The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-08-29
CHAPTER VII-Continued

"You think that, Maythorne"
asked as we paused at tho door of the
elevator.
.'Of counsel" he exclaimed. Doesn't
need half an eye nor an ounce of brain
TO be dead certain of that! She knows
-knowSl And, as | said in there
who is it? Here's one thing certain,
Holt-if she won't speak. I'll have TO
tell the police. But between now and
tomorrow she'll have time TO reflect.
And in the meantime"
He broke off abruptly. We went
down and into the street, and in ST.
lence waked quickly down Edgware
road. knew what he was after
Cottingley. And COttingley suddenly
appeared before US in rraed street, as
if he had shot out of the earth.
Hes come !" said Cottingley. Alone
They're both in the hause, now. Ais
arranged" Maythorne nodded; they
whispered together moment; then
MaythOrne and ] turned away.
did he mean that Eccleshare had
Gomez" | asked And that-they'll
watch hin?"
'Eccleshare, of course" answered
MaythOrne. "Who else? Watch him?
both of 'em!"
| went back 10 my rooms thorough
~ muddled in mind by the days
events. 1t seemed hopeless TO try to
piece them together, and yet | could
scarcely refrain from the attempt.
And underneath everything lay an un-
comfortable suspicion. which forced
itself upon me however much | fought
against twas airs. ElphinstOne an
accessory TO MaZaroff's murder, and
if so, after or before? Out
of all speculations one clear fact
emerged-she had come into posses
sion of that will, which, without doubt,
was in Mazaroff's pocket when his
murderer shot him.
All this was still seething in my
mind when | met Maythorne next
morning, at Croie's office We were
once; there, by CrOle's desk. sat Mr..
Herman KlOop. he gave us q know
ing look as we walked in. and Crole
nodded at I'm, as much as TO say that
whatever was to be said first was to
come from the diamond merchant.
News" remarked Crole, laconical-
ly. Another development ~
We sat down and turned on Kloop.
81 came round to Mr. Crole as soon
as | had breakfasted-to tell him." he
said. Now | tell you. 1t is what
learned last night-late. From some
of my friends in our trade. Mazaroff's
pair of blue diamonds have been
sold! They have been sold to a syn
dictate OF three well-known dealers.
A fancy price, tool" he added, with d
chuckle.
'What price?" asked Maythorne.
at is said-and dare say it's quite
correct two hundred thousand
pounds" Kloop replied "Of course
They're worth that-and more. Suf-
ficiently more to give the buyers a
nice big profit-when they sell. As
equally of course-they Will"
"Well?" Maythorne asked. But
who sold?"
KIOop laughed, glancing al Crole.
''To be sure!" he replied. "a per
tinent question Armintrs de sold. No
concealment about that. Armintrade
the bank man."
"Armintrade only returned from the
north last night" said Maythorne.
"Where and how was this deal carried
out?"
YES" answered Klocp. 81 can tell
something of that, but not precise de-
tails. | should say-by correspond
ence."
Maythorne looked al Crole: Croie
shook his head.
What concerns u.s." he remarked.
ais the fact that Armintrade sold these
things-MazarOff' property. We know
that Armintrade was in possession of
what we'll call Blue Diamond Number
One. and we also know that MaZaroff
had Blue Diamond Number Two on
him when he went % nth. So-MaZa-
rolf must have met Armintrade and
handed over to him the second dia
mond. They must have met-unknowD
to anyone-at Marrasdale."
Maythorne turned TO Kloop.
"Armintrade's name was openly,
freely mentioned to you in connection
with .his?" he asked WAS MaZa
roffs name mentioned?"
"Oh. to be surel AS the source
from which the diamonds came"
Maythorne got up from his chair
and began to button his overcoat
"There's only one thing to be done,
he said. glancing at CIole. "You and
] and Holt must see Armintrade at
once We want an explanation. AS
far as I'm aware. those diamonds.
since the moment of Mazaroff'' death.
have be the properts of Mr.. Holt
here. Isn't that so, Crole!"
YES" answered Crole, laconically
He got up from his desk. crossed over
to a safe in the corner, and unlocking
ii, took from some inner receptacle an
obong envelope. Here's the WILL -
he said. "Tll take it with me. But
think Armintrade will be found to be
all right. By that | mean that he will
have acted within his rights. How,
don't know. But-come along"
We parted from Kioop in the street
outside; Crole, Maythorne, and got
into a taxicab and set off for Court
hopes bank. Maythorne Seemed to be
thinking hard He locked up at last
cit seems pretty ciear-now! THAT
Mazaroff wasn't murdered for the sake
of those diamonds" he muttered. as
If somewhat dissatisfied at the new
turn of affairs. In that ease-whaI