The Diamond Cross Mystery Being a Somewhat Different Detective Story

like old times-very much! I never expected to do any shadowing again. What's that Walton says

t the colonel was not so very much averse to giving over his fishing for the time being to tak

been some object. A man such as he is doesn't do things like that for fun. And it wasn't mere curiosity, either. If it was, h

just couldn't resist the pleading of her eyes. It isn't the first time a man has made a fool of himself over a woman, and it won't be the last. But

have been at the store the day of the murder-before I arrived. I must ask Darcy about that. Poor la

among them being the ability to disguise himself-not by clumsy beards and false moustache

that. He was now following Grafton without the latter being aware of it-no very d

olonel. "I'd like to have a talk with him, and see how he act

here he made a trifling purchase, and having seen Mr. Grafton enter

office with a detective from the prosecutor's office seated a few chairs away. It was only

st I saw of her. But I came t

air. But she still believes in m

so as I d

don't know what I'd do

't want

se! Don't get

o this horrible thing-and God knows I didn't-and as long as you

u up with false hopes, Darcy. Yo

if I'm proved i

an manage th

believe in

you a few questions. Answer them, and as briefly as possible. I'll get you out of here as soon

you mean,

e detective seemed roused from a reverie, for

out a carp-th

It's a bad habit I've been acquiring lately of thinking aloud. N

colonel had spoken as though he might, at one time, have had a

nerves were beginning to

ron Grafton?" a

ry one in town knows him as on

he day of the-the day

there were so many in the place. As I think

any business with you-I mea

hester, at one time or another, has made purchases in our store-some more, som

aving his wa

I didn't. He has a fine one, for I've seen him stop in fron

of the clocks in the store-clocks that, as I understand it, ordinarily go for man

e of the colonel Darcy

ung man slo

xplain it. I don't

lot about clock-works, might have some explanation. You know most of the timepi

at at the time. Tha

e-you thought it wa

arcy in tones of despair. "If it had been I wouldn

what became of that wat

o an East Ind

, I think, had become caught up and it ran very fast. I planned to do it the night before, but the light was too poor. So I made up my mind to

d take it, but Sin

!" crie

Said it was an ancient timepiece, which he had owned for many years,

No, Singa Phut didn't have a thing to d

I guess you've told me all I want to know. You have

nt to name any one, either, much as

cy had no

riendly woman. Of course, that was good business po

we'll get at the truth

ing to,

r. When I go to

see Amy?" cried th

looked as though you had lost ever

laughing!" and Darcy did manage to utter what

m for improvement," said the detective.

el, to put you to

et about the same fun out of this as I would if I fished-and I'

onel. And if there'

en this case is over, and that's reward enough for me. Now, sir, one last word to you!" a

try, C

try-d

quest

e only. W

hink Mr.

led and shook his

thinking!" he advised

vestigating Aaron Grafton. And the more he saw of that gentleman the more t

re or after. But he certainly knows something about it, and enough to make him worry. That's what Aaron Grafton is

eral other ends-tangled ends of the skein he hoped to unravel-and devoted his time to Grafton. And, at the end of two days the detective learned that the

New York I go too!" s

rain with Aaron Grafton, t

ant plainly showed by his nervousness that he thought he might have been followed, he did not, seemingly, suspect the q

morning, after a night journey, the colonel

s machine as it rolled out of the Pennsylvania station,

e two machines drew up in front of the big office b

f Izaak Walton, "I wonder if he

background, the detective heard the merchant ask the elevator starter

for? This is getting interesting! I've got to do a little fine work now. H

in which Aaron Grafto

e colonel to the operator. "There's a man headed for my o

u, Colone

ough to cause the colonel to gasp

to make certain changes in his appearance and be calmly sitting at his d

this man myself," he continued, speaking to the man into whose hands he had put the general direction of the