Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-12-21
CHAPTER III,
HE WAS NOT DISTURBED.

CHAPTER III.
HE WAS NOT DISTURBED.
Detective Manson believed there was
good deal yet to be learned about the
rajah's ruby. At the same time he was
also convinced that he had picked up a
few threads of exceedingly important
evidence.
Perhaps he was wrong. Indeed it
was more than likely that he was in a
fair way to commit several blunders if
he had not already done go. The man
of infallible Judgment is yet to appear.
"The simple fact as view it," he
wrote to Chief Varick, sis that Miss
Livermore was robbed of an exceedingly
valuable jewel and died few hours
later from the shock. General suspicion
points to the two East Indians who were
seen in Ellenville about the time of the
robbery. 1t is not at all impossible that,
learning of tho whereabouts of the ra-
jah's ruby, they have been sent or have
come of their own accord from the other
side of the world to recover it. Those
Asistics are capable of any crime to &C.
cure such gem, and SO are other people.
"But just now the most suspicious
person to me is DIR. Henry Maidhoff. He
is shrewd and cunning, and while pre-
tending to help is doing all he can to
battle me in my attempt to trace the
ruby. He would not do SO without
reason.
CDR. Maidhoff was the only person
who was with Miss Livermore when she
died. He must have known about the
gem, where it was kept, and more than
likely he possessed the combination to
the safe. Suppose he stole it. None ct
his acquaintances would suspect him,
and therefore he incurred little risk"
The field of investigation expanded al
most infinitely before Manson, and
score of theories" presented themselves,
upon any one of which an apparently
stable structure could have been reared.
It would have been violent strain to
ones fancy to suppose that this trusted
physician had deliberately planned the
death of Miss Livermore for the purpose
of securing the ruby. It might be that
he was in league with the East Indians
who, coming almost from tho antipodes
at the instigation of some powerful rajah
of their own country. had read the ply
s;cian Alright and made the bargain with
him.
Moro than likely, however. the doctor
had planned and managed the whole
business hi,uself and was at that mo-
ment in possession of the jewel. Secure
in his position before his townsncn, he
might keep it hidden away in the draw
ers of his own Office until the time should
present itself when ho could safely dis
pose of it at price which, If no moro
Shan half its value, would make him in
lependently rich.
When Mana Sahib, the demon of
Cawnpore, fled before the avenging SOL
diers Of England, he boro with him the
most wonderful ruby 30 far as known in
the world. Larger than robins egg, Of
the most spotless pigeon blood" purity,
the gem which flashed in the hilt of his
sword was worth a kingdom But when
that royal vagrant lay down to die in
the depths of the pestilential jungles Of
the Himalayas the royal gem was with
him and lies there still amid the rotting
bones and rags of the miserable wretch.
Tho rajahs ruby, of course, could bear
no comparison to the matchless gem, ir-
recoverably Lost so many years ago, but
nevertheless it was worth fully 100000
and was SO large. SO unique and so val
uable that thief would meet great
danger in disposing Of it. "If DR.. Maid
hoff pilfercd it." unused Detective Man
son, she must convict himself on his
first attempt to sell it, and I'll bring it
homo to him us sure Us my life is
sparedr'
At that moment q peculiar knock
sounded on tho door. Wondering who
could wish to see him ct that hour, De-
tectiye Manson sprang to his feet as it
was pushed open. An exclamation Of
surprise escaped him.
simpson! What in the name Of the
seven wonders brings you heref"
"Tve come down to meet you. hope
you are not sorry to see me-"
The newcomer was striking figure.
He was not more than s feet in height
and SO rotund as to suggest pudding.
His smooth face was as rosy rs pippin,
his eyes as bright as those of q rollicking
schoolboy. and the expression of genial
good nature which lit up the round
countenance would bring smile to the
face Of any one. He was dressed in
grny business suit and had n fashion OF
wearing his derby on the back of his
head md indulginy now and then in
low, chuckling laugh that was irresisti-
bio.
When he sat down, he invariably threw
ono dumpy leg over the other, but ho
was compelled because CT his rotundity
to mid the operation by pulling at tho
small, neatly turned foot. which contin-
nally slipped down over the knee unless
he held It well in hand. In short, the
appearaiice of Folsom Simpson suggested
that of a vetdant youth who Ind never
dreaiied or heard Of n tithc Of the wick
edness III this tyurld. But the person
who set him down rs gniilble mud ,ir,so-
phissacatEd ihsds bffs N the greatest mis-
takes pf His HE.
UhdoHbtsdis Il wns the vefy innocence
Of Biinpspfis hbpeatance afil manner
which had irich to do Win his extraor-
dinnry sticeess As d detective officer in
the employ Of the same bureau that had
sent Max Manson to Elleiville to trace
tho mystery of the ''rajah's ruby 1t