THE DOVERFIELD DIAMONDS

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13275, 2 May 1907, Page 2

THE DOVERFIELD DIAMONDS

To say thai, my hiuniiiig's experience with Mrs Dovtra.-id -was untatistitcioiy would be to put the -situation, veiy mildly, lor 1 walked away from that, stalely home of mystery almost dazed by Uia interview and its recuks. 1 had looked lor a very different issue. While I mighi li:iv3 doubted Iv.cn Johnny's unsupported declarations as to the quality of t'ho stolen jewels, I knew the man Uensenb-:g 'to be an honelt artisan.. As for Mrs -Jjoi-eriield's suggestion that ha was in collusion wi'li Keen Johnny Deegan, I knew Uat i» be absurd. I had called up:;n the- lady prepared to make due allowance for circumstantial evidence ; as for Lkegaii's admission that he had euteied the D.o.yt-rli eld's 'home through the ignorance and gullibility of Josephine Bryce-, I hud'her corroborative evidence; and his statement, as .to the .jewels > would have had little w light witaout the additional testimony of th2 old anivfc in paste. But while 1 could not wholly exonerate ,Mrs Doverfi.dd, I was quits willing to be'lievc that tlie paste copies had been prepared as a.matter of projection; and that uhere might ba some reason, financial perhaps, for allowing the- theft of the paste jewels t-o sesni more serious than it- was in reality. The lady had property of hei own, settled oh hertelf, her husband liad said. Might "hot thq real gems have been hypothecated for a speculation, perhaps; or to pay dressmakers' bill at a time when her husband was cramped ; or perhaps. even, to meet the demands of bridge and racing. Mrs Doverfield' was believed to be rather. quiet, bub still, sh- 1 moved in a set that, took all pleW.ures ardently. This was the brighter of the two pos-ibiliti'-s I had been considering. Then, there was the circunrtanfial evidence: and thai wore a more jjloomy asnect.. Mrs Poversold had certainly had the pa~te. duplicates; and she had, after removing them—if the duplicates, not the oriamals,. hnd stored—-receive 1 a leister stating; that their removal was known, and that.V pint, was afoot,to rob her. When I had attempted to 'investigate sho had hampered me. . Having sent for' me, according to lier husband's statement. 1 ; she could-give only vague nrswers to pertinent qrestions.; she could give , no full description of the. lost diamonds, and no cluo to the list, of them, and she knew nothing of the photograph supposed to have been taken as a precaution against loss, like the present. All this- I knew, arid it had been written in my note*book horrs before I had visited Mrs Doverfield.. .: ;'/. ... '.,:,:' /And arsnred myseff with the smart of self-contempt— at the beginning of . that njorning's interview, I was ready to admit, -extenuating circumstances.- V Irtoked for, hoped;for.them. A-little later I was.' wavering between doubt and sym r . pat hy, and then was quite lost in admiration. It was only when at, the last she had lost her splendid nerve and let the' mask fall that I came to my senses, after I had committed myself to.: silence.' She had been an actress indeed, a magnificent actress; bub ifc required the of ) ••in Amazon to endure . the nervous ; strain she had, laboured, under and not to go to pices, sooner ffr later. ; - .',;•• '' ■'■■' I shook my head, as I got into a calr and gave the order—Scotland. Yard. I wac again seeking permission to see Johnny Deegan. - : / I-drove along, wondering. Mrs Dover(isld 'had tricked me at first; then , had broken, down and' given; up ait., the last moment but not to. my advantage-. Yet, this rnc-qual battle of words and wits h'acT beer for nis- a Waterloo. . - ' ' - But. been no acting at the last. The hauteur, the scorn', the hurt dig-mfcy-^airthat had./b;cn acting.. But.. that. ."'last passionate outbreak, half \ appeal,, half defiance'; -that had been the .real .woman. And when -dea;thly : palei and with tliafc look of one mortally strickeri to; be caught in her husband's, arms, 1 knew: that, for a time, there could b-3.n0 more acting. I feared, as in'leaving the house,, I had '. heard' the shrill .telephone call for Dr. Bird,' that 'now the case lay for its settlement' life and death Within the hour, I was .once- more ton-, fronting Johnny Deegan..' It had only now occurred to me that - something of importance as I looked at it a new, had b.'en omitted from his story by . Jolinny, and the omission overlooked by myself. I came at once to the point. "Deegan, I was preoccupied on Saturday, and there's, a. question or two I think you won't mind answering. Had you no confederate inside the Doverfield! house except the girl Josephine.?" Johnny Deegan laughed derisively. "How could I Have another among that straitlaced crew?" he said. "Hadn't we sound ed the servants, one after another, arid watched 'em for two months, before we finally pulled off the job'?". " , ' ".' . "Did it ever occur to you that the lady herself might be suspected—by some?" . " What rot!" Then, with sudden changeof tone. " By Jove!—you mean if it comes out that the stuff was all paste. Mnr—m! —rT see." " Kindly enlarge my vision, then." "Ye: see I worked it out that that handsome lady never guessed sha had been wearing paste; and thai the old gent had needed the real stones some day, and that wlrn madam was out at a swell tea, or a gabble party, swapped the shams for the real. Diamonds, ye know, would- often be a s good as gold in his-business. Wish't it had been so in mine. But I can ste through a rathole now." "Well?" "Well—what was yer ; .question,, sir? Don't let me git ye off the track."' Johnny giinned amaibly. " I won't. Johnny, you did not tell me whether no you waked the lady when you opened that drawer. I need not tell you that it could not b?. opened without; a little noise.''.. -' i'. -;■■ '■">■'■ "/; ' Johnny's grin widened. " Did ye also take," he questioned, "that the machinery, eyen to the woodwork,, had been sort of oiled up. as ii were?"' ~ I nodded. " Come," I said insistently. "Did you wake the lady?" "I'm afraid I did— % little.' Yes see. I had been fearin' rometlrnk might spring loose on me. an' when that little drawer let out a real squeak, I looked, swift like, over my shoulder. It was a- starter for me! Her eye-; were wide open, an' lookin' straight- at me, and then, while I kept staiin', she quietly closed them ag'in without a move or a- sound. My soul, that little thoro'bred must a knowed about the paste deal, and prob'ly was laughin' in liar sleeve all the time. Hang me, but that was nerve!" " Did you ever think that she might have been expecting you ?" " Huh!" Evidently I had awakened 1 some new thought- in his mind, and I added, "Did you know that someone was good enough to warn the bank that- the: withdrawal of the Doverfield diamonds ■ wa« known, and tha.'-- this letter was sent; to -Mrs. Doverfield?"'- ' " No ; when ?"'■'... ".Thei day the deed was done." "Before.?" " I see!" he whittled softly. " How th'.ngs do come out. ' You see I wrote that note a-i a- bit of brag, meaning to post- it the mi nut 3 the- job was pulled off, and I thought I had it in a safe pocket, ready' t,o drop into the first handy letter-box. But when T looked for it. the thing was gone, and I at once jumped' to the conclusion that it had been dragged from my pocket when I was talrin' out somethin'

