The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-11-10
l& Outrageous Fortune
ER. ~ Rszsiela Nsxz1D.H

wife. I couldn't contradict her, be-
cause as far as having any memory
was concerned I might have been a
newborn baby.
"The only thing l remembered
and didn't know whether was re-
Numbering 1t or not-was someone
holding up q string of square green
stones under bright light.
"And there was fog. and a voice
talking in the fog-talking about the
emeralds and Jimmy Riddell 1t wor-
Tried me to death. because | couldn't
make out whether 1t was my own
voice or not" He paused.
Major Anderson said, "This is
most extraordinary story, Randall"
Jim went on again.
ell cut it as short as can, but
you've got to understand the sort
OF state was In. Nesta Riddell said
we'd been married on the 25th of
July at the Grove Registry Office In
London, and she told me that | had
shot Elmer Van Berg and stolen
eight very valuable emeralds on the
night OF the 9Th OF August. She
wanted to know what I had done
with the emeralds. She said | was
on the Alice Arden because was on
my way to Glasgow. She said I'd hid
den the emeralds before I went, and
she wanted to know where they
were."
INTAJoR ANDERSON took a step
W forward. s u
Really. Randall. don't know
whether you hadn't better see doc.
tor This is the most extraordinary
story!" 1ss .
Jim Randall laughed. s5,
II know IL sounds extraordinary.
but I'm perfectly sane. I'd like to go
on II I may"
He went on.
bits Of my memory were coming
back. It was like seeing pictures-I
could see myself drinking with Ell.
mer Van Berg. | knew that l called
him Elmer, and that his wife's name
was Susie. And when l remembered
all that. | got the wind up. because
1t seemed as IL must have done it
and there were my finger-prints on
the glass I'd used.
MY one idea was to get out Of
Lexington. Well, I started out
across country without any idea OF
whore | was going. The most dam
ming thing was that Nesta Riddell
really did think I'd got the emeralds
there was no mistake about that.
ITO cut long story short. went
to Hale Place. and when got there
/ remembered my name and who
was. In fact | remembered every.
thing except the time between the
first Of July and the 18th of August
which was when l walked up at
Happicot."
The inspector made note OF the
dates.
II got into the house and I stayed
there. You can understand that I
wanted time. made up my mind
to wait for a week and see what
happened. knew I was exposing
myself to suspicion, but decided to
wait"
Jim went on speaking.
During the time | was at Hale
Place the house was twice entkred.
There's a room there called the Blue
Room. The burglar came straight to
this room on both occasions. The
first time he charged me and got
away. The second time he got what
he had come for-the emeralds."
"What?" said Major Anderson.
"They were hidden in the Blue
Room. He got away with them. and
caught the last train into Lediing.
ton. and just missed 1t. came on
In the morning and watched for Mrs
Rlddell.
Il watched the road all day In the
evening Miss Leigh met me. She
had her car. and thanks to her was
able to follow Mrs. Riddell when
she came out. She had. taken her
brothers motorcycle. We followed
her to st. Leonard's Tower. Miss
Leigh remained In the field. and I
went on to the ruins se
II overheard an interview be-
tween Mrs. Riddell and the man.
They quarrelled. She had parked the
money she had brought him some.
where. and absolutely refused to
hand 1t over unless he showed her
the emeralds. In the end he gave
way. They were on one side OF the
Tower, and l was on the other, with
one OF those narrow Sits between
US. He struck match. and there
were the emeralds dangling about
yard away from me-" He paused.
"Well7" said Major Anderson.
II grabbed them"
He diYed into . pocket and fiung
giittering heap OF green and pearl
upon the inspectors foolscap.
There they are." he said.