Page:Knaves of Diamonds.pdf/272

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253
AT THE SIGN OF THE "GOLDEN STAR."

with a little gasp. "What should I do if I was found out?"

"Well," said Miss Billing rather grimly, "you would lose the diamonds, and so would he; but if you confessed, I daresay you would get some part of your share of the penalty taken off. On the other hand—"

"Well?"

"There is no penalty for taking them out of the colony again, and, as I am not connected with the detective force any longer, it might be possible for me to manage—"

"Sally, if you will, you shall have half of whatever they fetch!" exclaimed Miss Colegate, with a little clutch at her companion's arm.

"Very well," said Miss Billing, "that will do. There's one of the Castle boats sailing to-morrow. We'll go."

While Mr. Engstroem was seated at breakfast in his hotel the following morning, a