The Press., 1895-11-21
THE LOST JEWELS.
TingI Tingi Ting!

Tingl Tingl Tingl
 The electric bell over Detective Mar tinot's desk told him he was wanted in the office of the chief of the secret serv- ice. Opening large glass door he stood before his superior. The latter motioned him to chair. "Tell me, he said, "n you have been reading the newspapers and are posted upon the NiantiC disas- ter."
 ''The Niantic," said MT. Martinot, running the case over in his mind and speaking in the bright, quick way which 30 pleased the chief, twas an apartment house, an old fashioned, aristocratic structure, facing Washington square At midnight, month ago, it burned to the ground with great loss of life. The fire is supposed to have originated in an explosion in an upper story, caused in some mysterious way by the gas with which most of the tenants heated their rooms. :"
 "Good," said the chief. "Now I have only to tell you wherein this fire concerns us. There visited here today Henry Williams, the famous diamond collector, whose apartments were in the Mantle, and he tells me that on the night of the fro ho-uus robbed of his fortune in jewels, $250,OOO being sto- len"
 And you wish mel
 'To talk with Henry Williams, get the points of the robbery and recover the missing gems for him. And-I would suggest that in tracing the rob bery you may find that the Niantic was set on fire. This involves a case of man. slaughter, as lives were lost. In short, it will be the biggest case of the year. And have in my hand a letter from the Empire Fire Insurance offering $1O, ,OQO reward for the discovery of the origin of the fire.''
 "When do begin?''
 Right away. You will find Henry Williams in the reception room. Detective Martinot bowed in his usu- al quiet manner and stepped across the hall to where Collector Williams sat, nervously waiting to tell his story.
 Before you begin," said MT. Marti- not, "tell me why you have waited 8 month before coming here. ''
 II have been expecting to find the jewels in the ruins of the building, es- pecially as I have offered immense re- wards to the workmen.
 "And when did the idea of their be- ing stolen enter your mind?"
 II had suspicion the night of the fire But it was too vague to put in words. You must have read that I was the first to give the alarm and the last to leave the building The fact is that I was awakened that night by a sound in my rooms. And, always on the alert for my jewels, arose, and, lighting 8 taper, stepped out into my private hallway to go to the front room where the jewels were hidden in safe in the wall As I did so I heard swift sound, as though some one was run ming It was the merest movement, but it alarmed me, and, fearing to make 8 mark of myself, blew out the taper and picked up my revolver. An uncan- ny something seemed to rush past me but, recovering msyelf. flew after it to my hall door. It was closed, and all was still again. It's my imagination, I said to myself. But went into the front room to look after the jewels.
 II was about to put my hand in the safe, which was behind the picture, when was startled by a terrific explo- sion, which seemed to blow the roof off the house. rushed back along my hall way and threw open the door. The big hall was filling with smoke, and. with sudden fear for the people in the house, ran along, knocking on all the doors and calling on everybody to awak- en.
 'Then, flying back to my rooms, slipped on some clothing, put my watch and money in my pocket, and ran to my front room for my jewel casket. put my hand in the safe in the wall, but the casket was not there! Across the room was another and similar safe, and, hurrying across, was about to move the picture from in front of it when fireman rushed in, shouting