Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-01

certain If l undertook the role to make
an egregious blunder at the beginning
and most likely block the efforts OF
those who might succeed if left alone.
decided to proceed on my way with
out noticing Mr.. Howard, but l was
close to him, and as he turned to enter
the hotel he saw me.
Instantly he held out his hand.
II am glad to see you, Mr.. Brown.
Will you join me?"
"Thank you, I never indulge" re-
piled, so furried that was in doubt
whether to enter the building or leave
him at once.
"By the way" he added, stepping
back on the pavement and lowering his
voice, "do you think that friend of
yours who purchased d''-here he glanced
apprehensively around and lowered his
voice still more-"that property of mine
would be willing to return it for the
price given, you retaining, Of course,
your commission?"
was satisfied that he was trying to
sound me for some other purpose.
well, he was so pleased with his
bargain that I doubt it-in fact, you
might just as we'll have received double
the price you asked. "
Suppose you make him the PROPOSE
tion?'
II will mention it the next time l
see him. Have you chance to do better
with it elsewhere?"
"It is not precisely that, but / am
convinced made mistake in parting
with it in such haste
"In matters of that kind seller
should change his mind before the
transaction is completed.
"True, aud perhaps it would be un-
wise to mention it. Well call it off.
Good day."
Still in doubt as to the wisdom of my
words, / boarded the car, and leaving
it at the proper point proceeded straig.
to the Windsor hotel, where I diued
with Sandhusen.
"Wittner spent a couple Of hours
with me-, he said, "and gave him all
the information I could, which VS.
what you received, and that is nothing"
"What did he say?'
Every little. You know he is mail
Of few words, except when the opposite
mood takes him. He admitted that the
only explanation which suggested itself
was the one you spoke of-somnambu
lism-that is, that I rose in my sleep
and removed the ruby, and that it il
somewhere in my apartments. I made
a thorough search agein after you left,
and he and repeated it. Result, nil. "
whether Wittner formed any theory
or not which can explain that which
seems inexplainable cannot be guessed
until he chooses to speak. Somehow or
other, however, I believe he will reach
'' ri hope so, for, though grieve over
the loss of my prize, it is the strange
way in which it vanished that puzzles
me.
"You will employ no one besides Witt
ner?''
mo; the more detectives you have
in matter of this kind the less likely
you are to be successful. Nopersons are
moro jealous, and they often block each
others efforts. But for this feeling lit
tie Charley Ross would have been re-
stored to his parents years ago."
"Is Wittner to report to you?"
"Not until he obtains something def
mite l have promised him one-fifth Of
the price paid for the ruby if he RECEIVERS
it."
Enough to spur the best detective. "
1t is useless to give our conversation,
for we could only travel in circle and
come back to the point whence we start
ed. The business was now in the hands
of one of the most skillful detectives of
the day, and what be could not do was
certainly beyond our powers. We de-
cided to-await events with the hest pa
tience possible, but my part in the
drama was not yet finished.
The following morning I rode down
town with my old acquaintance, Joseph
Burling, of the we'll known firm of
Burling Bros Of Maiden lane, who
have been in the same business as for
nearly as many years.
Brown" said my companion after
few incidental remarks, "step into our
store, and will show you something
that will make your eyes sparkle. VEN
ture that you have never looked on any
thing of the kind, long as you have been
handling precious stones. &"
"Have some of Eugenie's diamonds
come into your possession, or is it the
Orlof, or that monster that used to be-
long to Dom Pedro, and which they
won't let be tested for fear it will prove
to be not diamond?"
"This is not diamond. It's ruby,
the finest in the country"
"Whatl" I exclaimed, with start.
"a ruby, the biggest, finest and most
valuable of which l have ever heard. "
Repressing my agitation, 1 asked:
"Where did you get it?''
~ bought it of al East Indian, Mr..
Howard, last hailing from London.
A thrill passed through me. was on
the track of Mana Sahib's ruby at last