The Key West citizen., 1939-12-15
The Cree pin: Man
by Frances Shelley Wees -

'Did he seem disturbed about
anything?"
"Not at all. He was bit pre-
occupied, but nothing more"
About what?"
81 do not know--unless it might
be money matters"
Money matters?"
His wife.s extravagance was
a continual source Of worry to him.
He mentioned then, remember,
that he would need to work all
vacation to keep ahead of the
game" s..
HE had considerable bank
balance?"
Possibly, but she planned an
extensive holiday, believe. This
was not said in so many words,
you know. knew him pretty well
lit was merely from a word here
and there that ! gather this"
"You never heard him mention
any property, valuable property?p
"That he owned? No. Although
let me see. -. No."
"Why did you hesitate?"
"I realized that l was mistaken
as soon as I spoke. His wife cor
rected me unconsciously the other
"How, DR.. McBain?"
Happy At First
VOU wouldn't have noticed,
L perhaps. It was in regard to a
diamond necklace - Mrs. Deane
questioned her about one. ! was
rather under the impression that
those were diamonds, and If that
is so, they must have been Murehi-
sons property. His wife was PEN
niless when he married her. He
told me that once. But she said
quite frankly that her necklace
was not diamonds. so was
wrong" =
"Had he told you of owning any
diamondS?"
mo. But I saw the necklace in
question on Christmas Eve, and
once or twice previously. certain
ly took the stones to be diamonds.
My wife and / spoke of them to
each other, and wondered private
ly how he managed diamonds on
his income. However. I was
wrong"
"You say his wife was penni-
less. How long had they been mar
ried?"
Give or six years, l believe"
"They were happy?"
"They they seemed happy
when they first came"
"But not later. What caused the
break, DR.. MeBain2"
He ran his long sensitive hand
nervously over his head. 81 dislike
this personal material" he said.
1t may be very important"
"Well. then--it seems to me ]
noticed a rift after the Devoes
came. He did not like them, and as
they were her relatives, it made
matters rather unpleasant"
How does it happen that her
cousin came to this University?
It looks like a coincidence"
Il believe that Murchison was
instrumental in getting him the
place."
''He had known Devoe previous
ly, then?"
"No. think not. His credentials
were good, and Mrs. Murchison
spoke so highly of him that when
the opening was made known,
Murchison recommended Devoe."
Michael considered for a mo-
ment, then looked up with an air
of decision. 'I'll tell you the whole
story" he said frankly, "and per-
maps you'll be good enough to tell
me what you think of it." And
with that he told McBain of the
letter which had come to the police
regarding the Professors dia-
monds: of the Commissioners
idea that he. Michael. by living on
the campus might get some clue
to the strange mystery: of, finally,
the discovery of the diamonds, and
of the sheaf of letters which had
been in the box with them. Nc
Balm listened in absolute silence,
looking up once or twice, but
never interrupting, never speak
ing until Michael came to the end
of his recital. Then "You actually
found these diamonds?" he asked
incredulously.
eWe did. Had them tested by an
expert today. and they're the real
thing. He values them at fifty thou
sand dollars, so they've stored
them away in a safety deposit
vault at Headquarters until we
find out to whom they belong"
He leaned back in his chair. ''Who
would be your, choice for the writ.
er of that.letter, sir2p he asked, his
eyes on the other mans face. ''The'
letter about the diamonds" IS
McBain frowned. q don't un-.
derstand it, he said in bewilder-
ment. Diamonds - love lettersl
Edgar Murchisonl Actually, For
roster, it all sounds perfectly pre-
posterous and most unbelievable.
Why, the mans friend of mine
:. an intimate friend! This can't
be true, this rigmarele of romance
you're telling me"
NeVerInel6SS, IL Is, SAID MI
chael dryly. sand it's just as mex
plicable to US, can assure YOU"
McBain got up and paced the
floor. who wrote the letter, you
say?" he muttered to himself af-
ter a moment. God knows. IF
they're Murchison's diamonds !.
how about his wife for a guess?"
why should she write it? Il
she wanted to know, why didn't
she ask II, ask help in finding them.
She denies that he possessed anyi
No, she didn't write Il.
Then it must be someone who
knew Of them, yet who was afraid
to show a hand in the business. /.
BY Jove!" he said suddenly. and