THE BABYLONIAN DIAMOND

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 451, 8 December 1904, Page 2

THE BABYLONIAN DIAMOND

COPYRIGHT

CHAPTER Xlll.—(Continued.) * But I knew there wasn't a moment to lose. I had noticed that Smithson, ■ the commissionaire, had a twenty minutes' nap every afternoon, and I had watched Douglass's every movement, and saw my chance of getting the key3 from him. That was not' much risk, because I could well:explain my presence had he woke up'"; but nothing would have excused my presence in the strong room had Smithson woke up and discovered me there. I should have been ruined and disgraced for life. I hurried blindly j madly, through the iron doors, which fortunately opened noiselessly, and then threw open the safe. The great blue diamond was gleaming before me; I knew it was in itself worth a fortune; it was sufficient to provide us with more than we should want for our lives, and I took it ' ' And now can't get rid of it V * I can get rid of it; I have got rid of it; got rid of it for £BO,OOO ' ' Which you can't get l' ' But which I shall get in a little while. Don't you see that if we move too quickly it will jeopardise everything—even our safety ?' * You. mean your safety,' said Sophie, languidly. Luker Hirst winced. * Yes, I suppose I do. But in my safety, after all, your future is bound up.' 'Do let us be plain and candid, Luker!' said Sophie, decisively. 'My future is bound up with yours only when you have £BO,OOO to your name —aisd £BO,OOO to be spent, too, and not hoarded up or invested. You tell me that this cannot be for another year at least.' ' They cannot get rid of the diamond before. It is to conspicuous; and every port will be watched.' Sophie waved her hand impatiently. 'And you propose to me that I should live for that twelve month on £4OO. That sum, carefully managed, may just last me for three months. I will hold to our bargain for exactly that period, and if by then you are still in the same position, you must be prepared to release me.' 'Never, Sophie, never!' And the man's eyes went bloodshot with intense feeling. ' I tell 3ou that I shall neyer release you! I have stooped to crime to win you, and I will steep myself in crime rather than lose you!' 'That's right,' said she, with an affectation of gaiety ; « you mean that you will face all risk and sell the diamond within the three months.' ' No, Ido not mean that. I shall endeavour to sell the diamond as soon as I can ; but what I mean is, that if I fail ia keeping you. sooner than let another have ycu, I—l shall ' * You shall what ?' asked Sophio, ruing. ' lull you;' Luker Hirst dashed out of the room -as he spoke, and hurried down the stairs. As he emerged into the street, Riven Ferrett stepped out of a hansom which had just driven up. He nodded to Hirst, but did not appear to notice his unusual appearance. CHAPTER XIY. Mr Stephen Petherick had lost n * time in setting about his search, with that minute examination of detail for which he was so celebrated. He had obtained Douglass's consent to the isolation of the basement and strong room until he was able to make a thorough note of such indications as might there be found of the mysterious robbers. The necessity for returning forthwith to ' the Yard ' was, he c-x----plained,jtq make his official report, and to at once set on foot those purely mechanical measures which would have the effect of hampering the movements and operations of the thieves, and: might even, if good fortune favoured them, result in their capture. He did not explain that he also desired to call on Mr Foss, the manager of

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY AUSTIN FRYERS.

