San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-13
the Stranger & inquired. -

it and declare that. As. was his own
friend and had come to see himself on
| business, for he was n,Ro social mood
| Just then; but he ended by admitting
| that he supposed he wSs Nv. 'Seddle.
$50 did T.. Well, | want little priv
ate talk Win you, Mr. Tweddle, I've
been hanging about for spmestinie, but
though | knocked and rang / couldn't
make a soul hear"
",There isn't soul inside, protested
Twetidley, with unnecessary ws.rinth,
mot a solitary soul! You wanred to
talk 'with me. Suppose We take turn
round the square?" - -
mo. no; won't keep you Quill
come in with you" 10 szs-~
Inwardly wandering what his visitor
| wanted LeahdG led him in and lit, the
gas in his haireutting saloon. I'VE
shall be cosiers hare,". he said, for he.
dared not take me Stranger up in the
room where the statue was concealed
| for fear of accidents.
The man sat down in the operating
| chair and cross his legs. Il dare say
| you're wondering what I've come about
like this on a Sunday afternoon" he
began.
1Not at ALL, said Leander; anything
can have the pleasure of doing for
your
ats only to answer a few questions.
understand you lost ring at the
Rosherwich Gardens yesterday evening;
that's so, isn't it?"
He was military-looking person, as
Leander now perceived, and he had a
close-trimmed iron-gray beard, high
color, quick eyes and stiff ,hard-lipped
,t 81 ;,l of %
tritie with. And yet Leander felt no
stranger might be reporter, and his
adventure would "get into the papers"
perhaps reach Matilda's eyes.
"I-I dropped ring last night, GER
tingly," he said; ait may have been in
the gardens, for what | know"
"Now, now, "Ssaid the stranger, don't
you know it was in the gardens? Tell
me all about it,"
Begging your pardon" said Lean
der. 81 should like to know first what
call you have to be told"
"You are quite right - perfectly
right. | always deal straight forward
ly when can. I'll tell you who am.
I'm Inspector Bilbow, of the Criminal
investigation Department, Scotland
Yard. Nv, perhaps, you'll see I'm
not man to be kept in the dark. And
I want you to tell me when and where
you last saw that ring of yours: it's to
your own interest, if you want to see
it again"
But Leander had seen it again and
it seemed certain that all Scotland
Yard could not assist him in getting it
back; he must manage il single-handed
Its very kind of you, Mr.. Inspector,
to try and find it for me, " he said; but
the fact is, tit amt so valuable as
fancied. | can't afford to have it traced
its not worth it."
The Inspector laughed. 81 never said
it was. that | know. The job I'm in
charge of is bigger concern than your
trumpery ring, my friend"
Then | don't see what I've got to do
with it," said Leander.
The officer had taken his measure by
this time: he must admit his man into a
show of confidence and appeal to his
vanity if he was to obtain any infOrma-
ton he could rely upon.
You're a shrewd chap, | see: moth
ing for nothing is your motto, Ell?
Well, if you help me in this and put me
on the track | warrant it'll be fine
thing for you. You'll be a principal wit
ness at the police court name in the
papers regular advertisement for you!"
This prospect, had he known it-but
even inspectors cannot know everything
was the last which could appeal to
Leander in his peculiar position. 81
don't care for notOriety, he said lOftily;
q Scorn it..
"Oho." said the Inspector, shifting
his ground. well, you don't want to
impede the course of justice, do you?
because that's what you seem to me to
be after, and you won't find it pay in
the long run. I'll get this out of you
in a friendly way if | can; if not, some
other way. Come, give me your account,
fair and full. of how you came to lose
that ring; there's no help for it-you
must"
Leander saw this and yielded. After
all. it did not much matter. for of course
hc would not touch upon the strange
sequel Of his ill-omenCd act: 50 he told
the story faithfully and circumstantial-
ly, while the Inspector took it all down
in his notebook. questioning him close
lv respecting the exact time of each oc-
currvnce. e.
At last he closed his note book with
snap lin not obliged to tell you
anything in.Teturn Tor, all this" he
said: "but | will, and then you'll see
the Importance of holding your tongue
till give you leave to talk about it,"
Il sha'n't talk about it," said Lean
der.
81 don't advise you to. | suppose
you've heard of that affair at WriclIles-
marsh Court? what! not that business
where a'gang broke into the sculpture
gallery, one of the finest private collec-
tiOns in England? HsYou surprise me-"
And what did they steal?" asked
Leander.
They stole the figure whose finger
You Were ass enough iii You'll allow