THE KING DIAMOND

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18451, 30 April 1928, Page 15

THE KING DIAMOND

By

FRED M. WHITE.

CHAPTER XXVlll—(Continued). At the same time, this discovery lerl Ply's thoughts into another channel. He was mentally going back over past events, back to that eventful Saturday at Ravenswood when the body of M’Papo had been found in the coppice. In the light of recent events it began to be clear that M’Papo had not died by accident, indeed, the evidence of the doctor proved that. The man had succumbed to a subtle poison which had been administered to him through •some mysterious source, but what that source was Bly hesitated to decide. Sir Hercules himself, perhaps. No doubt M'Papo had followed Sir Hercules down to Ravenswood with the idea of extracting money from him. having come to the end of his financial resources. A personal struggle Had followed in which the Kaffir had suffered severely. But then his injuries had not been sxifficient to account for his death. Possibly the poison had been administered as M'Papo had lain there half stunned in the undergrowth. It was a far-fetched theory but by no means outside the bounds of possibilit?'.

“I wonder/’ Bly murmured. “I wonder.”

He turned into the late owner’s bedroom and threw the contents of the wardrobe on the floor. Here was the shabby blue .suit that Sir Hercules had been wearing on the occasion of his visit to Ravenswood. And here in an upper waistcoat pocket was a tiny steel tube with a screw top. As Bly very carefully twisted the screw apart from the case, he saw that a needle was attached to it, a needle not frnlike the type used in hypodermic syringes. But whether it was hollow cr not Bly could not quite make out. The top half of the needle was bright as silver, but towards the point it was stained and dull as if a coat of something like varnish had been applied to it. Holding this very carefully in his hand, Bly made his way to the little room where the rats were running about their cages. One of the tiny creatures ’whined and came scratching at the bars. With the point of the needle, Bly picked the rodent lightly on the nose.

The effect was instantaneous. The rat raced, once round the cage, then lay down on its side and died. It stiffened perceptibly before Bly’s astonished eyes. Then as carefully he screwed the cap on the needle again, and, leaving the flat, made his way without delaj r in the direction of Scotland Yard.

He was fortunate enough to find Paradine in. In a few words he told the latter exactly what had happened and. at the same time, handed the steel case over to him. “You had better be careful with that.” he suggested. “The point of the needle is undoubtedly poisoned, and a sharp prick with it would mean death to any man. It ought to be handed over to your scientific investigators.” “Yes, 1 will see to that,” Paradine murmured. “I am rather glad because it all helps to clear up the mystery surrounding the King Diamond. And, in any case, we know now how M'Papo came by his death. I think your theory is quite correct. That man was pestering Sir Hercules for money and the professor coolly got him out of the way through that mysterious poison.”

“No doubt about that,” Bly said. “But you won’t mind my saying that 1 am not particularly intrigued over my discovery. What I want to do is to find that King Diamond.” “Well, that ought not to be difficult,” Paradine said. “We know now where the King Diamond is.” “Oh, you think as I do, then?” Bly asked. “Well, if you arc of the opinion that Cleopatra's murderous assailant was Zambra, we are in accord,” Paradine replied. “I never doubted it for a moment, and that statement about the mail being masked was all rubbish. Cleopatra knows perfectly well who robbed her, but since she has been robbed and she has no chance whatever of getting the King Diamond bade again, she is not going to make any more trouble for herself by recognising the man who assaulted her. She doesn't want to spend days in the police court and I don’t blame her. Of course, it is very disappointing to you, because we could easily have got the diamond out of Cleopatra when the time came, but we know who has it now and it won’t be long before we lay him by the heels. One of my men thought he had him yesterday in a small lodginghouse off the Grey’s Inn Road. But

c omething alarmed the bird and he had flown. Still, it is only a question of time. We shall have him

“Ah, that reminds me of something, Bly said.

Whereupon, he proceeded to tell Paradine the story of the cards and the missing copies of “The Times” newspapers. The inspector listened with a blank expression on his face. “I know nothing whatever about it,” lie said. “But it certainly seems as if the hand of Zaml»ra is in this. Still, it seems rather impossible that he could have got into the flat.” “It seems hardly possible that he could have murdered Sir Hercules, but he did,” Bly retorted. “But perhaps -ou would like to come round to Devonshire Mansions and go over the place so as to verify what I say.” To this suggestion Paradine agreed, though it would be quite late in the evening before he was free to get as far as the flat. It was therefore well after eleven when he met Bly in the street and the two of them proceeded up the stairs and stood outside the front door whilst Bly took out his key.

