THE DOVERFIELD DlAMONDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13274, 1 May 1907, Page 2

THE DOVERFIELD DIAMONDS.

She was - sitting wry trect now, her hancus clasping tuj aixu-j oi ber cusaioned chair, her lips* wii.'.e «&»a set. " lour dischaigj ot Oompnine Bi'yce, at such a time, and lu i-atcn, suipii.ed mo moit oi all, ai:u iuo gixauy. 1 sought for this giil at once, imu X—iound her!" "Ah!" • , Trom her, an J from another, I learned thi'.t you sent li.r aWay, knowing or believing that she was tc£.v..rse-i in the robbery." " Was she not?" "As an unoct-nj fee!—'.hri only. When it uus over,• -she• saw' lliut lv;r so-called, lover was a burglar, and that tue man who had clipped 'pa£,t'l.-.r in the darkness, and, who, rhj was led. to believe, was only a shadow born cf he** imagination, was another thief. Sh ? left this- place in mortal' terror .cf arre. t." "An yet . . . yon found her . it seems ./ ~ .-.readily;" "It is my busines to- find people, ijrs rtovjiffe'tf. I have also found the man who stole your . .- . v property . Sbo started, and her eyes questioned mine, but she clid not speak. "And he hr.s found to his cost/ that he h?s risked a prison for file .sake of a beautiful collection of paste set in imitation of the Doverfiel<-! jewels.' Shall I give you th? /details, Mrs Doverfield?" sJiooV her head and slowly . xos*. that the crisis had come, this small, pa I©, 1 ©, delicn'<? woman was self-controlled, land, seemingly, strong. "So," she said, "you have, -it seeims. stumbled upon the robber, or one of Mi em : or 5.s it only some thief who. having nothing to lose, sits in bis csJJ. and seek" to marufn'ctur® notoriety .hs a diamond rbbber ; And you, sir, presume to come to me wi h this tale of jewels, false paste. And do you think me a ■woman who would wear, cr mourn over, pasts jewels? The Doverfield diamonds are too well known to be thus copied. . . . . parodied." She swung herself about unt : l, with her back squarely towards me, .'he was -moving towards the door, her head haughtily erect, her hand extended to reaclr the ' bell. . " Madam," I suggested mildly, " are you. willing to confront 1 his man? I am personally convinced that lie was in your room that- night." " "I !" ■ :hs faced, me again with scorn upon her lip. "You ask me to meet- this gaol birS? Arsuredly, I will not." For a moment our eyes me", and while I think mine did net 'falter, or show the growing indecision that was fast entering my mind, neither did hers: waver or express doubt. But, after a moment's though, the haughtiness gradually changed to cold courtesy; she let the half-up--raised hand, fall, and moved a step away from the -door. "Mr Jasper, I know that you.are looked upon as fti man of unerring judgment .in affa'rs of doubt, and mystery.. My husband believes in you fully.' I have alio we-! myself, for the moment, -to forget that you are here witli m'y consent, and at my desire, to help solve this strange robbery. But- ycu can scarcely wonder that what, you have just said has . Aroused feelings 'I should have held in control, arid I must b=g you to consider. Put yourself, if possible, for a moment in my place. I am not fond of publicity,. and yet I am, and have been for days, suffering the humiliafion. not alone of being the subject of gossip, both in the newspapers and among friends and strangers, but of feeling,' that, because of my own heedlessness, I have exposed myself to danger/and my own and iny , husband's property to utter-loss." "Not utter loss, let- us hope." Sh? -waved her hand impai i'ently. "I have no hope of pet ing them back," said' Mrs Bovevfield coldly; "and the fact that 'the robbers have taken this course, in order to secure' for themselves a lighter sentence, and would-add insult to injury by declaring to (lie-world that the jewels they had robbed me of are paste, sshows how helpless is our effort to legain, them." "Pardon me— : just. a .word. "There' is do desire on my own part-, nor on that of Keen Johnny Deegan. to make this statement public. Quiie the con rary. the man shows -actva.l. chagrin; and quite dreads the possibility of h'.s ' mis-hit,' as he calls it becoming known.. "Keen Johnny! Mr Jasper, this man is keen. He'knows that, a,?'between what you call his 'mis-hit' and the theft* ofmany and valuable diamonds, tW former , will**receive the lesser punishment; and, when this person. emerges from a year or two of seclusion, and the jewels are in his hands once more, whose then will be the blunder?" She looked into my eyes long and earnestly, and all the anger, had gone from her as she said ? almost plaintively: "Mr Jasper, how could you—a man of your acknowledged acumen—be deceived [by this truly ' keen' criminal ? Grea: hea 1 veens, his word,. against mine ! And I"— ; her face growing' cold again—"l am permitting you to accuse me—to "bring the unsupported word of £*• criminal .against that of a loyal wife, ri woman with* an uni sport-id name." Suddenly she stiffened, and stood erect before me. "Mr Jasper, allow ns to terminate this interview. In listening to ycu I am wionging myself, and still more my husband,- who; would never allow you to " Madam," I came so close that I could havf: touched her liancT; " for your own sake allow me to make a further sta emf' j nt." . ♦ . She stirred impatiently, then, as if hold- ! ing back a haughty impulse -by a strong mental effort, she bowed slightly. "Bsgin," she said, as she s-iuik into the chair tha'. was nearest her. " I must not forget that you are trying to do a duty. Take that chair, Mr Jaspeer." I bowed, but did not seat myself. Instead, I again placed myself opposite her, still standing. I knew the danger of circumstantial evidence ; and could see the possibilities on both sides. Looking into Mrs Doverfkld's pale, beautiful face, and into her clear eyes, that- never hesi 1 " 1 '"! to meet my own, I asked myself In .v it could be posi sible? Cnuld it be possible that tlair; fair woman of untarnishd fame had been deceiving and tricking her husband .and conniving, with criminals? "If I have.been over zealous, and it is proved that. I have been dcirig you an injustice, madam, I shall suffer more frtvni' such a mistake'than you can; and I ask you to consider, however this affair may end. that while striving 'to serve your husband I have come to you in h's absence that you may hear what I hav? done and discovered. Believe me. I shall wish to stand between yourself and all publicity when possible." - With her tine eyes fixed upon my face, and villi jus: the lea*fc scornful c"rl of the upper lip, she said, "Go on, if you jplr-.re." " I happen to know, what manv do not, that there is in this e : ty at least one in sham jewels. His name is fiessenberg " I ])aused to note the elfee^ tit my v.ords, b"t she did rot stu- so much as an eyelid. "If this .woman is acting," I assured my: elf. " she is a royah actress." I rapidly describvd to h■ r my visit to the nvilcer of paste jewels, and again pa"sed. , "Have you t'c-ne?" she ttskeri, in tlie cle:ivest of icy toiler Was sh- 1 lying to <>xasp^iat ■■ me? If so. she almost sntcesded. "Not quile.'' I re'.d'e'l. "On Ihe marning of the chiv bc'crc the robbery your bankers ie'-iyvrl a not ■ warninir them that tl:e vobbaiy wa< io coi)te;ii|)la 1 inn. 1 hey seut Mr Dove:a Icit.r < r caution. ad(lr;'s>in' r > i' to tlrs lious-.'. That warning I have 'ea<nii to believe never reaclu-d viiur husband."

