THE SECRET OF THE IDOL'S EVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7203, 14 September 1901, Page 2

THE SECRET OF THE IDOL'S EVE.

An ?pisod© in tbe Life of Wellington "Wells, Consulting Crimiaolq- - . aria* to New Scotland Yard. (By VIVIAN GREY.) '" "Sir Reginald Delaforce," read Wells riowly from the card his servant handed , tun-.' "Very well, shew *he gentleman into the study." , Sir Reginald was pacing excitably up ' §n4 d£wn as the eminent detective entered the room. "Mr Wells, I 'belierei," §aidi the visitor, ; fixing his monocle and turning abruptly. "Yoijr case, $ir Reginald, is " com- : menced cutting off any chamce of a formal self-iirtroduction. ■ c ■'--♦< x ihav© suffered a grpat..loss| : ; sir, said • •-'•■trisfr' for your, advice. A diamond of ' tliormoua value left in, my charge has been t Chattered by the force of a most mysterious explosion that occurred at my house \ yesterday.'? .';. The old gentleman paused for breath, »pd accepted the chaar Wells noiseleEsly pushed towards him. , " Gi ye me the facts of the case, Sir ; l?fginfld. My service^ are entirely ■at ypijr- . iiisroosal," safd the detectiTe, seating liimeeift' """ . ' "To begin "with, you mu^b know thatT %m a collector pf art curios and precious §&.nes.'' '. ' ''So I fcave been informed," said Wells. * Y^terdky I had 1 $» opportunity of pur- ' i^iasu^ cp diamond of wonderful size and lastre; to-day the stone is lying in a 1 thickened, charred heap. twM give you "' "- Sir B^ifl^d fussily propped Jus eye- '" t^m, 9is, ff4Ji n g to. affix it xea/dily, let ■ % .fy]l again, rattling agaan^b the buttoojs •' ils &!? £*&$• ' : "Early yesterday morning I was called I I' Bpon by a Greek art collector, who wished; so© to see an idol he ih&d for sale. I told :liim I should be glad to see it and he fFpn£ away, portly returning with thevobigc*. te $he ips.ni unyrrapp*d hjs parcel . »» my table Im* jmm,en^ely struck with I . ii§ w«4rd JJeauty. A prpss-legged figure in i 1..- bronze, ptoaod about sft h^h, andaTKautji- . ,fai dijßjneao of enormous proportions " formed |he solitary eye situated in the : centre of %c forehead. The stone, as large \ ' ia'a cob nut, glittered and scintillated like j «. thing o" life again&t it« dark surxoundr I ; ings. ' ' ' • K "J naiuisaJlv asked where such 3- won- \ : d»JOS work of. art came from, aad was mr j feraed th»t it "ted been 'bartered for some ; • . gppd^ wts a ty^Ep. Fpr a. long time ; : | g.?*Bd §* $& stPBP, bjEjGpming each., mor | meut more fascinated yith, jtp ejetra^rdjoary ] l^iuty. If atiplutely • flashed coloured, fire j •;:■ from evewi^t.r^-liarefijlly examked the i ieprel under. ;a toagnify^ng glass of great I V power, "witlhput discoyei^S c ea^ i fl aw ' * i&r blemisiu I detennitied to possess the ;: idol, whatever the cost might be, although ,1 didn't say as ninich to the owper. You ', understand, Mr Wells," continued tb« old t gentleman, wi^b. a dry Jaugh. •■\-'-. : -Wella noddied. . ■ -■: moment J haptpd: wh.ait he would v - want for it, #^ &ap . }P9k«4 nervously .f around to ensure.: we were quite - .flpae, Sien, bendjpg forward, 'he >vhis- ''■■•■ --1 ; : -' ? •■' ■' / " ' . '■y '*'fTp b# qjptf; Candid, sir, I shall be r gfad to get.r*^ of lives gtcme, precious as 1 $*p hpi':*TKs fiStb •» tflere ? s spinei:#|mgn>y^npii|^cjtit/ though what I cannot explain. • "In 'spite of its great )»mtf ih*fsmw& fefc? been direct]^ rejßgfjpsibie! £dt innum©r%bje tragedies. Of ''.} <EEje#£ k^Hmbp & }m naturally passed ■ Pu3pugh many |iJ)tiuis, but Ifras neyer failed )■■.