gallery of the abandoned
coal mine which gave Coaldale its name, reached underground from the
cellar in the cottage. Roofs and walls of the entire place are shored
up to insure safety, and heavy felts make this chamber sound-proof,
smothering even the detonation of the guns. Mr. Czenki is the man
to do the work. Mr. Kellner, for ten years, held him to be the first
expert in the world, and it would be carrying out his wishes if Mr.
Czenki would agree. If _he_ does not _I_ shall undertake it, _and
flood the market!_" His voice hardened a little. "And, gentlemen,
call off your detectives. The secret is now more yours than mine.
It destroys _you_ if it becomes known, not _me!_ The New York police
have turned this end of the investigation over to the local police,
and they are fools; all the forms have been complied with, so this
place is safe. Now call off your men! On the day the last diamond
is delivered to you, and the payment of one hundred million dollars
is completed, everything here will be destroyed. That's all!"

"One hundred million dollars!" repeated Mr. Latham. "Even if we
accept the proposition, Schultze, how can we raise that enormous sum
within a year, and preserve the secret?"

"Id ain'd a question of _can_, Laadham--id's a question of _musd_,"
was the reply. He thoughtfully regarded Mr. Wynne. "Id's only
Sunday nighd, yed; we haf undil Thursday to answer, you remember."
He turned to Mr. Latham, with a recurrence of whimsical philosophy.
"Think of id, Laadham, der alchemisds tried for dhree thousand years
to make a piece of gold so big as a needle-point und didn'd; und he
made diamonds so big as your fist mit a liddle cordide und some
elecdricity! _Mein Gott_, man! Think of id!"

The jewelers accepted Mr. Wynne's proposition. Mr. Wynne bowed his
thanks, and handed to Mr. Czenki a scientific periodical opened at a
page which bore a head-line:

Newly Discovered Property of Radium.
Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds and Sapphires
Changed in Color by Exposure of One
Month to Radium.

For the fourth time Red Haney underwent the "third degree." It
culminated in a full confession of the murder of Mr. Kellner. There
had been no accomplice.

"Yer see, Chief," he explained apologetically, "you an' that other
guy" (meaning Mr. Birnes) "was so dead set on sayin' there was
somebody else in it, an' was so ready wit' yer descript