Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-01-04

va
the rajahs ruby. The chief listened
with his usual impassiveness, but did
not allow syllable of the story to es-
some portions of the narrative and occa-
sionally asked an incisive question.
Ibid it not strike you as singular" he
asked, "thst those two men, natives of
India, as they doubtless were, should be-
gin talking in the English tongue after
reaching their room ut the hotel in Wing
field?"
Eyes, it did seem odd, but did not
attach much weight to it. Since the
language was of great use to them in
this country, it would have been natural
to practice it when alone"
"Did they seem to be in need of much
practice? In other words. did you find
any difficulty in understanding them:'
"None at ALL"
Would it not have appeared more
natural for them, when they found
themselves alone, to use the tongue in
which they could express their thoughts
the more readily!"
Eyes, except for the reason l have
named"
"And tlren it seems they were talking
about this wonderful gem, the very OBJ
ject of which you We're seeking informa-
tion."
"That was the most natural thing in
the world, since they had Travelled half
way around the globe to steal it."
POSSIBLY, but in their brief conversa-
ton they wero kind enough to give you
the precise information you were seek
ing. Can you conceive it possible that
they suspected you were listening at the
doory"
A disagreeable light began breaking in
upon the mind of Max Manson.
81 understand you to intimate that the
whole thing was gotten up for my bene-
fit, or rather my injury"
"Don't you think it has that look?
Those people are cunning-mighty cum
ming They suspected you the moment
you entered the hotel where they were
stopping. They were convinced that you
were after the rajah's ruby. Fearing
that you might take extreme measures
against them and cause their detention,
they sought only to gain time, SO as to be
able to slip away undetected. They
therefore adopted q course intended to
make you believe you had actually re-
covered the gem, calculating that the in
terval between that and the knowledge
of your error would give them the oppor-
tunity they needed, and it looks as if they
were not much off in their calculations" !"
"But that false ruby-that bit of col
ored glass?'
care you not aware that that artifice
is q very common one? All exceptionally
valuable gems have their duplicates or
Sol, IN 1Nof
covetous thieves. The owner of noted
jewel keeps it securely locked up in
some unsuspected place perhaps, while
the comparatively worthless imitation is
left where the burglar is most likely to
look for it. Many time the lady who
appears at some grand entertainment
finds her jewels the envy and admira-
ton of all eyes, when in truth the real
ones are at home locked in the safe or at
the bank, while the crowd are feasting
their vision on the clever limitations"
But whence came this counterfeit
rajah's ruby!"
Chief Varick shrugged his shoulders.
Il can only guess. They may have
brought it with them from India for the
purpose of putting it to the very use
which served them SO well while they
made haste out of the country with the
genuine gem. or it may have been that
The late Miss Livermore received the
.1nnterfeit with the genuine from her
nrcstors. and those cunning Asiatics
nr:. themselves tricked by clever arti-
." Always dreading visit from bur-
TX. and especially SO after receiving
v-;-l,;ug letter which came into the
.,,;, Of Simpson, it surely would have
n nat,:ral for her to put it forward
,rre flle scamps would bo likely to lay
II. bands on it with little trouble"
sat why didn't she place the real one
s,,.aa bank or safe deposit company"
4 Max Manson, impatient at the
r,i-,., certainty of the trick that had
rii I.l1ycd on him.
zen arc asking me questions which
N more properly be addressed to the
,shoIn sent to Ellenville," was the
tod response of the chief.
Well. confess that more than one
,f;i-c of this confounded business per-
%ra re. Simpson strongly suspects
~; Dir. Maidhoff is mixed up in it,
= suspect the same"
eff his connection is guilty one, he
4 e Col -