The Diamond Cross Mystery Being a Somewhat Different Detective Story

s a formal, questioning no

," and, as though to refresh his memory, t

private d

es

uneasy-he looked uneasy, and it required no very astu

sping fish on the bank," was

ou would take up for me

omewhat

me to us are," and

is del

at of nearly ev

y on your silence

ir

el fairly

not have asked that. But I am

rict confidence, as far as lies in my power to so observe it. I can not compound a f

imina

d please don't tell me about it. I should feel obliged to make use of

is-well, I may as well call it trouble-I at once thought of you. I am fortunate, I believe, in seeing Colonel Ashley, himself, who, I under

held up a pr

I have heard more of your case. It may be that I can not serve you. Give

serious

p you. Please be as fr

e fewer questions I sha

o find a certain val

mond c

what it is worth, but I

it stolen

This cross belonged to a friend of mine. She had it on when we were out walking togeth

it was temporarily in your possession, and you don't like to let your friend know, for fear she

ever

you to. Al

a jew

keep to the subject. So you don't dare te

, she kn

ry, except about

complications. Yo

, h

tion. Aaron Grafton turned a deep red and bi

d, more than once, they have to do with women. Often enough there is nothing more serious than a little indiscretion, but I can see where

honor, there was nothing wrong in our being tog

are. So you want me to try to get this diamond cross, belonging to the m

t's

u when you wer

ed of it. I ne

ed that. Please go on, and, if you don't m

about the bush. Well, I'll be as frank

hem in strict confidence, however, now that I am fairly well as

w how many thousand dollars, belongs to Mrs. Cynthia Larch

Colonel Ashley. "I have stopped there on fishing tr

om I believe, though many suppose her husband gave it to her for a wedding presen

ll her

er since we wer

. Pray

hen, and never dreamed I would get on as I have. Nor did she, I fancy, though she was willing to take me as I was. But her folks made trouble. T

and his manner was earnest. "I loved her deeply and sincerely. I do yet, but in a

and see her going out-with him. But I came back. Though the old wound still hurt, I tri

married life was not happy. I took pains to enquire, and learned that it was not. I tried to make h

ooked sharply

onstruction on it! I'd give my very life

bt you for a

is still some truth and honor in the world and that a man an

to overcome his e

t together. We went in secret, for there are gossiping and wagging tongues in Colchester as elsewhere, and if I, the leading merchant in the town, was seen to

ith you. So you

ross she was wearing became unfastened and fell. I mos

it to a jeweler's and have it repaired without any one b

he was found murdered!" broke

n started fr

at?" he cried. "I thought that not a soul

be almost as frank with you as you have been with me.

his clothing and took off a tiny bit of eyebrow, which had been ad

Grafton. "I remember, now, seeing you there t

ed what so perturbed you, but now I know. At first

the merchant earnes

t if I am to help you. I am known in Colchester as Colonel Brentnall, having registered at the hotel under that name. I will keep that name for the present. I fol

best one to keep my secret. I took the cross to her the night before she was killed, and she promised to

k for the cross. I thought perhaps it might have been put in one of the showcases, or laid on the shelf, perhaps forgotten. Really I was so distressed, I didn't know what to think. I did not wan

repair it. Nor was it in the shop, as far as he knew, and he went over all the stock to

ere was

alone is missing. And I'd give half my fortune to get it back. Cynthia'

ght you wanted me to work on the murder case. But as I am already engaged on that, to try to clear

erely have put the cross away secretly, and it m

l have to nose

knock on th

lled out t

pen the detective read a message from one of

d here to-day. Big dia

u wan

ly yelled the colonel

the long distance. Thi

" And he hurried to a

ving Grafto

Colonel Ashley sat in sil

lmost any one would believe his story-it sounds straight enough-and yet I

t the other chap. Yes, I can't afford to take any chances. You may know a bit more about this murder than you're tel