The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-08-24
"Good morning, Mr.. Hydenseke, A."


on his cunning face-''you have got
the ringl You told me in your note
you have got the ringl"
EYES," reioifed Mr.. Hydenseke,
pursing up his lips and speaking in
cisively, IL have got the ring"
"Then, for the love Of God, give it
me ut once" cried Sir Jacob, with
strange excitement. "Here-here
(pulling out his check book from his
breast-pocket) I'll pay you your thou.
sand pounds at once. The ring, Mr..
Hydenseke--aive me the ring"
"Wait a minute, Sir Jacob" said
the detective, coldly, waving back the
others outstretched hand. "I have u
word ortwo to say first. i always deal
square with those who are square with
me. am not squeamish, not l.
take up almost any cases for those
who pay me well, ana carry out my
clients wishes to tho best of my
power, without raising any inconye-
nient questions of right and wrong, or
anything of that sort. But L make
ono stipulation. My clients must be
square with me; and they must tell
mo the truth !"
"What do you mean, Mr.. Hyden-
sehc?" muttered Sir Jacob, beginning
to turn pale.
'It is nothing to me-" tho detectiw,
went on, without hcedinS tho inter
ruption, "that you have tried to stcG.
that ring from the Duke of ", or
that, finding yourself forestalled, you
laid % plot to steal it from the man
who had anticipated yoH. But it is n
great deal to me that, instead OF tell
ing me the truth, you tried to dclude
me into your service with pack of
silly falschoods and trumpod-up
story about n third Vcspasian signct,
stolen from the Vatican, which had
or elsewhere.
I-I-don't understand you. Do
-do-you realize whom you're talk
ing to?' stammercd the Baronet, trem-
bling, however, in every limb. "Gou
must DO mad, Mr.. Hydcnsckc.
81 have tracked out the whole affair
from first to last" continued tho
other. "You had better listen, and
deny any of my statements if you can.
You intended taking advantage uf
your intimacy ut b, and Of the
Dukes comparative antiquarian ig-
norance) to steal the Vcspasian signct
from his collection and substitute n
forged one in its place. You employed
Jnnshikotf to make you the necessary
imitation. He gained au inkling fyour
plan, and thinking the idea gooi one
made second imitation for his own
use, and paying n visit to B--- just
one day before you forcstallcd you in
flching the real signet. You went
down and duly effected your theft, but
when you came to examine your spoil
you found it only sham that
you had got. Knowing that JanShi-
koff had been there tho day before
(for the Duke showed you some gems
which Janshikolf had brought down
for his inspection), you easily guessed
what had happened, and being dctcrm-
ined to get the real signot from that
astuto dealer-a thing which your
own skill could never have nccon,,
plished-you enlistcl my Services.
Now, if you had told me the truth,
l would have done my best for you,
even as matters stood. But a yea
have seen fit to try and impose on
me, and to gain my help by false pre-
lenses, you must accept the cousc-
quences. The ring has been restored
to the Duke Of X, anI is now back
in its place ut b"
ats lie-the whole things li","
persisted Sir jacob. Bu. his looks
declared the guilt which his words de-
MED in vain.
81 havo forced n full confession
from Janshikolf," Mr.. Hydcnsckc said;
"in the face of which, nnl Of other
convincing evidence, your denial or
admission is perfectly immatrrial.
Now, Sir Jacob, you hal better pay
me my thousand pounds and let :he
affair be closel?"
"What?" tho Baronct almost
shrieked, pay you thousand pounds
or-for-playing mo false and max
ing fool Of me-"
"rhosc are my terms" said Mr..
Hydensekc, quietly; ''you may accept
them, or you may decline them and
accept-the consequences.
'It is scandalous," protested Sir
jacob, furiously. "Pll not submit to
be blackmailed in this internal man
ner"
"Look here, Sir Jacob, - said the
detective, with his sterncst ard most
determined air, "you have tried to
fool me, and you must pay for it.
Whether in money or exposure, decide
yourself"
The Baronet ravcd, sworc, pro-
tested, pleaded, was abjcct, insolcnt,
pathetic, hectoring, but to no pur-
pose. Mr.. Hydcnscko remained un-
moved by all these demonstrations,
and they ended (as our willy friend
foresaw they would in Sir Jacob draw
ing the required check.
When the latter hal taken his de-
parturc in II perfect storm OF I'M
potent onths and curses Mr.. llydcn-
scke sat down ut his writing table, and,
with very comforttblo smile, worked
out short addition sum upon his
blottlnG pad.
From tho Duke Of N--........ Ct 600
Jan ShiNON. ..... ........ .OOJ
" Sir j. IrupIDyB .ODD