Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-15

ground" Despite the detectives usual
Goodness too, his face was flushed from
his recent excitement.
"Who are you" abruptly asked the ho-
| tel man.
conc who knows what he tells ycr.
! Disregard what have said, and you will
| pay heavily for the consequences"
Wichnan 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.
"Will you allow an intoxicated person
to interfere with gentleman
Simpson, even in his anger, could not
| help admiring the cleyerness Of the fell
| low. He did not show the least agita-
! ton. except perhaps to the extent of
looking surprised that such well in
formed clerk should give heed to . man
amer Inc influence OF liquor. lie cast 3
supcrcilious glance at tho officer and
then showed himself tri1lingly 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, be 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.
u repeat what | wrote on flat paper
that man there is Il scOundrel. | Will
ndd more-he has come all the way from
Calcutta, accompanied bX,as thorough a
villain rs himself, to steal a gem known
rs the rajah's ruby, and which is worth
u good many thousand dollars That
ruby is i'll the package which Mr.. Fair
child left with you for safe keeping.
These two ,oGues, baffled in all their az
tcmpts heretofore, have now resortod to
forgery to obtain the gem, and it looks,
too, as if they would have succeeded had
been Il few minutes later in reaching
here"
While the clerk was impressed by the
pointed words of Simpson, be was moi
yet fully satisfied regarding him. The
battered hat was Il big obstacle in the
way of confidence.
"How comes ii that you know 50 much
about this business: You have not ye5
told rs who you are"
Nor do l admit my obligation to do
SO. He knows who am
The detective jerked the top Of his
cane toward Wichnan and added:
Il am responsible for what | say
Tho matchlcss A,iatic remained as cool
rs an iceberg. With inimitablc con-
tempt lie responded;
..Tb;u /. +l, E,-+ +i,,,a how, ,,o1 s, lo
misfortune to look upon your face. Had
been aware that this hotel permits in
toXicated persons to insult guests would
20 elsewhere. The knowledge certainly
is worth acqUisng."
Could this be the native Of Riudos-Gn,
dressed so like an exquisite and talking
after the manner of an educated, high
bred gentleman: Folsom Simpson WIS
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:
Il see you are in doubt. Under the
circumstances there is but one safe
course Cor YOU to take-give yourself the
benefit of the doubt and hold the pack
age until the return of Mr.. Fairchld
Suppose that Ey doing SO You offend him:
The ofense is not serious. and l will
guarantee that he will hold no i'll will
against YOU"
} You will guarantee it." repeated the
clerk, with fine touch of sarcasm, "anl
yet YOU do not condesccnd to tell Inc
who you are"
well, do as YOU please" replied
Simpson, beginning to lose patience,
bat if you choose to assist this for%er
= l will see that YOU receive your deserts.
If you wish it, will convince You that
he has been classifying while standing
here talking to you.'
Instead Of Boosting so much inter-
posed Wichman. who realized that the
crisis had come, do what YOU proclaim
yourself able to do
; VERY we'll You have referred 10 the
= package rs containing diamond. l as
= Sort that there is no diamond in it, On
the contrary, it holds IA ruby Of rare
: size and fabulous value
Docs the gentleman consent that that
shall be the test cooly asked Wichman
Of the clerk,
Il won't promise, but that strikes me
as a fair proposal" replied the latter.
Il will agree to it, said Simpson
"Opcn 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 il
brown paper.
Can it be have made another blum
DER" the detective asked himself. "Why
is this fellow SO confident? Is he only
, bluftinS, or is there something back OF
this which as yet have not fathomed:'
The young mau behind the desk began
gently unwrapping the paper, while the
couple watched him intently, as did two
other gentlemen new arrivals witt
less curiosity.
Simpsons heart almost stopped beat
ing when he caught the unmistakabl,
sparkle of pure white diamond.
The clerk hastily wrapped the paper
T. around the inclosing cotton and returned
u.