THE BABYLONIAN DIAMOND

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 447, 10 November 1904, Page 2

THE BABYLONIAN DIAMOND

COPYRIGHT

CHAPTER IV.—(Continued.)

He stayed there for two hours* playing cards and losing heavily. Then he said good-night, and went home to bed; but not to find sleep, for he tossed from side to side, vainly trying to court the drowsy god. Gradually, however, tired Nature asserted herself, and he dropped off; but his sleep was troubled and charged with dreams—dreams in which he saw himself robbing banks galore, and planning frauds of marvellous complexity. Suddenly heawoke! Something wa? in his room. He felt its presence, and, with every nerve on the alert, bu peered into the blackness. Something passed across his eyes! And his blood froze and his scalp tightened. All at ence it flashed across his mind that he kepi. a small revolver upon the table cear his bed: and he was about to slip oof silently to secure it, when the moon flung its rays through the wmdow, illuminating the room like day. And he lay entranced, frozen to hia b j d. for, gazing fixedly upon him, ware four tall, shadowy forms, all as silent as the grave.

CHAPTER V. The nine o'clock train was punctual, and one of the first passengers to alight was Raven Ferrett. He carried a small travelling bag in his left hand, and had a rug ihrown across his right arm. Hailing a hansom as he stepped on to the platform, he directed the driver to St. Paul's Mansions, and W. 13 soon bowling along the streets at a smart pace, in obedience to Albert's wire. He was in a strange fever of expectation as to the important business which caused Douglass to summon him so peremptorily by wire, and after the way of men, could only assume that it must, in some way or other, be connected with the declaration of his love to Maud Stanhope. But what strange developement had taken place which necessitated his presence he could not conjecture. Could it be that after all she loved him, and only withheld the confession in maidenly bashfulness? If this were so, she may have confessed the truth to Albert Douglass, when he afterwards told her O" his love. And although reason toll him that the flattering tale which bopa whispered in his ear was impossible, it was so sweet to dwell in the Elysium of imagining the possibility of his wishe3 that he went on to deduce further probabilities from the improbable one on which he based his conjectures.

Perhaps Albert, friend of years' standing that he was, may have been so chagrined to learn that Miss Stanhope preferred him to his chief, that he might have descended to the pretty revenge of personal injury which spite ever suggests. He might, perhaps, have sent for him to tell him that he would no longer be allowed to fill his post at the bank. It could not be impossible for a noble nature, blunted and distorted by a great disappointment, to seize this one obvious opportunity of revenge, by exercising the power to injure which his pc-itioii afforded him. And Raven, as hj i conjured up the picture of the tanker hissing, 'Maud will not love urn; then I shall not help to feed yon,' smiled in happiness, because the boon of Maud's love would nioro than *toae to him for the piteous sp-ctacle r ; f his friend acting meanly; 01 for tho possible discomfort which his diejussal might involve. But as tiie cab draw nearer and nearer to St. Paul's Mansions, he woke up from the blissful, if painful, dream, and knew that whatever Albert Douglas's with him might be, it could heve no possible connection with his love for Maud Stanhope, as his friend svould hardly have summoned 'iim b> telegraph to tell him he condole* l with him on his rejection, aad he knew

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY AUSTIN FRYERS.

him too well to think fer a moment that it was possible he should resort to any of the petty schemes of revenge which had flashed across his mind. Soon the cab came to a standstill and Raven Ferrett having paid his fare stepped lightly across the pavement, and entered the corridor. The porter knew him, and with a ' Morning, sir,' touched his cap. The lift man also knew him, and needed no directions. When the lift stopped at the floor on which Douglass's chambers were situated, Raven alighted from the car, and going along the corridor stopped at Douglass's number and rang. Although it- was rather early, Douglass was in the habit of reaching the bank at- halt-past ten. and so he felt sure he would be awaiting him; but Douglass's valet, who opened the door, said he had knocked twice, but his mas.tcr had shown no disposition to rise."- .

