J. S. FLETCHER
tlfoitrationi by IRWIN MYERS
(!, by Alfrad A. Knopf, Ino.)
W. N. U. Service
CHAPTER VII Continued
12
"You think that, Maythorne?" I
asked as e paused at the door of the
elevator.
"Of course!" he exclaimed. "Doesn't
teed half an eye nor an ounce of brain
to be dead certain of that I She knows
knows! And, as I said In there
who Is It? Here's one thins certain,
Holt If she won't speak, I'll have to
tell the police. Iut between now and
tomorrow she'll have time to reflect.
And In the meantime "
He broke off abruptly. We went
down and Into the street, and in si
lence walked gwkly down Edgware
road. I knew what he was after
Cottlngley. And- Cottlngley suddenly
appeared before us In Treed street, as
If he had shot out of the earth.
"He's come!" said Cottlngley. "Alone.
They're both In the house, now. All's
arranged." Maythorne nodded; they
whispered together a moment; then
Maythorne and I turned away.
"Did he mean that Eccleshare had
come?" I asked. "And that they'll
watch him?'
! "Eccleshare, of course,' answered
Maythorne. "Who else? Watch hlra?
Aye, they'll watch him they'll watch
both of "era!"
I went back to my rooms thorough
ly muddled In mind by the day's
events. It seemed hopeless to try to
piece them together, and jet I could
scarcely refrain from the attempt
And underneath everything lay an un
comfortable suspicion, which forced
itself o? fte however much I fought
again. It was Sirs. Elphlnstone an
accessory to MazarofTs murder, and
If so, .fter or . . . before? Out
pf all simulations one' clear fact
emerged she had come Into posses
sion of that will, which, without doubt,
was In MazarofTs pocket when his
murderer shot him.
All this was still seething In my
mini when I met Maythorne next
morning, at Croie's office. We were
shown Into Croie's private room at
oi.ee; there, by Croie's desk, sat Mr.
Herman Kloop. He gave us a know
ing look as we walked In, and Crole
codded at him, as much as to say that
.whatever was to be-said first was to
come from the diamond merchant.
"News!" remarked Crole, laconical
ly. "Another development!"
We sat down and turned on Kloop.
"I came round to Mr. Crole as soon
s I bad breakfasted to tell him," he
said. "Now I tell you. It Is what I
learned last night late. From some
of my friends in our trade. MazarofTs
pair of blue diamonds have been
sold! They have been sold to a syn
dicate of three well-known dealers.
A fancy price, too!" he added, with a
chuckle.
i "What price?" asked Maythorne.
"It is said and I dare say It's quite
correct two hundred thousand
pounds," Kloop replied "Of course
they're worth that and more. Suf
ficiently more to give the buyers a
nice big profit when they sell. As
equally of course they will."
"Welir Maythorne asked. "But
who sold?"
Kloop laughed, glancing at Crole,
"To be sure!" he replied. "A per
tinent question ! Armlntrade sold. No
concealment about that Armlntrade
the bank man."
"Armlntrade only returned from the
north last night" ald Maythorne.
"Where and how was this deal carried
outr
"Yes," answered Kloop. "I can tell
something of that, but not precise de
tails. I should say by correspond
ence." Maythorne looked at Crole: Crole
shook his head.
"What concerns us," he remarked,
"Is the fart that Armlntrade sold these
things MazarofTs property. We know
that Armlntrade was In possesion of
what we'll call lilue Diamond Number
One, and we also know that Mazaroff,
lind Blue Diamond Number Two on
Mm when he went north. So Maza
roff must have met Armlntrade and
banded over to him the second dia
mond. They must have met unknown
to anyone at Marrasdale."
Maythorne turned to Kloop.
"Arnilntrade's name was openly,
freely mentioned to you In connection
with this?" he asked. "Was Maza
rofTs name mentioned?"
"Oh, to be sure! As the source
from which the diamonds came."
Maythorne got up from his chair
and began to button his overcoat.
"There's only one thing to be done,"
lie said, glancing at Crole. "You and
I and Holt must see Armlntrade at
once. We want on explanation. As
far as I'm aware, those diamonds,
since the moment of MazarofTs death,
have been the property of Mr. Holt
here. Isn't that so, Crole?"
