ERR IRIE II IRIE I IE LIE IEE REE EEE EK EEK «© * je Diamond Coterie * By LAWRENCE M. LYNCH (E. M. Van Deventer) Author of “A Woman's Crimz,” “John Arthur’s Ward,” “The Lost * Witness,” “A Slender Clue,” “Dangerous Ground,” “ Against Odds,” Etc., Etc. KEI IIE EK ICRI KKK THE DAILY é ir RIK ix K Vie o. ‘ *K Mc aN Me Ye Ye “i Xv MK MORK (Coentinred ) upproaching Wardour, and uot to excite suspicion.’ she turned her gaze cautiously in the direction indicated, and saw coming dowly toward them, Mr. Belknap and yrs. Aliston. 4 : “ft is Mr. Belknap,’’ she said, nodding asilyat the new comers as she spoke, “and my aunt. Have no feurs, sir tramp, LAOK Lie “some one is i carefully, me, Miss ing shall be as you wish. I will you, 1 think.”’ Constance was herself again. “aunt Honor,”’ she said, as the two came within hearing distance, ‘‘you find me at my old tricks.’”’ “Qld tricks indeed !’’ replied her aunt, with more subtlety of meaning than she often employed. Constance arose au tramp, » upon him. Toanes wonll you do aunt?’ she said, with an air of honest anxiety that would have done credit to an actress, ‘*here is this man again. You know I promised to try and nelp him when he was here be- fore, Simon needs an assistant, he tells me; would you try him as under gar- dener?”’ » Throughly drilled in the art of aiding and abetting her niece, Mrs. Aliston equal to the emergency. “Jt couldn't do any harm,’’ she said surveying the gentleman tramp some- what superciliously. ‘“‘He looks quite respectable, for that sort of a person.’’ Constance stifled an inclination to laugh as she said, briskly :-— “Then we will try him, and I'll just take him to the kitchen, and tell cook what to do with him until Simon comes.”’ “Now just let me do that Con.,”’ remonstrated Mrs. Aliston, ‘‘Mr. Bel- knap wishes to talk with you about the servants; remain here, and I will attend to this person.”’ ‘Very well,’’ responded Constance, in- differently, at the same time realizing the expediency of allowing the detective an instant opportunity for dropping a word cf warning in the ear of her rela- tive. ‘Tell the cook to give him some- thing to eat, and now Mr. Belknap, you and I may walk on.”’ “Just follow me, my man,’’ called Mrs. Aliston, in a tone of loftiest patron- age, and the newly appointed under- gardener, beaming with gratitude, passed by Miss Wardour and Mr. Belknap, and followed the portly figure kitchenward with eager alacrity. Meantime, Constance, eager to engross Mr. Belknap’s attention, turned toward him a smiling face, and said :— “Now, Mr. Belknap, I am at your dis- posal for a short time; fate seems against my obtaining the rest I came out here to seek, but your business is in my interest, amd Tam not ungrateful; you wished to ay something about my servants.’’ “I wish to question your servants separately, Miss Wardour.”’ Constance opened her eyes in quick surprise, then she answered quietly :— “To question my servants! Oh, cer- tainly, Mr. Belknap; when, and where?’’ “This evening would suit me; I am ing to look about the surrounding country during the day.’’ “This evening then, after dinner; will that suit you?’’ “Admirably, say at half past eight;’’ and having completed his arrangements in this business-like manner, Mr. Bel- knap asked permission to pass through the orchard, received it, and, bowing @aveiy, went through the wicket, and walked swiftly between the rows of apple trees straight northward. At six c’cloc’: thet c--ning, Miss War- Gear scut for the curdencr, “Simon,’’ she said sweetly to the cross looking old man, ‘‘f engaged a new man day, perhaps you have secn him. I fon’t expect he can be very useful to you ust at first, and I want you to give hiim Very light tasks, and treat him kindly: @is a very unfortunate man. If we find that we can’t make him useful after a few days’ trial, we will pay him a month's wages anc let him go. That will help him a little.” Then she sent for the new man. “I thought you might wish to hear the latest report from Mr. Belknap,’’ she ai graciously. ‘If I am to be your ally, I intend to keep nothing back; but I ‘an't help fearing that he may suspect your identity.’’ “You need not,’ he replied with con- *ntease. ‘“‘He has cvery reason for ‘Upposing me in California «at this mo- ment; besides, he does not know me well ough to be able to recognize me under * good disguise; our acquaintance,’’ he dryly, ‘“‘has been somewhat one Sided, with the advantage so far on my fide. When I told you that I knew Mr. Belknap well, I did not intend to imply t he knew me equally well.”’ sayy : r Then I will trouble myself no more about the matter,’ said she lightly, “ Mr. Belknap wishes to examine the servants, t at is what I wished to tell you.” |, Very proper in Mr. Belknap.’’ Oh! is it? I thought it very absurd. My servants are honesty itself.”’ ‘So much the better; Mr. Belknap knows how to go to work, Miss War- dour, pray feel no prejudice.’ m Oh, not at all,”’ ironically. “Now ‘out the report. Be within easy call to- morrow mornin 5g oa have it then) eee 1 think we wilt aa Thanks. 9 ~T suppose it will ‘be } » best to Rave you Present, that is, Within hearing. I will arrange that the Svubode Ler vlace Im the dini, iterview will take “ning room. ard éan easily and swept past the without bestowing a , —_— get you into tne butle = room, aajoining, where William sieeps; Sis rocm was ar- ranged with a view to she overlooking of the dining room, and plite closet, as you discovered for yoursel ; from there you can both hear an:i see.’’ ‘So much the bette>.’’ Then adnetring- ly, he added, ‘‘Miss Wardour. you are a splendid ally; you have thought of every thing.”’ : She laughed; then answered with art- ful frankness: ‘Tam trying to @et back info my pnormel condi.ion. I have been mit of balince somehow, ever since this uusiness commenced; have been as testy oli women of eighty. I6 is time I “ran to redeem myself. But [ must not wtain you. IT see you begin to look un- asy. Until to-morrow, I commend you 0 tae tender mercies of Cimon and the ‘OOK. **t wonder how that man looks, devoia of all Gisauise.’’ mused she, after he had withdratyn. ‘‘I don't helieve he is tow wired and freckled Ly nature. L wonler what has Lecome of peor Syl il's letter: emd if 1 had better ask his aid in finding it. ‘But he is going sway so soon. Now chat 1 reflect, sglerly, what mo‘ive could Ueetor Meath possibly have for taking that letter? I think I must have been mad, or in hysteria. The man my be an imposter, a man of mystery, an lall that; me why must Taccuse him of taking : letier that couli be o: no possi tle use t ibn. I had worked myself into a rage. Well, it’s done; I can't recull is. Doetor Heath will think mea vixen, and why net? What is Doctor Eeath’s opinion «i ine? San What inéccd! CHAPTER IX. . The fates seemed propitious on Mond: y morning. The cxy dawned fair and balmy, and Constince arose, feelin? 1e- freshed and like her own serene self once more. ‘the events of the two previous days no longer seemed to her imuginition a chxotic diturbing mass of tribulations: they had arranged theniselves in their proper order, been reviewed sensibly, : nd assigned their rightful places, as things to be overcome, or overlcoked, as the case might be. Mrs. Aliston, too, at once discreet and talkative,was in fine spirits, and the two, having sscertsined the precise time when Private Detective Belknap might be expected to make his report, had break- fasted cemfortably, stowed away Mr. Bathurst, according to previous sarrange- ment, and were now culmly awaiting the coming min. They had not long to wait. Mr. Bel- knap, ushered in ly Nelly, found the ladies seated near the breakfassS tray, as if just about completing a repast, which had in reality, been finished some time before, ‘*Good morning, ladies,’’ said he, lay- ing down his hat, and at once drawing a chair to the table, witi the air of a man whose time is money. ‘Having completed my investigations here—that is, in this immediate neighborhood—l am prepared with my written report, which J submit to you, Miss Wardour. Will you please read it, and then give me further instructions?’ and he preffer- ed her a nextly folded paper, of gcodly proportions, Constance glanced at it dubfously, but Gid not take it from his hand. ‘Please read it, Mr. Belknap,’’ she said, appealingly. “‘I am _ sure.» f shall comprehend it better, and my aunt shares my anxiety to hear and understand its ocr. Czte.” * As you please,’’ assented he, opening the manuscript. ‘“‘I have made it as brief xs possible; of course, it was neces- sary to be statistical.’’ The report began with the usual form, day and date, circumstances under which his services were retained, etc., a state- ment of the case as it was made to him, then came the following :— ‘‘Arrived in W— early on Sunday morning, walking from the first station northward. Found Wardour Place easily from Mr. Lamotte’s cCescription. Gained admittance, and wes at once permitted to inspect the reom where the robbers found «n entrance; fouad. that it had been previously examined, and could not feel quite sure that some clue had not been effaced or something disturbed that might have evolved a clue. Miss Wardour assures me that nothing of value was taken frem this room, and I am inclined to think tht the robbers had hoped to find themselves in the dining room, and gain access to the plate closet. ‘‘Finding themselves instead in the library, a room where, there being no man of the house, it could hardly be supposed valuables were kept, or money or papers