Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-01-18
CHAPTER XII,
"THAT Is THE GENUINE RAJAH's RuByr


branches in the leading cities of the
country, had many important matters to
engage his attention. Immense interests
were involved, and the numerous tasks
which he supervised and undertook were
often Of difficult and trying character.
But he had grown to feel deep inter-
est in the affair Of the rajah's ruby, for
it possessed many features unique Of
themselves. Max Manson and Folsom
Simpson were among his most valued
employees, and the fact of their being
intrusted with the unrnveling of the
mystery was a compliment to their acu-
men and sagacity which would have
been bestowed upon few besides them.
When the day succeeding the inter
view between Varick and Manson passed
without bringing the chief any word
from Simpson, he became somewhat un-
easy. That rotund detective, though
genial and good natured, was full Of
pluck and never hcsitated to face any
peril. But nothing short of the certainty
on his part that he was about entering
upon more dangerous task than usual
could have induced him to request the
chief to send Manson to his aid in the
event Of three days passing without q
word from him.
"It's now three whole days, and not o
syllable has reached me-" reflected the
chief in his private office, more uneasy
than he would have been willing to con-
fess. "I will not delay any longer"
1t was on the following morning that
Manson at his home in the interior Of
the state received the following dispatch
in cipher from his chief:
"Have heard nothing from s. Some
thing is wrong with him. Go to Ellen
vile without delay, and if you need more
help telegraph me. Don't fail to keep me
apprised of the progress of events"
That same afternoon Varick received
. dispatch from Manson notifying him Of
his arrival at Ellenville.
The detective was 30 convinced that
some i'll had befallen his friend that he
prepared himself in the fullest possible
manner for duty, convinced that only by
doing SO could he expect to unravel the
mystery which was growing deeper every
hour.
conclusion, "Dr. Maidhoff is at the bot
tom of it. He knows that am detect
i've and will recognize me and be placed
on his guard the instant I show myself to
him. Therefore he must not see Detect
i've Max Manson again."
This observation to himself was what
might be called an explanation of his
course in Disgusting his personal appear
ance to that extent that his own wife
would not have recognized him had she
not helped in the transformation. With
Al - hot I,o
donned another name, the landlord OF
the inn at Ellenville scrutinizing him
carefully and certain that he had never
seen him before.
The guarded inquiries which he put
forth revealed an alarming fact at the
very beginning. Folsom Simpson had
left the hotel several nights before, tell
ing the landlord that he was not likely
to return until late hour, and possibly
not until morning. Since then nothing
had been seen or heard of him. Conse-
quently the proprietor could not give
any further information, except to say
that the valise containing his small
amount of luggage was still in his room.
Manson had not forgotten a disturb
ing truth which he had learned some
days before. The last he knew of the
two East Indians they were proceeding
not toward New York, but in the direc'
ton of Ellenville. 1t was impossible TO.
-
him not to connect the two facts. Thi
connection was rendered the mort
alarming when he learned from the land
lord that on the evening of Simpson
disappearance, when on the outskirts O
the town, he caught sight of the tw.
sepoys, who appeared 80 anxious t.
avoid identification that he pretended
not to know them.
This discovery SO impressed Mansor
that he was on the point of telegraphint
Chief Varick to send him help or tt
come himself, but he decided to wait
until he picked up another clew or two.
at looks darker and darker for pool
Fol; there must have been collision be
tween him and those scoundrels, and
they have proved too much for him
Having made way with him, they viii
make all haste out of the country unless
they mediate another effort to get al
the rajahs ruby"
He wired the chief to keep a lookout
for the couple, and he was assured in re
ply that they would be arrested on thei,
arrival in the metropolis.