The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IN JEOPARDY FROM DIAMONDS. 61 Mr. Constable, manager of the hotel and a couple of ladies who gave their aid—Styne had been led away to prison. Hinathan Perkins was rather taken aback when told of his comrades’ achievements, but that feeling did not last long. ‘‘I’m sorry you snaked in that young Dutchman,’’ he said. ‘“‘I sized him up before he’d been in the town an hour and you’re dead wrong. ‘There’s no more harm in him than there is in a spring lamb. Why, I saved him from the drop game myself. Jacobs chucked the diamonds in there—I’ ve no doubt of that—but they knew nothing about it. And I think you’re both fair minded men enough to help me in a scheme I’ve got for getting at the plain truth.’’ So they were, if there were any reasonable grounds to doubt Styne’s cuilt. They delighted in hunting down the right man, but had no desire to unjustly persecute the wrong one. After some deliberation they gave their assent to Perkins’ plan, subject to its approval by the chief of their force, which the Yankee readily obtained. Solomon Jacobs was kept a close prisoner in his cell all the next day, until late in the afternoon, and allowed to see no one, not even an attorney, who blustered loudly but ineffectively over the violation of his client’s rights. Finally EHlnathan Perkins strolled through the prison corridor, in front of the old man’s cell and was hailed by him with a shrill: ‘Hey! See here! You! How much longer am I to be kept here without an examination? Without seeing my counsel! Without even knowing of what I am accused ?”’ “You'll get all the examination you will want tomorrow,’’ replied the Yankee coldly. ‘‘ You would have had it today, only the court adjourned early on account of what happened at your partner’s trial.’’ ‘“My partner ?’’ exclaimed the Jew, in a tone of surprised inquiry. “Yes. Haven’t you heard about it yet? I should have thought some one would have told you.”’ ‘“No. Nobody has told me anything. What is it? Who is my partner ?”’ : “The young Dutchman in the room next yours. The diamonds were found in his possession—136 carats of them—and as it was a clear case they railroaded him this morning.”’ ‘They railroaded him !’’ echoed the old man in a hollow voice. “Yes. Fifteen years on the Breakwater and 41,000 fine. It was more than he could stand. He has just been married and the idea of being sent away from his young wife all the best years of his life turned his head. When he was sentenced he jerked a pistol out of the belt of an officer standing near him and before he could be seized, shot himself through the head: and fell dead, right there in court. And his wife, a right pretty young Boer woman, seeing what he did went crazy and was carried out screaming. ‘The doctors say she will never regain her senses.’’ After Elnathan ceased speaking, Solomon Jacobs stood as if paralyzed, with a look of unutterable horror in his widely dilated eyes. ‘Then his thin white hands flung above his head, feebly beat the air and with his pale lips working convulsively but making no sound, he tottered backward until he CoOMicooolks 5}