The Bismarck tribune., 1924-08-07
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ket. nodded coldly to Kernochan
and his daughter.
Now, then" l said to Vantine, "if
you will kindly unlock the door, l
will go upstairs, get my things and
| leave"
The sweat stood on kernochan's
forehead, but he nodded to Vantinc
to acquicsce in my demand. The de-
tective opened the door for me;
walked calmly through it, and began
mounting the stairs in the hall out
side.
Now, have said that ut this period
in my career | was an amateur. This
account of my recklessness is proof
that | tell the truth. But do not do
me the injustice to suppose that |
thought for one minute that, though
| was permitted to leave the room,
would be permitted to leave the
house. heard the telephone click
as ! set my foot on the first step.
Rather than risk a brawl, l would be
permitted to go upstairs. By the
time | would have packed my bags,
policemen would be in the house.
Only Vantine's pride had caused this
much delay in summoning the police.
For their arrival meant publicity and
consequent ridicule, in the press, for
the great detective who must call in
village policemen to recover a jewel
stolen under his eyes. But Vantine's
pride was not too elastic; it had
snapped now. He would risk ridi-
culc, and ,kernochan would risk
libel suit. The jewel was worth these
risks.
Yet, knowing what they were do
ing, | managed to restrain myself
until | reached my room. Then
acted as swiftly as ever man, in
similar predicament, could hope to
act. l snatched up hat and coat,
crossed my room in a bound, threw
open the French window that led to !
a balcony, and vaulted to the ground |
twelve feet below. True, l risked IA
broken leg, but it was only chance.
Arrest meant certain imprisonment
My recent past could afford no dis
closures. And luck was with me.
was shaken up, but uEini,, ed. In
thirty seconds l was in the garage,
at thct wheel of my car. Cries from
the house-they had heard my i'm
pact with the ground-aIarmed IA
lounging chauffeur. But he was not
quick enough; l was away at once.
And | was not captured. | reached
New York. abandoned my car, pur-
chased clothing-even late at night
it is possible to buy apparel in the
great city-and within an hour after
that | had eliminated. felt certain,
any possibility of capture. For am
of undistinguished appearance. and
the description meant for ME would
fit a thousand other men.
Yes, | was safe--safe, I mean.
from the pursuit Of the clumsy Van
tine and the eX>policemen who make
up the staff of his agency. But ]
was not safe from something else.
Once again l tell you that at this
time | was an amateur. cursed with
sentimentality. For
l could not help but think of the
sweet faced widow in Boston. The
Grand Dukes ring should have been
hers. Somehow l felt that | had
robbed her, not the grossly rich Ben
jamin kernocnan. And sol turned
the ruby into cash, engaged dis
Greet lawyer, and Mrs. Henry Adams
learned that certain stock which she
did not know belonged to her hus-
band was hers. She lives, l believe,
in comparative luxury upon farm
in Massachusetts. She Should live
well; the income from one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars-the price
paid me for the Grand Dukes ruby
by dealer in stolen stones-is ample
for a widowed lady of simple tastes.
Yes, l was an amateur. Thank
God, had not yet forgotten that l
was also gentleman.
The adventure of the Grand Dukes !
ruby had cost, me money, instead of
showing me a profit. Yet if by that
adventure / was lighter in my pocket, |
1 was also light in heHt, thinking of
Mrs. Adams, as sailed the following
week for Europe.