The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-15
THE MISSING SIGNET.
From the London Truth.


known ONCE in Long Acre, and the
speaker was that estimable gentleman
himself, addressing his confidential CLERK,
who had Just brought in a callers card TO
his chief
George disappeared, and soon returned
with the visitor, for whom he placed a
chair and Their discreetly retired.
Mr.. Hydenseke}' he inquired, in
quavering voice.
AT your service, sir replied the de-
tective.
'You know me by name, Mr. Hyden-
sekel''
Everybody knows Sir Jacob Truelove, :"
answered our friend with his suavest
bow.
Il have come to consult you, Mr.. Hy-
denseke, on a most private and important
matter. I need hardly say that whatever
may tell you may be regarded as strictly
and absolutely confidential
quite so,n nodded Mr. Hydeuseke.
you may trust my discretion, 1 assure
you.''
Thank you; feel that I can. Now,
Mr.. Hydenseke, you know, perhaps, that
am great collector of antique gems2'
the pest private collection in England. -
well, think | do. At least, I am
aware OF none better, with the possible
exception of that belonging to my friend,
the Duke of x, at B. castle His
rather, you know, spent fabulous sums in
acquiring rare specimens He was a
great connolsseur. But his son hardly
appreciates or values his splendid collec-
ton sufficiently. However, that has
nothing a
What have come to consult you about is
TINS: have Just been robbed Of the
most valuable gem in my whole collec-
ton"
All" said Mr.. Hydeuseke, Iaconically,
screwing up his eyes and waiting to hear
more
The gem in question. continued the
OLD man, In an excited voice, lis a signet
ring Of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, a
rare sort Of blood stone, engraved with a
miniature Colosseum, and round it the
letters I. F. V. l. Titus Flavius Vespasi-
anus Imperator), in a setting of African
gold. The workmanship of the ring is
oeautlful-beautiful. That alone would
render it valuable. But what makes it
almost priceless is its extreme rarity
There are only two others like it in Eng
land. or, believe, in Europe"
And these are-wherel"
The one at the British Museum; the
other In the collection of which | was
speaking Just now--the Duke of ks,
at B castle.n
When did you first miss this ring, Sir
jacob"
Yesterday, when I opened my Jewel
safe to arrange and classify some new
And when had you last opened it pre-
viouslyl"
The day before that. ! had a call
from Janshikotf, the great dealer in anti
que gems, and / then opened my safe in
his presence to ask his opinion about one
or two seals which picked up lastmonth
IN Brussels, and of the genuineness of
which | was not satisfied"
The ring was not missing them"
NO to that l can swear The fact is,
Mr.. Hydenseke land | may as well con-
fess 1t at once,) that l have suspicion
amounting almost to certainty-that
Janshikotf took the ring"
"Hem!D coughed Mr.. Hydenseke, per-
forming his favorfte operation of scratch
ing his chin. "You believe that, do you2"
II am convinced Of it."
Have you communicated with the
pollce2"
No; 1 have expressly refrained from
doing so. must recover that ring, MIR.
Hydenseke" dropping his voice and
speaking very impressively) without
either scandal or publicity. In fact iand
have heard of your doing such things),
| wish it got away from Jaushikoff with
out his knowledge. There is a secret con-
nected with it which must never be
divulged"
"A dangerous secret?" inquired Mr..
Hydenseke.
Yes; dangerous in a sense-that is, if
1t were known in certain quarters that I
possessed the ring, might be obliged to
hand it over to the original owners. You
remember that big jewel scandal at the
vatican fifteen years ago."
Perfectly"
"Well ring closely resembling that
which we are discussing disappeared
from the Pope's collection at that time,
and could never be traced. This one-I
mean the one l have just lost picked
up at a seedy secondhand shop in Paris
two years back. paid good price for
1t, and asked no questions. You take
me?'
Il think so, Sir Jacob" answered Mr..
Hydenseke, with his peculiar smile.
You will understand, then. y" the other
continued, ''why | am anxious to have the
matter kept strictly private"
"Of course. And, perhaps Janshikoff
took that into acCount-eh2 ?"
Most probably. He is a very sharp
fellow But now, Mr.. Hydenseke" (he
spoke very eXClIeuly, leaning over and
placing his hand on the detectives sleeve,
II must get that signet back, without de-
lay For if Janshikoff once parts with it.
goodbye to our chance of ever seeing it
again. viii you undertake the job, Mr..
Hydenseke2"
"What's the fgure?" asked our friend
thoughtfullY.
"A cool thousand, and all expenses"
Very well, sir Jacob, I'm your man"
Mr. Hydenseke now produced his note
book, and put the baronet through a
lengthy catechism, jotting down his re-
plies in shorthand. At the end of this
process, which occupied about an hour.
Sir, Jacob rose to take his departure,
You will loss no time-no time, Mr..
Hydenseke, viii your" he said, in a voice
OF absolute entreaty. If ! fail to recover
that signet it will almost kill me-"
Make your mind easy" vas the brisk
rejoinder. Il shall start my investiga-
lions at once You shall hear from me
shortly how l succeed. Good morning. "
As soon as the baronet was fairly off
the premises Mr.. Hydenseke sent for a
cab and drove straight across to the
British museum. Upon entering that
somber edltice he bctOok himself to the
room where the old Roman gems are on
show, and there, with the assistance Of a
catalogue and civil attendant, he dis
covered the Nespasian sig net
This he carefully inspected
through the glass by which it
was guarded, finding it answered exactly