&' le#ve <e>yeiywbeFe a temble record. jjEjyfltf yflife; — TTii I'll? ;>"« I niay say — -have i jfoujjht for iis possefsipn. Men have stolen It and, again. Assassination, suicide, tseffoes of every &%*>, have followed in the .;.. '. biaJdaojfs w§ke, ye* tord?,y it shines as xewlendent gs it d|4 && *&& "^^ & m ~ 1 , icvmei,' * '" ; ■ i? "'Psb^y, man,' % cried, 'do you think I : ' - loin a pieryous phdld! to be frightened out of buying the t^ing?' ' : "ge only meekly ghiftlgged hjs shoulders ;. I land Tepliadi : ' I only tell you this, Sir '- Beginald, to oosiyince you tihab I genuroiely iwwntto part company with it at a low price. JWhat dp you say to £10,000?" , " When- fee mentioned the price I in^ ! - spaidily jumped at it, in fact was just going ■: . to say I wovl^ ■'feake. it, when !he "said : "'Dipn't seMte-^n ajhurry, sir, take your - <^*c tjo- cpinad^p^v^Yio'a will then be able to examSme tlte idol at; your leisure. I will call *o-morrow if tffefc will suit you.' •• . "I assented,- aaid ie-lefb me after I had given him a receipt * for the beautiful art^eb. . -■■' ■■■'■ "After again &dnya?ing my newly acquir- ' td treaaune, I obtained the assistance of ' '" fcha (servants and personally supervised' its removal to my strong room, where I decided it had better go pending the selection fit a mope dignified abiding place, and now comes ihe most remarkable part of the ■' itory, Mr We'll?," Sir. Reginald paused for a moment, and . Wejjs took tii© opportunity to Hght a cigai- . • Pttef ■'■ .: mt, ti.r '■':■::'■: . ■-' My Strong i»ps»,.^r, is a miniature . fortress, ab?p|w*i^yy jmpregnable. I will .. defy the most fikilfull burglar in the world .to obtfiwacoass-pikiii'^irecesses. The key never Jeaves my • pogseßeion, and when I ' Jwdi the thing plaoed 1 within -tihat room it , was withi *he ifealing of greatest security. ': X was tie last to leave the room, and turned ftt the door to catch >fihe wandering beams ' fppni' tbajti cyolopean eye in the half light. ;. I locked the door and proceeded upstairs. ' To cub a. long etory elhort\ Mr Wells, at ?. aboiut nine o'clock last might I was startled foy a vjolenifr explosion. It shook the whole Jiause frona foundation to roof. :. . "Tiw> eervanta, horribly alarmed, came *■ running out in various direotiong, and we [; Jhurxied <Jown to the basement in search of tihe cause. We were not slow in tracing - the chamber where th» explosion had occurred. It was none others than my strong iV rooan. A smell of gas Shung about everyc ■ bhing, and I gent a servant to turn, off the "*' **P at th© meter. Wh^n the air was clear ■/ I' ordered some candles to ba brought, and 1 igeleoting on?, mad© my way alone to the otihiw end! of the passage. With a forebod- ' jfp^ of evil I 'burned the key in the lock of „.: tfe» strong room and cautiously entered. X took the ptuation. in at a glance. The ;. £pa had evidenitly been escaping, and by 1 Pome unaccountable means got ignited. ; '. ':;-.\-i' ilverything almost waa topsy-turvy ; ■'■„ rpp(peir that Jvad been lying about had) a . soordbex) and blackeioedi appearance. The (-'•■ «fhSmajey •amvi glass globes were shattered to pieoea a»d the bracket completely twisted. U.v. f :^4d not notice tibes© things at .first. The •-'•'" Idol wpa taking up the whole of my attentfciooi. I gazed blankly at the figure, for •■/* ifcne eye, *he beautiful white brilliant, hod 1 : disappearedl The cavity was entirely devoid of laaything like a stow, only a little I . ehaiiTedi %cup remained. "la. vain I searched among the papers "_ jftfid books on. the floor, hoping that the v. jgejm had only beeav bltown out of its setting,' ,';;, bt||s finidrag no tirace, was forced to accept ■f. .fbjie umpfeasant fact that the stone hao?been .