Newspaper Page Text
The
Mazaroff
a Mystery
.S. FI etch e■ •
,v.'z,-
WNU Illustrations bq
iURVict. Irwin. Myers-
She broke off there, or, rather, May
thorne broke things off for her. He
strode forward and took the words out
of Sheila's mouth.
"Your daughter’s In the right, Mis.
Elphinstone,” he said in cool, even
accents. "It's up to you to give ex
planations. Now, come, Mrs. Elphin
stone —how did you obtain possession
of Mazaroff’s will —which is now safe,
let me tell you, safe —In Mr. Crole’s
strong room. Come?’’
Mr. Elphinstone groaned—wearily.
But Mrs. Elphinstone showed temper
—and fight.
“How dare you speak to me —me!—
like that?’’ she demanded. "What
right-”
“My dear lady!” Interrupted May
thorne. “Be calm, and don’t be foolish.
Think a little. Here Is a very wealthy
man murdered under most suspicious
circumstances. He has his will In his
pocket, with other papers, and with
valuables, and with money. He Is not
only murdered, but he Is robbed of
everything he has on him. Nothing
can be discovered about his missing
property. Then a few nights later,
your daughter accidentally finds out
that the will Is In —your hands! What
do you suppose the police authorities
will say to that, Mrs. Elphinstone?
I’m asking you.”
Mrs. Elphinstone looked at him half
womiviii sly. as thoroughly obstinate
and J.lly stupid people will look at
a questioner: I could see quite well
that she was wondering how he dared
to be so plain spoken and uncere
moniotis.
Mr Elphinstone groaned once more
—audibly. -Most distressing!” he mur
mured. “Most —unpleasant. Really—
I—l think, Marion, that —er—you
know —If I were you—l—l think 1
should say how you got this —er doctt
ment —I should —really.”
"Mrs. Elphinstone will have to say
how she got It, and from whom.” ob
served Maythorne. ‘‘That will was with
out doubt abstracted —stolen—from Ma
zaroff’s pocket by the man who mur
dered him. And, Mr. Elphinstone, it
is later discovered In Mrs. Elphin
stone’s keeping. How came it there?'
Mrs. Elphinstone suddenly gathered
up her wraps and her umbrella and
i rose from her chair.
“What right have you to ask me
questions?” she demanded, facing May
thorne. "You’re not a policeman, as
J far as I’m aware, and I don’t know
that you’ve any authority. I am go
ing, and whoever wishes to see me
will find me at Short’s hotel. You’ll
find me there, Sheila —I shall not run
' after you again.”
i “That’s a useful thing to know, Mrs
I Elphinstone,” said Maythorne, still
r pertinacious. "You will no doubt be
i called upon at Short’s. This is a mat
' ter of murder I And whether you like
it or not, Mrs. Elphinstone—or, as it
J should be, Merchison —I am going to
know who murdered Mazaroff. If you
know, you’re already an accessory
after the crime.”
4 Mrs. Elphinstone was at the door
by this time, and her eyes were as
hard as ever as she swept us al) with
a half contemptuous glance. "Are you
coming, Malcolm? As for you. Sheila,
j if you want me again, you’ll have to
I come to me. Otherwise —"
| She made a gesture which seemed
' to Indicate that she washed her hands
j of her daughter and of everybody ]
j present, and without waiting for Mr.
I Elphinstone, she marched off down the
i corridor.
j Mr. Elphinstone shook his head— j
wearily and despondently. He looked j
round at all of us as if he wanted to
speak, but no words came, and he j
presently turned and went after his i
wife. Maythorne closed the door, and
glanced at us.
“You may think I was too explicit—
perhaps brutal —with Mrs. Elphin
stone," he said, "but I don’t believe
any of yon understand. Knowing what
i I do —and Crole, of course, knows it
now —I cannot keep this information (
from the police! It’s impossible! We'
know —the police know —that Mazaroff
was robbed as well as murdered. That
will was on him! How did Mrs.
Elphinstone get it? She is shielding
i somebody. That’s the truth I Now,
! then—who is it?" Then, without wait
ing for any reply or remark, he tapped .
my shoulder and set off. I lingered a'
i moment, to exchange a word or two I
with Sheila, and then followed him.
