OUR-SERIAL-STORY.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16212, 29 September 1924, Page 3

OUR-SERIAL-STORY.

"I" will" leave you now,” said ■ Strong. “I must go immediately to *find Lilias. I can think of nothing until she is restored to me. Her nerves may have gone wrong, she was always l terribly .nervous, but she no more took the diamond than I did.”

‘‘l agree with you, Strong. But you must grant that evidence is against her.” “That is nothing. Have not innocent people been accused before now ? Yes, I will find her, poor little darling. Don’t keep me, Jack ; I have had a desperate, blow.” Strong left the house. He walked quickly across the Square and went into Belgrave Street. He passed Victoria Station and still walked on and on. One or two hansom drivers motioned to him and drew up their vehicles for him to enter, but he did not see their inviting gestures. He was glad of movement and the feel of the frosty air against, his face. It cooled his nerves, and his temples throbbed less violently and his thoughts became clearer. He was a sensible man, and he knew that the time had come not to rave, but to act. Lil had got into a most uncomfortable position. She had in the ’eyes of the law damaged her reputation seriously by the foolish step she had takeffi

*T\ must not only find my little girl but also must discover who really 'stole the diamond,” thought Strong. "Well, I shall go on walking until the mystery straightens out a bit. Shall I or shall I not consult, a detective ? It was just the work for a clever detective, but I understand Temple’s point, and it may be best for me not to put this matter in any sense of the word into the hands of the law —at least at present.”

; It was one o’clock that night before Strong entered his own rooms. He turned on his electric light, and sat down by the empty fire-grate. The fire had gone out and the night cold. He put together some coals, wood, and paper, and lit the fire in a very deft 1 manner. When it blazed up he warmed his hands by it, and all the time he thought without ceasing. Suddenly he remembered a man for whom he had once or twice done a service. This man was not in the detective force, but he was a shrewd fellow with a detective mind. “It is terrible to take another into my confidence, but I think if there is a person on ibis earth who can help «ne now it is Jim Cardew',” was his .thought. “I will go 'and see, him at the earliest possible hour to-morrow morning.”

James Cardew had known troublous times himself. There had been a moment in his career when he had very nearly gone over to the shady side. He had been pulled up by Dick Strong’s influence just in the nicki of time. The more Strong thought of Cardew the better pleased he was with his own idea. Cardew would help him for the sake of old times. He could be and was as true as steel, and he had a brain of great cunning.

Cardew, who was now a married man, had 1 a small house in the suburbs. Strong took a hansom there, and arrived just before Jim Cardew was starting for his office in the city.

“THE BLUE DIAMOND.”

Mrs. Cardew, a preasant-looking young woman of about seven-and-twenty with a baby in her arms, opened the door. “Oh, is that'you, Mr. Strong ? I am glad to see you,” she said, smiling all over her comely bright face. “Jim is just going out, but I will tell him you have called.” “I want to see your husband : I want to have a talk with him,” said Strong. ‘‘Will you come in, please?” Mrs. Cardew ushered her visitor into the little parlour, which was cosy with the warmth of a good fire, and the remains oi a comfortable breakfast lay on the table. ‘‘Jim is getting on fine, sir ; I thought you’d like to know,” said the wife, “and it was all your doing, Mr. Strong. He told me about it. I thought I would thank you when I had the chance. He is the best and kindest husband to me, and since he has become a temperance man we are saving a nice little bit of money. This is our first baby, sir ; we are very proud of little Jim number two.” “A fine little chap,” said Strong, who did not know one baby from another. Just then Cardew came into the room. “I am delighted to see you, Mr. Strong. I did not know you were back from the Continent.” < PART 14. “I came back last night. How much time can you spare, Cardew ?” ‘‘l am due at my office at half-past nine ; it is a quarter to nine now.” ‘‘l will go with you as far as, your office. I have something I want to tell you.” A moment later the two men left .the house, I “Cardew,” said Strong, as soon as they found themselves in the open air, “I did you a good turn once.” “That you di<J, sir. If it hadn’t bteen for you, as I have often told the wife, I’d be serving my time now in one of the prisons. I don’t mind speaking out, you see.” * “Well, my dear fellow, you need not allude to that again. You were saved. Many a man knows his hour of temptation. It is not every man who feels that he has conquered it. You are a right honest fellow, and likely to do well. That’s a fine little chap of yours, Cardew ; you will keep straight always for his sake.” “Straight, sir ? I hope so. But you look in trouble yourself, Mr. j Strong. I hope it is nothing serious.’ I “I am in very great trouble. You know, of course, that I am engaged to Miss Lawford ?” “I saw her once, Mr. Strong—the wife and I. We were in Hyde Park when you two passed. “Then you are the man for my purpose, for I want you to do quite a big thing for me. Who knows but your wife may help also. Cardew, Miss Lawford, that sweet-looking young lady is lost.” “Good God ! You don’t say it, sir. Lost ? In what way ?” “She cannot.be - ' j (Continued to-morroyrj