The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-05-10
CHAPTER III.
IL WAS NOT DISTURBED

Detective Manson believed there was
a 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 il
was more than likely that he was in a
fair way to commit several blunders il
he had not already done 80. 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 the 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
Asiatics are capable of any crime to Sc
cure such a gem, and so are other people.
But just now the most suspicious
person to me is DR.. 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. ..
"Dr. 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 OF
his acquaintance would suspect him.
and therefore he incurred little risk"
The field VI 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.
1t would have been violent strain to
ones fancy ~ suppose that this trusted
physician had deliberately planned the
death Of Miss Livermore for the purpose
of securing the ruby. 1t might be that
he was in league with the East Indians
who, coming almost from the antipodes
Mt the instiga.ion of some powerful rajah
Of their own country. had read the ply
sician Alright and made the bargain with
him.
More than likely, however, the doctor |
had planned and managed the whole |
business himself and was at that mo-
ment in possession Of the jewel. Secure |
in his position before his townsmen, he |
might keep 1t hidden away in the draw
ers of his own Office until the time should |
present itself when he could safely dis
pose of it at a price which, If no more
than half its value, would make him in
dependently rich.
When Mana Sahib, the demon OF
Cawnpore, fled before the avenging SOL
diers Of England, he bore with him the
most wonderful ruby 30 far as known in
the world. Larger than a 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.
The rajah's ruby, of course, could bear
no comparison to the matchless gem, ir-
recoverably lost 80 many years ago, but
nevertheless 1t was worth fully 800, 900
and was 80 large, so unique and so val
liable that thief would meet great
danger in disposing of it, IF DIR. Maid
hof pilfered it," unused Detective Man.
son, che must convict himself on his
first attempt to sell it, and I'll bring it
home to him as sure as my life is
sparedr'
AT that moment peculiar knock
sounded on the door. Wondering who
could wish to see him at that hour, De-
tective Manson sprang to his feet as it
was pushed open. An exclamation of
surprise escaped him.
"Simpsonl What in the name of the
seven wonders brings you hereT''
I've come down to meet you. I hope 7
you are not sorry to see me-" :
The newcomer was q striking figure
He was not more than feet in height
and 30 rotund as TO suggest pudding.
bis smooth face was as rosy as a pippin, L
MS eyes as bright rs those Of rollicking u
and the expression of genial /
good nature which lit up the round Il
would bring a smile to the /,
ace OF any one. He was dressed in a :
ray business suit and had fashion of
wearing his derby on the back of his p
lead and indulging now and then in C
ow, chuckling laugh that was irresisti- il
de. II
When he sat down, he invariably threw a
me dumpy leg over the other, but he a
vas compelled because of his rotundity !
% aid the operation by pulling at the y
mall, neatly turned foot, which contin- @
tally slipped down over the knee unless
10 held 1t well IN hand. In short, the
ppearance Of Folsom Simpson suggested b
hat Of verdant youth who had never q,
reamed or heard of a 1.-THE Of the wick
dness in this world. But the person
vho set him down as gullible and unso- a.
histicated made one of the greatest mis- al
axes of his life. Il
Undoubtedly II was the very innocence st
I simpsons appearance and manner OF
which had much to. do with his extraor- vi
mary success as a detective officer In "
he employ Of the same bureau that had e.
snt Max Manson to Ellenville to trace ~
ne mystery Of the "rajah's ruby" It
'as only when Folsom Simpson flung off RI
Is derby and showed that his pate was +,