The Ely miner., 1930-08-01

Then, saying that he must Low at
tend 70 his own business, klOop left
us. We three went ic lunch.
"Well, we've got some information"
observed Maythorne as we settled
down al a corner table We've found
out about those diamonds. | figure
up the situation in this way: '-aZaroff
sent the tirst-Blue Diamond One, as
we'll call ito his London bankers
Now then-did he sono il for safety,
until his coming. or did he send t
that il might be shown to a likely
customer? think, 70 a likely Gus
TONER also think more, in view of
that cipher letter. | think that-prob-
ably for some time-Armntrade. then
AT the Imperial Banking Corporation
of South Africa in l Ondon. had not
only had charge of hlaZaroff's cor
reSpondence with -he bank. hui had
correSpondec privately with MaZaroff.
think thar Armintrade took charge
of Blue Diamond One till MaZarOtf'S
arrival with Blue Diamond Two. AMI.
probably, during the interval made in
| quiries for likely buyer of the pair.
| "From all | hear o1 him. MaZaroff
was an astu,e man. lie probably fig
| ured that there was lot of men here
| in England who, rightly Or HOnely,
| have made vast fortunes out of the
| war. Such men-aS We well know
want TO set up in great style. or,
| rather they do SET up in great style.
| And the men have wumen-theres
| Lady Midas as well a, Sir GOrgions.
| Now what does Lady Midas want
| diamonds What is fashionable
| woman without diamonds? Her hair
may he false, and her skin as yellow
| as parchment-but she's going TO have
diamonds glittering in one and on the
! other. Now reckon that MaZarOff
/ knew all that. and that he considered
Lady Midas the customer he was look.
| ing for, eh?'
"Well-n0 doubt you're not far
wrong" laughed Crole. Now. it you've
got Lady Midas address in your
| pOcket?"
| "At present." observed MaythOrne,
LADY Midas is found at a lot of ad-
| dresses. In the meantime, there's
| spade work to be done in another
| corner"
1T strikes me there are several
corners" said Crole. up to now,
affair. There can BE- no doubt that
| Merchison was on that ship, that he
slipped away from it, leaving his
things behind, and got safely ashore
! to disappear as MerchiSOn and reap
| pear as MaZaroff. Now, why?"
! 81 should say-because he wanted
| TO cut clear of Mrs. MercbisOn, left
, at home" said Maythurne, dryly. HE
| wanted her To think him dead what
| did ii matter as long as he was alive?
| But ! tell you he WAS always bit OF
| mystery nan, and Id give lot To
! know where he went, and with whom
| he talked, and so on. that day after
he and Holt struck tine WOodcOck. He
saw somebody that day who gave him
some information aboEt Mrs Elphin-
stone and Miss Mercnison-he said as
| much TO you, didn't hep
''He did," | admitted.
| "Well-who was that somebody"
| he asked. THAT somebody who's
never come forward?"
| NaythOrne laid down his knife and
fork, and bent across the table TO us.
Suppose" he said. in whisper,
eh?-suppose it was his
| wife?'
| This suggestion seemed TO impress
| CrOle even more than it impressed me
| his mouth opened and he started.
| But before he could say anything, a
| young man came threading his way
| through the crowded room and made
| for him. He bent down, handed CrOle
a card, and whispered something.
CrOe looked at the card and towards
| the door. "Outside:-waiting" he
said. Bring him in here, Robinson
ROllinSon--on- of Crole's clerks
went o., an Crole threw the card on
the fable for US TO Took at. 1t was a
very neat. beautifully engraved card,
| giving the rame and address of Mr..
| Adolf Frobenius, sos Bond street, W.,
| and very neat, spick- -and-span gentle
man followed it.
| Swell jewelers. ir Bond street,"
whispered Croe. as Mr.. Frobenius,
ushered by the clerk, made his way
| TO our corner; "clienr of mine, and
| neighbOr of mine, roO-lives near me
| at Wimbledon: Smari man. Halo,
| FrObenius % he continued as he greeted
| his visitor "Delighted you ran me to
| earth. Let me introduce my friends
Mr. Maythorne: Mr.. Mervyn Holt.
dare say" he added, with sly
/ smile, you've he; rd of both, before
| now."
| "Of Mr.. Maythorne, often," an
swered the jeweler, with pulite bow.
"And of Mr. HOlt-since ! read in the
| newspapers of the MaZarOff affair.
| Which affair, Mr.. Croe." he continued.
seating himself by the solicitor. lis
what ! have come to see you about"
81 thought So" said Croe. Guessed
| il at once We shall be glad of any
information. Did you know Mazaroff?"
II have read great deal in the
| newspapers about this affair And
| came along to see you, Mr.. Crole, be-
cause | am almost sure that not very
| long ago, under rather unusual cir
! cunistances. | met Mr.. Mazaroff."
"G0od" exclaimed Crole. But
| you either did or you didn't. Why
'almost'?"
Because" answered FrObenius, 1.-The
| man whom | met was not introduced
| to me by any name. | just met him.
| However he was a notable mainland
| the description of MaZaroff in the
| papers corresponds with my recollec-
tions. But | will give you the facts.