The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-05-24


Possibly. but in their brief converse
the precise information yOu were seek
ing. Can you conceive it possible that
they suspected you were listening at the
door,
A disagrecable light began breaking in
upon the mind of Max Manson.
81 understand you to intimate that the
whole thing was gotten up for my bene-
fit, or rather my INJURY
Don't you think it has that look1
Those people are cunning-mighty cum
ming. They suspected you the moment
you entered the hotel where they were
stopping. They were convinced that you
were after the rajah's ruby. Fearing
that you might take extreme measures
against them and cause their detention,
they sought only to gain time, so rs to be
able TO slip away undetected. They
therefore adopted course intended 10
make you believe You had actually re-
covered the gem. calculating that the in
terval between that and the knowledge
of your error would give them the oppor-
tunity they needed, and it looks as If they
were not much off in their calculations"
But that false ruby-that bit Of col
ored glass;
Are you not aware that that artifice
is very common one? All exceptionally
valuable gems have their duplicates or
limitations, mainly designed TO battle
covetOus thieves. The owner of a noted
jewel keeps il securely locked up IN
some unsupported place perhaps, while
the comparatively worthless imitation is
left where the burglar is most likely to
look for it. Many time the lady who
appears at some grand entertainment
finds her jewels the envy and admira-
ton of all eyes, when in truth the real
ones are at home locked in the safe or at
the bank, while the crowd are feasting
their vision on the clever limitations"
But whence came this counterfeit
rajahs rubyY"
Chief Varick shrugged his shoulders.
II can only guess. They may have
brought it with them from India for the
purpose of putting it to the very use
which served them so well while they
made haste out of the country with the
genuine gem, or it may have been that
the late Miss Livermore received the
counterfeit with the genuine from her
ancestors, and those cunning Asiatics
were themselves tricked by clever arti
fee. Always dreading visit from bur-
glars, and especially so after receiving
the warning letter which came into the
hands of Simpson, it surely would have
been natural for her to put it forward
x,,n,,l1 la l,lyolx, 20, 5ox
their hands on it with little trouble"
But why didn't she place the real one
in some bank or safe deposit company
asked Max Manson. impatient at the
| growing certainty of the trick that had
been played On him.
You are asking me questions which
should more properly be addressed TO the
men whom sent to Ellenville," was the
| pointed response Of the chief.
well, | confess that more than one
feature of this COMPOUNDED business per-
plexes me. Simpson strongly suspects
that DIR. Maidboif is mixed up in it."
| ~ suspect the same"
"If his connection is n guilty ono, he
must nave been aware OF the false ruby"
Not necessarily, for We are not GER
tain those two natives did not bring it
with them from India
"But If the counterfeit has been the
companion of the genuine for many
years, then the doctor has aided in de-
cciving them, and the part he played
was Il commentators one"
wndOubtcdly. if Your premises are
correct; but, if / may he allowed to haz-
ard Il guess, it is that the doctor sold the
real gem TO the fellows anl they have
used the imitation for their own secur-
ity. Bear in mind. however, that this is
only "a guess on my part, inspired per-
haps by the knowledge which l used to
have of DR.. Maidhoff years ago, when
he and were classmates in college. 1t
may be that Simpson has made discov-
cries which will completely change the
face of affairs. am expecting a dis
patch from him this evening""
II came near forgetting one thing,
Mr.. Varick," added Manson. when
ran down these two men, Wichman and
Lugro, they were not making for this
city, not by direct course at least, for
they were 20 miles nearer Ellenville than
they were that same morning"
Chief Varick showed more excitement
than at any time during the interview.
He started upright in his seat, and look.
ing fixedly at his subordinate demanded;
Are you sure of thatY'
"There can be no doubt of it, LOCATED
them without trouble and was surprised
at the discovery"
The chief was thoughtful minute and
then asked:
Don't you see the probable bearing
of this fact! Suppose DR.. Maidhof passed
off the spurious ruby upon them-that is,
helped his patient, Miss Livermore, to
place it so that it would fall into the
hands OF these men. They are doubtless
experts, but at the time of the robbery
at night wOuld not be likely to notice
the trick. Several days may have passed
without their making the discovery. They
make it shortly before you locate them.
Would not their most natural course
after such discovery be to turn back
toward Ellenville with the purpose of
repairing their error
"But how could they do that, with
Miss LivermOre dead, suspicion resting
upon them. and DR.. Maidhoff fully
warnedY"
The chief shrugged his shoulders again
and smiled.
you are asking me some difficult ques-
tons. Perhaps had spent as much time
at Ellenville and the vicinity as You l
might be able to answer you intelli-