"Is there much stealing of diamonds by the miners?" demanded Mr. Parker.
Handsome nodded.
"Lots of it. They have to watch 'em all the time. They resort to all kinds of tricks to conceal stones they find. They used to swallow them, but when they were forced to take powerful emetics and other drugs, they soon got tired of that game. They also try to smuggle them across the border line. One detective, who had been for months on the trail of a well-to-do smuggler, was badly stung. The man invited him to go shooting, and kindly furnished guns and cartridges. The unsuspecting policeman carried the cartridges across the border, never dreaming that each one was filled with diamonds."
Ray clapped her hands.
"Oh, what a clever idea!"
The host nodded approvingly.
"That's what I thought. Any man as smart as that deserved to get away with it."
Mr. Parker protested.
"Rogues are always smart!" he exclaimed.
"Until they're caught," laughed Dick Reynolds. "Then they don't think they're so smart."