^ (reduced to a cinder by the force of the explosion. Now, candddly, Mr Wells, is this y.j .chemically possible, and also how could .'."' -. e#qe<ping gas get lighted; when no one en- '";'. tereni or left the room?" "I can answer neither question, Sir Regi- •"'■...... jisald, untal I jhave seen the room," replied " Wells. The case was interesting him im- ," .• mensply. " WMch you must do wt once," said :■•_ the oldi gentlemaim, excitedly rising to his "... feet. "It is not the loss so much as the .peculiar mysuteiy that surrounds it all," h« •'.'. .adtdftd. "Why, on* is almost tempted i-o .../..believe irt the jewel's terribly unlucky repuitationi," and 1 a ghost of a smile hovered ,~.-' over tihe old gentleman's face. ;v- "TeM 1 me two : thia»gs, Sir Reginald," said • • W» STRANGE AND CO. are now offerIng enormous stocks of carpets, floorcloth* feed linoleums, and invite inspection. 7944

Wells as they walked along the streets. *• vVcro you careful to lock t<ho d«or after you hud made the discovery?" " Oh, quite, and not a soul has been allowed) to go in. even- to ii'dy up the litter." i " Qocd," said the detective quietly. " Then the Greek — .has he visited you to-day ?" " yes ; he came at the time appointed. His face became a study when I 'bold him what hftdJ occurred. He delicately mentioned, that, of course, he should look to m& to hold myself responsible and give him his cheque. I told !himi (that would >be all right, of cdurse. In fact, he is coming to-morrow for it." I " Have you consulted anyone about this. The police?" j ''No; not a soul besides yourself, Mr Wells." ' They were nob long in arriving at the portentous mansion belonging to Sir Reginald Dekforce, andi 4 few minutes later Wells wtis keenly examining <th* bronze figure in the room where the explosion had taken place. :■ He carefully" removed! the carbon dust from the socket where the stone had! been and scrutinised it closely, alter which he placed "tihe powaer dlowni and again turned his attention, to the eyeless idol. Running hie hiuiid over the metail surface his touch lingered for a moment oa? so «n> the head; we poßtipn- wired to resemble haiar ije was particularly engrossed in. Turning abruptly, he said : "I should) like to make am expewmemt, Sir Reginaldi, with your peimissiQ'a, but it must be mads i**i the dark.'' y ' Certainly, Mr Wells," said |the old gentleman, a little astonished at the suggestion. "I will take the light outside,"' and he fussily removed the only source of illumination into the passage, closing the door beihind him. ■ .- . For about two minutes he paced up and down the corridor, wondering wh.a.t pn earth Wells could be doing in the dark. Ha would: have been more surprised! if he cpulS have seen the detective moving energetically about by the aid of a snail pocket electric light he always carried; "Well," the old knight said, when Wells called him in, " have you discovered anything?" ."Yes, a great deal. -Sir Reginald, but you inusb be patient fpr a few tours, when I hope iq be able to give you the. fullest particulars. Qn no account say a word to anyone -about my visit. I shall see you quite early to-morrow morning, and in ' the meantime do not let anyone enter this room." I ....'.. Well? Kft thehpusfi, Jewing g»r Reginald muph mystified. Fqatljful to his promise, . the detective Was an early caller next morning. H$ agajn adged, and obtained, permission tp yisi* the strong rppmaipne. ' 'VVjiafc jjje. did. tfrere Sir was snob jnforme.4 of till later. " / *\" " .. "I want fc be pjrjßserit during yoiir interview with the ttr#ek ? '' said the dst«c---tiy/e. ''Siinnly introduce p^.ii frfend.' 