A Story of Diamonds.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8057, 5 March 1906, Page 4

A Story of Diamonds.

Some years ago I went to spend the last few weeks of the season at Marienlyst, the famous seaside resort near Elsinore and Hamlet's tomb. As I entered the hotel late in the afternoon I found the whole lower floor apparently deserved, but when I pressed % button a waiter came running down the grand stairway. " You will excuse, sir, that no one was here to receive you, but Mr. Dahl. the proprietor, whom I just see coming, will explain you the reason why." Mr. Dahl, with profuseapologies, explained that the theft of a diamond necklace had upset the whole establishment, and that the police were even now upstairs investagating. The waiter thereupon conducted me to a room on the second lloor, and if I had not known better I would have thought the hotel deserted, for the only guest I met in the corridor was a young man whose unusually handsome face struck me, and whom my companion saluted with a respectful " God day, Herr Torp." Once in my room I started getting ready for the table d'hote and had forgotten all about the theft, when there was a kuook at the door.

u I beg your pardon," said the man who entered: "lama detective and must ask you to let me examine your luggage." " But I have only just arrived, and when I came the theft of the diamonds had already been committed. My trunk has not oven come yet, but you are welcome to look through my grip ;it is open," X replied and went on dressing. • I was startled by an explanation from tho detective and when I turned round I saw him holding a case cofitaining a costly necklace in his band. You seem to have used your timewoll," he said with a sarcastic smile. " I will have to ask you to remain in this room until I can return." And with this he loft the room, locking the door from the outside. I stood there dumbfounded. I, Kugege Hoist, head of one of the largest firms in tho country, arrested for theft! The very idea was too absurd. My thoughts were interrupted by the detective, who returned with a policeman, and without any formalities I was ordered along to the otlicc of the proprietor of the establishment, where he, n police official, Mr. Torp and the countess who had lost tho jewels awaited me. " Your name?" asked the ollicial. " Eugene Francis Hoist." " Your occupation ? " " Head of the firm of Eugene Hoist & Co*" " Where do you live ?" 41 Copenhagen." " When did you arrive at Elsinore ?" " This afternoon at 5.35." • "Whom did you meet first here in tho hotel ?" " That waiter." *' Then ?" " The proprietor, Mr. Dahl." u Anybody else ?" " Yes; I met a Mr. Torp in the corridor." The official produced the case with the jewels. "Countess von Ahuskjold," he called loudly, and then a lady of the, southern type stepped forward. "Are these your jewels ?" " Yes, yes," she exclaimed eagerly, and stretched out her hand to take them, when Mr. Torp came up and asked politely : "Will you kindly permit me to look at those diamonds ?" " Certainly." He looked at them for a moment and said: "These diamonds are imitations and hardly worth twenty kroner, and I doubt that Mr. Hoist would commit a theft for such a trifle." " Impossible !" cried the countess excitedly. " You must be mistaken."

But Mr. Torn insisted, and a jeweller, who was telephoned for, confirmed his words. A3 soon as this expert bad left, Mr. Torp, to the surprise of everybody, went to the door and locked it, putting his key in his pocket. Having done this, he turned to the police commissioner and said: " Ifyou have no objection, sir, 1 would like to tell a little story which has a certain heaving on this case. Some years ago there lived on an old estate in Essex a Countess Mildred-—" 41 1 beg your pardon," interrupted the proprietor of the hotel," but it seems to me that Mr. Torp might choose some other time for telling this undoubtedly very interesting >tory." u No ; I want to hear what he has to say," replied the police official; so Mr. Torp went on : " Lady Mildred was very rich and possessed the famous diamond Geralda, which was kept in ft steel box, the key of which she always carried 011 a chain around her neck. Her servants consisted of an old married housekeeper, Mary Chester, whose husband was gatekeeper ; the butler, Drumont ; the maid, Lucy Powell, and the coachman, Kussell. They had all been in LadyMildredVservices for years, and she had full confidence in them. " One day the diamond Geralda disappeared most mysteriously. The police were called and the diamond was found in Mary's i trunk. ! "The woman was dumbfounded, and thobgh she swore that she was innocent, she was arrested and sent to prison. A week later her husband committed suicide from grief. " Soon after the butler, Drumont, resigned, and returned to Paris, where he was born. 'Lady Mildred took care of Mary Chester's daughter, Florence, and gave her the best education possible. " Once, while on her way to London, Florence visited her mother in prisou, and promised that she would never rest until sho had found the thief of the diamond. * lt Soon after Lady Mildred died, and left Florence £20,000, the smaller amounts were left to the servants, with the exception of Lucy Powell who had gone to Paris and married Drumont. " When the estate was settled it was discovered that large quantities of the old family silver had disappeared, and the thieves were never found." Mr. Torp stopped a moment and looked sharply at Countess Ahusl-juld and Mr. Dahl. The first was pale as death, while the proprietor tried to smile.

"True to her promise, he continued, " Florence kept to her search for the guilty parties, ami to be able to do this she assumed the dress of a man. She went to Paris and found that the Drumont* were living a life of ease at Ashieres. She located several pieces of the missing silver in pawnshops, but before she had been able to discover the identity of those who had pawned them the birds had flown.

" She found them Again at Brussels, where they were living as Baron and Baroness Xeberbaek at Uic Hotel lloyal, but .again they disappeared, as did uUo much jewelery belonging to guests. " Nine long years she followed them, heaping proof on proof, always drawing the net closer around them, and now they are caught. " Sometime ago this hotel was bought by Mr. D;rhl. A week before a number of diamonds had been stolen at Vienna, and an automatic apparatus in Ihe stove had taken a snapshot of the thieve I }.

while the proprietor oried ! " He lies ; he ii an impostor I " Florence Chester calmly handed the police official her papers and a warrant for the i;r rest of the couple. The ollicial looked tlieu) over and asked : " How do yon explain tliis last theft f" " Nothing is easier. The 'countess' pretended to have been robbed, and her husband put the necklace in Mr. Hoist's satchel, that they might throw suspicion on him when they rubbed the guests of the hotel, as they intended." I went over and shook Miss Chester's hand. " I cannot thank yoli enough for what you have done tor me," I said, "and I compliment you for the astuteness with which you have acted." " It was for the sake of the honor of my mother," slie replied softly, her eyes filling with tears. "She died a few mouths ago. convinced that some day I would clear her name."