Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-09-03

edge. There Is secret connected
with it which must never be divulged. F"
"a dangerous secret ?" inquired Mr..
Hydenseke.
eyes; dangerous in a sense.-that
is, if it were known in certain quar-
ters that possessed the ring might
be obliged to hand it over to its orig
inal owners. You remember the big
jewel scandal at the Vatican fifteen
years ago?"
Perfectly"
"Well, a ring closely resembling
that which we are discussing disap-
peared from the Pope's collection at
that time, and could never be traced.
This one-l mean the one have just
LOST picked up at seedy second
hand shop in Paris two years back.
paid good price for it, and 1 asked
no questions. You take me?"
81 think so, Sir Jacob" answered
Mr.. Hydenseke, with his peculiar
smile.
"You will understand, then," the
other continued, "why 1 am anxious
to have the matter kept strictly pri
vate.
"Of course. And, perhaps, Janshi-
koff took that into account-eh
"Most probably. He is II very sharp
fellow. But now, Mr.. Hydenseke
The spoke very excitedly, leaning over
and placing his hand on the detectives S
sleeve), must get that signet back
without delay. For if Janshikoff once
parts with it, goodbye to our chance
of ever seeing it again. Will you un-
dertake the job, Mr.. Hydenseke?'
whats the fgure?" asked our
friend, thoughtfully.
IA cool thousand and all expenses.
''Very well, Sir Jacob, I'm your
man."
Mr.. Hydenseke now produced his
notebook, and put the Baronet through
lengthy catechism, iotting down his
replies in shorthand. At the end of
this process, which occupied about an
hour, Sir Jacob rose to take his de-
parture.
"You will lose no time-no time,
Mr.. Hydenseke, will you?" he said, in
a voice of absolute entreaty. eff
fail to recover that signet it will almost
kill me. :"
Make your mind easy was the
brisk reioinder. 81 shall start my in
vestigations at once. You shall hear
from me shortly how / succeed. Good
morning."
as soon as the Baronet was fairly off
the premises Mr.. Hydenseke sent for
cab and drove straight across to the
British Museum. Upon entering that
somber editice he betook himself to
the room where the old Roman gems
are on show, and there, with the as
sistance of catalogue and civil at
tendant, he discovered the Vespasian
signet. This he carefully inspected
through the glass by which it was
guarded, finding it answer ed exactly to
the description which Sir Jacob had
given him. He made careful draw
ing of the ring, which he relegated to
his notebook, a1d then returned to the
Office in Long Acre to consider his
next step.
After half an hour spent in careful
reflection he summoned the most
trustworthy member of his staff, and
instructed him to keep watch on
Janshikoff for the next twenty-four
hours.
He did not, indeed, think it proba-
BILE that the astute dealer in antiques
would attempt to dispose of his spoil
at present. Still 1t was better to be
on the safe side, and to have him kept
under close surveillance, while he
(Mr. Hydenseke) conducted certain
preliminary Investigations in another
direction.
81 heard nothing of yespasian
signet at the time, am sure" solilo-
quized Mr.. Hydenseke, frowning per-
plexedly, 81 will go and ask Pinker-
ton. Pinkerton is sure to know"
Acting on this resolve. he had no
sooner given his employee the neces-
sary instructions about watching
Janshikoff, than he walked round to |
Mr.. Pinkerton's shop in Wardour
street. Jeremiah Pinkerton keeps an
emporium for articles of virtu, which |
he knows more about than any other
man in England. He is an old |
fashioned man; old-fashioned IN his
appearance, his methods, and, more
particularly, in his honesty. But he
is very shrewd; gifted with most
capacious memory; and, us all expert
in Greek and Roman gems, without all
equal.
Mr.. Hydenseke had often had oc-
casion to consult him, and knew him
intimately.
Glow are you, Pinkerton?" said
our friend, shaking hands with the
dealer; ''give me five minutes private
talk. You know the Vespasian signet
at the British Museum, l suppose.
"Rather," answered Pinkerton.
GLOW many are there like it in ex-
istence?"
"Only one other; that is in the
Duke of ks collection at B"
$50 thought. But 1 have been
informed to-day, Mr.. Pinkerton, that
there was third specimen, which was
stolen from the Vatican in that great
Iawpl rnhhary hFtaan ,,ooro ,x.