Evening star., 1923-11-01
THE DOUBLE CHANCE
Yoscus.g f Hssy Acsssd Hero
BY J. S. FLETCHER
. Auaaer Of .Ray.sr.s1aSs A..aIsuu.asion.-
Y J. S. FLETCHER

red Of face-pushed her way out Of
sleeve. Phillipa stopped. staring al
her: the detective stopped, too, so
curious was the woman's appearance
SO odd her behavior.
Miss" she said in a sibilant whis-
! per, which only Inspector Cortelyou
could catch. My mans down below,
These here others can bIather as
much as they like for theirs, but |
hope mines done for II hope tho
devils got him-he were that cruel to
me. Dogger Tandy they call him---he
were that fond o. dogs. And / say.
| miss. III tell you something"
Phillipa. half afraid. was shrinking
away, but the woman's clawlike fin
gers held her fast. The detective
'Tn tell you something" whispered
the woman. There's somebody down
there with my man-Marsha Stead,
Him as the p'lice wants. / know.
That's where he's hidden. Down l.
tn mine. They thought l didn't know.
but / did,
She slipped back into the crowd.
ana inspector Cortelyou and Phillipa
stared after her and then at each
other. They were about TO speak,
when sudden commotio9 turned
their attention to the pit head The
rescue party, headed by Clinton and
the manager, was on its way to the
shaft.
Ever since he had set eyes on them
logger Tandy had been sorely Exer-
cised in mind about the diamonds he
had found Marshall Stead gIoating
over. Like most people who do not
know much about such matters and
who have heard stories about them
which bordered on the miraculous, he
began to attach an enormous value To
them. He had read about diamonds
IN the newspapers. he had dim and
vague ideas that ne had heard il said
that the king or the queen, he was not
sure which, had diamonds which were
worth millions
The more he thought of those
which he had seen Stead handling
the more valuable they seemed to be-
come. Certainly, he said TO himself,
he would have his share out of them,
and a handsome share. too. He would
give up all work, of course. He would
go away from Mannersley and his ILL
favored wife. He would buy himself
nice house somewhere outside a big
| town. and he would keep dogcarI
ana good horse and have grey
hounds: he would smoke large cigars
ana drink whisky ali day long and be
gentleman. He had as much right
to, at any rate, half the diamonds as
stead had. Yes. of course IL was only
right that he should have his proper
and lawful share.
While he thus argued within him
sci tilrTt SudusnlS came INTO logger
Fandy's mind new idea. which made
him first feel very hot and then very
cold. and then very hot again. He
faced that idea boldly and took
Iresh qua OF tobacco whereon to ru-
inmate over II. 1t seemed such a i.
grand idea
Why should he not have the dia-
monds for himself? Not a quarter
nor haIf OF them. but ali-alI?
When the neWneSs of this idea had
worn DOR0Hr 1x-
so enamored Of II. so familiar with it.
that he wondered he had not thought
OF II before-thought of il at once
Why. the diamonds were as good as
his own already! If he chose to put
out his hand for them. who was going
to stop him from taking them? Ger
tainly not Stead. He laughed at the
thought He could break Stead In
two with one hand Besides what
right had Stead to retain property
which wasn't his? Dogger Tandy's
creed was a simple and we'll known
one. and Very familiar to lot Of
people supposedly his superiors in
station, education and ability 1t was
simply that
They should take who have the power
And they should keep who can.
Dogger Tandy knew himself in the
position to take; if Stead could man
age to keep. let him. But he wasn't
Dogger Tandy laughed TO himself
olSdO was dS SstIe as rat IN a trap.
He could not get out of the hole un-
derground without his aid There
fore. Stead did not count He was in
the position OF the small boy who has
slxpence and is defenselesS before the
big boy who means to have that six
pence.
OF course, he had no intention OF
numbering Stead for the sake of the
diamonds. No but equally, of
course, If Stead would not hand them
nv h..t 4
might have to hurt him--well, that
would be his own fault. Dogger
Tandy was not by any means a senti-
mentalist and had no intention of
sticking at trifies.
And 50. as Stead, anic-stricken
with fear because he knew that
Tandy knew. and nerve-shaken by his
days and nights 1900 feet beneath the
surface, was creeping along the gal
leries to evade Tandy Tandy was ad-
vancing to meet him. When they met
the struggle was short and sharp.
The miner nearly shook the life out
OF the escaping fugitive, and. drag
ging him back to his place of hiding
flung him, bruised and breathless. on
his bed of sacking, and administered
a sound kick to him, which made him
Sroan with fear as much as with pain.
so, that's how you would treat me.
you white-livered cur, you" said Dog
ger Tandy. towering over his captive
paying up, would you? Wen see
about that. my lad. Hand over those
sinners. dye hear. else Til make you
as you'll never see daylight again!
Quick now!"
'I promised you should have your
share" answered Stead. sohbing with
rage and pain -.They're no use to
either of us until I'm out OF this; you
can't do anything with them"
Cant II" said Tandy. Happen !
don't know of chap as can. neither?
Oh. no! Hand 'em over, / say"
They'd have you as soon as ever
you tried to deal with them" cried
Stead. The descriptions Quit was
in all those papers you left"
Tandy's sole reply to this was a
savage kick. which landed in Stead's
ribs and knocked the breath out of
him for the moment He rolled over,
sobbing and groaning, and the miner.
clutching him by the collar and lift
ing him as easily as If he had beer
an infant, dumped him into the chair
with one hand and smote the table
with the other.
out with 'em!" he said. with a ter
rible oath. Plank 'em down, every
man jack of 'em! Keep a single one
back and I'll smash every bone in
your body"
More dead than alive from fright
and agony, Stead drew a canvas bag
from some secret receptacle in his
clothing and laid 1t on the table.
Watching him fixedly. the miner slow
~ united the string which fastened
the bag, and shook the gIitterinf-
gems out on the table.