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The Great Diamond Syndicate
The Great Diamond Syndicate
OR, THE HARDEST CREW ON RECORD BY NICHOLAS CARTER Author of the celebrated stories of Nick Carter’s adventures, which are published exclusively in the New Magnet Library , conceded to be among the best detective tales ever written. STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York Copyright, 1909 By STREET & SMITH The Great Diamond Syndicate (Printed in the United States of America) All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, incl
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CHAPTER I. A DARK NIGHT’S WORK.
CHAPTER I. A DARK NIGHT’S WORK.
“They were mine,” replied the young man. “The day is full of surprises,” said Nick. “When and how did you become owner of such a wonderful collection of precious stones?” “They were delivered to me yesterday, at the residence of my uncle, up the Hudson,” replied Charley. “I heartily wish I had never set eyes on them.” “A present?” asked Nick. “My inheritance from my father,” was the reply. “As you know, he was a globe trotter from his youth up. It seems that during a visit to South Africa he bec
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CHAPTER II. CONFLICTING CLUES.
CHAPTER II. CONFLICTING CLUES.
“I do not.” “Did you leave your room for any purpose after they came up here?” “I did not.” “Until when?” “This morning.” “Then you went to Mr. Maynard’s room?” “I went to mother’s room first. You see, I had been attacked, and my first idea on regaining consciousness was that some one else might have been wounded.” “That was quite early?” “Just after daylight.” “Where did you find your mother?” “Lying on the floor. I placed her on the bed and went on to Mr. Maynard’s room. I found him dead, as y
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CHAPTER III. COVERING CLUES.
CHAPTER III. COVERING CLUES.
“You surely are not going away?” asked Chick. “What will Mrs. Maynard do? She surely can’t get a companion like you—young, devoted, and attractive—every day.” The girl blushed prettily. The flattery was winning its way, seemingly. “I must go about my work,” said the girl. “I have to take to my mistress some of her clothes from the closet.” “Can I assist you?” asked Chick. “Oh, no. It is only a few I carry.” The girl went to the closet. Chick watched her every move and glance. Entering the closet
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CHAPTER IV. A GROUP OF THREE.
CHAPTER IV. A GROUP OF THREE.
“It looks like the work of amateur burglars,” said Nick, “who depend upon losing themselves in the city, and thus escaping the officers.” “I wonder if they carried the diamonds over that route?” asked Chick. “And I was wondering,” said Nick, “if they knew what to do with the gems when they got to the city.” “How could they have the diamonds?” asked Chick. “They did not get beyond Anton’s room, and the diamonds were not there. I guess the members of the Maynard family were too quick for them.” “D
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CHAPTER V. CUNNING FOES.
CHAPTER V. CUNNING FOES.
Nick took from his pocket a superb stone worth fully $500. It was finely cut and had been removed from its setting. In fact, it was a stone which the detective frequently wore. “’Ow much for it?” he asked. “Where did you get it?” asked the clerk. Nick gave an impatient hitch to his breeches. “This hain’t no bloomin’ police station, is it?” he asked. “No,” was the reply, “but we like to know where the goods we buy come from.” Nick put the stone back into his pocket and moved toward the door. “Wai
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CHAPTER VI. DEATH COMES TOO SOON.
CHAPTER VI. DEATH COMES TOO SOON.
Nick might now do one of two things. One was to remain in the basement, and get to the sailor after he had been dumped down the shaft. Wounded and in fear of death, the man would be likely to tell all he knew about the diamond robbery. The other was to force his way out of the basement and take the sailor with Patsy into custody. This man probably knew as much of the affair as the other. After studying the matter over, Nick decided to remain and assist the sailor out of the den he was in. The ot
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CHAPTER VII. AT FOUR O’CLOCK.
CHAPTER VII. AT FOUR O’CLOCK.
Arrived at the house, Nick and Chick, after a moment’s conversation with Mrs. Maynard and Charley, proceeded to the second floor of the mansion. Nick stopped at the head of the stairs with a smile on his face. The stairs and the halls had been swept and washed during the day, thus removing every trace of the record left by naked feet the night before. Nick hastened to the closet in Anton’s room. When he came out again, the smile on his face had broadened. His next move was to visit the hallway u
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CHAPTER VIII. HOW IT WAS DONE.
CHAPTER VIII. HOW IT WAS DONE.
“Anton went to his room late, after arranging the details of the robbery with Bernice, and sat by his door in undress, waiting for the house to become quiet. While he sat there he heard his mother leave her room and cross the hall to the apartment where the diamonds were, and where the owner was sound asleep, with the gems unprotected in an old trunk, which was not even locked. Alarmed at the thought of what might take place, Mrs. Maynard had decided to herself take charge of the diamonds for th
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CHAPTER IX. MAYNARD’S FOLLY.
CHAPTER IX. MAYNARD’S FOLLY.