"You think that. Maythorne?” I|
asked as we paused at the door of the,
j elevator.
"Os course!” he exclaimed. “Doesn’t'
need half an eye nor an ounce of brain
to he dead certain of that! She knows
—knows! And. as 1 said In there—!
who is it? Here’s one thing certain.
Holt if she won’t speak. I’ll have to
■ tell the police. But between nowand
tomorrow she’ll have time to reflect.
And in the meantime—”
| He broke off abruptly. We went '
down and into the street, ami in si
lence q.mijv
road, I knew wlhe wus after—
I Cottlngley. And Cottlngley suddenly
appeared before us 'n Praed street, as
if he had shot out of the earth.
“He’s come!” said Cottlngley. “Alone.
They’re both in the house, now. All’s
flip
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I II
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We Were Shown Into Crole’s Private
Room at Once; There by Crole’s
Desk Sat Mr. Herman Kloop.
arranged." Maythorne nodded; they
whispered together a moment; then
Maythorne and I turned away.
“Did he mean that Eccleshare had
come?" I asked. “And that—they’ll
watch him?”
“Eccleshare, of course,” answered
Maythorne. "Who else? Watch him?
—Aye, they'll watch him—they’ll watch
both of ’em!”
I went back to my rooms thorough
ly muddled in mind by the day’s
events. It seemed hopeless to try to
piece them together, and yet 1 could
scarcely refrain from the attempt
And underneath everything lay an un
comfortable suspicion, which forced
Itself upon me however much I fought
against It —was Mrs. Elphinstone an
accessory to Mazaroff’s murder, and*
if so, after or . . . before? Out
of all speculations one clear fact
emerged—she had come into posses
sion of that will, which, without doubt,
was in Mazaroff’s pocket when his
murderer shot him.
All this was still seething In m.\
mind when 1 met Maythorne next
morning, at Crole’s office. We were
shown into Crole’s private room at
once; there, by Crole’s desk, sat Mr
Herman Kloop. He gave us a know
ing look as we walked in, and Crole
nodded at him, as much as to say that
whatever was to be said first was to
come from the diamond merchant.
“News!" remarked Crole, laconical
ly. “Another development!”
We sat down and turned on Kloop.
"I came round to Mr. Crole as soon
as I had breakfasted —to tell him,” he
said. "Now I tell you. It is what I
learned last night—late. From some
of my friends in our trade. Mazaroff’s
pair of blue diamonds have been
sold! They have been sold to a syn
dicate of three well-known dealers.
A fancy price, tooI” he added, with a
chuckle.
“What price?” asked Maythorne.
“It is said —and I dare say it’s quite
correct —two hundred thousand
pounds,” Kloop replied "Os course —
they’re worth that—and more. Suf
ficiently more to give the buyers a
nice big profit—when they sell. As—
equally of course—they will.”
“Well?" Maythorne asked. “But—
who sold?”
Kloop laughed, glancing at Crole.
“Tn be sure!” he replied. "A per
tinent question ! Armintrade sold. No
concealment about that. Armintrade
—the bank man.”
"Armintrade only returned from the
north last night,” said Maythorne.
‘Where and how was this deal carried
out?”
"Yes,” answered Kloop. “1 can tell
something of that, but not precise de
tails. I should say—by correspond
ence.”
Maythorne looked at Crole: Crole
shook his head.
“What concerns us." he remarked,
“is the fact that Armintrade sold these
things—Mazaroff’s property We know
that Armintrade was in possession of
what we’ll call Blue Diamond Numbei
One. and we also know that Mazaroft
had Blue Diamond Number Two on
him when he went north. So —Maza-
roff must have met Armintrade and
handed over to him the second dia- |
mond. They must have met —unknown ,
to anyone—at Marrasdale.”
Maythorne turned to Kloop.
"Armintrade’s name was openly,
freely mentioned to you in connection
wi'h this?" he a«ked “Was Muza
roff's name mentioned?”
EARLY COUNTY NEWS. BLAKELY. GEORGIA
"Oh. to be sure! As the source
from which the diamonds came."
Maythorne got up from his chair
and began to button his overcoat.
