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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 1923)
The Day less Diamonds By Arthur Somers Roche The Gray Glmst is the Most During and iccom/dished Hig Scale Thief of the Time, lie lias So Fur Outwitted Pelham and Tryon. Detectives. Every Hig Crime Is (tlrihuted Automatically hy the Public to the Gray Ghost. Pel ha in slipped his key into the look, blit before he could turn .t the door v..ta oi**ned from within. Slim Dickenson stared at his mas ter. “This is one deuce of a time to conte home, Mr. Pelham,” said the ex guide severely. “You may picture yourself a gay young buck, but you look 8a.” Pelham surrendered his hat and coat and walked into the living room of his apartment. He sur veyed the bubbling percolator upon a table .ititl rubbed Ills hands to gethei in delightful anticipation. He spoke over his shoulder. “Hhrii. you're i jewel. ' II** Hat down be hue the laden table and reached f**r a,napkin. Slim crossed the little living room almost in a stride. Then he reappeared, bearing a bowel of oat meal. “1 went to bed at 11 last night, but I didn't go to sleep. And at 3 I got up. and I've been up ever sinc e,” he said acidly. Pelham rose with a suddenness of movement that bespoke nervous energy allied to trained muscles. Ilis arm io-nt <round the ex guide’s shoulders. “Home day I’m going to forget v. hat a puny sped men von an " smiled Pelham. “And I n: olticr to show you what a right er**ss s iik* The dour look left Dickenson e eyes; 1 i- r» • uih parted in a grin. "How many times have you filled ti it pcr*-oJ.itor since* 3 o'clockd>*marated Pelhatn. “Plenty,” replied Slim. “Than you’re due to drink some of it A light *-f mis* hief appe ared in Dickenson's light blue eyes I guess 1 know my place.’’ “Your | l »c* will he standing cm your ear in a corner in about a * • ond.'* Dickenson's grin grew broader. “Oh. w.dl if that s the way you feed." Hut he Sighed hungrily as he pulled up a c hair to the table. Pelhatn was often famished, and so was Hhrn Au often together ,n the Maine woods, ravenous from a day s fishing, they had eaten .n silence. so they ale n**vv. But final ly Pelham light'd a cigaret. Now for a hath enrt 10 hours' sleep.” he announced. it seems t*. me that before >ou pound your ear, you ought to t>e ni.tkin’ some comment on a remark of mine.’ suggested Slim. Pelham's gray eyes twinkled. Quito true," he agreed. "1 v* hen talking, arguing, pleading, ci jolitig. bribing, and promising, all night long, with the sweetest col lection «»f rascals ever gathered together in one room. “The Gray Ghost's gang? ' asked Slim. "Those of them whom, on var ious occasions, we've managed ft* capture*. There isn't one of them who doesn't face ft* least fifteen years In,prison, and >et not a sin gle word did I get that would lead me one Inch nearer to the Gray Ghost than 1 am at this minute They won’t betray him." The district attorney rounded them all up. ami I kept after them all night." “Didvt't you gei anything’’'' ask ed Slim. "Well, coiuedat Pelham rclui'. a fitly, "mn| 1 »e the barest possible Hue—but I don’t think so And now. I'm going to bed Hut on tin* threshold of his bed room he paused. "Sorry, Slim that I didn’t lldnk to telephone you where 1 was." "That's nil light. Mr. Pelham, replied HUvu gruffly, lie was hu«\ a few minutes Hearing away the hreskfakt dishes Then silence de scended upon the little apartment. Ii w.is five in the afternoon when Insistent knocking on the front lit HI I broke the slumbers of master and mm. Slim opt-red the d«H»t. disclosing ihe aggressive Po •• of .!• rry Trynn. the ex lit u tenant «*f polite, who now headed the tit tei tlvi* ugencx iu which Pel Hum was tonsuiting partner In ilia hand lie huie a copy of a Sun day newspaper. ■‘.Mr Pelham isn’t up yet,” said Slim. ‘‘Yes. I am too,” tailed Pelham from his bedroom. The two men met in the iivijtg room. 