“Then you are running a fearful risk, especially when the nature of our visit to this part of the city is considered. How many members of the dramatic club know that you are carrying the diamonds in your pocket to-night?” “All of them, I take it. The gems were much admired.” “Then you’re a fool, Maynard. Why, it’s simply tempting Providence. You alarm me.” The men were taking a light luncheon in a rear room of the café. They had attended a dress rehearsal of a play soon to be presented in the in
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CHAPTER X. A FATAL ERRAND.
CHAPTER X. A FATAL ERRAND.
“First,” said Nick, “we must learn whether it was really Townsend who came here. Describe the young man you have reference to.” “Medium build,” began the clerk; “brown hair, light mustache, blue eyes, Roman nose, very fair complexion.” “That is the man,” said Maynard. “Wait,” said Nick. “How was he dressed?” “Suit of blue basket cheviot, sack coat, vest cut high, dark-brown derby hat, wing collar, blue four-in-hand tie with red threads in it, small diamond pin on the tie, long cuffs with amethys
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CHAPTER XI. A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
CHAPTER XI. A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
“It was ten minutes past one when I left the office for the elevator,” was the reply. “Did the person speak to you on the way up?” “Yes, sir,” was the reply. “He asked me about the fire escape and the stairs winding about the elevator well. Seemed afraid of fire.” “About the voice? Harsh or soft?” “Soft and low, sir.” “Yes, yes. And when did that person go down again?” “I don’t know, sir. He did not go down in the cage.” “Did you see the person going down?” “No, sir.” “Did you see him pass throu
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CHAPTER XII. THE HUSTLING REPORTER.
CHAPTER XII. THE HUSTLING REPORTER.
“Not black hairs, certainly. Short red hairs.” “Exactly.” “But this person was dark,” insisted Maynard; “at least so described by the clerk.” “Also described by the clerk as a man,” said Nick, with a smile. “How do you know that these hairs were not left here by some former occupant of the room?” asked the young man. “Because,” was the reply, “she combed her hair, after removing her black wig, before she removed her clothes. There were short red hairs on the collar of the coat she wore.” “A red-
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CHAPTER XIII. INTO THE TRAP.
CHAPTER XIII. INTO THE TRAP.
And so they waited, while the young man fumed up and down. Nick turned to the clerk again, motioning him into the hall, where he followed. “When Townsend entered the office,” he asked, “how did you know that he was the one this Martin Haynes had asked for?” “Oh, Haynes gave me a description and a name.” This set Nick to thinking on new lines for a moment. Then he said: “While we are waiting for the coroner, we may as well go to the office and inspect the signature.” Leaving Maynard and the repor
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CHAPTER XIV. THE GREAT DIAMOND SYNDICATE.
CHAPTER XIV. THE GREAT DIAMOND SYNDICATE.
“Why are you here?” “This is an officer,” replied the young man. “We have come to see the body of the girl who was killed here not long ago.” The servant pointed up the staircase, saying: “We have nothing to conceal from the police. First door to the left.” The two started on up the stairs, the young fellow in the lead. Nick was watchful and ready with a revolver, which was hidden within easy reach under his coat. He understood the peril of the situation, but trusted to his usual good luck to ge
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CHAPTER XV. A DESPERATE GAME.
CHAPTER XV. A DESPERATE GAME.
“If you were fit for the position,” continued Nick, “you would never have permitted me to regain consciousness.” “We are looking to you for help in securing your diamonds,” was the cool reply. “Then, having made this mistake, you should never have confided the secrets of your syndicate to me.” “We decided to bring you down a peg or two before your death, to show you how little you were really capable of when pitted against men of ability and courage.” “To humiliate me, in fact?” “To punish you.”
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CHAPTER XVI. MORE TROUBLE.
CHAPTER XVI. MORE TROUBLE.
“It is almost morning now.” “Well, we’ll meet at the office at eight o’clock,” said Nick. And at eight o’clock Nick, Chick, and Patsy sat in the private room of the downtown office which Nick had lately taken with the object of having two headquarters from which to work. “Now,” said Nick, turning to his first assistant, “the chief thief mentioned last night by name four diamond collections which have been stolen by the syndicate. I remember the main features of the crimes, but of course I know n
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CHAPTER XVII. MORE SURPRISES.
CHAPTER XVII. MORE SURPRISES.
“Anyway, we’ll look him up,” said Nick. “There is one thing certain,” said Chick, “and that is, the case will be won if Maynard ever recovers so as to be able to give the names of the people he saw in room forty-four before he was struck down.” “We can’t afford to wait for that,” said Nick. “The robbers and the murderer must be caught at once, if at all.” “And the diamonds?” “I am no longer interested in the diamonds.” This conversation had taken place, in low tones, in the hallway near to the d
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CHAPTER XVIII. BY THE HAND OF A WOMAN.
CHAPTER XVIII. BY THE HAND OF A WOMAN.
