The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-09-04
CHAPTER vII-Continued

mlne.
For a moment Mr.. Atkinson's heart
stood still. One of the three menl
Then, where In Heavens name, were
the other two?
Zone of the three, Inspector" he
said at length, steadying his voice.
"But what happened to the others?'
"That is the amazing thing, SIR" an
swered the inspector. II can but think
that though three men entered the Of
fee downstairs, only Martin can have
been in here at the time of the explo-
sion" He pulled back the blood
stained rug, and with shudder Mr..
Atkinson contemplated what was I'M
derneath. The mangled remnants had
formed one man and one man only.
Then what, he reflected again-what
had become of the other two?
They had been in there-the lead
er of the Black Gang and one Of his
pals. There was no trace of them
now. Wherefore somehow, by some
miraculous means they must have es-
5 capped, and the soul Of Count Zadowa
grew sick within him.
Suddenly he became aware that the
inspector was asking him a question.
"Why, yes" he said, pulling himself
together, "that is SO. was leaving
this Office here, and had removed al
most everything sof value. Only some
diamonds were left, inspector-and
they were in that desk. have some
what extensive dealings in precious
stones. Was there any trace of them
fOund?'
The Inspector laughed grimly.
"You see the room for yourself, sir.
But that perhaps supplies us with the
motive for the crime. I am afraid
your diamonds are either blown to
pieces. or la the hands of the other
two men, whom have every hope of
laying my hands on shortly. There IS
no trace of them here"
In the hands Of the other two men
The idea was a new one, which had
net yet come into his calculations. so
convinced had he been that all three
men were dead. And suddenly he felt
sort of binding certainty that the
inspector-though In ignorance of the
real facts of the case-was right in
his surmise. Diamonds are not blown
to pieces by an explosion; scattered
they might be- disintegrated, no. He
felt he must get away to consider this
new development.
He crossed over to the jagged hole
in the wall and looked out.
.'This has rather upset me, inspec-
tor" he said. after while. 1.-The
South Surrey hotel in Bloomsbury
will always find me-"
: fright, sir! The inspector made a
note, and then leaned out through the
hole with a frown Get out of this,
you there! Go on. or I'll have you
locked up as vagrant!"
"Orl rite, orl rite! Can't bloke
ave bit o. fun when e amt doing
no 'arin?" 9f
The loafer, who had been ignomini-
ously moved on from the front door,
scrambled down from the lean-to roof
behind. and slouched away. muttering
darkly. And he was still muttering
to himself as he opened the door of a
taxi few minutes later, into which
Mr.. Atkinson hurriedly stepped. For
moment or two he stood on the pave
ment until it had disappeared from
view: then his prowling propensities
seemed to disappear is If by magic.
Still with the same shambling gait, but
apparently now with some definite OBJ
ject in his mind, he disappeared down
side street, finally coming to a halt
before public telephone-box He
gave one rapid look round, then he
stepped inside.
Mayfair 1894" He waited beating
a tattoo with his pennies on the box.
Things had gone well that morning
very we'll.
''tello, is that you. Hugh? Yes,
Peter speaking The man Atkinson is
the hunchback. Stopping South Sur
rey hotel. Bloomsbury. He's just got
into taxi and gone off to the Ritz.
He seemed peeved, to me. Yes,
he inquired lovingly about the what
nots What's that? You'll tod
die round to the Ritz yourself. Right
no! I'll come. too Cocktail time.
Give you full details then"
The loafer stepped out of the box
and shut the door. Then, still sucking
filthy clay pipe, he shambled off in
the direction of the nearest Tube sta
ton. A slight change of attire before
lining up at the Ritz seemed indicated.
And it would. indeed, have been a
shrewd observer wleb would have iden-
titled the Immediately dressed young
gentleman who strolled into the Ritz
shortly before twelve o'clock with the
misunderstanding object who had so
aroused the wrath of the police few
hours previously in Hoxton. The first
person he saw sprawling contentedly
In an easy chair was Hugh Drum
mond. who waved his stick in greeting.
Peter Darrell took the next chair.
and his eyes glanced quickly round
the lounge.