Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-02-15
CHAPTER Xxx.
NONE OF THAT LITTLE PARTY EVER SAW
HIS FACE AGAIN.

,A144T. :
Ie ~MS-sstss kslJ--
"TIat man there Ia a scoundrel."
"Mr. Fairchild left orders that the
package was to be given to him only"
| said the clerk, glancing hesitatingly at
the letter in his hand and into the face Of
| the East Indian. f H. ltt
The latter replied courteously and in
good English: -
every true, as he explained to me, but
he is with q party up town to whom he
| is anxious to show the article; two of his
friends leave by the steamer tomorrow
and wish to have look at the diamond
before they go. Mr.. Fairchild was about
to call cab to drive down here to get
it, and they offered to accompany, him.
but that was inconvenient since they are
SO pleasantly placed. Besides they have
number of lady friends with them, and
it would be hardly proper for them to
come here" p,f. =
"Did Mr.. Fairchild say nothing about
any difficulty you were likely to have in
securing this diamondY'
Inasmuch as the discussion was con-
cerning the rajah's ruby, it struck Simp-
son as singular that Wichman should re-
fer to it as diamond, but the officer
| held his peace.
eyes, it was that fact that caused him
| to hesitate, but several gentlemen as
| sured him that written order was all
that was needed, and two or three Of us
volunteered to come and get it. re-
spect your scruples, but there is his re-
quest. You may not be familiar with
his handwriting, but you can compare
his signature with the one in your regis
| ter and decide as you think best"
The clerk had already compared the
two, but he did SO again. He was EN-.
barrassed as to what he ought to do. An
expert in writing would have sworn that
the same hand had written both, and yet
Folsom Simpson knew that the sigma
ture to the letter held by the clerk was a
forgery, though a wonderfully skillful
| one.
| well, / suppose it is all right" re-
marked the official after q little more par
leying. '7
'"If you have any misgivings," contin-
ued the East Indian in his broken Ian
guage, 81 will return to Mr.. Fairchild
and his friends, but it will be great
disappointment to them, and am sure
Mr.. Fairchild will be offended" L
Wichman was marvelously clever in
his diplomacy. He saw that he had car
ried his point, and it was wise to assume
the position he did.
Tho clerk turned to the safe with the
intention of handing out the valuable
package. OF course he had noticed the
man standing few paceA back, but
Wichman was so engaged that he did
not observe that a person was behind
him. l.H
This same individual now decided that
it would not do for him to defer action
any longer. hif
II beg your pardon. but before doing
anything will you please read this"
AS Simpson spoke he handed twist
of paper from his notebook to the clerk.
The latter glanced inquiringly at him
and then read the slip, on which was
hastily traced the following:
"This man is scoundrel. The order
which you hold in your hand is a for
gerry. Don't deliver him the package"
This certainly was enough to make the
recipient open his eyes. He stood for o
minute looking Mt the penciled words
and then stared at the man who had
written them. rsl
The appearance of the latter was not
prepossessing. His clothing was disar-
ranged, and his hat especially looked as
if it had been Through the. mill and
ground" Despite the detectives usual
GOODNESS, too, his face was flushed from
his recent excitement. --
"Who are you:" abruptly asked the ho-
tel man.
Zone who knows what he tells you.
Disregard what have said, and you will
pay heavily for the consequences"
Wichman must have recognized the
officer the moment he stepped forward,
and he must have understood, too, that
he was trS ing to prevent the delivery Of
the package into his hands.
"Will you allow an intoxicated person
to interfere with gentleman
| Simpson, even in his anger, could not
hslp admiring the cleverness of the fel-
low. He did not show the least agita-
ton, except perhaps to the extent of
looking surprised that such a well in
formed clerk should give heed to q man
-
under the influence Of liquor. He casta
supercilious glance at the officer and
then showed himself trifingiy impatient
at the mistaken courtesy of the employee
1t was plain that Simpson had not
made good impression. and the clerk
was more disquieted than ever. While,
| on the one hand, he did not wish to Of
fend guest, he was disposed to refer
the question to his superiors before COM
| plying with it.
There was still danger, and the detect
| i've was uneasy.
II repeat what wrote ON that. paper