The policeman shrugged his shoulders. “Tough,” he said. “Well, we are going up,” said Nick. “I’ll wait about here,” said the officer, who knew Nick and his assistant quite well. “Let me know if anything happens.” The two passed on up the stairs. They had, however, been seen talking with the policeman. As they reached the third floor, a rough voice asked: “What do you fellows want up here? You’d better be making yourself scarce if you want to keep your shape.” The speaker was meanly dressed and g
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CHAPTER XIX. MANTELLE AT BAY.
CHAPTER XIX. MANTELLE AT BAY.
“There might be a little physical exertion connected with an interview in which he was accused of complicity in the murder,” said Chick, “and that would help some. I am feeling in the need of a thumping.” “That may come soon enough,” replied Nick. “It might be a good idea to watch the room in the tenement,” said Chick. “There may be a reason why the woman should go back there.” “If she does, it will be in the nighttime,” was the reply. “We will talk that over later. At this time we’ll see if we
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CHAPTER XX. FLUSHING THE BIRDS.
CHAPTER XX. FLUSHING THE BIRDS.
For a second the fellow looked dismayed, but only for a second. Other waiters were now gathering in the hall. The clerk advanced to the scene of trouble. “We can’t have quarreling here,” he said. “You go back to your work,” he added, addressing the waiters, “and you,” to the detectives, “make your way out as quietly as possible. I told you not to go into that room.” “At any rate,” thought Nick, “the clerk is not in with this play, whatever it is.” “He can’t come in here and insult my customers,”
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CHAPTER XXI. A CLEVER WOMAN.
CHAPTER XXI. A CLEVER WOMAN.
The door to the private room opened and closed again. Nick, who was at the transom, motioned, and Patsy slipped out into the hall and stood some distance from the door. “There are only two left in the room now,” said Nick. “They are Mantelle and a woman.” Again the door opened, and Mantelle stepped out. The woman was a few paces behind him, but still in the room. Patsy stepped forward from the other end of the hall. “I was just going to the parlor, sir,” he said. “I have a message for you.” “Del
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CHAPTER XXII. THE STORY TOLD.
CHAPTER XXII. THE STORY TOLD.
“Well,” said the assistant, “you’ve got a leading rôle, according to the programme we found, and you must have a fine dressing room. Wait! I’ll just scout around and find a room with your stage costume in it. If I make a mistake no one will wonder at it, while they would suspect something at once if you got into the wrong room. “There,” said Patsy, returning in a moment. “I’ve located the place and the rig. I hope you’ll make a hit in your part to-night! You wear a wig and all that, so no one wi
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CHAPTER XXIII. THE DEN OF THE SYNDICATE.
CHAPTER XXIII. THE DEN OF THE SYNDICATE.
“Right you are, Chick. Well, that is the hangout for the little fellows of the syndicate. I want you to go there and try and get a job as a waiter, or helper of some sort. They are always putting on ‘extras’ there. Get into a good disguise, and I will join you later.” Without further parley, Chick went into the costume room, and within half an hour he was on his way to the Dominion. It was some time later when Nick followed him, also in disguise. He took a cab, and was soon within a block of the
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CHAPTER XXIV. WHAT NICK OVERHEARD.
CHAPTER XXIV. WHAT NICK OVERHEARD.
“Send Jim up to my room,” said the woman presently. “All right.” The woman was heard moving away, and the detectives followed her. She passed down a narrow hall running toward an annex in the rear of the building. Presently she opened a door, and the passage was flooded with light. The electrics in the annex had not been switched off. The woman uttered a cry of alarm when she saw two men were following her, one in the uniform of a waiter and the other a stranger. “What are you doing here?” she d
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CHAPTER XXV. A DESPERATE RAID.
CHAPTER XXV. A DESPERATE RAID.
“Some cheap sport,” cried one of the gang. “Come on, boys!” But Nick had no idea of permitting the men to escape. He had no way of knowing how many members of the gang had been taken by the police, but he was determined that these three should not get away. He knew that in such dens as he then found himself there were often double doors, the second one of metal and sliding down from the upper casing. The Dominion had for years been the resort of thieves and murderers, and it would not be strange
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CHAPTER XXVI. NICK TAKES A CHANCE.
CHAPTER XXVI. NICK TAKES A CHANCE.
The detective’s disguise was a good one. He had turned his reversible suit, removed his false mustache, washed the convivial red from his cheeks, and lined his face just a trifle, in order to make himself look older and thinner. No one who had seen him at Hall’s place would have recognized him now. He passed Carrie at a swinging pace and turned at the next corner. There he waited in a convenient doorway for her to pass. As she did so, the two men crossed to the north side of the street, upon whi
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CHAPTER XXVII. BULLY COMES TO GRIEF.
CHAPTER XXVII. BULLY COMES TO GRIEF.
Hughart turned away. “Wait,” said Nick. “You are going with me as soon as these men are taken care of.” “He don’t have to go unless he wants to,” sneered the bouncer. “You can’t come up here an’ run this place.” Hughart turned back, and said: “I have no idea of going with you. You helped me out here, a moment ago, and I thank you for that, but here our ways part.” Nick was in rather a tight box, for he did not know but the crooks might regain consciousness in a minute and come to the assistance
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