Newspapers / The Wilmington Dispatch (Wilmington, … / Feb. 14, 1918, edition 1 / Page 7
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t 1 . t- I.-THB DIAMOND ..1 ' f C ;t i VANISHING T Vrtt.n in a wk, and there was Li rt a more popular couple m Lon- gJAweet face tod winning ways in- rn the heart of society by storm; had taken tn Aat warnv. tfd j w-headed Harcourt was about rtedhead ong to the devil when she Kt and held him. So everybody was ughand said it was a perfect match J Wtr the last three weeks their wed- ani forr,ints had come pouring into the Hp..cl in Upper Belgrave Street; and Mg5Tthe front drawing-room. rf?n was excited -because her- ith the famous .Harcourt " 11711 II L11V, c0? th,vh-rnrdieen the admira diamonab,- hionaWe London for v . a . . - J tll'V ftf a century, The jewels had been remqveo , , safetv for a dozen ffi of Bond Street The setting was t old and the vigilance of the tiny v inints that guarded the priceless silveri of bright stone had to be looked ffl0ff brand-new case had been ordered set the precious sparklers off to the ere camf a knock, and a foot on the J? mounting four steps at a spring. 5 moment and he was in her othe Her eTes welcomed him, though Bp pretended to pout. ''ou are ten minutes before your time, che said, "and I am terribly busy. What have you uIt.v. "Oh! y the glittering shop of Mr. Vnnw. You have been long- , for me and the diamonds, especially ff diamonds, for the last hour. I've a JW u . ... fU. rf sorbin jewel case was wrapped i in t brown moer with strong com iuu nm. End patches of red seabng wax- Quite Sftedly she cut through the string, Sag the seals unbroken, and let paper S twine and wax go down in a heap on the carpet together. There emerged from the moer wrap ring of soft, white tissue paper the jewel S in its new coat of light brown morocco with the monogram L. H. in neat gold letters on it. She gave a little en of pleasure as her eyes fell on the fettering which proclaimelhe jewels her ry own. Like a bather e-n the r waters brim she paused for one tantalizing mo ment, drew a deep breath to make ready for the coming j;ry of rapture, and opened the case. H was empty: . "What does it mean, Syd? Are you slaying with me?" But even as. she isked his face told her he was quite serious. . , , - "I cannot make it out, Lil, he said m in altered voice. "I cannot make it out all. I broueht the case direct from Mr Ophir's. He told me he had put tKo diamonds in and sealed the box- up with his own hands. See, you have not mm broken the seals. And he median icallv picked up the litter .of paper and twine from the floor. "No one touched it since except myself and you. and the diamonds are gone. Old Ophir would no. more dream of playing such a trick than an archbishop. Why, the old boy warned me as he gave me the precious parcel. We cannot be too careful, Mrv tid.Tr court' he said. 'There are twenty" thou sand pounds in that little parcel; lets no I 1 . ' ..ij 'j. i. ...... . . T1Jk nana touch it except your uwu. w first thing is to see Mr. Ophir." ' "Oh, don't leave me, Syd." ' "Well, to write to him, then. There must be some ridiculous mistake some where. Perhaps he gave me the wrong case. Perhaps some one substituted the empty case when he looked aside for a moment. It may be necessary to employ 1 detective. I'll tell him so at once. Oat I write a note anywhere ?" "There's the writing table in the cor ner. . He growled a bit at the dainty fem inine pen and paper and began : Dear Mr. Ophir: A most extraor dinary thing has happened. I took the case you gave me, as you gave it to me, straight to Miss Ray. Bekrave Street and opened it without breaking theJ seals, by cutting the string 'in her.pres ence. The diamonds were gone. There must be some mistake some where. Perhaps vou mav he able to dear up the mystery. If you suspect nisnonesty, engage a detective at once. The messenger will wait for a reply. Yours in haste, Sydney Haxcoumt. He ran downstair hfmself n hail a to take the note. A smart hansom an alert cab driver on the box was trawling up the street. Harcourt railed UJ hand, almost knodrinc nm a sturdv mendicant who was standing in front of door dangerously near the curbstone. ere, my man," he said to the cab "an. 