"Yes," answered Crole, laconically.
He got up from his desk, crossed over
to a safe In the corner, and unlocking
it, took from some Inner receptacle an
oblong envelope. "Here's the will,"
lie said. "I'll take It with me. Hut I
think Armlntrade will be found to be
Bll right. Ry that I mean that he will
have acted within his rights. How, I
don't know. Hut come along."
We parted from Kloop In the street
outside; Crole, Maythorne, and I got
into a taxlcab and set off for Court
hope's bank Maytrorno seemed to be
azaro
thinking hard. He looked up at last.
"It seems pretty clear now ! that
MazarolT wasn't murdered for the sake
of those diamonds," he muttered, as
If somewhat dlssntistied at the new
turn of affairs. "In that case what
was he murdered for? what was the
motive?"
"He'd other valuable property on
him, you know," observed Crole. "And
there are other people to question
when we've done with Armlntrade.
Eccleshare, for Instance, and that man
1'arslave."
We entered Courthope's bank to
gether and sent In our cards to Ar
mlntrade. tie 'took small notice of
Maythorne and myself; his attention
gave Itself to the solicitor.
"Well, Mr. Crole?" he began. "What
can I do for you?"
"You can give us some much-needed
Information, Mr. Armlntrade," replied
Crole, promptly. "You are aware, of
course, that, having acted as the late
Mr. MazarofTs solicitors here In Lou
don, I have employed Mr. Maythorne
to Inquire Into the mystery of his
murder. Now, we have ascertained
from Mr. Herman Kloop of Cape
Town, a close personal friend of Maza
rofTs, now In London, that Mazaroff
possessed two extremely valuable dia-
We Wtre Shown Into Croie's Private
Room at Onct; There by Croie's
Desk Sat Mr. Herman Kloop.
monds, one of which was In his pos
session when he went north, to Mar
rnsdale, and the other of which had
been In your keeping, as Mazaroff
agent, for some months. Kloop tells
us that you have sold these two dia
monds to a syndicate for two hun
dred thousands pounds. Is that cor
rect?" Armlntrade, whose smile, sardonic
and Inscrutable, had never left his
eyes, nodded, "Quite correct!" he an
swered. "Do you mind telling us all about
It?" Crole asked. "I gather the whole
thing Is plain enough when ex
plained." "Plain as a pikestaff," replied Ar
mintrade, with a laugh. "I have acted
as agent or Intermediary, or what
ever you like to call it for Mazaroff
for some time. Well, now, as regards
these blue diamonds great rarities.
I have had the first In my hands for
some time. The second he handed to
me personally at Marrasdale the day
after he arrived at the Woodcock,"
"Ah! you met him there?"
"Certainly I met him there!"
"Well? And what happened?"
"We discussed the sale of the dia
monds, and came to an arrangement."
"May I ask what It was?"
"Certainly I He gave me an option
on them."
"Ah! I see! An option? Just ao.
You were to have them at a price?-'
"Of course. liut I'll show you the
terms, In MazarofTs handwriting. He
had brought me this, already written
and signed there you are!"
He produced a sheet of letter paper
and handed It to Crole, who took and
read It attentively. "I see!" he said,
handing It beck. "He gave you the
option for. one month of buying the
diamonds for a hundred and seventy
five thousand pounds. And you have
taken It up. Then what about the
option money? Which, of course,
should and would have been paid to
Mara zo ff."
"Exactly! The money Is at the dis
posal of the late Sallin Mazaroff'g
rightful heir or heirs, hcneliclnrles.
residuary legatees, or whoever has 'a
proper and legal right to It"
Crole pointed to me.
"Mr. Holt there Is MazarofTs re
siduary legatee," he suld. "He comes
In for everything!"
Armlntrade laughed, and gave me n
shy smile.
"Lucky for Mr. Holt!" he remarked,
"liut are you sure of that? I under
stand that the will made at York Is
lost?"
"The will Is here!" said Crole, hold
Ing up his envelope. "You can see It
and read It."
