"Well, my dear, she isn't your kind, of course, but I've known her, and known of her, for several years.She, and those she associates with, work the de luxe game.""The de luxe game?What is it?"
"In brief, it's a blackmailing scheme.A woman of the type of Miss Tighe, to give her one of her names, associates herself with some men.They arrange to have a set of some books - usually well known enough and of a certain value - bound in expensive leather - full morocco - hand tooled and all that.They call on rich men and women, and induce them to buy the expensive and rare set, of which they say there is only one or two on the market.
"Sometimes the sales are straight enough - particularly where women are the buyers - but the books, even if delivered, are not worth anything like the price paid.
"But, in the case of wealthy men the game is different." "Different?""Yes, particularly where a woman like Morocco Kate is the agent.They are not satisfied with the enormous profit made on selling a common edition of books, falsely dressed in a garish binding, but they endeavor to compromise the man in some business or social way, and then threaten to expose him unless he pays a large sum, - ostensibly, of course, for the books.
"Morocco Kate, who called on you, has more than one killing to her credit in this game, and she has managed to keep out of jail because her victims were afraid of the publicity of prosecuting.And it was so foolish of them for, in most cases, it was just mere foolishness on their part, and nothing criminally, or even morally, wrong, though they may have been indiscreet.""And you think my father - "
I don't know anything about it, Viola, my dear!" was the prompt answer."Your father may have dealt in a legitimate way with this woman,buying books from her because she cajoled him into it, though he could have done much better with any reputable house.As I say, he may have simply bought some books from her, and not have made the final payments on account of his death.Whether the contract he entered into is binding or not I can't say until I have seen it.""But I found nothing about books among his papers!""No?Then perhaps it was a verbal contract.Or he may have been - " The colonel stopped.Viola guessed what he intended to say.
"Do you think he was - Do you think this woman may make trouble?" she asked bravely.
"I don't know.We must find out more about her.If she comes again, hold her and send for me.I didn't want her to see me to-day to know that I was on this case.But I don't mind now.""Oh, suppose there should be some - some disgrace?""Don't worry about that, Viola.But now, I have some rather startling news for you."Oh, more - "
"Not exactly trouble.But Captain Poland has gone away - his place is closed.""The captain gone away!" faltered the girl.
"Yes.I wondered if you knew he was going.Did he intimate to you anything of the kind?"The colonel watched Viola narrowly as he asked this question.
"No, I never knew he contemplated ending the season here so early," Viola said."Usually he is the last to go, staying until late in October.Is there anything - ""That is all I know - he is gone," said the detective."I wanted to ask him about that fifteen-thousand-dollar matter, but I shall have to write, I suppose.And the sooner I get the letter off the better.""Please write it here," suggested Viola, indicating the table where pens, ink and stationery were always kept."I am going to look again among the papers of the private safe to see if there was anything about books - the Arabian Nights, she said it was.""Yes, that's her favorite set.But don't worry, my dear.Everythingwill come out all right."
And as Viola left him alone in the library, the detective added to himself:
"I wonder if it will?"
Colonel Ashley wrote a brief, business-like letter to Captain Poland, addressing it to his summer home at Lakeside, arguing that the yachtsman would have left some forwarding address.
Then, lighting a cigar, the colonel sat back in a deep, leather chair - the same one Morocco Kate had sat in and perfumed - and mused.
"There are getting to be too many angles to this," he reflected."I need a little help.Guess I'll send for Jack Young.He'll be just the chap to look after Jean and follow that French dope artist to his new place, provided he leaves here suddenly.Yes, I need Jack."And having telephoned a telegram, summoning from New York one of his most trusted lieutenants, Colonel Ashley refreshed himself by reading a little in the "Compleat Angler."Jack Young appeared at Lakeside the next day, well dressed, good looking, a typical summer man of pleasing address.
"Another diamond cross mystery?" he asked the colonel."How is your golf?" was the unexpected answer.
"Oh, I guess I can manage to drive without topping," was the ready answer."Have I got to play?""It might be well.I'll get you a visitor's card at the Maraposa Club here, and you can hang around the links and see what you can pick up besides stray balls.Now I'll tell you the history of the case up to the present."And Jack Young, having heard, and having consumed as many cigarettes as he considered the subject warranted, remarked:
"All right.Get me a bag of clubs, and I'll see what I can do.So you want me to pay particular attention to this dope fiend?""Yes, if he proves to be one, and I think he will.I'll have my hands full with Blossom, Morocco Kate and some others.""What about Poland and Bartlett?"
"Well, Harry is still held, but I imagine he'll be released soon, Jack.""Nothing on him?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to say that.You know my rule.Believe no one innocent until proved not guilty.I can keep my eye on him.Besides, he's pretty well anchored.""You mean by Miss Viola?" "Yes."
"How about the captain?"