of worth locked away; they, after a vigorous search, opened the door of the hall; here they found themselves at once at the foot of the stairs and, naturally, one ascends to explore. The first door that he tries is the door of Miss Wardour’s dressing room; and, hav- ing examined that door, I am compelled to think that Miss Wardour, for once, forgot to lock it. Had it been locked the explorer would naturally have passed on, trying the other doors and some of these doors were certainly not locked. ‘‘The burlgary was effected with the utmost quiet, and there are no indica- tions that any thing was disturbed on the second floor, save in Miss Wardour’s rooms, therefore (I cite this presumptive evidence,) that Miss Wardvuur’s door was not locked as she supposed it to be; find- ing this to be the czse the man signaled ? EXAMINER, CHARLOTT&TOWN MAY 6. 1897, Ce + 'U fils CUmeUueTavc wv Come Up, and Tnen, having « dark lantern, they entered, and surveyed the room. ‘Lhe rest is evidence; one of them, skilled in his pzvofession, , and in the exigencies that must arise in | the practice of it, administered to Wardour the chloroform. Now the opera- tion must have been a delicate one, «and the length of time necessary to open the safe and get possession of its contents covered some minutes; having heard Miss Wardour’s statement in regard to the effect a powerful dose of chloroform has on her hysterical system, I incline to the opinion that the drug was administered to her in minute doses, not onee, but two or three times at least; this accounts for the hottle and the linen being left in the siccping room. Probably, just at the moment when they had stowed away tae last of their booty, some slight sound alarmed them and they made a_ hurried | escape, forgetting the bottle entirely. “The robbers left behind them no clues | beyond the established fact that they were | professional burglars. This is proved by the manner in which they did their work, and by the tools they must have carried. “IT see plainly here the work of city- bred burglars, and the remainder of the work of finding them is to be done in the city, where they will eventually try to dispose of some of the jewels, no doubt. ‘In order to satisfy myself that there has been no accomplice here, who may have been acquainted with the premises, I have searched most thoroughly. I have examined the servants closely, and I find nothing to indicate that there has been any one concerned in this affair, who is | an inhabitant, or habitual visitor in the ' town. ‘In a field to the northward, I have | found what may be, I think is, a trace of the robbers. Two or more men have leaped a ditch, running across the field from east to west; and the footmarks in the first instance are coming southward, or toward Wardour. These footmarks are within a few rods of the road, as if the parties had suddenly abandoned that highway, fearing observation from travel- ers. My supposition is, that they ap- proached Wardour Place, keeping to the field, after having leaped the ditch, until the northern boundary of the orchard was reached; here they must have kept close under the wall, until they came to the roadside fenee, which they climbed. The fence bears freshly scraped marks, as if made by boot heels in climbing over, and some tall weeds, growing by the roadside, give evidence of having been hastily and heavily trampled. The thieves probably returned after the robbery, in the same way; for, one crossing of the fence would not have left so many marks visible, either on the boards or among the weeds; and in the darkness they fell a little eastward of their first course; for I find, at the ditch again, but nearer to he river, the same foétprints where the ditch has been leaped, this time the foot- steps going northward. “It is probable that the thieves tramped northward under cover of the darkness, until they struck the railroad at some pre- viously selected point, and from thence took the first train cityward.’’ The reading came thus abruptly to an end, and the reader looked up to note the effect upon his hearers. They both sat in most attentive attitudes, and each face wore an expression of puzzled astonish- ment. Not being able,to reach their “‘inner consciousness,’’ and read _ the mental comparisons there being drawn between this report and the very dissim- ilar summing up of the tramp detective, Mr. Belknap drew his inferences, as do we all, poor mortals that we are, seeing only the outside of the cup and _ platter. He saw the surprise, the puzzled look, that might denote a partial inability to grasp his thoughts and theories at once, and a feeling of satisfaction took posses- sion of the breast of the astute detective. Pausing for a comment, and receiving none, he said, with dignified gravity:— “T trust that I have made my report sufficiently plain to you, ladies, and that you find no flaw in it.’’ Constance, who with her keen sense of the ridiculous, had been fancying the effect. this report would have upon the detective in ambush, and struggling hard with her own risibilities, mastered herself finallly, and preserving her gravity of ex- pression, replied with a wicked under current of meaning :— ‘It is quite plain to me, sir; I am a poor critic of such matters, but I should think it a masterpiece for directness and comprehensiveness, ”’ ‘*And you see nothing in the theory to object to? You think that working from these findings, there will be a hope of success?’’ he queried. ‘ Constance hesitated once more to con- sider hor answer and collect herself gen- erally. “Why. yon know, Mr. Beliknup,’’ she said at last, and with charming ingennu- ousness, ‘‘this is prot a matter for my judgment; I rely upon you entirely; pray ns ilss do not hesitate, Lut continue your in- yertigations in whatever direction your judg:usnt leads ;ou. I wish Mr. Lamotte was h-re to confcr with you; but, if he were here,’’ and | er face becume sad as she thought of tis home coming; ‘‘he would hardly be in spirits for such a con- ultation. Mr. Lamotte has bad news waiting him. We must venture tiis matter without his aid for the .present.’’ Tho devective’s face show,d grave con- cen. ‘* Bid rews for Mr. Lamotte,’’ he mur- mus; “‘I ceeply deplore that. He seems sucha genial, kindly gentleman, so much above the average business man. It is not too sericus, I hope.’’ ‘It is something you would have heard from the first gossip, if you had mingled with the town people at all replied Con- stance sadly. ‘‘I may as well tell you what every ene knows. Mr. Lamotte’s only daughter has eloped during his absence. with a very worthless man.’’ (To be Continued.) ————— ES TO LET The eastern half of honse situated on corner of Euston and Hillsborough streets. Immediate possession. Apply to Mrs. F. Parker Carvelil. ap28, dlw Kent Street. »- THE mINING TUNNEL, What It Ilas Done In Fiffecting EFecon- omies In New Developments. Many persens residing at a distance rom mining districts have the most erro- neous ideas as to tl.e supposed simy licity and enormous profits of mining, apparent- ly deriving their information from the da- ta of phenomenal assays or occasional pockets of rich ore, mistakenly assuming that such cases are average samples and that ore can be dug almost as potatoes are dug. On the contrary, with the exception of avery few mines which may pay ex- penses from the grass roots down, success- ful mining today involves the maximum of practical experience, professional know]l- edge and financial means. This is fully borne out by the following brief notice of some of the leading mining tunnels ef Colorado: The outcrops of mineral bearing veins or ledges are usually found on the steep, rocky slopes of high mountains, separated by deep and great gulches or ravines. As the veins usually dip into the solid interior ef the mountains, shafts are sunk either on the veins themselves, ore being taken out as the process goes On, or in 6uch proxiin- ity to the veins that they ean be reached from the shafts by drifts or levels—which are really side tunnels from the shafts— and the ate stoped out and conveyed in small ore wagons alog such drifts or lev- els to the shaft, hoisted down the steep mountain side to the nearest wagon road leading to the millor railroad. As the shafts are frequently hundreds of fect deep and the mouths of the shafts fre- quently hundreds if not thousands of fect above the bottom of the adjoining gulch or valley, the ore has to be hoisted by steam: power to the surface—such steam power involving the conveyance of fuel | from the valley to the shafthouse—and from the mouth of the pumping plants, in addition to the cost of hoisting the ore and subsequently getting it down the steep hillside. The expense of pumping, hoisting and hauling seriously reduces the margin of profit and in some cases extinguishes it altogether. It is obvious that under the above cir- cumstances, through a tunnel driven into the mountain and reaching the ore bodies at a low leyul—say from the level of tho bottom of the adjoining gulch—not only can the ore be extracted from below and taken out almost by natural gravity or the minimum of power, thereby saving the expense of hoisting and subsequently conveying down the steep hillside, but al- @o drainage can be had by natural gravity, thereby dispensing wiih the expensive pumping plants, costly fuel, wages of en- gineers, etc.—Hngineering Magazine. MESSAGE TO MEN, Proving th at True Honesty end Tive Phil antrophy Still Exist. 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