'Haven't read the pnj^ra, eh?” demanded Trvon lie mifotded the Pelham laughed at him. "I don't anything to become excited about Jerry,” he said. "You’re afraid that the Gray Gh«*st will rob Day less and that we will bv laughed at again," said Pelham. Jerry shrugged his thick should * rs. “I don't care how much we’re laughed at." he said. "Hut, you know, we did hope that the Gray Ghost would attempt a raid on Dav iess* home. Now read this.” He handed Pelham a letter. The younger man opened if. It read: My Dear Mr. Try on: I have read this turning's Sphere. In order to relieve your mind, let me tell you that plans already made by me to ham defended. “Of course I look tired. Who wouldn't?” “Vou shouldn’t. replied Jerry. ‘ Vou see, I’ve been a cop all m> days, and I ain't got a nerve" in my system. I ain't a genius: I'm h man. Hut you are different. Vou are made of steel wire and wire snaps. I>o you know what you ar~ going to do?” From the pocket of his dross*ng gown Jimmy Pelham produced t silver case; from it he took a ci garet which he lighted and puffed before replying. Then he said: ' All right, Mr. Bones. I’ll bit*- What am I going to do?" Into Tryon’s blue eyes crept *. gleam of satisfaction. FY*»m bis waistcoat pocket he dre*. ai •* H«‘> t»n«l imi<» ronvnhiu ollVrrd n<> Sphere as he spoke and show ed an illustrated double-page arti cle in the magazine section Pel ham glanced at it carelessly, then looked at Jerry. "What does it sa v he asked. "This man Pay less .” cried Jerry * has described for iiie lwneflt of the world—and the Gray Ghost—* every safeguard that he has used !»• protect his house. He has de scribed in detail every painting every jewel, in his collection. And when the reporter—I'll say for that lad that he has a lot more sense than Payless asked him if he wished the details published. Pay less replied—’* Me snatched the {taper from Pci ham's hai'd end r.-ad the offensive sentences. " '(ertalnlv .* replied the former governor. Tm not afraid of burg la is. in fact. Ill l»e glad to have them warned of the umdessneas of attempting to rob my home And if ihe-e electrical alarms, and the presence of ten armed watchmen, nr»* not su(ticlent to warn crimin als aw i\ from my house, perhaps the fact that the Tryon I detective agency is under contract to keep operatives here da\ and night will be an added deterrent" Jerry hurled the paper Into a cornet Nud iln»*t danced in his rage relieve your client. Governor l»ayl*s*. of certain article* which he is too vulgar to ap preciate. have been abandoned hy me. 1 feel that it would bo unfair for me to permit you to indulge In useless worry Faith fully yours. 1**1 or Gallant yne. Pelham whistled ‘Thoughtful of him,” he commented. "Becoming a sportsman in his later years ” All right, laugh If you can.” grumbled Jerry. "But It would be .iust like him to doublecross us.” "Oh forget him." counsel*.! Pel ham "He's on our mln.ls too much.” '(in your*.' correcl.d Jerry "And that’s another reason l came over here today." He looked ap praisingly at the young old man whom circumstances had changed from a sport loving millionaire into the keenest detective of his day. the-one person who had been able in cope, with comparative success, with the Gray Ghost, whose re turn, after years of silence, to pre ilatory activity, had rendered panic stricken the bankers and Jewelers of New A'ork "You look like the devil," said Jerry severely "t'p alt night giving the third degree to some of out friends." Pet ' i lope. He handed it to Pelham, "ho op* iiecl it and examined its i'intents I'pon the face of the younger man appeared an expres sion of pleasure. V drawing room to Palm B' ■ • h?" Ills eye* clouded suddenly ' Hang it. Jerry, this is no'lime— "The train leaves at S tonight This is Sunday. You'll arri\e Tue~ day in time for IS holes in the aft ernoon Then you'll have dinner and you'll go to heal- l'r Tryon speaking, if you don't mind On Wednesday you stay in bed until 11. then you go for a swim. In the afternoon you do it