the Metropolitan Press Agency, to arrartfe that little item which resulted in the transfer of a £SO cheque, but that probably was an unessential detail he had overlooked. When, however, Mr Petherick had arranged these details, material and otherwise, he returned to the Bank. Douglass and Raven were present to render all necessary assistance—• Douglass with every appearance of his regarding the matter as one of serious import, while Raven seemed to have a struggle in concealing an intense amusement. ' Everything is now done,' said Mr Petheriek, blithely, 'which our criminal system can manage. Every port is carefully watched, our agents all over the Continent are on the watch, every known fence and diamond thief is under surveillance; every tradesman to whom might be entrusted the task of cutting the diamond is also watched; our agents in the trade are instructed to make periodic reports: in fact ' •' In. fact,' interrupted Raven, gaily, 'it is obvious you will have the diamond in your care again within a week. Mr Petherick smiled. __' My deaT sir, all this machinery is of no avail in effecting a recovery ; it pnly limits the area within which we aave to work. The physician drives ihe humours of the body into one place so that he may effectually attack and repeal,- them;; we circumscribe the search simply to expedite the search. We, in fact, s'cour a room in preference to scouring the- surface of the globe; we search a limited area to which the thieves are now driven, instead of looking in all directions; we look where the thief is, instead of spending months in discovering his whereabouts; we- ' ' I quite understand,' said Raven, contritely. ' Itwasonly my amateurish way of looking at things.' Mr Fetlerick was satisfied that he had made a due impression, and after a rather protracted indication of the hidden and complex methods of private investigation which it would be his duty to adopt, he went with Douglass and Raven Ferrett to the basement. Every inch of the way was brilliantly lighted by electric lamps, so that when all were turned on in accordance with Mr Petherick's wishes, there was not a spot or corner capable of concealing even a shred of testimony which was not glaringly brought under examination. Mr Petherick closely examined the box-seat in which Selden was resting when he was so suddenly surprised by the thieves and overpowered. The box was firmly set on the ashphalt flooring, and this latter was hard, firm and dry, as though it were a smoothed flag. It seemed as clean, too, as the proverbial new pin; but for all that, it appeared to offer a base of examination to the professional mind, as Mr Petherick, having carefully folded a bandanna handkerchief and spread it on the floor, produced a powerful magnifying glass, and through it examined the flooring most carefullj\ Again there was a carious difference in the attitude of the two spectators. Once more Douglass appeared much impressed by the professional method, whereas Raven w r as almost openly amused, though he carefully concealed all signs of his merriment as Mr Petherick rose from his knees. ' Just a3 I expected,' said the great man, ' there is not the faintest trace of them; the rascals evidently wore thick socks over their boots.' Mr Petherick looked at Raven, and smiled with a sort of condescending forgiveness. 'lt is exactly the sort of "no trace which settles the point,' said he oracularly. ' There is no trace on the floor, and I diagnose from that that the thieves wore a soft cover on their feet.' It was Douglass's turn to look in-

credulous, while Raven appeared to be deeply impressed. Mr Petherick bad, however, once more resumed his examination. The iron wicket leading to the strong room did»no appear to suggest much hope of affording a clue; but Mr Petherick did not despair, and his search was at length rewarded, for he uttered a joyful cry as his eye lit on a cobweb which had stretched across an opening in the bars, but now was rudely torn on one ■ide. ♦ The man who pufcfthe key in the lock evidently grasped this bar and tore the cobweb,' explained Mr Petherick, and taking a small rule from his pocket, he carefully examined the rent which had been made. The floor of the strong room itself was next examined by Mr Petherick, but as it yielded merely a no-trace clue, it simply verified his former conclusions. Before opening the safe itself Mr Petherick stood on a box which enabled him to examine the top. The moment he was in this position of vantage, he gave another joyful exclamation ; he had evidently made another discovery. Raven and Douglas mounted the box beside him to examine the newlydiscovered clue. ' Look!' said Mr Petherick, triumphantly, ' the mark of a hand. Do you notice anything strange about it ?' Raven did notice something strange, but he said nothing. 'There is the clue,' said Mr Petherick, triumphantly, 'which will solve the mystery for us. You see there are the impressions of but three fingers—the little one is missing. Here is proof clear as daylight that the man who opened this safe to steal the diamond leant his hand on top, and from that hand the little finger is missing. My task is to find the fourfingered man.' ' The four-fingered, light-fingered villain 1' said Raven, with a chuckle. When he was discussing Mr Petherick and his discoveries with Douglass some time after the detective was gone, he remarked: ' That was an interesting discovery, that mark of the hand en top of the safe.' ' I didn't think you thought much of it,' said Douglass. 'I did not think you attached much importance to the fact that there were the marks of only three fingers.' ' I don't,' said Raven; 'as the missing finger was undoubtedly but lifted up. Most people lift up a finger involuntarily when touching dusty things. What struck me as strange was that the hand was gloved ; for it proves to me that the mysterious would-be robbers who followed.the real thief are cautious cattle.'