Then he stopped suddenly. He laid his hand on Paradine's arm and drew him to the top of the stairs again.

fniiniiJinnininiimniiiiiHUHminuHHniiHmiHmiinininiunniHmiuiiumumiiimiiiimiimimiiinmiHnmminiiimTi "STAR’S” NEW SERIAL

“Do you notice anything?” he whispered. “There is a light in the flat. Somebody is inside. Zambra! ” CHAPTER XXIX. “Zambra!” Paradine exclaimed. “The deuce ” Bly drew the speaker a few paces backwards and pointed to the bottom of the doorway. And there, surely enough, was a thin pencil of light showing that there was some sort of illumination inside the late professor s flat.

“Yes, I see what you mean.” Paradine whispered. “Somebody is there, at any rate. But what makes you think it is Zambra?”

“Oh, merely because I know something of the man. It is just the sort of brilliant inspiration he would have. And where "would he be safer? No doubt he spotted that he was being shadowed and came here as soon as the coast was clear. lie could remain hidden in the fiat for a day or two and nobody any the wiser. Even if either of us had occasion to visit the place, he could bolt upstairs into the cistern room and hide there till we had gone. Oh. he is oil the other side of that door all right and he will remain until he can obtain the necessary money to clear out of the country. . And there is another thing. Inspector. Zambra has got hold of the King Diamond. ’ “We can’t prove tllat, mind’ you,” Paradine said. “No, but it is a very fair inference. The man in the mask was Zambra all right. Cleopatra knows it. She may think it wise to keep her mouth shut, but Zambra managed to get away with the treasure he was seeking and unless I am greatly r mistaken, it is in his possession at the present moment.” “I shouldn’t wonder,” Paradine agreed. “Yes, it is not so difficult, now I come to think of it. Besides, that is a very simple lock on the door and an expert like Zambra could pick it in a few minutes. Come on, let’s tackle him.”

They advanced to the door of the flat and rang the bell loudly. No response came and suddenly the rim of light under the door vanished. Paradine switched back the flap of the letter-box. He stooped with his mouth to the opening. “No good, my friend,” he called. “We know you are there; might just as well open the door and save us the trouble of forcing it: Now then, hurry up.” In response the hall was flooded with light and the bolts inside the door were slowly drawn. Then in the doorway Zambra stood, pale, but showing not the least sign of fear. “Well,” he said coolly. “Well. W hat do you want?”

Paradine, followed by Bly. pushed his way inside and closed the door behind him.

“I want you,” he said. “In fact, I i have a warrant for your arrest in connection with the death of Sir Hercules Slanev. At the same time, it is my duty ’ “You can cut all that out,” Zambra said. “I know exactly what you mean. Everything I say will be used in evidence against me and all that. Very well. And what next?”

Paradine shepherded his prisoner into the sitting-room where, apparently, the man had been cooking himself a meal. There was a small gas stove in the corner of the room and on this was a frying-pan with a piece of steak sizzling in it. One corner of the table had been cleared to make room for a plate and a loaf of bread, flanked by a bottle of whisky. From the small inner room where the rat cages were came a series of shrill little shrieks as if the repulsive rodents were fighting amongst themselves. But in the excitement of the moment- Bly hardiy noticed these signs of conflict because his mind was entirely fixed upon the problem of the recovery of the King Diamond. “Now, what's all this about?” Zambra demanded. “ What connection can there be between the death of Fir Hercules and myself? I am not going to deny that I knew the old gentleman quite well in South Africa, and that we did a certain amount of business together. But for the last three months, at any rate, I never set eyes upon Sir Hercules, and defy you to prove it.” “ Quite naturally,” Paradine said. “ But, you see, that is where we join issue. I suppose you won't deny how 6trange it is that you should be hiding in the old gentleman’s flat.” “ That,” Zambra said, “is neither here nor there. I shall be able to tell a logical story when the time comes.” “ Oh. I dare say,” Paradine said a bit impatiently. “ But I am not here to bandy words with you. You are my prisoner and I am going to see you into safe custody.” “ Very well,” Zambra said composedly. “ Give me two or three minutes in the bedroom so that I can ” “Not a second out of my sight!” Paradine said sternly. “ Now, come along and don’t waste any more time. ’ Zambra shrugged his shoulders resignedly, and preceded Paradine down the stairs. There Paradine hailed a taxi, and the three of them drove oft in the direction of Bow Street Police Station. Once arrived, Paradine gave Blv a sign to wait and disappeared down a long corridor with his prisoner. He came back a little later on and shook his head doubtfully. “ Oh, I know the question you are going to ask me.” he said to Bly. “You want to know if we found any trace of the King Diamond. No, I am sorry to sa 3' we didn’t. Zambra was thoroughly searched by our experts, but all in vain. (To be Continued).