Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-01-18

tlOn, ana manson QeC1ueU 10 Dearu tne
lion in his den; he would go straight to
DR.. Maidhoff and without revealing his
own identity subject him to a cross ex-
animation, which Manson was confident
must result in something. It did not
add to the detectives peace of mind, on
calling at the physicians Office, to be
told that he had been gone for some
time, and there was no saying when he
would be back. Manson did not wait,
but started on his return to the hotel to
decide what his next step should be.
The night could not have been more
dismal. The sky had been overcast all
day, and fine drizzling rain soon be-
gan falling. The weather was cold and
raw, and no ono would be abroad at
such time unless there was urgent
need for his exposure.
After reaching the hotel and smoking
Q cigar Manson incased himself in q
macintosh, lit another cigar and saun-
tered out in the chilling drizzle and wet
darkness, determined that he would not
come back to the hotel until he struck
upon something.
Inquiries made earlier in the evening
were answered by the statement that
Miss Glider and her servant had left the
homestead two days before. The place
was locked up and would not be occu-
pied until it passed into the hands of a
new owner. Nevertheless strange i'm
pulse caused Max Manson to turn his
footsteps toward the lonely building
standing among the grove of trees on
the outskirts of the town.
The lamp in front of the gate cast a
weak light for a short distance, being
maintained by the town Of Ellenville,
which was obliged to keep it going every
night unless the moon was kind enough
to render it unnecessary.
The same impulse which caused Max
Manson to saunter through the disagree
lently to enter the gate and approach ths
building, which was invisible in the
gloom. He walked lightly, as though he
feared to be detected, but surely he had
nothing to apprehend Of that nature.
He made q circuit Of the structure,
glancing up at the windows and picking
his way with care, for he was liable to
collide with the limbs and trunks of trees
at any moment.
"I suppose those old walls could tell
many strange tales if they had tongues,
but 80 could every dwelling Of man.
They are now deserted and may remain
20 for weeks or months"
He was standing on almost the precise
spot where Folsom Simpson stood while
watching the East Indian in the tree as
he strove to catch glimpse Of the in
terror of the room near him.
This window, as will be remembered,
had curtain, but 1t was like all of the
windows on the second floor in that it
was unprovided with shutters. He was
looking upward, with no expectation Of
discovering anything, when he became
aware that the window was dimly visi.
BILE through the darkness.
"By the horned spoon!" he muttered,
"there's light in that room"
It may be said that this was self evi-
dent, inasmuch as the window must have
been utterly invisible without the aid Of
some illumination behind it.
eyes, theresa light there, and II light
there must be persons, which being the
case I propose to find out something
about the business"
The same means which Wichman used
suggested itself to Manson, and within
the five minutes succeeding his discovery
of the light he was stealthily climbing
the wet bark, continuing the effort until
he reached the perch that had been used
by his predecessor.
It happened in this case, as with the
sepoy, that the curtain was raised to that
extent that he could see the interior oi
the room. The lamp which gave the
light was set SO far back that the din
reflection against the curtain was ex
planned.
Seated at q table in the rear Of the
apartment were two men in earnest con
verse. One was DR.. Maidhoff and the
other person whom Max Manson had
never before seen.
But that which fairly took the breath
of the detective was the sight Of an OBJ
ject which the two men were handling
passing back and forth and discussing
with intense earnestness.
"That is no counterfeit" he muttered
"That is the genuine rajah's ruby!"