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 "Telephoned."

"Why didn't you inform the police?" That was another interjection of mine; and she came back at me through the wide, wide opening I'd left her. "Why didn't you, when he slipped word to you to meet him?"

Fred failed to interrupt; he was too busy looking and listening. I reserved my reply and she went on:

"He mentioned to me that, if I set a squeal, I'd hear from it; also that I'd better meet him. He wanted money to get away. Of course he couldn't sell those Crewe diamonds at any sort of price now; there was too much danger in handling them, with everybody watching for 'em; and too much loss if he had 'em cut. He wanted cash money and he thought I could bring it. Remember, a couple a weeks ago," she said to Fred, "I tried to get some considerable cash from you?"

Fred admitted that.

She said, "That was to give to Jerry Fanneal. I got afraid of him. I wanted him to get out. When I couldn't raise the cash, I said I'd help him get it from his own family; and so I put up the talk for him to Steve Fanneal."

"What?" said Fred.