Part 16 (1/2)
”You had other business in the city aside from meeting him, had you not?”
Between the coroner's persistence and his mother's visible signs of displeasure, Walter LaGrange was fast losing his temper.
”If you know so much about this business, I don't see the use of your questioning me,” he retorted angrily. ”It's no affair of mine anyway; I had nothing to do with it, nor I won't be mixed up in it; and if you want any information you'd better ask mother for it; it's her business and none of mine.”
After a few more questions, which the witness answered sullenly and in monosyllables, he was dismissed.
”Mr. Higgenbotham,” announced the coroner. The greatest surprise was manifested on every side as the senior member of a well-known firm of jewellers stepped forward; the same gentleman who had accompanied Mr. Whitney on his return from the city on the preceding day.
”Mr. Higgenbotham,” said the coroner, ”I believe you are able to furnish some testimony which will be pertinent at this time.”
”Yes, Dr. Westlake,” responded the other, in deep, musical tones, ”I think possibly I can render you a little a.s.sistance in your investigations.”
”Mr. Higgenbotham, do you recognize the young gentleman who has just given his testimony?”
”I do, sir,” said the witness, adjusting a pair of eyegla.s.ses and gazing steadily at Walter LaGrange. ”I recall his features perfectly.”
”You were personally acquainted with the late Hugh Mainwaring, I believe?”
”Yes, sir, intimately acquainted with him.”
”You are, I believe, familiar with the Mainwaring jewels which are now missing?” continued the coroner.
Walter LaGrange looked uncomfortable and his mother's cheek paled.
”I am, sir; having had them repeatedly left in my possession for safe keeping during their owner's absence from home; and I have also a complete list of them, with a detailed description of every piece.”
”Very well, Mr. Higgenbotham, will you now please state when, and under what circ.u.mstances, you saw this young gentleman?”
”I was seated in my private office yesterday morning, when my head clerk came in and asked me to step out into the salesrooms for a moment, as he said a young man was there trying to sell some very fine jewels, and, from his youth and his ignorance of their value, he feared something was wrong. I went out immediately and saw this young gentleman, who handed me for inspection a superb diamond brooch and an elegant necklace of diamonds and pearls. I instantly recognized the gems as pieces from the old Mainwaring collection of jewels. Simultaneously there occurred to my mind the report of the murder of Hugh Mainwaring, which I had heard but a short time before, although then I knew nothing of the robbery. Naturally, my suspicions were awakened. I questioned the young man closely, however, and he stated that his home was at Fair Oaks, and that his mother was a distant relative of Mr. Mainwaring's; that the jewels were hers, and she wished to dispose of them for ready cash to meet an emergency. His story was so plausible that I thought possibly my suspicions had been somewhat hasty and premature. Still, I declined to purchase the jewels; and when he left the store I ordered one of our private detectives to follow him and report to me. In the course of an hour the detective returned and reported that the young man had sold the jewels to a p.a.w.nbroker for less than one-fourth their actual value. About half an hour later I heard the news of the robbery at Fair Oaks, and that the family jewels were missing; and knowing that Mr. Whitney was here, I immediately telephoned to him the facts which I have just stated.
He came in to the city at once, and we proceeded to the p.a.w.nshop, where he also identified the jewels.”
Mr. Higgenbotham paused for a moment, producing a package from an inner pocket, which he proceeded to open.
”We secured a loan of the jewels for a few days,” he continued, advancing towards the coroner. ”Here they are, and here is a copy of the list of which I spoke. By comparing these gems with the description of those which I have checked on the list, you will see that they are identical.”
He placed the open casket on the table. There was a moment's silence, broken by subdued exclamations of admiration as Dr.
Westlake lifted the gems from their resting-place.
”You are correct,” he said; ”the description is complete. There is no doubt that these are a part of the collection. I see you have marked the value of these two items as seven thousand dollars.”
”Yes; that is a moderate valuation. And were the prices of the other articles carried out, you would see that, with the exception of a few very small pieces, these have the least value of the entire lot. I believe I can be of no further service.”
Mrs. LaGrange was next recalled.
”Have you anything to say in reference to the testimony just given?”
the coroner inquired.
”I have this much to say,” she replied, haughtily, ”that I could have given you the history of those jewels, including, perhaps, some facts of which even Mr. Higgenbotham and Mr. Whitney are in ignorance, and thus have spared you the infinite pains you have taken to make public the straits to which I was reduced, because of my position here, when in need of a little ready money. I could have informed you that they were originally a part of the old Mainwaring collection of gems, until they were given me by my husband.”