The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

IN JEOPARDY FROM DIAMONDS. 63 The three officers went out silently, locking the door behind them, and consulted together in another room. | ‘“My scheme has worked too derned well,’’ said Elnathan Perkins, look- ing troubled. ‘‘I’ve got the truth out of him, but I'll be consumedly jiggered if. I like the state of mind I’ve put him in and I don’t see how to square inyself on my necessary lie and ease him up. I never imagined the old fellow had so much heart. He’s mighty near crazy and I’m afraid to tell him right out it was a fake story for fear of breaking him up altogether. And I’d hate to do that, for he’s white inside, even if he is an I. D. B.’’ ‘Right you are,’’ responded Hodgson, ‘‘and I’m blamed sorry for him myself, which is more than I ever thought I should be for one of his trade. And any way the deal goes, he is bound to get the worst of the game.’’ ‘“So he is,’’ assented Perkins. ‘‘ His confession clears the Dutchman right enough, but it goes against my grain to think of his being a convict all the rest of his life because he had heart enough to forget himself in his feeling for another. And my part in it hurts me. I feel as if I had extorted that confession from him on the rack. Boys! If we can’t somehow get him out of this scrape, I shall chuck up this bloodhound business.”’ The three detectives had a long interview with the local magistrate before he opened court the next morning and the tale they told to him moved his sympathy for the old Jew very strongly. ‘‘I would be willing,’’ he said, ‘“to suspend sentence on him as long as he remains away from Kimberley. He has suffered enough. But how is he to be told the truth without the greatest danger to his mind and even his life? Heis evidently a man of very sensitiveorganization. Yotthave assumedan awful responsibility, Mr. Perkins. Do not understand me as censuring your action. I quite approve of it— though I should hardly have ventured to take it myself. But have you thought of any way out of this very disagreeable situation ? ’’ ‘Yes, sir. Aud your willingness to suspend sentence on him indefinitely makes it practicable. You will have me detailed to take him to Bloemfon- tein and bring back his engagement never to return here. We will start tonight, with Van Veys and his wife, who will be released now, I presume ?’’ ‘Certainly. There is nothing against them, is there? ”’ ‘“No; nothing. They will have to assist me. Jacobs’ first relief will be the discovery that the young wife’s senses have been restored. His second, that Styne is still alive, with hopes of recovery and that we have him in the wagon, taking him home. ‘The Dutchman will lie on a mattrass, with — bandages around his head, at the start any way. Before we get to Bloemfon- tein, I shall have slipped the whole truth into Jacobs’ mind.’’ The Yankee’s plan was carried through successfully. Solomon Jacobs not only very willingly gave his pledge that he would never revisit Kimberley, but announced that he had formally and forever abandoned the diamond busi- ness. He forgave Mr. Perkins for that lesson of horror, but vowed he could never look at a diamond without painful recollection of it. As for Styne and Minna, they were very sure that they would never again wish to cross the boundary line of the Orange Free State. J. £1, Connelly. Eomichook 3