The Ely miner., 1928-10-12

ehC pau. IL was way uc udu Wien
conversing with clients. 81 suppose"
he went on. "yOu have heard of the
theft of my daughters necklace?"
Naturally. Everybody has heard
of 1t who can read the newspapers.
Have you any clew"
"None at all. The police have gone
through all their customary motions.
The private detectives employed by
the insurance people have gone
through theirs. And they have all
drawn blank"
II read in the papers," said BrOm-
field, that the police were convinced
from the first that it was an inside
job"
"Yes, they always say that, when
they fail in such case. They feel
that by such an announcement they
can saddle at least part of the blame
upon the owner of the stolen gems"
"Still," said Bromfeld, "you must
admit that circumstances rather ia
vor the inside theory. AS l recall
them, there was no evidence at all
that the house had been entered. No
locks were broken, no windows found
suspiciously open, no evidence of the
presence of a stranger In the apart
ment that night"
True-true." agreed the lawyer. An
other silence fell. Again it was
Bromfield who broke it.
II can see," he said, that you have
formed some theory of your own"
Perhaps" admitted Mr.. Colby. He
rose, walked to the window. and
looked out. When he turned again to
Bromfeld, he spoke easily, swiftly,
like man who has come to a de-
cision.
'Mr. Bromfield," he said, 81 do not
need to beat about the bush with you.
1t is in connection with the theft of
these jewels that have asked you to
come and see me this afternoon"
Bromfield affected surprise. 81 shall
be interested to see how that can
possibly be-" he said.
The lawyer continued: 81 will not
disguise from you the fact that have
a definite opinion as to the identity Of
the thief. | thinb | know his name.
| shall not mention 1t either now or
at any time. do not desire to punish
anyone, no matter whom 1t may be.
Fortunately, since something more
than one hundred thousand dollars Is
involved, the insurance prevents any
pecuniary loss. But entirely aside
from that feature of the case, the dia-
monds have sentimental value for
my daughter and myself"
81 know" said Bromfield. ''They
belonged to the late Mrs. Colby"
"Quite so, and to her mother before
her. Naturally, therefore, there Is
special reason for regretting their
l. S."
81 quite understand" agreed the
sympathetic BrOmfeld.
snow, 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 discoun-
tenanced by the law"
"Quite true" interrupted Bromfield,
defensively, "and yet I'll have you
understand that I've never felt my
self criminal. All my games are
on the level-they always have been.
When gentlemen play at my place
they lave an equal chance with me.
with the exception Of the slight per-
centage in my favor which Is inherent
In the rules of certain games. and
never have been able to see why IT
should be made a criminal thing for
me to allow men to risk their own
money upon the chance of gaining
min.."
"My dear Bromfield," smiled the
lawyer, "we're not here to discuss the
ethics of your business. What / was
getting at is this, though as say,
you're a person whom II is agreeable
to meet. and your personal morals are
so far as know above reprOach. rev.
ertheless l know that in your line of
business 1t Is sometimes necessary
for you to come in contact with GER
tain gentlemen who are not so scru-
pulous as yourself. Is that not true?"
unfortunately, yes"
"very we'll then, while share your
regret, nevertheless | wish if possible
to make use Of this Iamentable cir
cumstance."
"In what way, may ask?"
"In this way" replied the lawyer,
busy with his pencil upon a portrait
whose features somehow took on
vague likeness to those of q man of
whom he was thinking at the moment.
"It occurred TO mo that it was barely
possible that in your regrettably nec-
essary association Nth some of these.
shall say. declasse persons, you
light by chance stumble upon some
information which would enable me
to recove; my daughters necklace"
He stopped and glanced shrewly at
the gambler.
The latter met his gaze. "It is DOS
sible," he said at length.
"In that case" went on the law
yer, Il wish to say that If you are
able to recOve. them, | will see that
you are reimbursed to the full amount
of the insurance, plus any necessary
expense In addition to that, you will
place me under great obligation"
The gambler leaned forward in his
chair, and fixed his keen eyes upon
the other. Understand me now, Mr..
Colby-I have at present no krowl.
edge whatever as to the whereabouts
of the diamonds
(TO BE CONTINUED.l