'Tak thi tn tiA r CiAWm in greet. The address is on the envelope, iit for an answer; double-fare if you "a quick time." The rtrivav it- - l.ii i t f V! wt, and was off lit War court tViri.r wi: - filing and slammed the door. If he Waited met J 1. -.1 J J 5 ,SCn A e beggar go off almost as My as the hansom. vin .Sydney, do cheer up a little," I come ou wont mtnd in the least, and aea Lily. "it will eo- out jjt -1. nor 1 , i . . . . w ,VU1 lainpr ie t 1 Sr & t0 be rc y- It wasn't uuit, anyway." . ; fcaV rt. how ,: is' LiL I have been 5 ri.lr pace a bit before , I met you,, oarhne. and mv -f- t nave . t4.c uiniiv bailiff. So there is sure 4 nSni 8 whlsPen and tattling whTt i dy sayn. 1 cannot tell wnat they mav sav. anrf ht i thin ?Sca! You never can say kind"' or look anything but wha?i Wonrlerfl :. t . . . ' minutes ; thl Jr 7" A-ethe. In five their diamonds had vanished from vamshTry a? completely as they had tot of aom lht case- The sound and woti&r, wmrune 10 ine aoor NaJ ? world -SU nly ck to the WOfk tre of f ?,ntered. b"ng in -the very si;u., 01 a silver salv.- .M':4r r 1. -m VDS'l- .Harcourt took h, and "What rn,v?te detective Kr. "at IS he lilf T 1: tin .Vt..i HcBia,iVy.,n.?Jay. sir. Don't seem :?" !t. n?ean? What, can- he. : ly wCrr? ?arcot to himieH i . Mr t) ' r lc iootman disaoneared wnm "eck," cried the foVtmari uuur witn a flourish. f Mr PaunScck did not require muchj ihowingj up apparently. He slipped into I ine . room, jceepmrp" Dacic as much as possible to the light as if secrecy . had grown a habit with him. He was. a-stout, Wrongly built man in dark gray tweed, suggesHng a respectable retired milkman more than a detective. His face' was ruddy, and his hair light brown. There was a chronic look of mild surprise in his wideopen blue eyes, and his smile was as innocent as a xhild'i. , . Harcomrt knew the man by reputation as one of the cleverest detectives in Lon don. But looking at him now he could hardly believe the reputation warranted. Ut. Beck," he said, "will you take a Chair? You come, I presume, about-" "About those diamonds," said Mr. Beck abruptly. "Fortunately : I was with Mr. Ophir when your note came. He a$ked me to take charge of the case. Your cabman lost no time, and here I am." uAnd you think--" "I don't think. I am quite sure I know where and how to lay my hand on the diamonds." "I am delighted you think so," said Harcourt ; "I am exceedingly anxious about the matter. Did Mr, Ophir sug gest" "Nothing," broke in Mr. Beck again. "I 'didn't want his suggestions. . Time is of importante, not talk. Is that the jewel-case?" "Yes," said Harcourt, taking it up and opening - it ; "just as it came, empty." Mr. Beck abruptly closed it again and put it in his pocket ' "That's the paper and twine that was around it, 1 suppose?" Harcourt nodded. Mr. Beck picked it Up carefully and put it in the other pocket . "I must "wish you good-day, Mr. Har court" said the unceremonious detec tive. "Good-day, Miss. ' I have found all I wanted and expected. When I have more nws to tell I'll write. Good-day for the present." Before Harcourt could reply Mr. Beck was out of the room and down the stairs, and the hansom which he had kept wait ing whirled him away at headlong speed. " Scarcely five minutes had passed since he disappeared down one side of . the street when another hansom, driven at the same rapid pace, came tearing up the other. Lilian and Sydney had not' fully recovered from their surprise at Mr. Beck's abrupt departure when a second knock came to the door, and Tomlinson entered again with a salver and a card a clean one this. time: Ma.. Paul Beck Private Detective Harcourt started, and Lilian uttered a httle cry. ; ; "The same man, Tomlinson?" "The same, sir; leastways he seems a very absent-minded gentleman. 'Any one been here for the last ten minutes V he said, breathless-like, when I opened the door. 