The Diamond Cross Mystery Being a Somewhat Different Detective Story

a friendly rampart bet

looked narrowly and sh

motion of his lips-a habit acquired through long practice in preventing prison keepers from finding out that he

easy fashion. "You know my little habits in that regard. I'm known here as Bre

like." Spotty raised a glass to his lips, and, with a murmured "h

xpect to see you here, I give you my

I com

now. Gad! it isn't the first time I've nearly passed over, but-not in that way!" and he reached for his gla

Colon

you talk the better off you'll be. D

my pi

hey're too busy to look for it now. But they may

d it'd take a pr

over that. You disguised yourself very

up. I've tried everything, but I guess I'll have to go togged up

in! Cut it out! T

bad for me. I didn't think you'

after you

itting across the table from him, in one of the less con

y of glasses and bottles so suddenly that he overturned a tum

inst my will. I'm not even working on it, and I'm not going to. Nobody knows I'm

to roost, Colonel. I'm strong fer

nel knew nothing of what Shag had said to the newsboy), I can keep under cover and h

t have been badly hurt, and perhaps have lingered on in a hospital for some years-but that would be worse than death. I consider that you saved my life. I couldn't have moved out o

mbering is your l

s I said, you saved my life. I believe in turning the tables, and thou

mble on tha

nd to use what knowledge or suspicions I have regarding this matter, and I'm not particularly interested-as yet. So I'm going to give you a chance, just as you gave me mine

ive you your chance. I'm not going to ask you any questions. You know what you know and I know wha

y glass. A waiter, hovering near by, caught the glint of his e

in' is like the lawyer guys git off in court. I don't quite

! I'm going to let

ble cro

t of town. After that I may happen to know more than I know now, and it

trial, I suppose. But it's the best I can do. I'm giving you this chance. I'd be a dirty dog if I didn't. But remember this, Spotty! I give you on

t. I didn't dream you'd be after me so soon for the job I only done last night. I'd oughter cl

admitting, even yet, that you did have. I haven't done a tap of work on the case, and I'm not going to. My advise to you is

the freckle-faced man opposite him, and then chan

ty!" he mur

will! I know when the

than

ave a quick glance around the room and slid out of a sid

asses, in which the cracked ice was rapidly meltin

used, "I wonder

his pocket, an

it on the bed," he murmure

ng from the little gr

nd he recovers his strength, and comes next su

if he is speckled like a trout. I wonder, if he gets in

o give him a chance for his. It was all I c

onel Robert Lee Ashley, with the faithful Shag to carry his rods, creel and a lunch basket, sallied forth from his ho

ugh a field near the river, having reached that vantage poi

ah am,

g to catch so

es hope so

We'll be there pretty soon, and if there's one thing more than ano

sah, C

see that

morning, Colonel Ashley proceeded to make his casts, standing not far from a bent, gnarled and twisted elm tree, that overhung the bank of the

-lit water, and, hardly had it sent the first, few faint ripples circling towar

ak!" cried the colonel,

! So yo' has, Colon

colonel, who was begi

ell you

laughed. He kn

nder a submerged log like an undersea boat diving beneath a battle cruiser, the colonel land

this was a perfec

," was the chuckling a

the crackling of the underbrush behind him, a moment later, gave notice that some one was approaching,

ed creel, looked up to see approaching a young lady and a tall and somewhat lanky boy. There was some thing vaguely famil

young woman came in sight of the colonel and Shag-but

he held out her hands in a voiceless appeal, t

nel Brentnall

miliar with his alias not to be

hat had come into his eyes when he had landed hi

l! I've come to ask y

t you? Don't s

tstretched hands, the very poise of he

began the colonel. But

detective,

detective, for there are

the one fro

am not here professionally, though-in fact, I'

ed it, would you? You wouldn't, I'm sure!" and th

rofessionally-well, really, I'm not here in my detective role. I really can not con

f that. And dad said, when I told him where I was going-Dad said he'd do the same. We both believe Jimmie is innocent, and we want to prove it to everybody as soon as we can. That's why I cam

nel and then to the sympathetic colored man

I was here?" ask

ome to this stream. It's the only good one for tro

eam?" and the eyes of the co

But please, won't you help me?

. You say the hotel clerk told you I was here. I can understand that, for I asked him the best

he pointed to t

art of surprise. The colonel began to leaf over the brain tab

e negro. "It's de train newsboy whut yo

ted to sell me a

s face. "Your man told me who you was, and I heard you tell the taxi man where to

colonel. Somehow that seemed

went on the boy. "This young lady," and he no

colonel. "This boy is Tom Tracy. He sells papers on the express. He was once a jockey for my father, but he got hurt

hat had motion in it," T

ve her blue eyes. "Well, as he has told you, he heard who you were, Colonel, from your man. Then when he read about the

York!" broke in Tom. "And that's wh

e colonel. "This is talking in ridd

id the girl. "I should

s Amy Mas

mes Darcy, who is-er-detained as a-er-as

to him-I wanted to help. They would not let me see Jimmie at police headquart

t have ch

ant to get the best detective in the country to work on the case and pro

used yet, as I unders

aused Mrs. Darcy a moment of pain, to say nothing of striking her-killing

," began the colonel, "wh

put anything over on them. I tried on the train to sell you a detective book, not knowing who you was. You treated me white, and when I heard Miss Mason w

Tom, here, proposed coming to see you, and when dad heard who you were, though we knew nothing of you, he said

estion of money," beg

ut if I add the inducement

ng me, my dear young lad

come to see you and ask you to take Mr. Darcy's case-to pro

g, and then we motored in. We found you had gone fishing, and we followed you here. It was, perhaps, not just the thing to do. But I was so an

about police or detecti

some way of proving tha

rrible thief-a burgla

Brentnall, you will

ture. The wind sighed through the trees and t

d. Her hands seemed to

ied the colonel. "The lady's

sah, C

nd to her myself! I've giv

y Mason sank limply i