CHAPTER XV. Raven Ferrett's appearance at the residence of Miss Sophie Darke was not due to accident. In discussing with Douglass the circumstances of the robbery, the banker had mentioned his going to the music-hall to endeavour to forget his worries, or at least to find some respite from them. It was merely an incidental reference, and having made it he would have passed on, but Raven would have details, and thus it was that Douglass mentioned having seen Lulser Hirst and Sophie Darke at the hall. Raven was immediately interested. He had, of course, known Hirst for some years; and he considered him quite one of the last men of his acquaintance he would expect to meet at such a place. When Raven expressed this opinion, Douglass admitted that at another time the incident would have attracted his attention, and that its having faded from his mind so rapidly was solely due to the excitement and anxiety he was labouring under, 'But do you seriously attach any importance to the incident?' he asked. ' Undoubtedly,' replied Raven. ' When anything unusual has happened, everything else unusual which takes place is most likely to be connected with it. I have always found this rule to work.' _ ' But you surjely do not suspect Hirst?' asked Douglass, somewhat alarmed,, for the purpose of disgrace overtaking the trusted principal clerk of the firm staggered him. ' I never work on suspicion,' said Raven. ' I always feel sure something has a meaning before I inquire more closely into it. In this case I feel that Hirst's visit to the music-hall with Sophie Darke, simply because it is unusual, is in some way connected with the disappearance of the diamond. For all that, Hirst may be perfectly innocent of the remotest connection with the affair; it may be that he is being made a tool of by others, and is serving their ends quite unconsciously. All the same, I am glad you have told me of this, for I think it will help me.' It was in consequence of this conversation that Raven Ferrett determined to pay a courtesy visit to Miss Sophie Darke. He had been one of her most favoured acquaintances, and, indeed, had in consequence been the butt of some double-barrelled compliments from his chums; but although the acquaintance was-of the most harmless character, he had gradually broken it off as his IOV6 for Maud Stanhope grew on him. There had, however, been no actual breach between Sophie and himself, and he therefore had no hesitation in resuming an acquaintance which might bring him into touch with some of those hidden springs of the machinery he meant to discover. The appearance of Hirst leaving Sophie's house in such an excited an anxious manner caused him, however, to ehange his plans. Hirst had hardly noticed him, and Raven felt sure that whatever i

was on the man's mind would speedily be indicated by his actions, and he determined to follow him. Hastily stepping inside the recess of the doorway he was enabled to watch Hirst from that position. Hirst hurriedly hailed a hansom, and casting a quick look round, he gave an address to the driver, who immediately drove off. Raven quickly hailed another hansom, and told the man to keep that, in which Hirst was driving in sight. The direction taken was towards the City; and as they drove along Raven entered into conversation with the driver through the aperture in the roof.

'I suppose you' guess that I am watching the man in the other cab ?' ' Yes, sir,' replied the driver. ' j 'speets 'e's been up to somethink. ' No,' replied Raven,' I don't think he has, but he's connected with others I want to discover. Now I'm going to pay you a five pound note if you do what I require.' ' Crikey, guv'nor, 1 replied the man, amazed ;* in course I will,' ' Then I want you to take off your badge, slip it through to me and let me take your cab and horse. We can change places at the next quiet spot. Now don't ask questions,' said Raven, decisively. 'I will give you twenty - five pounds now, and if you tell me the name of your yard I will take the horse and cab there and you can return me the twenty pounds. There's my card, so that you can see it will be all right.' '' Mr Raven Ferrett, Messrs. Doug lass, Pirn, and Douglass,' read the man. ' Then I guess, sir, you are after the great blue diamond that everyone's talking of. The Babby— Babby—something or other they call it.' • The Babylonian diamond,' said Raven. ' Yes, that is the name the newspapers have given it, and that is what I am after.'