'You was, sir,' I said, 'not five minutes ago.' Oh, was I?' says he, with' a queer kind, of a laugh, 'that's quick and no. mistake. Am I here now?' ('Of xours youL are, sir I said, looking at mm har.dts.&ut-Qe seemed no way m liquor; "there you are and there you stand.' 'Oh,-! mean did I go away at all ?' 'Fast as a hansom could carry you, sir, I said, humoring him ; for he was as serious at a judge, and seemed quite put out to hear he had gone away in a hansom- That's bad, that's had,' he said:J ten minutes late. Well, young man,; there is no help for it Take this card to Mr. Harcourt Shall I "show him up.i fir?" . "Of course." "Mr. Paul Beck, sir." There was a sliirht. indescribable change in the manner of Mr. Beck as he now entered, the room. He was less fur tive and lest abrupt in his movements, and he seemed no longer anxious to keep bis back to the light "You are back very soon, Mr. Beck," aid Harcourt; "have you got a clue?" T wish i had come eve minutes soon er, saia Mr. fiecic ms voice auite changed, "I'm afraid I have lost a clue. I have lost th clue, in fact' and I must set about finding it Where is the jewel-case?" "Why, I gave it to you not ten-minutes ago-" . : . . . . "To mef began Mr.. Beck, and then stopped himself with' a queer smile that was half a grimace. "Oh, yes, you gave It to me. Well, and what did I do with it?" "You put it m your pocket Mr. Beck, and carried it away." "Was I in a hurry ?"' Jfou wre in a great Imrry." "Was I dressed as I am now?" "Exactly." "And looked the same? "Precisely." And I kept my back to the light I warrant." "Your memory is wonderful." "I have the. honor to wish you a very good morning. Mr.' Harcourt and you also, Miss." There was a touch of ad miration in his voice as he addressed Miss Lilian. "Oh, Syd!" she cried, as the door closed behind him "isnV.it just thrilling I There never was such a mixed-up mys tery. I do wonder which is. the right Mr. Beck?" . "Which! Of course they are both the same Mr. Beck." - Meanwhile Mr.' Beck was beirisr driven as fast as a hansom could carry him back xq Mr. jpuir a, in xunu oirct. . tie touna tne emmenr jeweier in ms little glass citadel at the back of his clitterinir warehouse. "Well?"' he said, when Mr. Beck stepped into the little glass room, closing the door carefully behind him. "WeU," responded the detective, "I think I have a clue. T can make a fair guess who has the diamonds. - Who made the new -case tor your f "Hem-r-ah Mr. Smithson. one of the most comoetent and 'reliable men in the traqe He has done all our work for the last . twenty years. It was a very finely finished case indeed." "Who -brought it here?" "One of Mr. Smithson's workmen." Hl think you told me this man saw you put the; diamonds into the case,, and seal them' up for Mr. Harcourt?" "Yes a! standing only a. few yard off at the time. There- were two of my own men also standing close by, if youbwia care.tbexamin them." : "Think. you, Mr. Ophir, I don't want tp see'them just yet. But I WU trouble you "for Mr. Sm'ithson's address, if you -V, Introducingr one Paid Beck, Who Confesses to Having "No More System Than the Hound that Gets on the Fox's Scent and Keeps on itl? ThisStoiy is the First of a Series DeaHnk with the Adyeu please. 1 have an idea his man would be useful; if we could lay our hands 'on him." - " ' .V'- ' ' "I don't think so, Mr. eck; I don't think So at all. He was quite a common person." The detective looked at him curiously for a moment The jeweler had grown ?uite flushed and excited. "Many thanks or your advice, Mr.' Ophir," he said quietly, "but I. think I will take my own way, if you please." .. Twenty minutes afterward, the inde fatigable Mr. Beck was at Mr Smith son's Workshop cross-examining the. pro prietor. But nothing came of it. The man who had carried the Case to Mr. Ophir's establishment was the man who had made it He was the' best workman that Mr. Smithson ever had, though he had had him for only ten days. His hamev was ' Mulligan. He had seemed hard up, .and offered himself for very moderate wages. But before he had been half an hour in the place he showed what he could do. So when the order came in for a case for the Harcourt dia monds, Mr. Smithson set him on the job. He worked all day, took the case home with him, and brought it back the next morning, finished. "I had never seen a job done so well oif so quickly," concluded Mr. Smithson. "But how did he manage at home? You surely did not let him take the dia monds home with him ?" "Bless you," cried Mr. Smithson brisk ly, "he never saw the diamonds, and never will." "Then how did he. make the case to fit them?" "We had a model the old case." 