Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-12-14
CHAPTER II.
WATCH HIM"

a practicing physician here for more
than 90 years, and this is the first in
stance of burglary that have known.
informed the chief constable, and," he
added with smile, ''he went through
a certain investigation, looking exceed
ingly solemn and wise all the time, with
the result of declaring that the crime had
been committed by some person or per-
sons unknown"
"What of those supposed East Indians?"
"They were traced to the adjoining
village Of Meadmore, arrested and sub
jected to an examination"
"With what RESULT"
mil. If they were the guilty parties,
of course they were cunning enough to
hide the ruby beyond all possibility of
its being traced"
"They certainly had every opportunity
to do so."
The interview between the detective
and physician had progressed far enough
for the former to see that prodigious
laundering had marked every step on
tho part of the authorities, even if it
could be conceded that any steps at all
had been taken. The fact that Miss
Liyermoro kept such exceedingly valu-
able jewels i'll safe in her own house
was q standing invitation for desperate
men to make just such visit as had
been made. The wonder was that it
was delayed SO long. Tho safe might
have been sufficiently secure to resist a
regiment Of soldiers, and yet so long as
she of necessity possessed the secret of
the combination it could be obtained on
demand precisely as it had been obtained.
Respecting the niece of the deceased.
Miss Glider, where is she?'
''She was visiting among her relatives
at Northampton when she received my
telegram suinmoning her to her aunt's
bedside. She responded at once, but of
course did not arrive until some hours
after her death. She and Mr.. Fairchild
were Mt the funeral"
"Who is Mr.. Fairchild?"
"a young lawyer in this place"
"There must have been good many
others ut the funeral. Why do you refer
to him by nameT'
at is generally considered that he will
soon become the husband of Miss Gill
der"
"Do You know such to be the fact?'
~ am not honored with the confidence
of Mr.. Fairchild."
Nor with that of Miss Gilder?'
Mot to the extent that your question
would imply"
"What will be done with tho home
and the property left by the late Miss
Livermore?"
eve shall be governed by the instruc-
tions contained in tho will. That follows
as matter of course"
Detective Manson was quick to notice
the use of the pronoun. 1t came in the
nature of revelation to him.
"Then you are one of the executors
The physician inclined his head. He
was now quite cool and self possessed.
The two gentlemen looked at each other
from behind their respective clouds of
tobacco smoke and talked as though they
had been acquainted for years.
"Who is the other executor"
pardon me, Mr.. Manson, but it
strikes me that your questions arc taking
a singular line"
"And You will pardon me, doctor, if
they seem to be Objectionable"
81 would hardly put it as strong as
that. The information you ask could be
readily obtained elsewhere, and it would
be rude in me to refuse it. 1t was only
that failed to see tho bearing of the
knowledge you seek. Mr.. Aaron Birchett,
an elderl, gentleman and q lawyer, who
has spent Ill his life in Ellenville, is the
other executor of the estate"
1.-THE late J iss Livermore having been
buried. presume the will has been
read?'
Eyes, but not yet admitted to pro-
bate. Would You like to know its pro-
visions!'
81 confess to some curiosity in that
direction"
"The late Miss Livermore had no near
relatives excepting her niece, Miss
Glider. She seems to have been es-
tranged from all besides her. What more
natural, therefore, than that she should
have willed everything to Miss Evelyn
Gilderf"
"Including the diamonds and the ra-
jah's ruby?"
"Including them. 1t makes Miss
Glider quite independent, for, leaving
the Jewels out of the question, the prop
erty will amount to close upon $3.50, ,000."
Miss Glider is lady to be con-
graduated, and from what have heard
of her Mr.. Fairchild will be an exceed
ingly fortunate man."
"Thaf cannot be disputed, provided
he wins her hand"
You speak as though there is doubt
in the matter"
Life is made up of doubts, and there
is nothing certain in this world except
death, which is the most uncertain of all
things"
At this juncture the Office bell of DIR.
Maidhoff tinkled, and excusing HIM
self he arose to answer it. To do so he
was obliged to step without upon the
side porch. Instead of closing the door
behind him while speaking to his patient,
as delicacy ought to have required in or
der to prevent the words of the caller
from being overheard. he held it partly
open. Standing thus his slight figure was
In plain sight of Manson, who for the same
reason remained in the doctors field of
vision. Not only that, but the physician
kept lis head partly turned, so that his
visitor could not make move without
being seen.
Detective Manson smiled grimly and
reflected: