The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-07-04

toned TO deal with such matters.
ordered breakfast for them. and while
they ate and drank, | sat with them,
and Mr. Crole and l exchanged pre-
liminaries.
'I'll tell you in few sentences all
that | know of Mazaroff, Mr.. Holt"
he said. ''He introduced himself TO
me few weeks ago at my office.
He told me that he was an English
man who had been out of England for
many years, and during his absence
had amassed large fortune. He said
that he'd now returned to this country
for good, and he wanted to buy a
really nice house in London and settle
down in it. He had heard of our firm
and had come to see If l could help
him. | promised to look out likely
house for him-and that's practically
ALL"
81 don't know much MORE" | said.
81 can tell you how ! came to know
him"
He interrupted me.
"Oh, l know all about that, and
about you, Mr.. Holt" he exclaimed.
when Mazaroff put that advertise
ment in the Times, he brought the ap-
plications to me-m0st of 'em anyway.
II was | who advised him to fix up
with you. You got or together?"
"SpIendidIy !-admirably - | said.
WED grown to be very close friends"
aver he replied. "He seemed
likable and kindly man. But now, as
you'd got sc friendly, | wonder If
you'd observed something about MaZa-
roff's understanding, to be plain
with you, that caused me alarm, and
sent me off, up here. with Maythorne
there, as soon as ever ! read of his
disappearance. Had you?"
Il can't say that | had" an
swered.
He bent across the table, cycling
Maythorne and myself significantly.
81 Iunched and dined with Mazaroff
two or three times" be said in low
voice. "And | learned a bit about
him. Aren't you aware, Mr.. Holt.
that he carried diamonds in his pockets
loose las if they'd been so many
half-pence?"
That gave me a genuine start of as
constituent.
mo, indeed! ~ | exclaimed. 81 never
saw him produce any diamonds
never!"
Crole Iaughed-dryly.
Il only nope he left them behind
him in London, them" he said But
Il doubt it, even if you didn't see them
He'd made the greater part of his for
tune in that sort of thing, and | tell
you that he carried, loose on him,
stones that looked TO me to be worth
no endi demonstrated with him.
but he only laughed. NOw-ask May
thorne there what be thinks, profess
sionally?"
MaythOrne smiled. 81 think that a
man who carries diamonds in his
pockets, and pulls them out in public
places, as you say MaZaroff did, is
asking for trouble" he remarked.
And the probability is that he was
followed here. Just give us the plain
facts up to now, Mr. EOlt-briefly."
told them of all that had hap
pened from the moment of Mazaroff's
going out alone on the moor TO the
bringing of his mutiIated body to the
WOodcOck that morning. And sud
denly, making sure that nobody would
interrupt us. | told them, word for
word. of all that had passed between
me and MaZarOff on the second eve
ming of our stay at the Woodcock.
AS soon as had finished, Crole
spoke, sharply and Cecisively.
81 believe all that /" he said. 81
felt sure there was queer mystery
about Mazaroff. Well, there it is!
And the next thing is-it'll have to
be told to Mrs. Elphinstone, who is
really Mrs. MerchisOn. And at once"
THE sooner the BETTER" agreed
Maythorne. "BecauSe-there are things
by which he can be identified, that
birthmark, for instance"
Yes, at once" declared CrOle. ale
may have died-probably has died
intestate. He made no mention to
me of any will. II he has died in
testate, and his identity as MerchisOn
is established, then this lady and her
daughter benefit: the daughter mainly.
of course. Holt, you and | must 60
to this place-what is it. Marrasdale
tower?-immediately. fine revela-
ton! Come, you and l will go, and
leave Maythorne to his own devices.
He'll not be idle"
| led Crole across the moor in the
direction of Marrasdaie tower, giving
him on the way some account of the
people lie would meet there. We met
one of them before we reached the
gates-Sheila was just coming out,
and l saw at once that she had heard
the news.