New Britain herald., 1924-07-01
NOW 60 ON WITH THE STORY

nhfushh hfhNh oht llttih HNlnhoAll hoX and hands il to inc girl.
 NOW 60 OS WITH THE STORY saw my acquaintance reach for tho box: though l could not sec his face, knew that his eyes were shin- Ing with ill.Rupprcssed desire. And then, ns l saw his right hand drop into the pocket Of his coat, l knew what ho planned 10 do, even before caught glimpse of the white object that he drew from his pocket He planned 10 substitute one box for the other.
 smiled with amusement. Also appreciated his cunning. InqueS. tionably he had made purchases from Daragon, Probably he had let tho jewcler understand that the purchases were gifts for his sweetheart. Then he had permitted Daragon to meet hla lady. The lady had smiled upon the jeweler. Daragon had seen an opportunity to combine business with pleasure, the sort of pleasure that ap- pealed 10 him And it was not un- usual that, in trying to close a bar gain, he should bring jewel from | his store. And the girl had been waiting for him alone: her seductions were to lull Daragon's suspicious if any, might be aroused.
 l saw my friends hand shake in negation. Argument. presumably over the price of the trinket, seemed 10 arise. The girl pleaded with her lover Oh, it was all well staged. Then. decsively, my crook shook his head. He pushed the box across the table, as though the incident were closed. Daragon argued a few minutes, seemed to make concessions which were not accepted, then slowly wrapped up the box and tied the his waistcoat pocket. l wondered how they planned to get it away from him. to substitute the box which, underneath the table, the crook held in his right hand.
 Then l saw. My friend the crook turned in his seat and pointed toward the, door. Daragon looked in that direction. The girls hand shot out; deftly it licked from his pocket the box which he had just placed there. No one but myself was placed so that the action could have been seen. I waited for the next move, which must be the substitution of the other box.
 But although the crook handed the girl the other box, Daragon's attcn- tion was not held by the incident near the door, which was nothing more than an atercation between two guests of the restaurant. an alterca- ton arranged, I suspected, for the sole purpose of atfording time and opportunity for the robbery of the ieweler.
 He began to argue with the crook. His hand reached for his waistcoat pocket, to produce the jewel. But the girl had not had time to effect the substitution. She went dead white as Darason leaped to his feet, overturning his chair as he did so. For his suspicious. never more than slumbering imagined awoko to. full activity.
 Then, before he could attract the attention of the head waiter and tho manager, l rose from my chair and walked swiftly to their table. had no particular sympathy for the girl and her crook companion. But had even less for Daragon. For while I watched him, 1 remembered some of the unpleasant tales that had been current about him in the years before the war. The girl was a thief, but Daragon was filthy beast.
 l gained their table in three strides. You dropped something on the Hoor,' ] said l spoke to Daragon, but looked squarcly at the girl. If she had the quick wit of her kind, I -eoud save her.
 . She had il; as I bent ovcr groping beneath the table, her hand touched mine and slipped into it a box. In her excitement her shaking fingers relaxed their grip of the second box. I got that too, and would have been at loss how to proceed, but for the fact that leaning over until her face was close to mine, she whispered frantically 'rhe first one, the first one"
 l slipped inc second box swiftly into my pocket, arose and handed Daragon the first one. He took it from me, and immediately united and opened it. He sighed with relief.
 Much obliged" he said For a minute I thought--damn it, I didn't think l know that I put that box in my pocket, and it couldn't have fallen out"
 T picked 1t from, the floor" re- minded itm.
 Tt didn't fall there" insisted the jeweler.
 Then how did ii get there" de- manded the crook.
 T don't know" said Daragon. If I did. I'd call the police"
 What do you mean?" demanded the crook.
 T don't mean anything: I don't have to mean anything, do I? But that box didn't walk out of my pocket" snarled tie iewelcr.
 Are you insinuating-" began the crock.
 Daragon interrupted him. When a y-thousand-dollar diamond ring leaves my pocket, can insinuate all l damn please. If you don't like it, lump it. was a fool to bring it down here anyway. My store is the place for me o do business"
 Better be careful" warned the crook
 Don't worry about me. You said you'd give me forty thousand; you