The Argosy, Vol. 51

The Fate of the Hara Diamond This serialized mystery novel from *The Argosy* (June 1891) follows Mr. Solomon Madgin, a general agent in Eastbury, and his resourceful daughter Mirpah as they investigate a twenty-year-old diamond theft. Lady Chillington hires Madgin to recover the "Great Hara Diamond," stolen in India from a dying man by a Russian named Platzoff, offering five thousand pounds upon its return. Mirpah, a practical, business-minded young woman who manages her father's office, collaborates on the case. Acting on her suggestion, Madgin interviews Sergeant Nicholas at a local tavern to gather details about Platzoff. Through newspaper research, they discover a Russian Embassy official recently attended a wedding, prompting Madgin to write through Lady Chillington to inquire about Platzoff's records at the Russian Legation. After nine days of anxious waiting, a letter from the Embassy arrives containing significant findings about the thief's whereabouts.