* Bui did he reply ?' asked Ferrett, gharply, with that acute appreciation of possibilities which had caused Dougkss frequently to remark that Raven would have made a most successful detective.

' No, sir,' replied the man, somewhat confused; 'but I knocked so loud that he must hare heard me.' 'But suppose he was unable to reply.

'Lor', sir, excuse me, but surely nothing eouldhappen to master, and we all about,' stammered the fellow, going slightly pale in his alarm. 'Why, my room is next to his, and nothin' could happen without it awaking me.' ' I didn't suggest that any violence has been done,' said Raven, 'but surely it should have occurred to you that it your master did not reply he might be ill.' 'He often lies of a.morning, sir, after I call him,' said the fellow, some of his usual confidence returning; ' and I never go to his room till he rings for me.' 'Well,' said Raven, 'let us at all events see if he is willing to get up now.'

Together they went along the passage from which the rooms of Douglass's s-iite opened on either side, until they reached the bedroom, and then Raven took the matter in his own hands by knocking louder and shaking the door, while he called out: ' Wake up, Albert, old fellow, it is nearly ten o'clock.' Raven waited for a moment, but there was no response from within. Turning to the valet, he asked if there was another key to the room. 'No, sir,' replied the man; 'and, besides, Mr Douglass always bolts his door in addition to locking it.' ' Then there is nothing else to be done,' said Raven. And going to the further side of the passage, he ran with full force against the door, applying his shoulder with athletic expertness to the tasking of bursting it open. The valet stared at him in open-mouthed astonishment, and the other servants, attracted by the unusual noise, gathered in an anxious crowd in the corridor. Raven, quite oblivious of the amazement he was causing, continued his work as a bar.tering ram, and soon the door began to yiuld, ' Now. said Ravon, to th* valet, 'if you help me, we shall have it down Li a moment.'

Tht feUow was so da/.ed with apprehension that for a while he was not oble co assist him properly, but who; i be warned no his work, his fears lent force to his efforts, and be applied hiniseU to the door with such zeal that :;oon the hinges gavy way, and the door swung partly open. Raven darted in through the opening, ard 4 strange spectacle met his gaze. Albert Douglass was lying in bed, his eyes staring wildly at his friend,, i.uc perfectly motionless, and uttering no f . a sound. The reason of the latter was obvious, as a silken gag

was drawn across his mouth; and h ls helplessness was soon divined by Raven, "who, pulling down the bedclothes, hastily found that his friend was bound hand and foot. Raven and Douglass's valet hastened to relieve the victim from his bonds, and soon he was free.

• Thank God,' he gasped,' you have come Raven. You cannot imagine what agony it has been to me lying here for hours, as it seemed, utterly helpless.' •How has it happenedP asked Raven. * Who did it, and what was the motive ?'

' I woke up in the middle of the night,' said Albert, ' and, feeling sure that someone was in the room, I was just thinking 6f frying to find my revolver, when the moon, which had previously been hidden, shone through the window, and I saw four strange, draped figures standing near the side of my bed. Before I could see them distinctly, or cry out, my face was covered by some soft substance pressed down very heavily on me, and I became unconscious. When I awoke it was broad daylight, and I was in the helpless condition in which you found Me/

'Let us see if any property is missing,' said Raven. ' The most natural explanation is that the visit was a clever burglary.' '<* I have no property, in tbis room,' said Albert, * except a little loose coin and my ordinary jewellery, 'but,' he continued, looking at the articles on the dressing-table, * they are all quite safe and undisturbed.'

* Had you anything in your clothes ' Raven asked; but Albert cut him short hy feeling hurriedly in his trousers' pockets. ' Great heavens!' he exclaimed, 1 they are gone—the keys of the bank 1' • I am not surprised,' said Raven, quietly. ' You are in the hands of no ordinary thieves. I shall keep these relics,' said he, folding up the bands by which Albert had been bound, and carefully stowing away the silken gag with them, * they may serve as a clue some day.' 'And what are we to do now?' asked Albert, bewildered by his extraordinary experiences. 1 We must go to the bank at once! said Raven.