Armlntrade's face underwent a
change, as he took and read the will.
He gave a long, careful look at the
signature; another at Crole as he
handed back the paper.
"What" he asked, "what do you, a
solicitor, say about that will?"
'That nothing wheteer can upset
lmm
Mystery
It," answered Crole, promptly. "It
won't be contested, either. Everything
that Mazaroff died possessed of be
longs to Mr. Mervyn Holt. So"
"So I owe Mr. Holt one hundred
and seventy-five Uiousand pounds,"
said Armlntrade with a laugh. "Very
good ! shall I send the check and the
papers along to you, Mr. Crole? Just
so It shall be done at once. Glad
you've found the will."
We all rose. For the first time
Maythorne spoke addressing Armln
trade. "You didn't think It necessary to
give evidence at the Inquest?" be sug
gested. "What evidence had I to give?"
asked Armlntrade. ".My affairs with
Mazaroff had nothing to do with his
murder."
"Have you any theory, yourself,
about his murder?" continued May
thorne. "I have had two. One was that he
may have been followed from London
by somebody wlio knew that he had
the second blue diamond on him he
was a very careless, thoughtless man!
the other that It was Just a com
mon, vulgar murder for the sake of
robbery by one or other of those men
whom he bad been treating at the
Woodcock. For Instance, where Is
that man who disappeared I'nrslave?
So far, I believe, the police have failed
to truck him. IVsslhly he murdered
Mazaroff, ribbed the body and cleared
out. Anyhow he's vanished."
CHAPTER VIII
Fresh Links
We took our departure silently and
unceremoniously, as If we had been
very ordinary customers, doing very
ordinary business. Hut outside, In
Mincing lane. Maythorne halted, aud
looked questioning!)- at Crole.
"Satisfied?" he asked
"As far as that goes yes," replied
Crole. "There's no doubt about the
option that's clear enough. No get
ting past MazarofTs own handwriting
and own terms!"
"Very well If you're satisfied." said
Maythorne. He moved forward a few
yards and against stopped, "I wish
we knew a bit more about MnznrofTs
movements on the day following his
arrival at the Woodcock," he mut
tered. "It's all vague, shadowy, un
certainand yet bits keep coming out.
Well the next Job Is Eccleshare and
Tarslave. If we can't get some light
through those two . . ."
He paused, looking round for a taxi
cab; as he signaled to one a little dis
tance away, role spoke.
"My Impression Is that Eccleshare
will have as straight a tale to tell us
as we've heard from Armlntrade," he
exclaimed. "We're oft the track. May
thorne! or, rather, we've nevef
been on It I've got an Intuition fiat
neither Armlntrade, nor Eccleshare,
JXr I'arslave know anything about nor
have anything whatever to do with
MazarofTs murder."
"All the same, we re going to have
things out with Eccleshare and Far
slave," answered Maythorne. "We
may get a hint; a bit of a clew; any
thing. Perhaps." he added, as we set
tled ourselves In the cab, "perhaps
I've got a pretty good Idea of how
things are, myself, Crole but I want
all the contributory Information I can
get And I want to know why par
slave has been tying safely hidden In
Doctor Eccleshare's bouse in London
ever since this affair happened."
At Maytborne's bidding we got nut
at the corner of Conduit street and
walked along to his office. Outside his
door stood a fine, obviously brand new
Itolls-Itoyce car. Crole smiled at the
sight of It
"One of your aristocratic clients, eh,
Maythorne?" he observed chafllngly.
"A duke or a duchess at least what?"
"On the contrary, If you want to
know," answered Maythorne, who had
given car and chauffeur a sharp
glance. "Hint's Sir Samuel Locke's car
or one of 'em and his livery. And
Humble Ax Revealed as
The ax Is a tool of romnnce. In
almost every age It has played a
major part In man's struggle for ex
istence. From earliest history, on down
through the Stone age, the lironze age
and the Iron age. iind more especially
during the time of America's early
pioneers the ax bns been the Indis
pensable friend of man.
With the building of primitive log
cabins went the building, too, of
strong characters und stout muscles.
