The Argosy — page 336: what you’re looking at

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

The Diamond Bracelets. 313 reports ; but no time has been lost, and I am inclined to think we are on the right track. It is perfectly clear to me that we have to deal with accomplished swindlers, clever enough to assume any disguise without fear of detection. It was well known that the Princess intended to be present at last night’s performance, and they, doubtless, Jaid their plans accordingly, contriving, as a necessary pre- caution, and probably by the aid of a light-fingered confederate, to obtain possession of the card-case of one of her suite. This done, they had only to select their victim ; and as your diamonds, madam,” he added, turning to Mrs. Dewsbury, ‘‘ were, by all accounts, more conspicuous by their brilliancy than any in the house, it is not sur- prising that they should have given you the preference. However, I hope to have them yet, for the man I have put on the job is a sharp fellow, and knows his business.” “‘' Ves,” remarked Morton, ‘‘ he seems intelligent enough.” The inspector looked puzzled. ‘‘ You have seen Duckett, then?” he asked. Duckett? No, but Burtenshaw. You sent him here last nwht, half an hour after I had left you.” ‘My dear sir,” replied the official, ‘we are playing at cross- purposes. I never sent anyone, and there is no such person as Burtenshaw in Scotland Yard.” ‘‘Oh, you must know him,” persisted Morton. ‘A little man, with very short hair and remarkably keen eyes.” ‘* Never saw or heard of him in my life,” was the unexpected answer. ‘‘ What did he come for?” ‘¢ He wanted to see the other bracelet,” interposed Mrs. Dewsbury, ‘and said it was a pity he couldn’t take it with him for a few days to compare it with the one that was stolen. So, as I believed he came from you, I let him have it.” The deuce you did!” exclaimed the inspector, forgetting his habitual politeness in his indignation at the trick played on him. ‘Then, madam, I am afraid the game is up. As long as these rascals had only one of the bracelets in their hands, there was always the chance that it might have remained intact, or that an accomplice, tempted by the high reward offered, might have $ split’ on the others. But, now that they have got both, I wouldn’t mind wagering that the gold is already in the melting pot, and the diamonds are on their way to Antwerp or Amsterdam.” Apparently, the wager would have been a safe one; isi although a considerable time has elapsed since the gala night at the opera, Mrs. Morton Dewsbury has never heard any further tidings of the purloined bracelets. And as Mr. Duckett pithily observed, when the pros and cons of the case were laid before him, it is ‘all Lombard Street to a China orange” that she never will. CHARLES HERVEY. VOL. XLY. », « COMICMOOOKS.C©