CHAPTER VI. Raven and Albert jumped into a hansom, and drove away at once to the City. It was nearly ten o'clock by the time they reached the bank, and the City had begun to wear its busy air. The doors of Douglass, Pirn, and Douglass were open, and the caretaker, a police pensioner, was sweeping the steps. He was surprised at seeing Mr Douglass so early, and, drawing himself up,, he stood on one side to allow Albert and Raven to enter the bank. Albert motioned to him to follow; and the man, guessing that soma unusual business had occasioned such an early visit on the part of the head of the firm, entered the bank hastily, looking * slightly flurried.

' Ah! then,' exclaimed Albert, noticing his confusion, 'I can see something has happened.' 'No, sir,' replied the man. • Nothing that I know of.' ' Then why do you look so alarmed ?' ' Be cool, Mr Douglass,' said Raven, smiling involuntarily. 'Your unex pected appearance so early is surely enough to make Saunders look a trifle excited. Do you know, Saunders, of anything unusual having taken place here last night ?' ' Loi', no, sir. I hope nothing has happened.'

'Wo do not know yet. We thought it possible that an attempt at burglary may have taken place; and that is why we have come to the bank so early. You are sure you have not noticed anything unusual about the door, the boxes, or the safes ?

•Nothing at all, sir,' replied Saunders; ' and me and the missus have swept the entire bank, as usual. ' If they have done anything, then,' said Raven, earnestly, 'it is in the vaults.'

' For God's sake, don't suggest that,' said Douglass, hoarsely. ' If only they have known how to use my keys, and have overpowered Selden, they may have—ruined me. Colonel Gardener's jewels, as well as much other property, lay so absolutely at their mercy.' ' Let us go and see,' said Raven. As they made for the entrance lo the vaults, Raven asked if Saunders had seen Selden that morning. 'No, sir,' he replied; 'but then, we never do see him until ten o'clock when he is on night duty, as his placs is then taken by Smithson. Smithson, you see, isn't due on duty yet.' The door leading to the vaults was by this time reached, and all three started as they came within sight of it, for it was slightly ajar, and the key, attached to a bunch of other keys, was in the lock. 'Great heavens 1' said Douglass, hoarsely; ' they have been here, and I am undone.' Raven could not utter any words of comfort. It appeared to him that some very serious calamity had befallen his friend, in addition to the mysterious loss of the blue diamond. Albert had told Raven of the mysterious theft of the diamond on the way to the bank; but there was so much of present danger in the theft of the keys.that he did not discuss the loss of the great jewel. Indeed, it was his unexpressed idea that, in spite of the careful search Douglass declared that he had made, the diamond was possibly mixed with the other gems, and so remained undetected by the banker in his excitement. But such a loss paled before the possibilities presented by the cir

cumstances they now faced. That the keys of the stronghold of the bank should be in the hands of a mysterious gang, so expert in their movements that they could penetrate a suite of private rooms, and bind and gag a victim without making the slightest noise or giving any sign of their presence, lent them much ground for fearing that a most extensive theft of valuables had been effected.

Albert pushed opened the door, and. followed by Raven and Saunders, descended the stairs. All three were in a state of nervous tension, for they feared the discovery they were about to make. Not alone was it the probable robbery which filled them with dread, but there was also the natural apprehension as to the fate of the watchman Selden, who was on duty in the corridor outside the strong room.