holes and go to bed early. Same thing on Thursday. On Friday you play -<* holes By Saturday you ought to l>e able to lick your weight in wild cat*. So you stay up until s o'clock " He raised hia hand wain tngly. Wait a minute; Pm not through yet. On Sunday you m oxer to the B»ach club, taking with you $1 000 of Tryon Agency money and invest it according to your own judgment. I m> self have a fancy for the red, but l lea'* to y ou " "Het thee behind me Sat a said Pelham ' Never mind the pet names dieased and we ll «o out to dil l' IMokenaon w ill pa» k mu Uvs bring your golf clubs to the train." •1* rry was quite masterful. Into Pelham's eyes flashed a light of excitement. II- looked away from his friend and partner when he spoke. "It's early yet. Jerry, he said. "I'll have to write Home letters after I'm dressed. Suppose we meet at 7." They dined in a qui“t liFtlc res taurant. Jerry accompanied his friend to the train. He sighed with relief as the car disappeared in the direction of the tube to Jersey Jimrny Pelham was not merely the greatest detective in the world to Tryon's thinking, but he was also the finest man alive. Jerry had been worrying for seeks about his partner And wi.er in Sat Urdus r papers he read that Pelham had qualified for the first 14 In the play for “the I-ake \\ »rth < up Tryon was overjoyed. A w'-ll trainee deft suave, yet whose def-t-t e, sug gested to the caller his thoroughly British contempt for his vulgar American surroundings ushered the visitor into the i • —r > ,f the Hon. George l»a>les«. "Mr lleginald Muitum. * he said Stepping aside to permit Mr Min turn’s et trance into th- Daviess li brary. Uayless looked ut f u te-hifid the onyx table at w hi, i he sat He was a gross s--min* person very bristly of mu-t i : ■ ■ ,d ri-l of neck. 1 et his f .- v km-tly id 1 cut a fat hand. < I to ----- , .- M - n l«e -aid Then he sat down id rubbed li - hands together, ' hit teen an ambit, -us man all mv life, but I never hoped to Live . , ke's ne phew working for n ;• -ert.ur.ly would make my f t... gh' ' M r'urn smiled. He was , w setup man of about %■ : him date ly dresseil. He looked ... 1 the library. “I say. there isn't l.. uh i.r to it all now ;s there, what"' Daviess chuckled. “That - what you're here f-y - ,ng f- or. t lad. You've cataj gated and ap praised SO or 70 mus. lms— It nturn raised :» i • ~ hand. "Two or perhaps three Mr. Dayless." '■'Veil, you p't the gaudi.h; ref •one** T ever mw Go to : k 1 ■ nd let me know ,4us' what I have in this rlaoe. and how it a’. should Iv arranged." Minturn smiled pi asantly. he had a charming. ingenuous air. Thank you I’ll look so und a hit f.rst. what?” Noe boy.” said Day less to h.s wife that night. They had dined en Camilla, and the new secretary had charmed his employer's mif» At 11 that night a ntx-k sound •ol upon the door of Daj lews' li brary He was seated again be himi the onyx table, a medieval piece of furniture rendered hixarre by the filing Cases op. or* end He looked up. calling Oams in.” The d ;h ; M i i entered the room. Sorry to disturb you. sir, said the young Englishman, "but there was something l wished to ask you.” "Not disturbing me at all,” taM Day less Hi* small eyes tw.nkled approvingly at his tisitor l wish to gixxlness that I could get a valet who kntw how to fasten a dress tie You English certainty have lhe knack ” Mtnturn sn'.hxl tjet me show you ” Hay-lews sat up stra.ght, his head, tilteil back. Mintura eiepptd !'■ hind him H.s tvi-id flashed into ■he v> vket of h.s d . ..-kot. to reappear hokiing a handkerchief Th. re was the faint ; nkle of brok en glass, and then the chloroform saturate*! hit of linen was thrust against the nose and mouth of tVytess Beyond one convulsive struggle. Daylews off ere,l no resist ance Hut his wa hful *s^s ’.itt. sHppins his hands under his era plover's arms, .vise*! hts fah so t1 it no sound tx'iild be heard In the hall let d t * ' *-e*t ' ih* libeat v Vk'i i mon nt Mmturu - id