The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-10-12
A DETECTIVES STORY,

''Strange things sometimes come
under your notice." l said one day to
a well-knOwn detective.
eyes, Sir--~trangc. and sometimes
,roMantic," he replied.
If you will give III" the facts for
= short story l will put them in
print" SAID.
lie reflected Il little, and then re-
marked that he remembered some
ryirious incidents that he thought
would interest me. l expressed i
strong desire to have them related,
and he at once proceeded to tell Inc
what | have written below.
Some thee years ago, he began. l
was sitting alone III my Office, when u
tine-louking, Wel!-drrSscd man, about
tweEt seight or thirty years of age,
. entered. and asked tn see Mr. Carbon,
the DIET octivc.
III am the person named, and at
YOUR service, SIR" replied. "Pleasc
he seated
II do not wish to be interrupted in
what purpose to tell you, he SAID.
glaucins around; 'nor do l wish to
have any listener except YOURSELF
arose and locked the door. lie
hesitated Il little, colored some, and
then said,-
..frOm my air OF mystery, l sup,
nose you think | have something To
relate of great Importance; but
though it is important to me, and
will be to you, if you trace out the
real facts, yet l assure you. to begin
with, it is nothing more serious thar
the loss of diamond ring. How
ever, l prize the ring far beyond 1t:
nominal value Is an heirloom of thu
family. which has come down to mt
through several generations. it hav
ing been presented to one of my an
ccstOrs by the then Duke Of Cam
bridge.
This ring" he proceeded, 'cam
into my possession, as the lincal NAL
heir. on my twcnty-iir>t birthday
and though | have since worn it a
times, have always watched 1t wit
the most jealous care, and never lcf
1t out Of my sight except wnen locke
in my safe. where kept NV most i'll
portant papers and Il few Naluables.
Nov comes the my-tHry. My SAT
has Il combination lock. AMI that con-
hination not 4 living mortal know
except myself, not even my wife.
Will take my Bihic oath that the las
time | had the ring. showing it to
friend l returned it to the safe
Ti,at was a week ago to-day. an
when l yesterday unlocked the SAT
to get private piper. | missed TIL
ring from the little iron box where
always kept it, Startled AT this,
began t. search for it First lockin
my room door that | might not /
disturbed. | took out everything i
the safe. and examined every >pu
and paper with the gtcatc>t care
but without ilnuing the precio,
Jewel. and then put everything bac
in its place. The ring was the onl
thing missing anu l found that notl
ing else WAS disturbed. The loss
the ring yrlcvc> me. and the my>tel
p.rpleXeS me: and so, uol KNOWN
better what 10 DO. | have come ,
you. to see II YOU can suggest an
thing to relieve me-. tnder>tan
that intend to pay YOU we'll /,
YOUR advice: and if vou ever >ucces
in recovering the ring Your rewal
shall be $500"
..Wa> the ring indeed So valuab
As that | asked
enthusiastically. no. he an>wcre
land yet u me invaluable, iur II
reasons have named The actin
cash value OF the ring would not {
coed Thousand dollars. and We.
would give five Thousand nay. L
thouSand--rather than lose II. |
sides, Their" runs Il le .cud in the fam
that whoIS part, with II Will sui
some great misfortune.
..lOu had j, a week ago, you say
you showed it 10 :, iricnd--yun lock