"
"Not even once, saire," purred the Frenchman.
"By blazes! I have the equivalent!" shouted Bloodgood.
Into an inner pocket he plunged. He brought out a velvet jewel box. When
this was opened, there was a cry of wonder, for a magnificent diamond
necklace was revealed.
"That is worth ten thousand dollars!" declared Bloodgood, "and I'll bet
as long as it lasts!"
Mr. Slush held out his hand.
"Please let me examine it," he said.
He took a good look at it.
"Ees it all right, sair?" asked the Frenchman, eagerly.
"It is," said Mr. Slush, "and I will take charge of it!"
He thrust the case into his pocket, rose quickly, stepped past Montfort
and clapped a hand on Bloodgood's shoulder.
"I arrest you, Benton Hammersley, for the Clayton diamond robbery!" he
said. "It is useless for you to resist, for you are on shipboard, and
you cannot escape."
Bloodgood uttered a fierce curse,
"Who in the fiend's name are you?" he snarled, turning pale.
And "Mr. Slush" answered:
"Dan Badger, of the New York detective force! Permit me to present you
with a pair of handsome bracelets, Mr. Hammersley."
Click--the trapped diamond thief was ironed!
CHAPTER XIII.
FIRE IN THE HOLD.
Everyone except the detective himself seemed astounded. The clever
officer, who had played his part so well, was as cool as ice.
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