“There's only one thing to be done,”
he said, glancing at Crole. "Yon and
I and Holt must see Armintrade at
once. We want an explanation. As
far as I’m aware, those diamonds,
s’nce the moment of Mazaroff’s death,
have been the property of Mr Holt
here. Isn’t that so, Crole?"
"Yes," answered Crole, laconically.
He got up from his desk, crossed over
to a safe In the corner, and unlocking
it, took from some Inner receptacle an
oblong envelope. "Here’s the will.”
he said. “I'll take it with me. But I
think Armintrade will be found to be
all right. By that I mean that he will
have acted within his rights. How, I
don’t know. But—come along."
We parted from Kloop In the street
outside; Crole, Maythorne, and I got
into a taxicab and set off for Court
hope’s bank. Maythorne seemed to be
thinking hard. He looked up at last.
"It seems pretty clear—now!—that
Mazaroff wasn’t murdered for the sake
of those diamonds,” he muttered, as
if somewhat dissatisfied at the new
turn of affairs. “In that case—what
was he murdered for?—what was the
motive?”
“He'd other valuable property on
him, you know,” observed Crole. “And
there are other people to question
when we’ve done with Armintrade.
Eccleshare, for instance, and that man
Parslave.”
We entered Courthope’s bank to
gether and sent In our cards to Ar
mintrade. He took small notice of
Maythorne and myself: his attention
gave itself to the solicitor.
“Well. Mr, Crole?” he began. “What
can I do for you?”
"You can give us some much-needed
information, Mr. Armintrade," replied
Crole, promptly. “You are aware, of
course, that, having acted as the late
Mr. Mazaroff’s solicitors here in Lon
don. I have employed Mr. Maythorne
to inquire into the mystery of his
murder. Now. we have ascertained
from Mr. Herman Kloop of Cape
Town, a close personal friend of Maza
roff’s, now in London, that Mazaroff
possessed two extremely valuable dia
monds, one of which was in his pos
session when he went north, to Mar
rasdale. and the other of which had
been in your keeping, as Mazaroff’s
agent, for some months. Kloop tells
us that you have sold these two dia
monds to a syndicate for two hun
dred thousands pounds. Is that cor
rect ?”
Armintrade, whose smile, sardonic
and inscrutable, had never left his
eyes, nodded, "Quite correct!” he an
swered.
“Do you mind telling us all about
It?” Crole asked. "I gather the whole
thing is plain enough—when ex
plained.”
“Plain as a pikestaff,” replied Ar
mintrade, with a laugh. "I have acted
as agent or Intermediary, or, what
ever you like to call it, for Mazaroff
for some time. Well, now, as regards
these blue diamonds—great rarities.
I have had the first in my hands foi
some time. The second he handed to
me personally at Marrasdale the day
after he arrived at the Woodcock.”
"Ah! —you met him there?”
“Certainly I met him there!”
“Well? And what happened?”
"We discussed the sale of the dia
monds, and came to an arrangement.”
“May 1 ask what it was?”
"Certainly! He gave me an option
on them."
"Ah! I see! An option? Just so
You were to have them at a price?”
"Os course. But I’ll show you the
terms, in Mazaroff’s handwriting. He
had brought me this, already written
and signed—there you are!"
He produced a sheet of letter paper
and handed it to Crole, who- took and
read it attentively. "I see!” he said,
handing it back. “He gave you the
option for one month of buying the
diamonds for a hundred and seventy
five thousand pounds. And —you have
taken it up. Then—what about the
option money? Which, of course,
should and would have been paid to
Marazoff,"
“Exactly! The money is at the dis
posal of the late Salim Mazaroff’s
rightful heir or heirs, beneficiaries,
residuary legatees, or whoever has a
proper and legal right to IL”
Crole pointed to me.
“Mr. Holt there is Mazaroff’s re
siduary legatee,” he said. "He comes
in so
Armintrade laughed, and gave me a
shy smile.
“Lucky for Mr. Holt!” he remarked.
"But —are you sure of that? I under
stand that the will made at York is
lost?”
“The will is here!" said Crole, hold
ing up his envelope. “You can see it
and read it.”