'TIave you got it still?" "Yes, I think it is somewhere about Excuse me for a moment." wagesy He will be here at eight o'clock to-morrow. I can give you his address If you want him meanwhile." - V" "Thanks. I fear it would not be of much use to me.. I' fancy I will find him when I want him,' perhaps before you do. Good-day again, Mr. Smithson. By the way, I would not advise you to count too securely on Mr. Mulligan's return to morrow morning."' , . Mr. Beck had dismissed his hansom when he entered Mr. Smithson's. He was onjy a few streets from the Strand, and he now walked very slowly in that direction. ' . "He's my man' he said to himself. "He must help whether he likes it or not. It won't be the first time he has given me a lift, though never before in such a big thing as this. By George, he is a clever bnel What a success he would be if he had joined our profession, though I sup pose he thinks he is better off as he is. If he helps me to unravel this business I'll take care he gets his share of the credit." Mr. Beck laughed to himself as if he had made a good joke,, and stopped ab ruptly, as he glanced at a church clock. "Four : o'clock," . he muttered. "How fast the day has gone by! Four is his hour," and I have no time to lose. I sup pose' I'll find him at the old spot;" and he set off at a double-quick pace, five miles an hour at least, in the direction of Simpson's restaurant in the Strand. There he was to meet M. Grabeau, at the time the cleverest and most popular drawing-roomentertainer in London. He was a marvelous mimic and ventriloquist, a "quick-change artist but above aU and beyond all, a conjuror. He could ma noeuvre a pack of cards like a skilled gambler. In the construction and man ufacture of mechanical tricks and toys and interlarded his . sentences with scraps of French. ' - Mr. Beck nodded, hung-up: his hat,' and seated himself at" the 'Opposite side of the 'table. . "The. fact is, monsieur," he went on when the waiter whisked away to execute his order, "I wanted to have a word with you." - ' "Ah-hah! I know," said the other, vi vaciousjy. "It's the Harcourt diamonds that have come to you, is it riot ? The wonderful diamonds of which one talked all the evening at the Harcourt recep tion. They have disappeared; and his lordship M. Beck, the great , detective, has come to me. I thought you would. It's all here," and he handed him across the table the Westminster Gazette, with his finger on a prominent paragraph headed in big black letters : "The Vanishing Diamonds" Mr. Beck read it through carefully : "Quite a sensation has been created in fashionable London by the sudden dis appearance it would, perhaps, be premature to say robbery of the famous Harcourt Heirloom.' nerhans. alter tne crown jewels, the most famous and valuable diamonds in London. Our representative learned from the eminent ieweler. Mr. Oohir. of Bond Street, that he had with his own hands this morning cut the iewels into a case, sealed up the parcel and handed it to the Hon. Sydney Harcourt. Mr. Har court, on the other hand, states that when the case was opened in his pres ence by his fiancee, Miss Ray for whom the jewels were meant as a wedding present it was empty. If Mr. Ophir and the Hon. Sydney Harcourt both speak the truth and we have no reason to doubt either the diamonds must have vanished through the case and brown paper in the hansom cab. We need not say that, in position and respectability, Mr. Ophir stands at the very head of his business