Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-07-24
There was a rap at his door.


da. '' Come in, Mike"
And Mike entered and took chair beside him.
'Now, about this business" said Mr.. Higgins,
opening small portfolio of papers which refer
red to the under consideration. '' You have
been tracing the different rings. When did you
get the two limitations 2"
On the night he stole the ring"
50 How do you know he stole it ?" interrupted
Mr.. Figgins
Well, well,.' said Mike, with a smile, '' L
think it pretty clear case, sir. On the night he
had possession of the ring, he went TO Zacharias
in the Minories, and made them turn over their
stock until he discovered two exactly resembling
those the Spanish gentleman lost"
- I'm! deep fellow" said Mr.. Higgins. Did
he say anything there 2"
- He remarked to the shopman that his ruby
was lost, and that as it was known among his
friends that he possessed a really good ring, the
wearing of an imitation would answer every pur-
pose"
:. Go on,' said Mr. Higgins.
.'T The next day he went to Rose, the pawnbro-
ker's in Oxford street, and asked for loan OF
fifty pounds on the real ruby. Rose offered thir-
ty. The party was dissatisfied. and went away;
but by and by he returned and obtained thirty
pounds on one of the paste rings, as Rose did not
examine il very carefully"
Capital 20 said Mr.. Fig9ins, rubbing his hands
- To think that Rose should be taken il by such
a scheme!"
..After this he went to Buckby, the pawnbro
ker, in Convent Garden, and obtained twenty-five
pounds by a similar method. So he passed off
two rings worth certainly not more than five shil-
lings for fifty five pounds.
Mr. Figgins cold and unreserved as were his
usual habits, could not refrain from ndulgng
in hearty peal of laughter at the success of
the .party's ingenious trick.
what has become of the original ring p said
he
4 can trace nothing farther at present. said
Mike.
That will do, then. Send in Hearn, if he
has returned.
Hearn accordingly made his appearance.
Come here,' said Mr. Higgins. Have you
discovered anything about the abstraction of the
ring p
Yes
What is the partys name?
oh, he has fifty different aliases said Hearn
but his real name is Robert Smith
What is his profession 2
He has been a clerk, carpenter, and tick
ct porter on the railway. But for the past
twelve months he has been living on his wife,
'Ha, ha Preyed on society," said Mr.. Fig
gins. How did it all happen with the girl 2
He formed her acquaintance at Greenwich.
ever since. She does not suspect his real char
acter He promised to marry her when he
could get work, but that never seemed likely to
happen. The day the ring was stolen, he slip
ned down the area and asked for some food, as
lie had nothing to eat. Mrs Badger was out.
50 the girl gave him refreshment, and then ran to
yet some ale for him While she was gone, he
slipped down stairs, opened the Spaniard's door
with false key, and took the ring
There is no end of the trouble caused by
these foolish servant girls said Mr.. Higgins.
Is that all you know p
That is al.'
NO tidings of the stolen ring 2
Mo-
That will do Send in Mannering as soon
as he arrives
AND Mr.. Higgins resumed the occupation upon
which he was engaged previous 10 the visits of
these satellites.
Presently there a rap at the door, and
Mannering entered.
Have YOU traced him 2 said Mr.. Higgins
with slight show of eagerness-
Yes
Where is hep
He took ticket at the Bricklayers' Arms
| Station at ten O'Clock this morning. He arrived
I at Dover at half past one. He was apprehended
at three
| Good y said Mr.. Higgins. where is the
ring?
| .He sold it at Dover for twenty poUud.'
| by Jove,' said the detective
Yes. He went to the Lord Warden Hotel to
wait till the French packet started, and he gave
his address as Sir Robert Smith
Are they coming up with HING
Yes said Mannering; 'they telegraphed to
spy they would be here tonight. The train ar
rived at the Bricklayer's Arms Station at nine
l guess they will be here in ten minutes.
And at that moment the trampling of feet was
heard in the ante room, and presently the door
opened, and in walked the Superintendent OF the
| Dover police.
Then came the usual congratulations and civ
iities between the two officials, and then ''Sir
/ Robert Smith was transferred to two of Mr..
Higgins officials, and within half an hour he
| found himself on the safe but unpleasant side of
the walls of police station.
| have but little more to add to this narrative
Don Ramon received bis royal gem with demon
strations of delight, and was careful to keep it
out of the way of pickers and stealers forever
| afterward ..Sir Robert Smith" was sentenced
| to four years penal servitude. Susan learned
/ wisdom and vowed never to take follower
/ again unless he came we'll recommended And
Mr. Higgins rejoiced at his own wonderful shrewd-
ness in tracing the felon. Another conviction,
! Mr. Figgins,' said the worthy man to himself;
another conviction. and you unrareiled the
! case most elegantly