“The diamonds have been recovered in New York,” replied Nick, “and the death of Mr. Maynard is no longer a mystery. I have two prisoners here, Anton Sawtelle and Bernice. I ask you to take them into custody and keep them prisoners in this house until the State’s attorney can be consulted.”
The detective did not consider it necessary to tell the whole story to the sheriff, but the latter consented to do as requested. In a few moments the house was dark, and Nick slept soundly until eight o’clock in the morning, when he was awakened by Chick.
“How are things in New York?” asked the chief.
“Both Hartley and the bully murderer are under arrest,” replied Chick, “and the sailor at the hospital is in a fair way to recover. He got a wicked blow, however.”
“They have run their course,” said Nick.
“The baggageman puts up the biggest yell,” said Chick. “He says that he did not know that there had been a robbery; that he did not know that there were diamonds in the package, and that he only did a favor for Bernice.”
“When baggagemen break open trunks as a favor to their sweethearts,” said Nick, “it is time that they were called down.”
“It was a pretty mess,” said Chick. “The burglars seemed to happen along just in time to turn suspicion from members of the household. Anton and Bernice put up the job to get the diamonds, all right, but Mrs. Maynard unconsciously foiled them for the time being.”
“I think Anton must be a bad sort of a chap,” said Nick. “He would have robbed his friend of half a million.”
“I’d like to know whether the baggageman put the diamonds in the safety box,” said Chick, in a moment. “He might have opened the package, weakened at sight of so much wealth, and carried out the character of the case by putting a dummy package in the box.”