1 " PunctijLa}iy at two p'clpcjf, according to apppintm#njt, the Creek art collector was sjipwn info the room, where $& two were seated. The- visitor's <fo»i?k eyes shot euripus glances at Sir Reginald's pale-faced companion whilst bpwjnji himself to a seat. " Wejf, Mr Demetrius, so you l|aye come for your cheque," ga?4 Sir • "I am afrgid j am an- unworthy recipient after <wiat "has taken. place,'' sa?4 Demetrius suavely, and jbbe olive skin of his ■face wreathed; itself into the semblance of a smije. "Oh, right is right," said Sir Reginald cheerfully. "I topk possession ".of "ypur property, and as I faijl to restore it to you intact, aim wiljing ti> pay toe penalty" 1 "I think we mentioned £10,000, sir, d?d we not?" Demetrius said eagerly. " Yes.' ? "Well, Sir Reginald, I have been thinking over the disappointment this Ifi^s haspaused you, and am perfectly willing to com© to a compromise. Make your cheque out for jBBQOO and return, m« the bronze idpl. Thp figure will be of no \ise to you. now. No doubt I can easily find a purchaser." ■ ■ . v • • "That is very generous of you," Sir Reginald replied, removing his cigar. "As you say, the bare idol is. of no use to me." Demetrius's eyes followed the movement of Sir Reginald's pen as it glided across the face of a oheque. " Have you thought, Mr Demetrius," interposed Wells, suddenly, "what a most extraordinary disappearance this is?" " Incomprehensible, sir, most incompre.hensibie," said the Greek, awkwardly turning in his chair and, facing him. "It reminds me of a similar case which I heard of a month, or so ago." " Indeed," Sir Reginald exclaimed, dropping his. pen and swinging round in his seat, . " i " So similar thait I think you had better bear it— that is," he added, motioning to Demeibrius, "if your friend can spare time ' to hear it also." The Greek; foen'b his head* low dn acquies- ; cence. Ib was impossible to catch the expression on his face. "I am all attention, sir. Pray proceed." " A short time ago," commenced Wells, • " Lady Dundas Campbell had a curious experience. She was. shows), with a view to purchase, a mpgt valuable Mexican fire : opal. It proved 1 - tp.be one of the purest gems ever discovered. The jewel was io^ I zenge-shaped, and protruded between t-he lips of a large brazen figure of a Salamander. A rather damaging story was given ; in connection with the stone, the gist of which ran to the effect that by some peculiar property the stone chemically under- i went a chamge at times, and given certain conditions, actually emitted sparks of fire. Lady Dundas, however, laughed at the story, and bought the opal at a high) price. " The costly ornament had not been in her possession twenty-four hours before a disastrous fire broke out under her roof, destroying countless treasures. The cause i of the outbreak was unknown. Amongst , the debris was foumdi the brazen Sahunam- , der, bub the blood-coloured j«wel had disappeared from ithe blackened mouth. " Lady Dundas took it into her Jheadl to associate the brass thing with the con-, fiagration, and out of sheer repugnance returned it to its late owner. The affair However, kept a secret." * During Wells's recital the colour left Demetrius's face, for a. time the olive tint became waxen. . \ "What an extraordinary coincidence," exclaimed Sir Reginald. "Why, how loDg ago was this?" j " Ob, I suppose about six months." | " Six months? That was about the time I purchased that fine opal of yours, Demetrius, for £1000." The Greek feebly murmured "yes," as he clutched convulsively the arm ol his chair. " You purchased an