and that the Hon. Sydney Har court, tnough he ran loose for a while on the race course contracted no serious pecuniary obligations of which the world knows. All these circumstances, of course, heighten the mystery. We urir derstand that the famous detective, Mr. Beck, at the instance of Mr. Ophir, called subsequently at upper Belgrave Street." Grabeau watched Mr, Beck eagerly. asicea impatiently, wnen Mr. side the -shape was" almost precisely itB;- ;1 same. Then he walked - to tht ; door 5 closed it softly,.and turned tbeTcey in th (j lock. ' Any. one with an eve to:,tte leejjh I hole . might have seen" Mr. tsecjc irov into an easy-chair with one of the 'twi X cases in his hand, turning it slowly roua j and round with that look, -puaxUd 'yrv. confident, which so many people wori?- f -when that delightful problem "Pigs-i!h Clover" was the rage. ? . W it i A little later any one -with an- ear t; t the keyhole might have heard Mrv Beef ii draw a den hreath'of relief, and; the! t chuckle quietly to himself; thenif'-th ear was preternarurauy acute, weuu tener might have heard him lock som t j 4 4 . thinsr in his own net oatent saf e whc stood in a neat overcoat of mahogany . a corner of the room. "Oh! how can people be lo we&q T ... - TS . " . it- . -I cnea L,iuan xcay, m a voice wvKf c with indignation. bne was stanamg m me ifiate ot,ne t; own drawing-room, and the tatterej-jm fragments of the "extra special" edido . Tound her like a pink snowstorm. . ("V?Jt1 "Kasv. LiL easvi" cried ttarcourtirotr f the sofa where he sat- -"Take it fflfiwM my net It's the nature of thebitastKf nin irs inip rnnuiro rami ai il- m ' . wi ri. xM4&'vn inn . 1 imr have - been, as they say. 'a wild youa scamp.' 'No one knows the amount t my debts' because there areA't anf Mr. Ophir is a gentleman of unimpead ble respectability., 'This is x mo4t pleasant mystery for the Hon. Sydit Harcourt.' There's no deovtng,, that, true, anyway." . . ; ,y i "I wonder at you, Syd-you, a ptii strong man, to sit there quietly and hea; such thmgs said! WAy dont youEf straight to their low den, whereyrit IV and and oh, how I wish I were A mil "Glkd vour're not Lil. for my sake? he answered, in a tone that brought til It's h jecau: auick blood to her cheek. you are a woman, and the dearest iitt woman in the world, that yOu' flareT & like this. But you must , not think Ts not riled by the half-lies of? mose cadi thousrh I trv to firm and bear it Thew efA rm a wHa will MW tHf for gospel truth. Ira so thankful th A sharp knock came to the door.-; k "Mr. Beck, sir,' said the footman C want now, I wonder? . . . ' V "I won t detain you a moment sri Harprknrt". sid the irnfiertiirbahle 1 n 1 . 'J..1 . . . .4- . i. ; C "You have a cluerthen?" ,. "Well, yes, I think t may tay.I'hay clue." ' W He took from his pocket the old ttwe case which he had purchased for "a.iw ereign, and set it on the table. i "You see this, Miss Ray. Is it at like the case that came with the" dfc raohds?" "'? J.') "The case that came without the die monds you mean, Mr. Beck, sawt uuau smiling, "It is just liki it inShapTejtb the other was quite new and slnttgA "That js a detail, miss. A cieter Jtar, HuUo!" he cried pleasantly, that is you? Bon soir. Monsieur Beck. I hope that you arry ' yourself -wel? He returned with a rubbed and faded jewel-case covered with what "once had been dark green morocco. That was our model, Mr. Beck. You see in the raised centre a place for the great star. The necklet ran round this slope "I see," said Mr. Beck. Then, after a pause:1 "You .can let me have this old case, I .suppose?' "Certainly. .Mr. Ophir's instructions are sufficient." "B.y the way, Mr. Smithson," he said, carelessly, "did Mr. Mulligan I think you said .that was his name say any thing about Mr. Ophir?" "Well, now, Mr. Beck, now that you mention it, he did. When he first came he asked me if I did not do work for Mr. Ophir, and he seemed anxious about it I thought tie was very-strong in his E raise of Mr. Ophir. He said he thought e could get a recommendation from him if I wanted it, but I didn't His work was recommendation enough for me " ' Mr. Beck put the case in his coat-taU oocket, and moved toward the door. He caused on the threshold. ' "Good-day; Mr. Smithson," said Mr. Beck. "Mr. Mulligan did not turn up in the attemoon, x suppose r "Now, how did you guess that, Mr Beck? Hd: did not - I gave him some- thing extra f pr the way the thing was done and U tear ne may have been-in dulffim?. lrisnmen ao sometimes, you know, Mr- Beck. But he is coming back m the morning. 