Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-12-14


out in the country"
"That is one of the penalties of popu-
larity and Skill" replied the detective,
with much heartiness, as he arose to his
feet. II am very much obliged to you
for your kindness and shall not fail to let
Mr.. Varick know of your courtesy"
at is not worth mentioning" said the
doctor, drawing on his gloves. MAY
ask how the matter strikes you:'
Detective Manson shook his head dis
paragingly.
why didn't the chief let me go on
home to the bosom of my family instead
of sending me on such wild goose chase
as this!''
"Is that tho question which you will
ask Chief Varick?" inquired DR.. Maid
hoff, with u laugh.
"Will it not be the question which he
will ask himself when he has all tho facts
before him.
II am inclined to think you are right,
though of course everything possible will
be done to trace the ruby, which is for
tune in itself. What a pity that after
such a varied history it should become
the prey of an ordinary housebreaker!"
Mr.. Manson thought it best to sympa-
thize with this view, though he might
well have replied that the last robbery
was in keeping with the history of the
wonderful jewel. More than likely few
owners Of the gem for q century of years
could have shown clean moral title to
its possession.
Bidding the doctor good night the call
er passed out of the Office down the short
graveled walk, stepping briskly, as
though ho had important business on his
hands or because the keen autumn air
stirred his blood.
The first point whittier he made his
way was the telegraph office, where he
sent the following dispatch to Chief Var
ick in cipher:
"What is your opinion of DR.. Maid
hoff?"
AS some time must elapse before he
could expect reply, he inquired the way
to the office of Lawyer Birchett. 1t was
on the main and indeed only street OF
Ellenville, and he found it without diff
Guilty, small, dingy place. known to
every person who had ever, spent few
hours in the town. Although tho even.
ing was well along, and he supposed the
family, he was pleased to find him with.
in and alone busy over some legal papers.
Mr.. Manson did not deem it best to
present himself to the old man in the
character of detective, though he came
near doing go when he stated that he
was an officer from New York, who, be-
ing in the neighborhood and hearing of
the robbery of the late Miss Livermore,
had called to learn whether he could be
of any help in tracing the criminals.
Mr.. Birchett scanned him closely over
the top of his spectacles before he made
deliberate answer:
II certainly wish you could, but l see
no way in which you can be of any as
sistance at all. To my mind one of those
tramp peddlers who were in Ellenvillo
last week was the fellow that opened The
safe, and SO much time has passed since
then that it is impossible to fix the guilt
upon them, to say nothing of the missing
jewel"
81 am surprised that the investigation
was delayed so long"
sit was n great mistake" replied the
old lawyer, twirling his spectacles over
his fingers while he looked thoughtfully
to the cobwebs on the ceiling. II re-
proved DR.. Maidhoff, hut he had &c
much on his hands that he was excusable
for not thinking of it."
Detective Manson did not expect to
pick up any important information here,
nor did he do so. He wished to see the
lawyer so as to form an impression of
him.
On his return to the hotel he called at
the telegraph Office, as he had promised
to do, for the reply to the message sent
to New York. 1t had just arrived and
consisted of two words, which being
translated, read:
"Watch him!''
L.