Page:Raymond Spears--Diamond Tolls.djvu/15

 He refused to answer telegrams and he had no telephone. When the manager of the National Agency went down to see him personally, he would only say:

"I know nothing about Goles; another agent of Ofsten & Groner was here on Thursday morning, at 10 o'clock,and I purchased my usual supply from him."

"Then you admit having in your possession some of the diamonds which came from the firm of Ofsten & Groner?" Manager Grost asked, softly.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that if you have any of those stones, you are a receiver of stolen goods," the detective said, sharply.

"Stolen goods?" the man repeated. "I think not—I have here the receipt"

He handed the manager a sales slip, and there was the list of stones, weight, grade, value—$5,190. It was signed, "B. L. Folded, Agt."

"What kind of a looking man was this Folded?"

"Black moustache, dark eyes, dark complexion—perhaps thirty years of age," the old man replied, for a shade of worry had begun to trouble him.

That was all the detective manager could learn from Wrest. He went to the stage driver, but he nor any one else in town recalled a man as described by the customer. No boat had arrived at the hour described to bring the pseudo diamond salesman. No automobile had come in over the roads; no one recalled any