natural conditions has not been perfect. The conditions producing asterism simply cannot be reproduced in the laboratory.”
Shayne drew his legs up and crossed one knobby knee over the other. “I’m convinced,” he said. “It was a nebulous theory at best. Just happened to fit one set of facts. What I’d like to know is this: How do you account for the fact that neither the King ring nor the Kendrick pendant were ever recovered by the insurance companies-and have never turned up in any of the gem markets of the world?”
“There’s only one logical answer. They somehow made their way into the hands of private collectors who knew they were stolen and glory in possession of them. The worship of precious gems is a curious thing, Mike, and sometimes an unhealthy one. Many of the best known stones in history have disappeared from human sight for hundreds of years, only to reappear again centuries later with no record having been kept of their peregrinations. Collecting gems becomes a mania with some men. Possessing them utterly. Destroying their moral senses and all responsibility toward society.”
“Men like the Rajah of Hindupoor?” Shayne suggested.
Walter Voorland’s big jaws suddenly ceased their regular masticatory process. A mask seemed to drop into position over his big features.
“What about the Rajah of Hindupoor?”
“I’d like to know what you and he talked about at midnight,” Shayne said quietly.
Chapter Seventeen
“I’ve no idea what you are talking about,” said Voorland coolly.
“Your visit to the Rajah’s suite at the Waldorf Hotel last night.”
“What makes you think I did that?”
“He telephoned you from the hotel and you went right out to see him, using the name of Smith. What did he want?”
“Really, Shayne, this prying into my private affairs-is that quite ethical?”
“Anything is ethical in a murder case.”
“Murder? You don’t mean-Mr. Dustin’s injuries didn’t appear serious last evening.” Voorland began slowly chewing his gum again.
“It was Mrs. Dustin who got it,” Shayne told him. “Haven’t you seen the morning paper?”
“No. This is shocking news. Is there any connection with the bracelet?”
“Definitely. I’m the only one who knows about your midnight visit to the Rajah. You can tell me about it if you like. Otherwise you can tell the police.”
“Really, Shayne, I’m afraid I don’t see why my visit to the Rajah has any connection with Mrs. Dustin’s murder.”
“Perhaps it doesn’t. On the other hand, there may be a very definite connection.”
“What gives you that idea? Am I under surveillance? Is the Rajah?”
“Not exactly. I’ve been digging into a lot of angles.”
“I demand that you tell me why you feel the Rajah is involved,” said Voorland sternly.
“I’ll lay it on the line,” Shayne agreed. “The Rajah of Hindupoor is just the sort of unscrupulous collector you mentioned as being the probable recipient of the King and Kendrick rubies. In fact, his reputation as a gem miser is such that you refused to even let him look at the ruby bracelet in your shop a couple of weeks ago.”
“That’s quite true. You do have a way of picking up odd bits of information,” Voorland said with reluctant admiration tingeing his voice. “He is the sort of private collector whom I detest with all my soul. Once let him get his grasping hands on a fine gem and it disappears into his vaults and is never seen again. Precious stones were made to bring happiness and pleasure to people. They deserve to be displayed and admired.”
“Yet you hurried out to see him last night as soon as he telephoned you.”
Voorland hesitated, munching slowly and quietly on his gum. “I had a very good reason.”
“What reason?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Would you rather tell the police?” Shayne asked harshly.
Voorland lifted his hands from his knees in a gesture of helplessness. “I assure you our conversation was confidential and had nothing whatever to do with Mrs. Dustin’s death.”
“But it did have something to do with the ruby bracelet?”
Voorland’s large mouth tightened obstinately. “I can’t tell you what we discussed.”
Shayne said, “I can have you both arrested and locked up until you decide to talk.”
Beads of perspiration stood out on Voorland’s face. His eyes and tone were cold when he said, “That’s absurd. You can’t possibly suspect either of us of complicity in murder.”
Shayne sighed. “I make a point of suspecting everyone and everything. I see it this way: I believe the gang had a buyer for the bracelet when they snatched it-and the Rajah is a logical candidate. At ten o’clock last night they had no intention of dickering with the insurance company for a reward. Something happened during the next few hours that caused them to change their minds. Why did they decide not to deal with the Rajah? Did you get to them first, Walter? And did the Rajah find it out? Is that why he sent for you suddenly?”
“Is the insurance company offering a reward?” countered the jeweler.
“I don’t know.” Shayne brushed the question aside. “The way things are shaping up now, I don’t believe we’ll have to pay a reward. I think I can put my hands on the bracelet right now without paying anybody off.”
“That’s wonderful,” Voorland said. “How did you manage it so quickly?”
“I’m asking the questions,” Shayne told him angrily. “This is your last chance to tell me what the Rajah wanted. Without that information I’m going to bull this thing through on a hunch-and God help anyone who stands in my way.”
“Give me time to think this over, Mike,” begged Voorland. “If I decide that any information I have has the slightest bearing on Mrs. Dustin’s death, I give you my word of honor I won’t withhold it. In order to decide that, you must explain how she died.”
Shayne studied the jeweler’s face for a full sixty seconds. The man was badly shaken and he was frightened, but Shayne believed he was telling the truth. He didn’t believe Voorland had realized that murder was involved until he, himself, had informed him. Despite his fanatical desire to recover the bracelet, Shayne decided that Voorland would draw the line at protecting a murderer.
He nodded and gave a brief account of the manner in which Celia Dustin had met her death. Voorland listened attentively, and when Shayne finished, he got up to stride across the room and back.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” he confessed. “I don’t yet see how my information can help you. I’ll tell you one thing, though. I’m morally certain Mrs. Dustin wasn’t in on the attack on her husband.”
Shayne nodded agreement. “I don’t go for that theory myself. But she must have known something. Something that was dangerous to someone who saw to it that she would never tell anyone.”
“Perhaps it was some detail about the hold-up that she forgot in the first confusion and worry. Something that she remembered later and felt you should know.”
“That’s quite possible. Are you in the market for the bracelet?” Shayne asked suddenly.
“I?” faltered Voorland. “It belongs to Mr. Dustin, you know. It’s legally his property.”
“I don’t imagine he cares too much. He’s fully protected by the insurance, and with his wife gone-”
“I am willing to refund the full purchase price if it is recovered and he doesn’t wish to keep it,” said Voorland with dignity.
Shayne stood up and said shortly, “Start thinking things over, Walter. I’m waiting for some information from New York and Ohio. I’ll be ready to move when I receive it, and maybe by that time you’ll decide your scruples are ill-advised and be ready to tell me where the Rajah fits in. Don’t try to contact him,” he advised casually as he neared the door. “I’ve got his telephone tapped and a tail on him.”
He went out to his car with the glum thought that he hadn’t accomplished much, but if he could get enough