1 promised him double he wa$ possessed of a skill and ingenuity almost beyond belief. Mr. Beck had met M. Grabeau at some of those social functions where the in troduction of : a detective, either as a footman or a musician, is thought a pru dent precaution, and the acquaintance between them had ripened into compan ionship if not f riendship. Mr. Beck's profession had an intense attraction for the Frenchman. Naturally, when Mr. Beck became tangled over the vanishing diamond puz ?le, he was anxious to consult his friend, M. Grabeau. "I hope he's here," said Mr. Beck to himself, as he entered Simpson's res taurant. One look relieved his mnd on that score. M. Grabeau was there in his usual place at a corner table, at his accus tomed dinner a plate of rare roast beef. ' A stout, good-humored man was M. Grabeau, with a quick eye; a close cropped shiny black head, blue eyes and a smooth, cream-colored face. He; noticed Mr. Beck the moment he entered the room, and laid down the pale green evening paper on which a moment before he was intent "Hullo !" he cried out pleasantly, "that is ypu ? Son voir, Monsieur Beck. I hope that you carry yourself well?" It was - noticeable about '.Mi- Grabeau that, though he could mimic any voice perfectly, when he spoke as M. Grabeau he spoke with a strong French accent, Beck at length came to an end, "it is all right there?" "Pretty accurate for a newspaper re porter!" ' " "And you have got the clue you, the famous defective." "Well, yes; monsieur, I think I have a bit of a clue. But I came to hear yur notion of the business. I have an idea that you are the man to i?ut mp on the right track. It would not be the first time, you know." Monsieur beamed at the rough com pliment. "You mhst first tell me all everything." ' .Mr. Beck told him all everything with admirable candor, not forgetting the doubling of his own character at Bel Ti(lc Street "Well,", he said at last, "what do you think, monsieur?" ' "Mr. Ophir," said M. Grabeau shortly. "No!" cried Mr. Beck, in a tone of surprise and admiration. "You don't say so! You don't think, then, there is hny truth in the hipt in the paper that young Harcourt himself made away with the stones to pay some gambling debts ?" "No, my friend, believe tne. He knows nothing more than he has said It was not what you call the "worth of his while. His father,- he Is rich; his lady, she is beautiful. I have seen. her. Respectable Mr. ,Ophir gives to him the jew$. The risk is too -great, even if he have debts, which is hot proved." T , "But how did Mr. Ophir get them out of the case?" J-. '- -: " : ; ''He did not even put thein in, my friend. Helas! My great detective, are you.tiota little-T-J will not say rstupit a little innocent to-day? You wiU not think harm of M. Oohir. Tres bien. Give me for a moment your watch and chain." . He leaned across the table, and as if by magic Mr.. Beck's watch and chain were, in his hands. A heavy gold watch with a' heavy gold curb chain that fitted to the waistcoat buttonhole with a gold bar. "Now observe; this will be our case." With rapid, dexterous fingers he fash ioned a copy of the Westminster Gazette into the semblance of a jewel-case with a closely fitting lid. He opened the box wide, put the watch and chain in, so that Mr. Beck could see it plainly inside, and closed the lid with two fingers only. . "There was. no deception." He pushed the box across the table cloth to Mr. Beck, who opened it found it empty. "But where has it gone?" he cried. "Behold, it is there," said M. Grabeau, tapping him on the capacious waistcoat. I