Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-10-28
Continued from Yesterdays starr

Perhaps" admitted Mr. Colby. He
rose, walked to the window, and looked
out. Vaguely through the afternoon
haze far down the harbor he could
discern the ma eStic bulk of the Aqui-
tania, smoke streaming from her huge
tunnels in the western breeze, outward
bound. When he turned again to
Bromtield. he spoke easily swiftly,
like a man who has come to a decision.
Mr. Bromfeld,'' he said, Il do not
need to beat about the bush with you,
nor do | need to assure you that | do
not suspect you of any completely i'll
the disappearance of my daughters
diamonds
Il should hope not" laughed the
gambler.
aside from the moral obliquity
involved in any such connection. you
are much too faStidiouS a person to
concern yourself in such IA vulgar
matter. And yet it is in connection
with the theft of these jewels that l
have asked you TO come and see me
this afternoon"
Bromtield affected surprise. Il shall
be Interested to see how that can
possibly be-" he said
The lawyer continued: Il Will not
disguise from you the fact that /
have definite opinion as to the iden-
l
name. | shall not mention il either
now or at any time. | do not desire
to punish any one, no matter whom
Ii may be. Fortunately, since some
thing more than one hundred thou
sand dollars is involved, the insurance
prevents any pecuniary loss. But en-
tirely aside from that feature of the
case, the diamonds have sentimental
value for my daughter and myself"
II know" said Bromtield. They
belonged 10 the late Mrs. Colby"
quite so, and to her mother before
her. Naturally, therefore, there is a
special reason for regretting their
loss"
Il quite understand" agreed the
sympathetic Bromtield.
Now we both understand" went
on Mr.. Colby, that though you are
in person an agreeable, cultivated and
presentable individual, nevertheless
your business is one which is as
countenanced by the law"
Quite true" Interrupted Bromtield.
defensively. and vet III have you
understand that I've never felt myself
a criminal. All my games are on the
level-they always have been. When
gentlemen play at my place they have
an equal chance with me. with the
exception OF the slight percentage in
my favor which is inherent in the
rules of certain games, and l never
have been able to see why ii should
be made a criminal thing for me to
allow men to risk their own money
upon the chance of gaining mine
MY dear Bromfield," smiled the
lawyer, we're not here TO discuss the
ethics of your business. and l feel
that if we were, your impartiality in
the matter is open to dispute. What
says the bard in his little poem?
rN 2 man man, e,sr felt the h, halter draw
But though Mr.. Colby smiled, Brom-
field did not. He really felt that it
was an outrage that an honest gam
bier like himself should be in law a
criminal.
What I was getting at is this"
continued Mr. Colby suavely: Though
as I say, you're a person whom it is
agreeable to meet. and your personal
morals are SO far as / know above
reproach. nevertheless l know that in
your line of business it is sometimes
necessary for you to come in contact
with certain gentlemen who are not
SO scrupulous as yourself. Is that
not true?"
unfortunately, yes"
Very well, then, while | share your
regret. nevertheless | wish if possible
to make use of this lamentable circum-
stance"
I'm what way, may I ask"
I'm this way" replied the lawyer,
busy with his pencil upon a portrait
whose features somehow took on a
vague likeness to those of a man of
whom he was thinking at the moment.
at occurred to me that ii was barely
possible that in your regrettably neces-
sary association with some of these,
shall l say, declasse persons, you
might by chance stumble upon some
Information which would enable me
to recover my daughters necklace"
He stopped and glanced shrewdly at
the gambler.
The latter met his gaze. cit is
possible" he said at length.
In that case" went on the lawyer,