Washington, lloone. Lincoln, Itoose
velt, filadstone of England, and many
other great names In history are as
sociated with the ax.
No other tool promotes the same
Sanity in tho Madhouto
I should Imagine that a madhouse
would be an excellent place to bo
sane In. I'd a long sight rather live
In a nice, quiet, secluded madhouse
than In Intellectual clubs full of tin
Intellectual people, all chattering non
sense about the newest book of philos
ophy; or In some of those earnest, el
bowing sort of Movements that want
you to go In for Service and help to
take away somebody else's toys. From
"The Poet and the Lunullcs," by 0.
K, Chesterton.
I've a pretty good Idea as to whom wo
shall find upstairs."
"Who?" asked dole. "Lady Locke?"
"No but her nephew, Malllson," re
torted Maythorne. "A thousand to
one on It I Come Inl"
We went upstairs. One of the girl
clerks emtio forward as we entered the
outer olllce.
"Mr. Malllson waiting to see you,
sir," she said.
We went forward to Maythorne'e
private room, There atood, examining
a picture, the young man whom I had
seen MiunroiT talking to at Hunting
don mid at York. He turned sharply
as we walked In, and a Dicker of bis
quick eyes showed that he recognised
me. Ho Instantly picked out May
thorne. "Oh er .Mr. Maythorne?"
he said. "I er Just dropped In to
see you, don't you know this Maza
roff nffulr. Queer business, ain't It?"
"What do you know about It, Mr.
Malllson?" asked Maythorne, "We're
anxious to get any Information we
can. And If you con tell us any
thing" Malllson sought Inspiration In bis
cigarette.
"Ob, well, I I scarcely know any
thing at all!" lie said. "Of course, I
met Mazaroff In Park lane, and I saw
one of the blue diamonds, and heard
about the pair of 'em the other was
lu the hands of a chap named Ann
something not Armstrong, though a
banking man, And between you and
nie, Lndy I.oeke was Jolly keen about
getting hold of the pair, though she
didn't say much about It Just at the
time, liut I know, she was all for Sir
Samuel buying 'em there and then.
That's what I gave Mazaroff the Hp
about when I met him ns I was going
north."
"I see!" said Maythorne. "You were
both going north about the same time,
eh? To be sure. And what were you
going north for?"
"Inspect some shootings," answered
Malllson, promptly. "Looked over a
lot while I was up there both sides
the Tweed."
"Capital Idea!" agreed Maythorne.
"And you met Mazaroff accidentally ?
At Huntingdon, first; then at York.
Exactly. P.ut did you ever meet
him again?"
"Oh. yes," replied Malllson. "I met
him at Oilehester."
"At Ollchester. eh? That's the mnr
ket town for Marrasdale a few miles
from the Woodcock. How did you
come to meet him there?
"Accident ! I'd motored over from
Jedburgh to look at a shooting near
Cilchester. I went Into the hotel there
to get Rome lunch, and stopped a bit
afterward. Mazaroff came In we had
a drink or two together."
"You met Mazaroff at (illchester.
Did you talk about the diamonds
again?"
"Of course! He told me what he'd
done. He said he'd seen this agent of
his Arm something "
"The man's name Is Armlntrade."
"TbHt's It! Armlntrade. He said
he'd Just seen Armlntrade, who whs
shooting In the neighborhood, ami
they'd come to an agreement. Maza
roff had given Armlntrade an option
for a hundred and seventy five thou
sand. He believed Armlntrade would
take It up. Put. If he didn't, then,
Mazaroff said, Lady Loeke should have
the pair at the price first named a
hundred and sixty thousand."
"That corroborates Armlntrade." re
marked Maythorne In an aside to Crole
and myself. "Well," be went on, turn
ing airaln to his caller. "I'm much
obliged to yon for calling."
"That's all right." replied Malllson,
artlessly. "Tlinurht I'd Just drop In,
yon know always glad to be of help."
He went away presently, and the
three of us looked at each other. Crole
spoke first.
"As you said Just now, Maythorne,
that corroborates Armlntrade," he re
marked. "And I'm beginning to think
that this Is a simple rase of murder
for the sake of robbery."
