“I will take your advice,” she said, at last. “At least, Jones shall not have these gems.” She closed the opening and hid the precious stones from view. The doll was wrapped in a cloak, and they prepared to leave the house, for Frank advised immediate action. As they descended the steps to the sidewalk, a man who had been lurking near rushed upon Merry. Tossing the bundle to Hilda, Frank turned to meet the fellow, who cried: “I have finished one of the devils to-night with his own knife, and now I’ll finish you before you complete your work of destruction!” It was Tom Stevens. Frank barely avoided the fellow’s rush, and Stevens caught his foot somehow, plunging headlong against the stone steps as he fell. He lay still. “He’s hurt!” cried Hilda. “Stunned, probably,” said Frank. “We’ll send an officer to care for him. Let’s lose no time.” So, leaving him there, they looked for an officer, whom they soon found and told him that a man had fallen and injured himself. Then they went on to the custom-house, carrying their precious burden. * * * * * Jack Diamond had fancied Merriwell was with Inza. He was not a little surprised when Frank appeared and told his story. The following morning the newspapers told how Hilda Dugan had brought the doll and its valuable contents to the custom-house, where she had turned it over to the officers. Her complete story was included, but it ended with the information that the smuggler, Jones, was dying in the hospital, having been attacked in front of Shanley’s and stabbed by an unknown man. In an obscure corner of the paper was an item about a strange man who had been picked up on the steps of a house, having a fractured skull. He, also, was in the hospital, and it was not thought he would recover. This man was Tom Stevens. Jones did not last through the day, but before he passed away Hilda stood beside him, and he confessed that the money with which he had purchased the diamonds on the other side of the ocean had belonged to her father and been left for her. This confession of the dying man was taken down by a stenographer, written out in full, signed by Jones, and sworn to before witnesses. At Frank’s advice, Hilda had secured the services of an able lawyer, and he was present when the confession was made. He congratulated her when it was over and the paper was in his possession. “This fixes it very nicely,” he declared. “You will obtain your rights now, Miss Dugan. Of course, the duty on the diamonds must be paid, but the Government will be unable to hold them, for you were innocent of any intent to do wrong, and you set yourself right by turning over the diamonds to the authorities. I am informed there was over twenty thousand dollars’ worth of stones, so you are a rich girl.” “And all because I took the advice of Frank Merriwell,” said she. “If I had not, it would not have come out so well.”