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

from Mr.. Herman Kloop of Cape
Town, close personal friend of Maza-
roff's, now in London, that MaZaroff
possessed two extremely valuable dia-
monds, one of which was in his pos
session when he went north, to Mar
rasdale, and the other of which had
been in your keeping, as Mazaroff's
agent, for some months. Kloop tells
us that you have sold these two dia-
monds to a syndicate for two hun
dred thousands pounds. Is that cor
rect?"
Armintrade, whose smile, sardOnic
and inscrutable, had never left his
eyes, nodded. "Quite correct !" he an
swered.
do you mind telling us all about
it?" Crole asked. 81 gather the whole
thing is plain enough-when ex-
planned"
"Plain as a pikestaff," replied Ar
mintrade, with a laugh II have acted
as agent or intermediary, or what
ever you like TO call it, for MaZaroIt
for some time. Well, now, as regards
these blue damonds-great rarities.
I have had the first in my hands for
some time. The second he handed TO
me personally at Marrasdale the day
after he arrived at the Woodcock."
"Ah you met him there?"
Certainly | met him there!"
well? And what happened"
ave discussed the sale of the dia-
monds, and came TO an arrangement"
May | ask what ii was?"
Certainly! He gave me an option
on them"
"Ahl | seel An option? Just so.
You were to have them at a price,"
"Of course. But I'll show you the
terms. in Mazaroff's handwriting. He
had brought me this, already written
and signed-there you are!"
He produced sheet of letter paper
and handed it 10 Crole, who took and
read ii attentively. 81 see!" he said,
handing it back. ''He gave you the
option for one month of buying the
diamonds for hundred and seventy.
five thousand pounds. And-yOu have
taken il up. Then-what about the
option money? Which. Of course
should and would have been paid to
MaraZOff."
Exactly The money is at the dis
posa of the late Salim MaZaroff's
rightful heir or heirs, beneficiaries,
residuary legatees, or whoever has a
proper and legal right to it,
Crole pointed to me.
"Mr. Holt there is Mazaroff's re-
siduary legatee." he said. He comes
in for-eyerything
Armintrade laughed, and gave me
shy smile.
Lucky for Mr.. Holt |" he remarked
'But-are you sure OF that? | under
stand that the will made at York is
lost?'
1.-THE will is herel" said Crole, hold
ing up his envelope. You can see it
and read it,"
Armintrade's face underwent
change as he took and read the will
He gave a long, careful look at the
signature; another at Crole as he
HdIlueu DdCh TIE paper.
what" he asked, what do you,
solicitor. say about that wilI?"
THAT nothing whatever can upset
it." answered Crole, promptly. 1T
won't be contested, either. Everything
that Mazaroff died possessed of be-
longs to Mr.. Mervyn Holt. So"
$50 | owe Mr.. Holt one hundred
and seventy-five thousand pounds"
said Armintrade with laugh. Very
good !-shall send the check and the
papers along TO you, Mr.. Crole? Just
so-it shall be done at once. Glad
you've found the WILL"
We all rose. For the first time
Maythorne spoke-addressing Armin,
trade.
You didn't think ii necessary to
give evidence at the inquest?" he sug-
gested.
"What evidence had | to give?"
asked Arlnintrade "My affairs with
Mazaroff had nothing to do with his
murder"
Have you any theory, yourself,
about his murder?" continued May
thorne.
Il nave had two. One was that he
may have been followed from London
by somebody who knew that he had
the second blue diamond on him-he
was very careless, thoughtless man !
the other that ii was just COM
mon, vulgar murder for the sake of
robbery by one or other of those men
whom he had been treating at the
Woodcock. For instance, where is
that man who disappeared-Parsiave?
So far, believe, the police have failed
to track him. Possibly he murdered
Mazaroff. robbed the body and cleared
out. Anyhow-he's vanished"