"That's no new theory," observed
Maythorne. "It's the original one
but It may have all manner of varia
tions. Well, now Eccleshare and Par
slave! That's the next "
The door opened Just them a girl
clerk appeared.
"Sergeant Manners and Detective
Hergennt Corkerdale to see you, sir,"
she announced.
(TO DE CONTINUED.)
Instrument of Romance
kinship of man with nature. Through
Its medium one raptures the spirit of
the forest, one senses thut feeling of
satisfaction which comes through aid
ing the growth of majestic trees, by
the removal of deformities, weak
specimens and fire hazards Peter
McLaren. America's champion chop
per, In the Ax Manual.
Tho Eaiicit Way
Too many people ure absolutely In
different to work. They take no In
terest In doing It exactly right, In
doing it quickly, or getting It out on
time. Life to them Is Just one long
drawn out dream of "getting by" In
the easiest way, and with as little
exertion as possible, of either uiliul
or body, 'i'helr Idea seems to be "To
Let (ieorge Do It." Again, there are
others, splendid examples of those
who know what to do, and have the
capacity and willingness to do their
part. All such are great factors and
forces In malting a business go and
grow. New Albany Tribune.
Mutt Have Lost Some
There are several ways of acquir
ing books, but the common practice
Is either to buy or borrow them, both
methods conferring perniaiiimt pos
session. Erand Whltlo'-'t
On the
Funny
Side
REVENGE
The young bride was standing on the
tiled porch using a new pair of Held
(lasses.
"Darling," alio cried, "the real es
tate agent who told you thai our house
was only a stone's throw from the
station la getting out of the train
now,"
"Oh, la be?" returned her husband
grimly. "Well, give me a brick out of
the garden and I'll do my best."
NOT WILLING TO HELP
"Is your rich uncle willing to help
rouT
"No be'a willing everything to his
wife."
Tho Real Studaat
Tha marry busa to pleasure ttirna
Whllt wt aat almpla hominy.
Tbs on who pars tha taiae Uarna
rulltkal oconorny.
Mar Pointed Remark
Husband (excitedly) -Where la my
hat?
Wlfey Hanging on that lamp I
Husband Lamp I Huh I What
crazy place will I find II next. I won
der? Wlfey (snapplly) On your head. I
suppose
Unanimous
Walter (to party of fourteen men)
Gentlemen, there Is a lady here
who says her husband promised to be
home at midnight and she has come
to fetch him.
All Fourteen Ulslng-Goodnlght, old
fellows see you again soon.
Up in the World
"Rifling has worked himself op,
hasn't hef
"How do you mean?"
"He used to be a chiropodist, now
he's a den List."
M.rcyl
Mazle Wbnzzn matter with your
lips?
Daisy I think the ho kisses my
boy friend printed on 'em last nigh'
blistered the paint.
MODERN VERSION
Tortoise Let It be understood be
fore we run this race, thai I wml
7.1 per cent of the gate receipts and
all movie rights!
Three Milaa on a Pint
Rill thousht his k whs s-iiitig low;
ll struck a match, tha I (ink let sol
lllll sallid thraa mlls rluhl In lh air
Threa miles on a pint la pretty fair.
Worst Part of It
Judge You, h respectable young
man, stole a coat. In conscience you
have lost your pout, nml brought iron
hie and sorrow to your parents.
Accused Yes, and the coal was too
light In the bargain.
A Small Matter
Clarence Llltleneck Thinking ot
you all day has given me absence of
mind.
I olly Dill Don't worry. You'll
never miss It.
Wall Thought or
"How are you get tins along with
your proposed Sluikespeare testimon
ial?" "I am agreeably surprised Every
body has a good word for Shall
spea re."
Due Warning ; ;
Clitic My mile hroiliei will tell It
tie sees you kiss me.
llndy -liut ('in not kissing you.
Cutle An) how, I ihought I'd tell
OIL
- - '
"iaav.
