been my belief the whole time. |
fear that we must have thieves in the
house-but here comes Sigridp
He was quite right, for there was the
dear girl walking at rapid pace toward
the gate.
A warm blush overspread her face
when she saw me, but it disappeared
quickly, and ] noticed she looked very
pale and fatigued
We opened the gate for her, and !
gave sign to Prick that / wished first
10 speak with her
went up to her, took her hand, and
whispered some words which had moth
ing to do with the theft Then, as we
came nearer her uncle, / remarked aloud
and as carelessly as possible:
"Your uncle cannot find the black tor
toise; he thinks he must have mislaid
it in some place or another"
said this purposely to arouse her at
tention, in case the diamond really had
been mislaid | was afraid that if /
mentioned at once that it might have
been stolen, she would have become too
excited to think quietly over the matter.
"But, dear me, isn't it in the cup
board? | myself saw you put it in its
place before we followed Mr.. Jurgens
through the garden"
could not help noticing that Sigrid
spoke in very absent-minded manner !;
she looked tagged out, like person
who had gone through some physical
or mental exertion.
We told her not to mention anything
for the present to the servants about
the disappearance of the diamond, and
then she left US and went into the
house. II struck me as remarkable that
the affair should interest her so little
The next thing l did was to telephone
% the police station, and order two of
my meu to come out Immediately to
Villa Ballarat then asked old Frick
to take a walk with me in the garden
until they arrived; in this way we could
see that nobody went III or out of the
house without our knowledge.
where is Mr.. Howell?" / asked. /
suddenly began to wonder why had
not seen or heard anything OF this gen.
tleman
"Oh, he went by rail to Osterdalen
this afternoon. He was invited by a
man called Varingson, | think, who
owns large forests up there. They are
going to shoot capercailzie; it is only
four days, ] think he said, before close
time begins"
"What time in the afternoon did he
goY
''He had sent his luggage down to the
station before midday; but the train
was not going before six or seven. We
can hear from Iverson when he left.
Besides, you know, everybody goes and
comes as they like in this house,
/ Ivsrson was Tricks trusted man; he
was formerly sergeant in the army, an
nnuspaIlx trustworthy and clsysr fellow,