one in which Grafton rode.

The following was well done, and, a little later the two machines drew
up in front of the big office building in which Colonel Ashley had his
headquarters.

"Whew!" whispered the follower of Izaak Walton, "I wonder if he came
here to consult my agency?"

All doubts were dissolved a moment later when, keeping somewhat in the
background, the detective heard the merchant ask the elevator starter
on which floor were the offices of Colonel Ashley's detective agency.

"He _does_ want to see me!" excitedly thought the colonel. "What in
the world for? This is getting interesting! I've got to do a little
fine work now. He must never suspect, at least for a while, that I
have been in Colchester."

Next to the elevator in which Aaron Grafton rode up was another.

"Tom, you're an express for the time being!" whispered the colonel to
the operator. "There's a man headed for my offices, and I must get in
ahead of him. Here's a dollar!"

"I get you, Colonel! Shoot!"

And the car shot up with speed enough to cause the colonel to gasp,
used as he was to rapid motion.

He had just time to slide into his quarters by a rear and private door,
to make certain changes in his appearance and be calmly sitting at his
desk smoking a cigar when his clerk brought in the card of Aaron
Grafton.

"Tell him to come in," said the colonel, more and more surprised at the
turn affairs were taking. "I'll see this man myself," he continued,
speaking to the man into whose hands he had put the general direction
of the agency. "Say to Mr. Grafton," he said, turning to the clerk,
"that Colonel Ashley will see him in a moment."




CHAPTER VIII

THE DIAMOND CROSS

"Colonel Ashley?" There was a formal, questioning note in the
merchant's voice.

"That is my name, yes, sir. Er--Mr. Grafton," and, as though to
refresh his memory, the colonel glanced at the card on his desk.

"You are a private detective?"

"Yes."

Mr. Grafton was evidently sparring for time. He seemed uneasy--he
looked uneasy, and it required no very astute mind to know that he was
uneasy--out of his element.

"For all the world like a gasping fish on the bank," was the simile the
colonel used.

"I have a case I wish you would take up for me," went on the merchant.
"It is somewhat peculiar."

"Most cases that come to us are," and the colonel smiled.

"And it is delicate."

"I could say that of nearly every one, also."

"So that I may rely on your silence and--er--discretion?"

"Sir!"

The colonel fairly bristled.

"I beg your pardon! I should not have asked that. But I am all upset
over this matter."

"Then, sir, let me ease your mind by stating that whatever you tell me
will be in strict confidence, as far as lies in my power to so observe
it. I can not compound a felony, so if you have in mind the disclosure
of anything that would incriminate you--"

"Incriminate me?"

"Yes, or involve you in any way. If you have anything like that in
mind please don't tell me about it. I should feel obliged to make use
of my knowledge. But if it is a matter in which you wish my advice,
then--"

"I certainly _do_ need advice, Colonel. I have often heard you spoken
of, and I have read of more than one of your cases. So when I got in
this--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
understood, had retired, or perhaps is about to retire. I came here
prepared to pay any reasonable amount," and the merchant drew out his


<< previous page | next page >>

Jump to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 |