No matter how severe,
you can always have ,
immediate rcliteft
Bsver Aspirin Hons Pain quickly. Y
does It without any 111 effects, lUrmleas
to the heart; harmless to anybody. Hut
It always brings relief. Why suffer f
emeics
Amiilui lna la all liMVf braaiia,
nana and iv-vll luikoa, Wroa
lur law crlcaa. liV llva tla
tlvary (uariSiaad. 10 1tt' lapu
laikia yur aalaauaid.
(Jay Todd) QUEEN II ATCUERY
1420 1st Ava. . Ktallla, Waak.
IIKHK IT I AliKVm WIH
Clon.t iiitinrv. roiti'hiria, rw"-t ii ileia. Writ
AtlMMHNK iwMI'ANr. AsrullU. I'llK.
HANFORD'S
Balsam of Myrrh
MaJV sat! ti Srat artlla If ao aulM. All 4.l.ra.
Fratk En Spaclall.t
Astonished observers rubbed their
eyes and pinched each other the oth
er day when they sow tl. J. Hloeimi
sedately walking to iiiiukct with one
egg In a basket.
"How come?" they pterei each t
filch, "Wherefore and likewise why?"
"You fellows wouldn't understand,"
explained (I, J., "but the fact Is just
this. When I sell fresh eggs, I hey
are strictly fresh and don't eu-r doubt
It. I follow the hens around inn) ns
soon ns an egg Is deposited In a nest
I carry It to the store. If a customer
Is particular, he ran get egg for bin
breakfast that are not ocr ten min
utes v. This Is no age of specialis
ing and I mil a fteali egg Specialist. "
Vineyard (Mass.) Curette.
IFLGOOD?,
.... w a
Max ailmanta a (art rramnneraSiit.
loalkia (conallralkxi or acml-aonati.
pa Owl. Intaaunal potaon aap altaj.
Its, andarmlM tour haalih and maka
lira mlaaranla. Tanlihl IrtNI-
NATuara auaoT-aii.ui.u
earracllva not aa erdlitar t 1 1 v
Haa how 141 will aid la raalaritia nu
astautaand rid ton of laat baa.
lea-r. paplaaa laalln.
04. tala. tmth aajataala al a aW XU
nKt. UKHA MIUMIM. TAKK
War on Bald Eaglas
During the past ten years ;t",i
bald eagles have Iw-eti killed In th
Northwest. Spurred on by the bounty
offered by the government, one dol
lar per pair of talons, Indians, fi-h-ertnen,
hunters and boys have com
bined to carry out the war against
the birds. Not only do ther prey
salmon, small siiIiiimIs ihhI wit. I
birds, but very young blue fo pps
are carried off by them.
Scotch Woman Curling
Curling, long considered a nan'n
game, has become a feiiiliilue piistlnir?
In Scotland. Some women have be
come experts at the game, andmany
new curling clubs for them were
formed during the winter. The fa
mous Scottish organization, the Kin
ross Curling club, Is the latest to
form a women's section, which Is al
ready flourishing.
Ona Good Point
P.I Inks Doesn't It make you laugh
to think of the old horse and buggy
days?
.links Yes, except when I remem
ber that a tuck In the road wouldn't
spoil a trip In those days. Cincin
nati I'nqttlrer.
Ssn Thorn?
" 'holly must love nie."
n:ii?"
"He wants my photo by radio."
"A WONDERFUL
HELPJO ME"
Read What Mr. Arnold Say.
About Lydia E. Pinkham'
Vegetable Compound
Dothan, Ala. "What a wonderful
tclp Lydia E. I'inkhain'a Vrgctablo
Compound bns
boon to me. I wajt
so nervous and
rundown 1 could
n't bo iin half tho
timo. When I had
taken one bottlo'
of Vegetable Corn
SK)tiii(l I could tell' J
felt better, so I
took seven bottlce
ami I recommend
itLiKhly.ltklped
mv ncrvca nml
kcena mo alrong to do my housework
and wait on four littlo children. I hope
ome other sulTcring woman will try it."
Mrs. I'oRTEn L. Ahnold, 1013 8. ttU
Androwa Kt., Dothan, Alabama.
W. N. U., Portland, No. 24-1030
(J)
Ka
Mosquito Biles
If
31
4
11
'f
I
m
f
I
'if
V' -1 f