The explanation was satisfactory enough to the man, who took the five crisp fivers Raven passed to him, and at the first opportunity allowed Eaven —with his badge shining on L is coat—to clamber into his place. Eaven was a dexterous whip, and he manipulated the difficulties of the passage By the Bank with even greater dexterity than the driver of the cab he was following. The driver of a private carriage—a man clad in very plain livery—was not quite so successful, and the wheels of his carriage became locked for a few moments in those of a passing dray, much to the annoyance of the policeman regulating the traffic. The incident caused Eaven to look round in some amusement, and then he was rather surprised to note that the occupants of the carnage were four Orientals, partly dressed in English attire. Their appearance was unusually striking, they appeared so earnest, and studious almost to the point of austerity. The fact struck Eaven even in such a hurried glance, and he mentally concluded that such men did not go about London sight-seeing. But he was too intent on keeping his quarry in sight to give the carriage or its impressive occupants another thought, and so, having cleared the dangerous corner, he drove on—the direction still being eastward —in pursuit. A few moments later, he heard the sound of a hurrying vehicle, and a policeman's warning cry to the driver to go slower. Eaven looked round, and found that the culprit was the driver of the private carriage in which the Orientals were seated. The driver had now pulled up, but Eaven thought it was not altogether in obedience to the policeman's warning. The fellow's manner caused a suspicion to flash across his mind, which was soon changed to a certainty. The carriage was being driven in pursuit of Luker Hirst! And Eaven Ferrett knew instinctively that (he four Orientals seated within ware the mysterious burglars who had overpowered Douglass and forced the bank. Eaven Ferrett once more changed his plan of action. When he realised that the mysterious burglars—the only term he could apply to them, though he instinctively felt it to be inappropriate—were bent on the same mission as himself, he determined to watch them, and through them to watch Hirsb. The mystery surrounding the diamond puzzled him. Why were these men in search of it—and how was it that they refused to be tempted by profuse wealth lying absolutely at their mercy and, after taking infinite pains to gain access to the bank, left it without being guilty of the smallest act of theft ? From the first Eaven was struck by the extraordinary singleness of motive which these men had exhibited in their actions. The diamond was, beyond doubt, of extreme value; but while pursuing it men whose only object was to acquire princely booty would surely not have despised such lesser treasures as lay so ready to their hand in the safe when the remainder of Colonel Gardner's jewels were absolutely at their mercy. Nor did they despise these lesser temptations so as not to arouse suspicion which might hinder them in their hunt for the great diamond ; as they were most careless of appearance, and left the contents of the strong room in confusion, just as the things were scattered by them in their hurried search. Another feature of their mysterious depredations was the great and unusual skill and secrecy with which they had been able to effect their designs. Eaven had examined in wonderment the position of Douglass's bedroom in the flat he occupied, and was quite at a loss .to determine how an entrance was effected without an alarm having been given, or even, suspicion excited.

And when, too, as a finishing touch of | mystery, he found that at such a supreme moment as the opening of! the bank safe at least one of the i mysterious little gang had worn gloves, his curiosity was keenly excited, and his quest became tinged with almost artistic enthvsiasm. The most reliable trail on which he had as yet struck now spread out before him as in the actions of the authors of the mystery he had the best promise of being able to ascertain the facts of the mystery itself. While these reflections were surging through his mind the little pioeession still moved eastward,. and now turning down the Oommerial Road, made for the neighbourhood of the Docks— Luker Hirst's cab in front, followed fairly closely by the carriage of the Orientals; Raven bringing up the rear, and utterly ignoring tho offer to engage him which more than once reached him from fcbe pavement, (To be continued.)