The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-06-28

1 WAN III illUht lilt
recipient open his eyes. He stood for q
minute looi,i q ut the penciled words
and then stared at the man who had
written them.
The appearance of the latter was moi
prepossessing. His clothing was disar.
ranged, and his hat especially looked as
If it had been Through the mill and
ground" Despite the detectives usual
GOODNESS, too. his face was flushed from
his recent excitement.
"Who are your" abruptly asked the no.
tel man.
lone who knows what he tells you.
Disregard what have said, and you will
pay heavily for the consequences"
Wichman must have recognized the
officer the moment he stepped forward,
and he must have understood, too, that
he was trying to prevent the delivery of
the package into his hands.
Twill You allow an intoxicated person
TO interfere with q gentleman"
Simpson, even in his anger, could not
help admiring the cleverness of the fell
low. He did not show the least agita-
ton. except perhaps to the extent OF
| looking surprised that such q well i'm
formed clerk should give heed to a man
under the influence of liquor. He cast a
supercilious glance at the officer and
then showed himself trifingly impatient
at the mistaken courtesy of the employee.
1t was plain that Simpson had not
made good impression, and the clerk
was more disquieted than ever. While,
on the one hand, he did not wish to Of
fend guest, he was disposed to refer
the question to his superiors before com
| plying with it.
There was still danger, and the detect
i've was uneasy.
81 repeat what wrote on that paper
that man there is scoundrel. will
add more-he has come all the way from
Calcutta, accompanied by as thorough a
villain as himself, to steal gem known
as the rajah's ruby, and which is worth
good many thousand dollars. That
ruby is in the package which Mr.. Fair
child left with you for safe keeping.
| These two rogues, baffied in all their at
| tempts heretofore, have now resorted to
forgery to obtain the gem, and it looks,
wv, dS IL lltl "Oulu udNt
been few minutes later in reaching
here"
While the clerk was impressed by the
pointed words of Simpson, he was not
| yet fully satisfied regarding him. The
battered hat was big obstacle in the
way of confidence.
How comes it that you know so much
about this bnsinessY You have not ye;
told us who you are"
Nor do | admit my obligation to do
so. He knows who am
The detective jerked the top of his
cane toward Wichman and added:
II am responsible for what say"
The matchless Asiatic remained as cool
as an iceberg. With inimitable con-
tempt he responded:
This is the first time | have had the
misfortune to look upon your face. Had
| been aware that this hotel permits in
toxicated persons to insult guests would
go elsewhere. The knowledge certainly
is worth acquiring"
Could this be the native of Hindostan,
dressed so like an exquisite and talking
after the manner of an educated. high
bred gentleman Folsom Simpson was
almost tempted to doubt his senses, but
his bedrock common sense told him
there was no mistake. Observing the
hesitation of the clerk. he added:
II see you are in doubt. Under the
circumstances there is but one safe
course for you to takc-give yourself the
benefit of the doubt and hold the pack
age until the return of Mr.. Fairchild.
Suppose that ly doing SO you offend him?
The Offense is not serious, and | will
guarantee that he will hold no ill will
against you"
You will guarantee it," repeated the
clerk, with fine touch of sarcasm, land
yet you do not condescend to tell me
who you are"
"Well, do as you please" replied
Simpson, beginning to lose patience,
"but If you choose to assist this forger
| will see that you receive your deserts.
If you wish it, will convince you that
he has been falsifying while standing
here talking to you"
"lnstead of Boosting 80 much" inter-
posed Wichman, who realized that the
crisis had come, do what you proclaim
yourself able'to do"
VERY well. You have referred to the
package as containing diamond. as
sert that there Is no diamond in it. On
the contrary, it holds ruby of rare
size and fabulous value"
docs the gentleman consent that that
shall'be the test" coolly asked Wichman
of the clerk.
81 won't promise, but that strikes me
as fair proposal" replied the latter.
IL will agree to it," said Simpson.
Open the package in our presence and
decide"
The clerk turned to the immense safe,
and after some careful fumbling brought
forth the small package wrapped in
brown paper.
Can it be have made another blum.
derY' the detective asked himself. "Why
is this fellow 30 confident Is he only
bluffing, or is there something back of
this which as yet have not fathomedY
The young man behind the desk began
gently unwrapping the paper, while the
couple watched him intently, as did two
other gentlemen = new arrivals with
less curiosity.
Simpsons heart almost stopped beat
ing when he caught the unmistakable
sparkle of pure white diamond.
The clerk hastily wrapped the paper
around the inclosing cotton and returned
the package to its place in the safe.
81 have accepted the test Of this per-
son." said Wichman. with the same i'm |
perturbable GOODNESS, "and will leave it to |
the gentleman to decide who has won."
Simpson remained dumb. This was
Il