else, and as the job went off' so'smartly I said to myself, ' Anyway, it was lost- too late to help the. other party and will be received' at the bank too late, if found by any lionest person, just- as I had meant it.' " Johnny was now in his most amiable mood, and I "felt hopeful for the success of my next effort-. I pulled my chair close to the cot where he lounged, and spoke in smbdued tones, " Deegan, I want to talk business with ycu." " Business ?" he grinned amiably, and awaited my lead. ~ ' f "Strict business. 'I wen'fc waste my time—and yourt; — " . " Crinkly Moses! ' but that's good of you. You can't think.how I hate to have my time wasted. It's that that's bothcrin' irie, a: thi* minute, as ever was." I smilerl to humour his iriqotl. " Will you answer, a- few more questions, Johnny?"' I asked. ''; Depends ! Sometimes questions arc comproiriisin'." "You mean answers." I .pushed back my chair a trifle, and put my hand in the side pocket- of my sack coat—Deegari was as strong and agile as a Jap,' and I was about to probe him in a veiy tender spot. . "T presunia you. hays riot forgotten the Frieble case, eh?" He frowned. "I remember it allright," ho said i-ulkily, " but —ifc don't interest me. no more." ' '"•-... "I think I can make it interesting, Deegan:"' No answer. "It's been a decide;! puzzle to the police." . ' "So.?" ' , /-.■" ~ "But, somehow, I fancy they have lost interest in it, the.same aS> you say you have." . "Frieble wasn't- a man ■ to feel much interest in—a wife beater, so I've heard," commented Johnny. "Yes, and a man willing to sell his own daughter—for money." Deegan ground an. oath between his teeth. -. : : / ''-. ...<;■ '''■'■■■- . ""liven the.search for the missing daughter has ceasedy I.hear, in.spite of Frieble's offered reward J" . Silence. -'Still, of i'c6ur:e, if found, she mlist be restored to her parents. She's under age, you ; k'riow." ■ Suddenly the tiger in the fellow broke its -leash'. He sprang' up arid stood before me with fury in his eyes. - . "-"Cursa you! What are you 'driving at?" ■ ■'■;• ' '•■ •'.-. '■•'"',.;"'" "Don't excite yourself, Deegan! I wonder if you know that slieV'been found." , "G-r-r!" ■ \: - v -. : ' "/,;.„. '.'. '."• . "And can easily be. restored to her parents?" ■■;.-' : ■ !,. "You—cursed—curr !" ■ I had expected it, arid the hand in my pocket came out in a flash;- a': little; pistol lay iu-the.-palm'. "Sit down, Deegan," I said, calmly. '' Oh, you needn't look that way; I shall, not call a warder. I'm here to deal with' : you." He dropped back upon the cot,, but his frown Avas still black., - -".'-* : '- ; '.'»■'.' ' : - ; ■ , •.' .-■.. -•.Any man that would take that girl 'back.to that big beast, no matter where he found her,! 's a worse man than live ever dared be., I'm not much good, per- : haps,, but T can hold ,uj>: my head :aril say with my woman, rior done by ope that trusted me. Yoii'd; better go on," ( he added, sourly. . "I youve .traced j her but in ' order ;to 'put the screws on me, i'n.,this I jewel' deal. 'What d'ye want, anyhow?" '*l want you to get back into your senses, -.first; of'-ail;-", I declared, ! "and then I want you to listen to me. No, I:did not trace the young; woinari. '''"' I came upon her by purest accident, Aveeks ago. I had seen her picture—you know her father and o hers; rather -.'frcely.!displayed it iu the journals at the time of-her, disappearance." " Ourse hirii." ; ' v " With: all my heart; and I think ' it will doubtless; ccime to -pas's.",.. , "What! Ain't- you forl.him, then?" "Deegan, you: Tare a fool T I quite agree with you, when you callr.-yourself '.a better inan that canting, - wi|e-bruising, childselling Dutchman. And'/..1, wouldn't help him to find his ;cl'anghter v 'any more than you would." '■':''; : ; *■■'. ... 