Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-01-04

inches in depth.
Max Mansions heart gave quick
throb when he perceived u fine tissue
paper resting within, but without any
nervousness of manner, though his eX-
citement was intense, he drew it out.
He unfolded it just enough to catch a
glimpse of red, round substance within,
when he showed it into his vest pocket.
Then with the same care he had
shown from the first he replaced the
covering, adjusting it with such deft-
ness that the appearance was precisely
the same as before. He blew out the
third match which he had found it nee
essary to employ, placing that, like its
companions, in his pocket SO as not to
leave any trace of his work behind.
Rising to his feet, he passed out of the
room, carefully relocked the door behind
him and once more entered the apart
ment where he had spent the previous
night. Then, walking to the window,
where he had full light, he took out tho
paper and unrolled it.
An exclamation of delighted astonish-
ment escaped him. The object was the
size almost of robins egg, deep red in
color, bright and seemingly with light
almost as luminous as that of diamond.
Eureka! have found it. That's the
rajah's ruby as sure as live! Did any
man ever have q better stroke of for
tuner
He turned it over in his hand and
feasted his eyes upon its beauty.
"I am not much of judge of precious
stones, but I'll wager that that gem is
worth all that is claimed, which is $780,
600. What a story it could tell if it but
possessed the power Of speech!
Max Manson was certainly authorized
in felicitating himself, for his success
had been little short of marvellous.
"My theory was right. DR.. Maidoff
stole the gem from Miss Livermore and
was paid well for it by these two
wretches. The shock from which she
died was not caused by their visit, but
by the physician himself. There ought
to be some way of Furnishing him, but
I know of none, for these fellows will
never betray him. When they find how
they have been outwitted, they will quiet
ly swallow their loss, for don't intend
to give them a second chance to steal the
prize"
There was no call for him to stay long
er at the hotel, so he bade the landlord
goodby again, and hurrying to the sta
ton was just in time to catch through
train for New York. He scanned his
surroundings closely before entering the
cars, but observed nothing of the East
Indians; but, all the same, tho very one
that had followed him to the station that
morning saw him.
This fellow was the ono known as
Wichman, and peering around the cor
ner of building, carefully screening his
body from observation meanwhile, he
kept his black eyes fixed on the detective
as long as he was in sight.
Max Manson did not forget his obliga-
tions to Folsom Simpson, whom he had
left working on the case at Ellenville.
A moment before entering the cars he
telegraphed him in cipher:
"The case is closed. have recovered
the ruby and am on my way to head
quarters, Wire me there"
Simpson is good fellow and will
send me his congratulations. Whatever
he says, too, he will mean, for there is no
envy in his nature. lean see now palmer
than ever how he unanswered from the
first to throw the glory of the whole
thing in my way"
The day was drawing to q close when
his train rumbled into the Grand Cen
trail station, and calling a cab he was
soon whirled to headquarters. Chief
Varick was absent, and he found no one
present to whom he deemed it advisable
to make his report.
The following message, however, from
Simpson was awaiting him, and, as may
be supposed, Manson read it with Pc
culiar feelings:
81 would like to congratulate you, old
fellow, but don't think You have got
the rajah's ruby"
"What the mischief can he meanE"
Manson asked himself as he held the
writing in his hand and read and reread
it. 81 told him plainly enough that
had recovered the gem. 1t looks to me
as if Fol feels little jealous after ALL"
Yielding to a vague misgiving for
which he could not account, he left the
Office, and boarding street car rode to
the well known establishment of Tiffany
& Co.
"I will get them to write out sertifi-
cate for me and forward that to Fol.
since he won't accept mine"
Max Manson expected to see the eyes
of the clerk before whom he laid tho
stone protrude with amazclnent. So
they did, but when tho gentleman took
the gem in hand a peculiar expression
came over his face, an expression which
deepened the detectives uneasiness.
"You don't often sec gem like that"
remarked the visitor.
~ don't know" replied the clerk, with
q smile. at is true; they are not gener-
ally made SO large"
"Not made so large! What do you
mean?"
II suppose, my friend, you know that
this gem, as you call it, is nothing but
piece Of colored glass, worth at the most
perhaps two or three dollars!"
CHAPTER VIII.
THOSE FELLOWS PLAYED IT ON YOU
MIGHTY EJNFp