could have sworn I saw you put it into the case and leave it there. ""Eh bien ! So could the men of this M. Ophir of whom you speak. I put it in your pocket he put it in his own. Be hold all the difference. His plan was, oh I so much , easier. "But, monsieur, M. Ophir has. the name of a most decent and respectable man." M. Grabeau snapped his fingers in con temptuous anger. "This man," he said, "I know him. I have had what you call shufflings dealings with him. He is cold, but he is cunning. He called me me, Alphonse Grabeau, one cheat Now I, Alphonse Grabeau, call him, M. Ophir, one thief, and I will prove it. He has stolen the diamonds. I will help ycu, my friend, to run him up. 1 am obliged, monsieur, I rather thought from the first you could give me a lift m this case. Where can I see you to-morrow if I have anything to say to your "I will be in my Ieetle- establishment until two hours of the afternoon. At four I will be here at my dinner. In the evening l will be m the saloon ot the Duke of Doubleditch. At any time-1 will be glad to talk to you of this case of this M. Ophir, the thief .But you must be punctual, for I am a man of the minute." "Quite sure you are going to the Puke's in the evening?" "It is equally certain as a musket." "Oh, very well, if I don't see you at the shop I will see you at dinner. M. Grabeau drained the last drops of his . glass of whisky and water cold. picked up his cane and hat and gloves, took a cigarette from his neat little sil ver case, -and stuck it in his mouth un- hghted. Mr. Beck rose at the same moment. "Good evening, monsieur," he said ad miringly, "I must, shake hands with you if it was to be the last time. I always thought you were almighty clever, but I never riehtlv knew how clever voU are until. tonight Tt is a thundering pity! cduld make that little changeof ufew tnai .. ... ' "Whaf?'r asked M. Grabeau sharply, for Mr. Beck paused in the very middle of his sentence. "That, that you are not one of us ; that your talents didn't get fair play and full scope in the right direction. . M. Grabeau beamed at the compliment, and went out beaming. Mr. Beck called for a second helping of boiled mutton, and ate it slowly. His face and manner were more vacuous than ever. Something of special importance plain ly must have detained Mr. Beck, for it was a quarter past two next day when he walked with a quick swinging step up to the "leetle establishment', o fM. Gra beau, in Wardour Street. He paused for one moment before the window where all sorts of ingenious and precious knick knacks and trifles were temptingly .ar ranged, then walked into the shop. There was a young man of about nine teen years alone behind the counter. "Good-day, Jacob," said Mr. Beck. "Master out?" - "Just gone a quarter of an hour ago." "Oh, well, I'll see him later on. By the way, Jacob, thafs a new thing you have the coral necklet and brooch there in the window. Will you let me have a peep at it?" Jacob took the case from the window and set it on thercounter. The set was a fine specimen of carved coral linked with fine gold in a case of faded brown morocco and dingy white velvet that Looked as old as themselves. ,Mr. Beck with intent admiration in spected the trinkets for, fully, five min utes, turning the case round several times to get a better view. He seemed much interested in a smear of what looked like damp gum on the edge of the leather. "Whafs the damage, Jacob?" he asked at last. "Not for sale, sir. Master cautioned me four different times not for sale, no matter what price I might be offered." "Ah!" said Mr.' Beck meditatively. "Well, it is hot so much the red affairs I want as the box they are in. My aunt desired me to get her one for a brooch and necklace she picked up cheap at a sale, and this woula about do. You were not forbidden to sell the box, were you, Jacob?" "I don't say I won't sell it to oblige a friend of the master, if I get a fair price for it. What would you say to a sov ereign now ?" Mr. Beck said nothing to a sovereign, but he produced the coin in question from his