The Golden Rose by Fred M. White — Read

The performance proceeded from start to finish exactly as Barker had described. There was no hitch whatever, though it lacked a certain sparkle owing to the fact that the understudy was a trifle nervous. But the thing went successfully, and Barker mopped his face with a big silk handkerchief.he listened to the plaudits of the spectators. No sooner was the turn over than Ward rose to his feet and began to make his way outside. He was quickly followed by Lethbridge and Wilkinson. When in the open air Ward gave way to his feelings. It mattered little what he said or did now, and his companions waited till he was in the proper frame of mind to listen to their arguments.

"I don't know whether I told you that I am a police officer," Wilkinson said. "Oh, yes, Mr. Lethbridge told you. Now, the authorities have placed in my hands the investigation into the death of Jasper Payn. You are aware that Mr. Payn was killed by one or more scoundrels who were anxious to obtain possession of the Golden Rose which you claim as your property. We know almost to a certainty that the men who are at the bottom of this business are Sir Montagu Goshe and his accomplice, Ram Murshee. Mr. Lethbridge is with me in this business; he has urgent reasons of his own for bringing those ruffians to justice, mainly because he is under suspicion himself of having caused the death of Mr.