Armintrade’s face underwent a
change as he took and read the will.
He gave a long, careful look at the
signature; another at Crole as he
handed back the paper.
“What," he asked, "what do you, a
solicitor, say about that will?”
"That nothing whatever can upset
it." answered Crole, promptly. "It
won't be contested, either. Everything
that Mazaroff died possessed of be
longs to Mr. Mervyn Holt. So —”
"So I owe Mr. Holt one hundred
and seventy-five thousand pounds.”
said Armintrade with a laugh. “Very
good!—shall I send the check and the
papers along to you, Mr. Crole? Just
so—it shall be done at once. Glad
you’ve found the will."
We all rose. For the first time
Maythorne spoke—addressing Armin
trade.
“You didn’t think it necessary to
give evidence at the inquest?” he sug
gested.
“What evidence had 1 to give?”
asked Armintrade. “My affairs with
Mazaroff had nothing to do with his
murder."
“Have you any theory, yourself,
about his murder?" continued May
thorne.
“I have had two. One was that he
may have been followed from London
by somebody who knew that he had
the second blue diamond on him—he
was a very careless, thoughtless man!
—the other that it was just a com
mon, vulgar murder for the sake of
. robbery by one or other of those men
whom he had been treating at the
Woodcock. For Instance, where is
that man who disappeared—Parslave?
So far, I believe, the police have failed
to track him. Possibly he murdered
Mazaroff. robbed the body and cleared
out. Anyhow—he’s vanished.”
(continued next week.)
HILTON NEWS.
By Lindy.
Every one is cordially invited to
a sing conducted by Mr. Douglass
Weaver, of Blakely, on the second
Sunday afternoon at the Baptist
church at 3:00 o’clock sharp. Mr.
Weaver is a very popular song lead
er. He, along with Rev. Wm. E.
Browne and wife and other good
singers, will make the occasion a
very enjoyable one. Mrs. W. J.
Slappey, the church pianist, will play
for the occasion. A treat is in
store for you here.
Messrs. L. W. Grubbs, Roy, Os
car and Ralph Lane and John Cham
bers have finished sticking about 8
acres of snapbeans, and since this
community has been so wonderfully
blessed with two nice showers,
these two gentlemen are hoping to
begin picking beans within 10 days.
They plan to market their beans in
South Florida. We are hoping that
the harvest will be great and a large
sum of money will be realized from
their venture.
Cucumber picking is under good
headway. Cucumbers are bringing
a fancy price.
Mr. C. A. Knighton has a splendid
watermelon patch and is expecting
melons by the 15th of June.
The Carr dairy on the river is
progressing nicely and should you
care to visit this enterprise, you will
see some fine blooded stock and a
well cared for dairy.
The crops in our section are
splendid.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hall visited
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harris, at Al
bany Sunday. Mrs. Harris is a
niece of Mrs. Hall.
Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Ragan have
returned home after a visit to rela
tives.
The Hilton college girls, Misses
Genevieve Martin, Montine Martin,
Dorothy Slappey and Frances Wil
liams are expected back in the vil
lage in a few days.
Mrs. F. L. Williams and son were
in Dothan Monday.
Mrs. C. C. Johnson visited Mrs.
W. J. Slappey recently.
Messrs. C. H. and Marshall Hall,
sons of Mr. 0. E. Hall, were visiting
home folks Sunday.
Mrs. J. T. Williams is visiting at
the home of her son, Mr. F. L.
Williams.
Mr. Curtis Smith and Miss Irma
Chambliss attended the commence
ment at Columbia.
Miss Annie Grier has returned
home from North Carolina, where
she is a very popular teacher.
Miss Inez Brown is expected home
in a few days. She is a very popu
lar teacher in one of the Jacksonville
high schools.
The Cedar Springs boys played
our boys on our diamond recently.
They were victorious, the score be
ing: Cedar Springs 16, Hilton 10.
Genesis: Whu tdid yo’ wife say
when yo’ got in at two las’ night?
Exodus: She nebber say a word.
Ah wuz goin’ to have dem two front
teeth pulled out anyhow.—-The Path
finder.
CITATION.
