Buck Hawk, Detective | Page 6

case out of this, somehow. You know, by
the way, that I've been paying some considerable attention to St. Clair's
daughter lately, and the old gent fancies my suit. So he sends for me to
take charge of this case, and slips a cool thousand dollars into my hands
to start on, adding that he will give a bigger sum for the recovery of the
diamonds. Oh! the old nut is really worked up about the affair, and it
strikes me that there is more importance attached to the loss of the
diamonds than their simple pecuniary value. Now, Jonesy, if you and I
could put our heads together and recover the diamonds, we would be
able to command a competency for our efforts."
"Bah! I know nothing in regard to the matter, and will have nothing to
do with it-- so that ends that!" Jones declared, emphatically.
"Then that, also, ends our interview," and the detective arose and left
the room.
He also left Billy Jones in rather an unpleasant frame of mind.
Jerome St. Clair, diamond merchant, had returned home, about five
o'clock that evening, from town, and, fatigued with his day's business,
had sought his warm, cozy parlor, where he was soon after joined by
his daughter, Aurelia.
Mr. St. Clair was a stout, ruddy Englishman, with short-cropped gray
beard and hair, and an almost perfect counterpart of the man who had
so successfully used Turk, the messenger boy as the tool of a
stupendous robbery.

He was reputed to be wealthy, and did not conduct his business like
other jewelers, in the city, but at his residence. He was well known
among the leading families of the city, whom he dealt with almost
exclusively.
His daughter, Aurelia, was a tall, slender brunette, with dark eyes, and a
coldly pretty face, and was, because of her fine dress and educational
accomplishments, a favorite in the best society.
Anything money could procure, that would enhance her chances of
winning a desirable "catch," was always placed at her command by her
indulgent parent.
Petted and humored, from infancy, it was little wonder she had grown
up a spoiled child, with a petulant tyrannical temperament, and a vain
conceit that there was no one quite as good as herself.
And it might be added that she had also, in a measure, inherited some
of these qualities from her father, who was not without an excellent and
unbiased opinion of himself.
Miss St. Clair seemed much surprised to see her parent in the parlor--
so much so, that she started back with a cry.
"Hello! what ails you?" St. Clair ejaculated, looking around. "Am I a
bear, that you are frightened at me?"
"Oh! no! no! no! but I didn't expect to see you here," she said, coming
forward and kneeling by his side. "I thought you were in New York."
"New York? What nonsense, child! How came such a thought ever to
enter your mind?"
"Why, because you sent the messenger boy for the diamonds!"
"The what? I've sent for no diamonds. Which ones? Speak, explain!"
"The magnificent ones you have always treasured so highly, in the
green satin case. A messenger boy came with a note from you, saying I

was to deliver them to him to fetch to you."
"And you did this!"
"No, for I was out riding. Your dear sister's child, Henriette, performed
the work!"
The banker was white with passion as he arose and paced to and fro
across the carpet.
"Send for the girl," he finally hissed, and Miss St. Clair seemed eager
to ring for a servant to dispatch on the errand.
Miss Evelyn soon made her appearance, but an apprehensive
expression came over her face as she saw the merchant.
"Young woman, who gave you authority to deliver my diamonds up to
other people, open my daughter's letters and the like of that?"
"There was no one at home, except the servants, sir, and seeing it was
your writing, and the boy saying he was ordered to come right back, I
didn't suppose but what I would be doing you a favor, sir--"
"I never sent the letter nor the Boy. You are implicated in a conspiracy
to defraud me; and you shall suffer the consequences! Hand over the
letter to me."
"No, sir, I cannot!" the girl said, bravely. "If you are disposed to think
me so wicked that I could wish to cheat you, or abuse your confidence
in me as your sister's child, I shall keep the letter to defend myself with,
before the courts."


CHAPTER III.
THE NEW HOME.

The St. Clairs were surprised.
Such a sudden outburst of courage from Etta, was something entirely
new of her, who was ever quiet and unobtrusive, often bearing many
slights at