Soon they reached the door at the end of the stairs, and Albert put his hand to it to push it open, for it, too, was ajar. He trembled so much with excitement and nervous apprehension that Raven held him back, and said, in a kindly tone: 'Let me go first, old fellow, and see what the scoundrels have been up to.' Raven stepped past him, but instantly Douglass, who was by no means lacking in pluck or determination, pulled himself together, and stepped boldly and firmly on to the concrete flooring of the corridor, Saunders dutifully following at his heels.. The sentry-box provided for the convenience of the watchman was turned towards the strong room, so that they could not see if it was occupied. Raven rushed forward, and, standing in front of it, instantly exclaimed, ' Poor fellow, they have served him exactly as they have served you!' Douglass and Saunders were by this time at Raven's side, and there, in front of them, sitting bolt upright on his seat, was Selden, gagged as Douglas had been gagged, and as firmly bound hand and foot. He was perfectly conscious, and stared at them piteously with wide-open eyes. But he had either undergone greater suffering than Douglass, or was not of so strong a constitution, for no sooner was he relieved of his bonds than he fainted. ' Fetch some water and bathe his temples,' said Raven to Saunders. ' He will soon be all right.' Without another word Douglass and Raven Ferrett hurried towards the strong room. The door was open, and Raven, touching a button, flooded the interior with electric light. The sight which met their gaze confirmed their worst apprehensions. Not only was the door of the great safe open in which Colonel Gardner's jewels and other valuables had been stowed away, "but every deed-box and receptacle had been opened, and the contents ransacked, papers and other things of no intrinsic value to strangers lying scattered everywhere on the floor. With a heavy heart Douglass approached the safe, expecting to find it denunded of its valuables but he had no sooner looked Within than he gave a glad cry of joy. Ravtn rushed to his side, and was equally astonished to find that, while the Gontents of the safe had evidently been completely overhauled, the majority of the valuables were safe. Indeed, when the various valuables were checked by the inventory, which was always left with them in the strong room, it was found that not a single thing was missing, with the exception of the diamond, from Colonel Gardner's collection. ,

' Thank heaven!' said Douglass, ' that things have turned out so well. But I cannot understand it. To think that my mysterious visitors should have taken the trouble to gain access to the bank, and then not to remove a single valuable I I cannot understand it at all.'

' To me it seems quite clear,' said Raven. But for all that it is the greatest puzzle I have ever come across.'

• And how do you explain it, Raven ?' 'To me it is obvious that your mysterious visitors have taken nothing because they did not find what they were in search of. lam as positive as that I am alive that they took the trouble to bind and gag you and steal your keys, solely in the endeavour to find Colonel Garduer's great mysterious blue diamond.'

'By Jove I it must be sol' said Douglass.

* There must be some curious interest attaching to it,' said Raven. ' Whoever stole it so mysteriously yesterday has evidently got the start of your mysterious visitors of last night. I wonder what it can all mean. But let us see how Selden's getting on. We have forgotten him.'

CHAPTER VII. Selden had recovered from his unconsciousness when Douglass and Raven reached him. Saunders had attended to him assiduously, and his wife, who had been apprised by her husband of the watchman's piteous condition, had brought a good hot, steaming cup of coffee, which helped to his speedy revival. Indeed, when the banker and Raven reached him, Selden was sitting in his box, a good deal the worse for the exhaustion he had undergone, but, except for that, quite recovered; and Saunders was standing beside him. ' I am sorry I was obliged to leave you, Selden,' said Mr Douglass, 'when you were in such a bad condition; but I knew Saunders was able to attend to you, and I was terribly anxious to ascertain if your assailants had stolen any valuables.' ' Oh, it doesn't matter about me, sir,' said Selden, 'but I fear to ask you what the villains have been up to.

They've had the, keys of the place, evidently, and I suppose—well, I suppose they've made—l suppose they've made a big haul.' ' No, Selden, it is not so bad as you fear, and by no means so bad as I feared. But follow me up to my office, as I want to learn all you can tell me of the attack which was made" on you.* Douglass and Eaven went first., in the direction oi the office, which •was situated at the end of the public counter on the ground floor; and Selden, leaning on his companion's arm—for he was still very weak—followed at their heels with Saunders.

The effect of the attack of the preceding night bad an almost exhilarating effect on Douglass. The relief he experienced in finding that no greater misfortune bad fallen on him, led him to minimise the loss of the diamond to an extent to which no amount of reasoning or sympathy would have influenced him.

(To be continued.)