" All!" Suddenly lier tense attitude relaxed, and her icy tone was dropped. A look of actual relief overspread her face. "At last," she said, "you are saying something that I can comprehend —can reply to. Mr Jasper, pray be assured 'that wherein I am. able to explain I will—and most' gladly. Af.er all, it is very simple. Understand, pray, that I do not seek todefend my course; I see most clearly now how weak I have been in my desire toi spare Mr DoverSeld any needless annoyance." ' , " Needless?"

" I thought it so' th?n. I had withdrawn the jewels to -wear that' nighI', 1 ', and the letter came after he had gone for the day. Ee came home -late, we had guests at dinner* • and I had scarcely a moxeut alone with him. Besides, 1., knew hovr uneasy J.ho's letter would make' him not so; much because of ihe jewels as about me.

"I felt that, the jewels would be quite safe xipon my person, and next day they would be j eturr.ed to thi safe deposit company. I was 'wrong, Mr Jasper, I admit it. But: I could net bear to have my husband spend a long evening standing .guard over me and the jewe's. He is o kiiid and so easily made anxious," here, her voice sank to a gentle, .trembling cad- f . ence.th'at- was full of patlipp- " To v be frank," she went on., "I thought less of the jewe's ' and their safety and more, much more, 'cf my ea'e of mind. He has had so many business -vrorries of late, and I ,have-''been marie- most anxious because of his anxisty. v Next morn'ng." she went on. "an .early message from. the. secretary called him ; away before I 'was awake. He left me a note, and did not come back for lurich, although I; >--ent the carriage for him. I knew by this -thathe was still absorbed by ihe Bolivian matter, of which the papers L,av=. made so much. Saying tt> myself .thaS I could only add to his annoyance by -giving liiin this silly note I flung, it into the grate,-' She siq-hed soflly, and' resumed. "Then came the-robbery.'and I was horror-strick-en at what I had done- All - that day he had been preoccupied, and so therefore was:l.: I scarcely gave a thought to the case of jewels lying -locked in the doubl-s drawer of my dressing case. I am considered, I 'believe, -'a ..normally' sane and sensible creature, but here I behaved like a frightened child. I had retired • that night, .leaving my door unlocked, as I often did when he was out- late, in the hapc 'thai lie might ; drop in for' a few moments' talk, and- when my maid roused me next morning'to tell me of the robbery, a dozen things, rose up to 'terrify and* condemn ihe.'-; I recalled how I 'had gone down to see the cook and had passed someone lurking near the stairway, and close to the ai'ea doer. I was quite certain that it wa stlie girl Josephine, and, in my selfish preoccupation, had paid no heed. .-But when ihe alarm wa<s given, I thought of lier, and found by enquiry that it was hot- one/ oi our own people, but a stranger, who was with her, hear the area door, io I went, with a flash of anger," and dismissed i the girl. I daresay, 'that my anxiety and qualms of conscience made me seem to you a worthy object of suspicion, but—to- be accused of even worse, • of actual guilt upon the false witness of a .thief and a burglar." She turned her face away fori the first time.

'Rising, sho exclaimed with new spirit, " ilr Jasper, do you not how this 'man's story inust work in his favour —must mitigate .his" sentence. To steal sham jewels is surely a lesser crime than to rob one of many costly real ones. And this man, his maker o ; f paste diamonds, it is more likely'that. lie. is. in the plot a—a 'fence,' you call it, don't you? You must do yonr duty, Of course, whatever the outcomeand you are trying to do it now. I believe this, still—l do'find it hard,. Mr Jasper, to forgive what you'have said this morning'.' Sha was ..standing very erect once more, but- I could, see-/that' her., hands were trembling.. Whetiiei'' this was sincerity or splendid acting, .'r felt myself worsted :. and, : turnings took.my hat. As 1 moved toward the door, I saw her eves widen, and she. camo a step • after me.

What;" she. asked, "do you intend to do—now?" .'.

