Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-01-25

get it in his possession, and the queen of
England will not be able to take it from
him."
"You speak of those two East Indians
as Thugs-that is, members of an or
ganization which the British govern
ment stamped out many years ago."
"Nominally they did SO, but the terri.
BILE society still exists"
The doctor paused abruptly and went
to his desk, unlocking the drawers from
which Folsom Simpson had distracted
the telltale letter some days before. He
hurriedly examined number of letters
and papers and showed his surprise in
failing to find that for which he was
searching.
Doubtless he was looking for the letter
which he meant to show to his visitor
as proof of what h, Il just said, but
of course he could 1T place his hand
on it.
"That's strange" he muttered; 81 am
sure placed it there"
"Was it anything in which could be
interestedY" was the innocent question
of Max Manson.
"lt was letter that reached Miss
Livermore on the Same day preceding
the robbery and her death confirmatory
of what just remarked about those two
Thugs"
This declaration gave the detective an
opening to say what had been in his
mind for some time:
"How was it that, receiving this
warning, you failed to take such precau-
tions as would have rendered the rob
berry impossible?"
DR.. Maidhoif again bent his penetrat-
ing eyes on his visitor before replying:
II am not surprised to hear you speak
thus, but may say that one of the con-
ditions on which Miss Livermore held
the rajahs ruby so long was that she
should never allow it to go out of her
possession. That has been the case with
the various owners for more than 200
years"
Still, admitting those singular pro-
visions of inheritance, it surely would
li.vn been easy for you to place guards
l., the house, SO that these miscreants
'-sGll,l not have dared to intrude. Cum
ming as they are, they hold our laws in
too much dread to bid them open def
ance, and 1t seems to me there has been
disregard Of the most ordinary COM
mon sense precautions that almost war
rants suspicion"
DR.. Maidhof turned upon the detect
i've like flash and Indignantly de-
mRnded:
"What do you mean, sir, by such Ian
guage"
81 mean to say what every person with
modicum of wit will say. You admit
that you received warning of the in
tended visit of these two Thugs from the
other side of the world with tho evident
purpose"-
81 have admitted no such thing, SIR"
"But what of this missing letter.
asked Manson, with some embarrass-
ment, fearful that he had made faux
pas by asserting more than the physician
had really said.
II merely intimated that had re-
ceived information which authorized me
to regard these men us Thugs or assassins,
but did not gay that the letter told me
they intended TO steal the ruby belong
ing to Miss Livermore."
"Nevertheless," calmly remarked Man
son, determined to force the matter
home, "that is what the letter did say"
"What authority have you for such
wordsa Did you purloin the letter.
"Will you deny that it contained the
warning have stated"
II deny your right to question me in
this manner. In other words, it is none
of your business"
Max Manson rose to his feet, button
ing his coat and looking his man un-
ainchingly in the eye.
CDR. Maidhoff, you have not acted
honestly with us. You asked Mr.. Varick
to send person here to investigate this
loss, and you have tried to battle mo ut
every step, but you have not succeeded
to the extent you fancy, inasmuch as
happened to witness certain interview
between you and a young gentleman in
the Livermore homestead last evening.
Good day, sir. You will probably hear
from me later on"