waistcoat pocket placed it on the counter, turned 'the contents of the case out in a jingling heap, put the case itself in his pocket and walked out of the shop. The. smart-looking assistant gazed blankly at the stout figure moving rap idly down the street Mr. Beck's placid face wore a look of innocent content ment He whistled softly to liiniself as he walked, and presented all the out ward and visible signs of a respectable tradesman whose1, week's 'takings' had been well above the average. Mr. Beck let himself in with a latch key, and walked noiselessly -upstairs to his own pretty' little sitting-room on, the drawing room floor. He took the old case, from his pocket and set ft beside an other Id case the one he got from Mr. misonv-ott We ;rotuid table m' the cen ter' of theroom.r The two cases were alike, though not identical in form; he opened them -Itfe If 1 t 1 it; it- - m m t 'j old in half an hoar. Now will yoti kfod ooen it? ; ;' : As Lilian opened it she thrilled "wrS diamonds might be inside. Buti it wt quite empty, faded and emptor v- . j J'The inside is just the same, top," i else. Mr. Beck?" "Would you oblige me by takhtff itf case in your hands for one moment.. I don t close it Now will you kindwt Pi1?, your thumb here and your .other :tnutr,n p here on the opposite side?" i 'kf Mr. Beck guided the slender 'Jittc i' looked on in amazement ' ' -.-'k "Now, kindly squeeze both togethejty Lilian gave a quick, sharp gaip ef:dV light and surprise. For suddenly,1 a'l Kv tnacrir thrm MA on th 1rn' 'A faded velvet a great circlet of flashiri diamonds with a star . of , $urpafsu!' "Oh! Oh! Oh!" she cried fcreatMe4m 'They are too beautiful for iny.'oh'' How clever you were to find them, M!' Beck; wasn't lie, Syd? Do tell uf ho:! and where and when you managed iiYl She so bubbled Over with delight admiration and gratitude that even' t1'; detective was qaptiTated. . . , "Will you open the case again, Misi); he said. She raised ths lid '"MdirVj sirucK uurov vnui man- amasexuenu . .. .-1 j if. The case was emp tt. A trick case," said Harcourt alter pause. - . v v ;; "Just so, sir, thafs the wholesterr: three words. t About as. neat' ;fcit t!; work as evercamer' out tf hinds. ':-?,Tbl closing of the case works tle . sprkigj J jruu occ, ail. LUC IlfJUUU UI fff J not a bad notion either.' J .' . "And the diamonds are" safe msidt. ' cried Lilian; "they were there ' ir-t;;, time," and I have only 'to ' squeeze: Jwii Ti . j.1 V .J a. 111 ---'Liar lllir. ! uur uiumuj uiu mcy wiu come oigtygziifclt Irs wonderful J wonderful! ; But.;'hdtf -i mirr- AA vah 4nA f Mf ? Vimi K most wonderfully clever. I suppose cj p have worked up some marvelous 'Sstd i that nobody can understand but 'yocl self." ' . J:..- S Mr. Beck actually blushed uadeT th!j shower of compliments. I.Voa.' ' i!A little common sense, Missi;thzt . all. I have no more system than'.tb wuuu uwb gvu uic xua. 9 mill ' keeps on it I iust go b.y the,- rule.-, tnumo, ana muaaie ana puzzle otft'C' cases as best I can." . , ' ' ",'. j "When did you guess- the d'iaaOtc were in the case?" said Harcourt. r ' "1 guessed it, sir, when J mwvMi Ophir, and I . was sure of it when I aay you. You see how it is, sir ; if Mr. Oph; put the diamonds into the case a&f i one took them out it stood to-feasa they were still there, whaterer q&bt-t the, appearance to the awrtrary. C course, when I found . my double ha' been for the case, ft made" certaifit doubly certain." .-. .. J "Your double 1 Then you were ngb; Lihan ; there were two Mn Becks. ,j "Might I aslc, si which .yoii arerd lie's the second'Mr: Beck,f court' Syd.. But T want to know where-is tK first Mr. Beck?" -rt -1 F"The first Mr. Beck, Missi'otherwii Mulligan, otherwise Moitieur' Gfahet is in prison at ,resen awair hirtria' He . was larrested rthir afternoon -trsr-'it' :5 1 n't ;5! potatment at Simpson's restaurant fcVtS (CoPvriaht. .1918. k; MAT! id i:- is ! 1 i h
The Wilmington Dispatch (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 14, 1918, edition 1
7
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