" I intend to say nothing to your husband of : all this, lint-il J am ..sura of niy ground. And—l intend to ! find your gems, sham or i-eal, they may be;" And then, for the first- time-1 saw doubt ,uncertainty and anxiety, look out from her beautiful eyes and quiver'across lifer face. She had fought splendidly, but- she was a Woman delicat'e, with nerves overtaxed, doubtless, to the point oij breaking. • But how she played with, ms, and how much she had already wrung from r/ie, by ,way of concession. Well, the honours were hers, but sho should not be self-deceived for this reason. /As, she. now sat before me, the stately and defiant calm was gone. It had given place, to little, nervors. moveinents of' the hands and head, and her eyts no longer met mine squarely. 'Again I lifted my hat from the chair beside me, lowering my voice almost iu a whisper, "I havo given you my promise —in a way, and I shall abide by it, Mrs Doverfield. Notliing could induce me to tell your husband the things I know—now—without, the explanation you only can' give. There was no crime in cluplicating your own jewels. But until I know why you suppressed that warning from the bank, why you permitted Keen Johnny to steal your sham jewels; — "Per—mitted !" " Mrs Doverlield, after my first visit to this house, I called on Dr Bird, and from him learned—several things ; among them, that you are at all times a light sleeper; I also discovered'that during that first visit, that to open the jewel drawer without a sound was an impossibility, ever, though , the metal and the i inntr edges of th<? wood had besni recently , oiled; Again —-the key to that drawer was put where it was found next -morning. These are strong .statements, but, sutli as they are, I intend to kiep; them before me while I silently pursue my fe.ircli." "You say silently." "I do. I should like to. tell ycur husband the. .story, Keen Johnny's story, at least, but I have promised you silence for the present. When I have solved the riddle, then——" ■ "You will speak," she whispered. "But ■ —you have far to go." " Possibly, .still as far as I have gone, every link seems to fit. I lack one thing however; one thing of importance." " And that is ". " A motive. On your part." "Ah, Indfel," she mired a little, frosty siiii e, as if in a last .cffoit at defiance ; and. then-^she caivo clo«o to me, and again looked me firmly'in .ths 'face. " You veie right in. saying that there must be a, strong motive to induce a woman to do; as in your opinion, I have dene. And fcr fcsr 1o tell you or any other -tliat. motive would render all her trickery, deceit, and self-contempt 'of no avail. I have nothing to tell you. I repent of nothing I have dore." " But—liavs you , thought of your husband, and thj future " Have 1?" How her eyes' glowed. "Bo that I think of rone' other than him," sh' 1 cried. : "When I would open my lips I would let you tell him all, and I would go out of his home and never see him again. I..et us end this conversation Mr Jasper. My husband may return at. anv moment." I looked at. hiV in wonder, and - doubt. She was drawn to'her fullest height, her head was again thrown back, and once, more her eyes-met mine in scornful. deiiance. . . • " Mrs Doveriield." I exclaimed, " 1 beg that v:-u will con tide in me. I am not. I. do not wish to seem, an ciiemy. If vouv

secret is one that should be guaiced, I. will help you. i—" - . . "It is not.' my secret, she cued,: as .itgoaded out of iierscli. "li is ;t scli«t, it is alio 1 her s; I wiu keep, it, guard, it, ii it costs luii my home anu—n.y band." '. "Am !" !Slie turned svrii'tly at the word, and there. in uie aocrway, holding -duck tu«-. jjylis milieu orajjfcrit-s, tmod Ausau uov<-i----kfcid. • * . ■ ; ii'or a niomtnt ihfc stood gazing at him, statue-like, then, with nit cry, - Austin :" -tiiaiiig uiuiveii-v iii/Ui ii|Sr lj]'.-; the leeted, clutcned at the empty air, ana v. us caught in lier husband's aims - . iiaiiy .taab evening I received a note 'iioai-. .air . JL>oveiiieid.'' . ? •• iuy wiie," he.:wrote, "is very ill, .and is muttering aud saying tilings,' Avhich 110 011s can understand. Gpd.iui-, give me, if now' that this first shock and'ueircr ai-e over, my inind reverts to those. last words irbin her lips. Will you, can" you cx|ilain ? And so silence the hatefulthoughts that torment me. -My wife, the'doctor says, • must have absolute quiet her life depends on it." . To 'thin 1 replied, like a hypocrite; for. I could not 'accuse-a, woman, not yet prov--ta guilty, 'and who was, perhaps dying. "Dear Sir," I wrote—- " ihis morning I ask-ed. at the door ■;for you, and in'., your absence: sent my card to Mrs. Dov-trfield. Itried to re.view a levy, points of yotir 'case as they - appeared to me., and she seemed not quite. as usual, in' fact wa.s lau.ch ovtrUused 1 rem tlie. first. Then something I said was taken by her. as an accusation; her eyes flashed, and 1 saw; that she was: nuich excited, fche must have been ill then? for when I tried to ieason mildly she began as you heard, and my efforts to check-her wild words seem-ed to make her talk the more. I deeply regret that my call was made at such an inopportune time, arid. .instil. • I hear fr.om you ihat all is wel], shall pursue my investigation without »• report, v* .'■ . . . . " Jasper.-". . It- was a lame effort, but my . lips seemed tovhave'forsaken 'me, anil. 1 could pen no more facile subterfuge. (To be continued.)