San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-06-16
CHAPTER V.

Within the same hour that received
the startling message over the telephone
from Geoffrey Sandhusen that he had
been robbed of Mana Sahib's ruby l
was in his apartments at the Windsor.
l found him cool, but disturbed over
the occurrence.
1.-The loss of the gem is irreparable,
he remarked, putting at his cigar and
walking slowly up and down the room
while sat in an easy chair watching
and listening, "but the mystery of the
whole thing is beyond my comprehen-
sion. | have been robbed before, as pos
sibly you know, but in every case there
was a clew Here there is absolutely
none. "
"Give me the particulars "
There are blessed few to give. The
rubby is missing, that's all. ="
mot by any means. Tell me what
took place after l left you yesterday
afternoon.
81 spent an hour or so in feasting
upon the prize. l laid it away in the
secret drawer there Che showed mel of
my desk when l went down to dinner
1t was there when l returned from the
theater about IL o'clock, for l took it
out and spent another half hour with it
before / went to bed. "
"What NEXT"
when ready for bed, put it back in
the small pasteboard box, having made
up my mind that would take it down
to the trust company tomorrow. l tied
it around with bit of red Irvine, the
knot being peculiar one which l have
never seen any one else use. slept late
and merely looked at the box without
opening it this morning. 1t was there
Just as l had tied and left it. After
breakfast l settled down for another
treat before placing it in the vaults. l
took out the little box, united the
string, which was precisely as l had left
it, opened the box, and it was empty.
He paused in his walk and looked
with smile at me, as if to ask what
had to say about it. didn't speak. He
opened the secret drawer, took out the
small box again, lifted the lid and held
it so that l could see the interior. There
was the tuft of fine pink cotton, but
nothing else, save few particles and a
trifle of dust.
care you satisfied" he asked, that
it is not there?"
There couldn't be pinhead in that
without its showing"
He drew out the cotton, pinched it
and put it back, tossing the box on his
desk.
where's Wittner?" abruptly asked
Sandhusen.
81 don't know. 1 sent for him last
! night, but be couldn't be found. "
"Get him here as soon as you can"
"No one ever accused me of being a
detective, but will you answer me a
few questions?''
Certainly"
Have you told any one of the rob
bery?'
mot a soul except you. My message
over the phone was SO worded that TO
one else hearing me would have known
to what l referred"
/ rose and looked at the door. He
| luuSIl6u.
Nothing there. 1t was securely
locked and the bolt slid in place this
morning when 1 examined it prsciselg
as left it when went asleefr
Then no one could have entered that
way. What of the windows?"
Equally impossible. Look for your
seiN'
did SO. His apartments were on the
fourth floor. and to reach his rooms
through any of the windows a person
would have to climb sheer wall of
great height.
Entrance by that means is out Of
the question. I"
$50 it i. Could any one have been
concealed your rooms?"
"If so; n must have left by the win
dow, whioh is impossible. Had be gone
out by the doU- he conld not hays IGft