1 "Oli!" Daegan's face was slowly relaxing. . ■ '; ':-:,■■ . ' •': '''. - '. "Because—l; think she is in good and sa-fe hands." Again I drew towards him, arid; assumed a .milder .tone. "Deegan, 1 in this matter of the girl, I'm your friend —un.il I find myself mistaken in you. And I'mi telling you this to prove it'. Wait,"'as he seemed about to speak. "Let me tell you the circumstances.. WhenT saw the girl and, thought I recognised her, I~ tested the matter by-calling her name,. ' Lizzie.' She 'looked out, and up and down—she could only see my shoulders, ,as I presently the called, just above her breath,. 'Johnny!' And then, in an eager, tremuluous tone, ' Oh, Mrs.-Deegan !' Fdidn't think much of the matter then, only to be glad the girl seemed to be in decent hands -" "She is that-" "feut later," glancing at him, with a significant smile, "I had reason to. remember these things." ' ; "After you'cl found me nabbed?" "Just so. And now we come to the point. Johnny, I think that, you must kno-w that this young girl will .never come' to .harm or trouble through me—rio matter how this talk of ours turns, out. But—l want from, you, now, as man to man, favour for favour." "All right! I'm right in position to grant big favours. Name yours, and—if it'.won't let ■ice-in— —" ; "It won't! I simply .want, those j)aste diamonds you took from 1 Mrs. Doverfield." But Deegan's face clouded again. ."Haven't get.,'em," he declared. -I" Strange! What I want to know then is, who has?" \ " " Huh !, Anything else?" ■ "Yes, I want your written order for (host, shams." '■■;. ; Deegan shook liis' hea-d, and I rose to my feet. _ •■'"'... "I'm rather sorry,- Deegan," I said, .with all the indiffei-ence I could feign. "You might have saved me a little trouble, such as getting out a. search warrant, for instance. And—-I was even pre- ; pared to pay: a little for the lot—their value, say." - "Value! Huh!" ;\ "I know it to a penny." 'l "Who's the search warrant, to bluff?" "The premise? of Mrs. Deegan, and Mi«s<s Lizzie Frifble." He swore softlj l -, and L set my hat firmly on my head and drew back a pace, then putting just the right touch of contempt into my!' voice, I delivered myself the well-studied climax; for I had guessed pretty accurately the outcome of my interview. "For a lit le bit, Dergan, you deluded me into thinking yen were not in, the very lowest degree in :your class; and that you pofseS'sel a, little •■ good feeling, ;;y well as much foolhardiness. I've never h'jrrd of you in the blackmailer's class, and rather fancied'-you a notch above it. Bub there's just one reason for clinging to those paut-e jewels. You! fancy that—some time—j-ou ma-v be able to collect blackmail on the things from.—Mrs Doverfield. WeH—you can't do- it." * "You mean I can't get out, huh?" " Iher© are two reasons. One is my reason; raniely, that u'nleis I go from ■ this cell with *an order for those stones, every one of them, I go to- see that you get ten years;, ins'ead of "two or three." "Bluff'!" he mocked. YARN THREE p kce .hte shrcm "Is it? Are you willing to risk my going to old Frieble and telling him that you are the man who broke into his housethe night his daughter disappeared. thu'm<ped him over the head, shot his dog, damaged his property, and robbed him, he says, of fourteen hundred pounds, anrl all in order to give the girl a chance nf escape, in the excitement? He hadn't let her out of his sight for weeks ; but then he sent the girl for a constable, whom,

apparently she has nob'found yet." '•Gammon," sniffed Johnny, "and bluff." "Which?" ■■■ - "Trying to charge mo with all that. You could read all you have told in.the newspapers." (To be continued.)