GEORGIA —Early County:
To all whom it may concern:
Surrey E. Beckham, a resident of
this State, having in due form ap
plied to the undersigned for guard
ianship of the person and property
of Ruby L. Beckham, an insane per
son, now in the Georgia State Sani
tarium, notice is hereby given that
Surrey E. Beckham’s application will
be heard at the next court of Ordi
nary for said County, on the first
Monday, in June, 1936.
H. H. GRIMSLEY, Ordinary.
MASONIC NOTICE.
Magnolia Looge No
jPK 86 Free and Accept-
ed Masons holds reg
ular commun cations
■JU on the first and third
\ Monday nights In
each month. The I
time is 8:00 P. M. in the summer;
and 7:00 P. M. in the winter. Vis-;
iting brothers are extended a cordial '
invitation to attend.
J. G. STANDIFER, W. M.
R. H. STUCKEY. JR., Sec’y.
CITATION.
GEORGIA—EarIy County:
To Mrs. Sol G. Beckham, the near
est of kin of David J. W. Beckham,
ward, and Surrey E. Beckham, his
nominated guardian, and all other
parties concerned:
The present guardian of said Da
vid J. W. Beckham, Sol. G. Beck
ham, having filed his petition for
leave to resign as guardian of
David J. W. Beckham, representing
that Surrey E. Beckham is a suitable
person, willing to accept the trust
and praying that he be appointed- as
successor in office, notice is hereby
given that said petition will be heard
and passed upon at the next term of
the Court of Ordinary of said coun
ty, to be held on the first Monday
in June, 1930.
H. H. GRIMSLEY,
Ordinary of Early County, Ga.
CITATION.
GEORGIA—EarIy County:
To whom it may concern:
W. H. Frazier, as executor of the
last will and testament of Mrs. J. M.
Bethune, late of said county, de
ceased, having applied to me by pe
tition for leave to sell all of the real
estate of said deceased, this is to no
tify the creditors and kindred that'
said application will be passed upon
at the June Term, 1930, of the Court
of Ordinary of said county, and that
unless cause is then shown to the
contrary, said leave will be granted.
This sth day of May, 1930.
H. H. GRIMSLEY,
Ordinary Early County.
CITATION
GEORGIA, Early County.
Whereas, W. D. McGlamory, Ad
ministrator of Mrs. Sallie McCoy,
represents to the Court in his peti
tion, duly filed and entered on record
that he has fully administered Mrs.
Sallie McCoy’s estate: This is there
fore to cite all persons concerned,
kindred and creditors, to show cause,
if any they can, why said Adminis
trator should not be discharged from
his administration, and receive letters
of dsimission on the first Monday
in June, 1930.
H. H. GRIMSLEY,
Ordinary, Early County, Georgia.
YOU CAN SEND
the children to us with your order and be sure that
we will send you just as fine a steak, roast, vege
tables —in fact, anything in our store as you would
get if you came here yourself and picked it out.
That is because we try to give you what we know
you want. Try us and see. Our prices are as
cheap as you will find elsewhere.
JORDAN’S MARKET
Quick Delivery— Phone 196
AT THE
Seneca Theatre
Blakely, Georgia
Friday
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Saturday
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BLAKELY GEORGIA
Price* reasonable and all work guar
anteed. Specialist on Crown and
Bridge worn. Office in Gay building,
first two rooms at bead of stair*.
I’hone 157
LOWREY STONE
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Alexander Bldg.
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TT tTaLEX ANDER
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L , •
Office upstairs in Southern Stat->*
Life Building, rooms 5 and 6.
Office hours; 8:30 to 12:00 a. m.:
2:00 to 6:00 p. m.
BLAKELY CHAPTER 44 R. A. M.
Blakely Chapter 44
t Royal Arch Masons
meets on the second
and fourth Monday
nights of each month
at 8 o’clock. Visiting
companions invited.
Shelly Simmons,
High Priest.
J. G. STANDIFER,
Secretary.
BLAKELY CAMP W. O. W.
NO. 1170
CiWoF Meets every Ist and
3rd Tuesday nights.
Visiting Sovereigns cordially invited.
J. F. GILBERT, C. C.
W. R. ALEXANDER, Clerk.