opal, Sir Reginald, about that time," asked Wells, turning his steel grey eyes quickly from Demetrius to the old gentleman. " May I ask how large the gem was?" "About one inch long." " Colour?" " Daak crimson — in fact, j r our description of the other tallies exactly. Stay, you shall see it.'" The knight jumped up from bis seat, and, unlocking a. drawer in a bureau, placed a velvet-lined case on the table. Iv the centre of a number of jewels reposed Ihe opal. Wells peered for a moment over it, and exclaimed quietly : " This is the same jewel that was stolen from Lady Dundas Campbell by means of a trick. I have the case in hand." "Do you dare accuse me of robbery?" cried Demetrius, rising to his feet. He was recovering his nerve, and his eyes glittered like coals. "Yes, I do, my man," retorted Wells; "bub before we go into that, perhaps you will explain to Sir Reginald why you were so anxious to obtain repossession., of th& bronz9 idol. Looks rather as though you thought there might be a chance of finding the diamond, doesn't it?" The Greek restrained himself with difficulty from flying like a tiger at the detective. " Now, look here, my friend," said the

latter, " either you will oblige by showing us the secret means of ©peniriig the- idol, or we will smash ithe thing open in front of you !" Demetrius, thoroughly at bay, wavered for a momeinb, asid then sullenly agreed. He must gain time at any cost. Sir 'Reginald looked on, "top, amazed to speak. "Nqw, «ir, said; We#§," we have got your precious idol in this room. I purposely had it brought up here to save trouble." Pusliiing a euntaia ©n pn© «dde as h« spoke ho disclosed the bpppza figxire. Demetrius hesHaitedl for a moment, but there was no escape. He mwed skmiy. up to the idol and' pressed! a certain spot in 'the face. As ha did so a part of the cheek revolved, disclosing a deep cavity, but ipstead of the diamond repftsiivg (Bafely therein only a- smag black lump could be se*n. Pemetrius gave a shriek as he etaggpred back. , " T>he diamond has.b.e.PP' dsst'roye^ by th« force of the pxpiosjcai^ej.^ll.!." -Ms^^-, '' go, ypit scqun^rei," craed S|M' Re&»*f*W> in a. tpwering ragfi, "you a*e h^fc with your own petard, are you? Nqw I sh;^ have you arreste<|, aud communicaibe. with Lady Campbell !" Demetrius gave a snarl like a wolf, and leaping back, faced 'them- bpth. Efe plunged iiiis hainid- ip»ti» %is. breast pocket, somEthing s^hiojiing appearedi for a. sepoind, and before Wells cpuid rei^jch ihjim h^e M\ ftke a log tp the floor, never to. rise in this life again. The next day brought the following letter : — "Dear- Sir Regjinajp),—^n iJif packet enclosed you will find the idol's eye. It is quite unhijiit. by the exp]p#P» T I t°°\ from *i« cavity after ac^swiajly finding the secWt sppjag. I a, qjinidej for it as you saw. The explosion was caused by wjre4 gasp eniiana/ting feflflt tl?e interioi of ifljiß figwe, cointr<filed. by & olopkwip-iiv appga?k«^ ; "« Pm^l WF&! "Of.ptetWiißl ou > side becoming re4)liob: &i hydrogen pliayed) npm it hpome lighting power. .A cleyerly arr-angf id^r-evph'in'g flpnitrivgince, also move 4by cipp^wofk, vas sufficieflifc toensiure the safety of "fye gem whife showamg its §h9tfce?eiti reajaine. I ppesuan© that y^ w*3i 6.ei|)d i&e <¥&! bacfe to Duin<te®. Youp diairftpii4 will thep be a wandfiirfuj bp-gais : r^Yqu?s. to command;, Wdljin«bon" W*- V n. t , Wihi#b wa§ 9flswere4 w*'!!' br;ef and. generous, m^mep : - — ' iV ßeaF'MF'Wel}s,-TrrSo'maßy thanks. H.^v* seiitb tb« Ppal')^> L^4y Dundss. ?<nf y*>w invajuabi*. ser-yices please accept enclosed obeque |(*p £1009.— J«ups truly, Regw?M Delaforce."