The Jewels of Sin

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 32

The Jewels of Sin

Bernard Rowthorne.

Author of ' The Claws of the Dragon," &c., &c.'

CHAPTER XXV (Continued)

"Naturally I was wild. J’d no proof •—but I suspected the negro and the Dutchman, and if they’d been there then, I believe I should have shot them. I did my best for poor old Hans, burying him as well as J could, and while I was doing so. something rolled out of his elofhes that caught my eye, and I picked it up. It was a quill such as messages by carrier pigeons are sent in, and it was plugged with sealing-wax at both ends. "In that very moment I knew that I'd found the secret of the stones. So sure was 1 that, though I picked it up and put it in my pocket, I did not stop poor old Hans’s obsequies; but went on till I’d finished; then I went back to the camp and opened the quill. There were two pieces of cigarette paper inside with a map in pencil and a little plan, and on the top of one in Hans’s writing were four words: "The Jewels of Sin." What he meant by that I haven’t the least idea, but anyway I knew that the plan meant the hiding-place of the diamonds, and I guessed that Hans would sooner an old friend was his heir than a pair of torturing blackguards who’d done him to death, as I'll swear. "I set out for the place—following a crow flight for two days, and on the second night I found the stones, but lost my rifle in some old diggings that collapsed, nearly burying me. 1 didn’t trouble much about the loss at the time, being too cock-a-hop over the stones: but in the next day or two I missed it pretty badly, for I found that pair of rascals \vere following my spoor, and I’d nothing but a hunting knife and an automatic pistol, the spring of which had gone wrong.

"To cut a long story short, they trailed me for days. I dodged them and got to Walfisch Bay without seeing them; but they must have struck my trail again at for the first persons I saw on the home-coming boat were these two. *t made me feci sick, and T thought of denouncing them for the murderers they were—but I’d no real proof; and I'd the diamonds to think of. and as a man with daimonds at the Cape is always liable to be suspected of the 1.D.8. business, I held my tongue. The ship didn’t sail till night, owing to some machinery repairs, and just before it

did, I managed to slip ashore in the dark, sacrificing my baggage, but saving the stones.

“I thought I’d give the fellows plenty of time, and so let a couple of boats go before I booked a fresh passage; and since I guessed that those rascals would be on the watch for me, I arranged with Zita to meet me at the station with a case something like the one in which I had the stones, so that if I were followed I could get rid of the stones by delivering them to Peter Rogers by another hand—>— ’’ "It was not very wise to ask your sister!”

“There was nobody else whom I could think of whom I could trust, and besides it was no more than one chance in a hundred that those fellows would know the boat I was sailing by. They must have had a spy at the other end, someone who sent them word.” Mallinson knew who that someone held his peace; and a moment after did not regret having done so. “On the way home oddly enough I ran against a relation of the Dutchman’s —a sister-in-law. I found it out by a photograph in her cabin. She didn’t seem to have any idea what a blackguard he was; and I didn’t tell her. Now I have a dim sort of notion that she intervened between these rascals and me ” “Perhaps!” said Mallinson, diplomatically. “You will see her soon. She is coming here with Zita in an hour or so; then you can have an explanation. Tell me about No. 7 Bagnall Street. What happened there, I am curious. So are the police—and you left your Stetson hat behind. “That’s of no account. There was nothing distinctive about it. What happened at Bagnall Street was that I I got there before Zita, carrying the * empty dispatch case, and had been

talking to Rogers perhaps ten minutes when those two fellows came in. That they meant mischief was clear, and I started to bolt, hoping to stop Zita before she could enter. There was a scrap, and I saw Rogers shot—it was the black who did it—and was myself • knocked on the head with a life preserver, after which I knew nothing clearly till I woke up in a strange house, feeling as if I was starting on a heavy attack of malaria, and when I remembered things, I was almost crazy about Zita, wondering what had happened to her. They must have drugged me somehow, for I went off into a long sleep, and the next thing of which I have any hazy idea is of the black threatening me with the terrible things he would do to Zita if 1 didn’t turn up the stones. I couldn’t for I hadn’t the remotest idea where they were; then later they wanted me to write a letter to you ordering you to give up the stones. I said it was foolishness, that I’d never heard of you—and while I was arguing I fell asleep through the infernal drugs they’d given me, I suppose. Anyway they didn’t get the stones ” “No! They are yours as soon as we can go to Chancery Lane, and I don’t think you’ll have any need to fear the attentions of Lobengo and his friend, for by .this time they’re well out of England with the police at their tails.” “Good. And you say Isabella’s coming here?” “And Zita 4 There’s the taxi now. l hear it.” “I say, Mallinson, keep Zita out of j the way five minutes, will you?” “Tell her what you're going to do i j first!” said Mallinson. “Well, now ” “I insist. There are good reasons.” “I.don’t know them; but since you’re so mad about it. I’ll humour you.” “Right. I’ll send her in to you.” When Zita and Isabella Van Terkamp entered the study he immediately took the girl to her brother and leaving her there went to her friend. “You have told him of—of—my weakness?” asked Isabella. “No! I do not think I ought to intervene. If anyone should, it is Zita.” “You are very good. I have no fear of Zita. She already loves me. And she has understanding. Yes.” They sat silent, waiting. in five minutes Zita came from the adjoining room. Her eyes were shining, and going straight to Isabella Van Terkamp she kissed her. “Go in Isabella! He is impatient for you.” “’Um!” said Mallinson, as the door closed. “You are not afraid of his discovering ” ‘ p 9°h! Jack’s blind as a bat, and he’s in love. He wouldn’t believe what we might tell him.” “No.” Then Mallinson held out his arms. “Journey’s end ” Yes,” she answered with a little i laugh of happiness. 1 “And soon the Great Adventure!” “As soon as you like, since we take it : together.” i tThe End).