Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-22
MYSTERY OF THE
GREAT RUBY.
By LUoIE ST. DEANE.
Copyright. 1895 by American Pres Asocis-
tiou.
CHAPTER K.

ion away some nights before. Then
hurried down tho street as far as wai
prudent At the first turn Ipaused, still
playing my part Of vagrant SO well
that was sure no suspicion would at
tach to me-
was certain now Of being able &c
trace the carriage portion II not the
whole distance.
Darius Howard seemed to be In haste,
for the cab ratified of at lively pace.
1t wheeled abruptly at my corner and
sped down the avenue toward the open
country, with me following as fast as II
not faster than was discreet. II l could
see where the next turn was made. the
chance Of success was fair.
Tho autumn light was closing In.
The street !. nps were lit and shining
from the houses on the right and left,
and in few minutes the vehicle was
beyond sight. Two other cabs passed
me while was hurryiDg on, and few
hundred yards ont came to forking
Of the ways. stopped, for there was
no means Of knowing the right course.
But for the fact that several vehicles
had followed the one l had in mind
might have found tho clew by examin.
ing the roadway, but that aid was not
at my command.
Since a guess was inevitable, turned
to the right and broke into n lope. with
eyes and ears alert. / was now in the
open country, there was no moon, and
the night was studded with stars, which
were my only guide. They showed me
objects at distance Of few rods, bu.
now here was a carriage in sight
Suddenly the form Of man loomed
up in front He was coming toward me,
and | dropped to walk. SO rs not to
excite his suspicion. He advanced
briskly and only gave me a glance rs
we met and separated without greeting
AS soon rs IL was prudent / resumed my
lope
But abruptly dropped to walk at
the sound of carriage wheels, approach
ing from the front.
This may bo my man, 1 thought
as noted that the cab was similar TO
those that had been waiting at the sta
tion The single horse was trottiDg. and
- outlines Of the driver showed clearly
on hi, perch.
was In the middle Of the road and
turned ont barely enough TO let him
PASS with the wheels almost grazing my
hips. This gave me the best view posi-
BILE in the gloom Of the driver. and was
almost positive that he was the one who
had taken Howard from tho railway
station.
"why don't you keep out OF the
way:" he roughly demanded, bringing
his whip down about my shoulders. 1T
would serve you right to run over you.
/ was so angered that l whipped out
my revolver and discharged one barrel.
The bullet passed close to his head, but
/ took care that il should not hit him.
With an exclamation Of alright, hc
whipped up his horse, leaning forward
10 avoid my next shot, and speedily van.
ished in the gloom.
lone Of the penalties Of my charac
ter" l reflected. showing the weapon
back in place. He considers mo fair
game, forgetting that the crushed worm
may turn"
Ii was chance for scientific reasoning.
When the cabman passed me at first,
his animal was going on smart troi,
which was probably maintained until
he reached his destination. The time be-
tween his passing and meeting me, pro-
vided his pace had been kept up, was
sufficient for him to go, say, half mile.
Therefore the house was seeking was
q quarter Of mile distant.
There was liable to be flaw in this
logic, for he might have varied his
speed or remained awhile at the place
where his passenger alighted. a varia-
ton of ten minutes either way would
throw my calculations ont OF alignment.
Furthermore, the residences We're SO
numerous that they were continually
appearing on my right and left. and IL
was likely that l would stop short OF
pass beyond the right one.
The only construction to be put upon
these stealthy visits of the Howards was
that they and perhaps others were en-
gagged in criminal business. Else why
their watchfulness against espionage?
might speculate for days as to the
- tt,.t l,rci aud ha mona the
wiser. chung to only one conclusion.
1t had to do in some way with the theft
of the Mana Sahib ruby.
Clear on this point, it was fair to sup
pose that in coming to this country
place they would seek some secluded
building, with the danger Of detection
at the minimum. Consequently it was
idle to fix attention upon any Of the
new. fine looking houses near the high
way. The one where they stopped was
back some way from the road and had
no occupants except such as were nec-
essary to look after it.
/ slackened my pace when confident
Of being near where the cab had left Its
passenger and turned back was peer
ing to the right and left in the gloom
when exclaimed in an undertone:
"Eurekal have found it!''
1t was the very spot l had i'll mino
A long lane, bordered on each side by
tall shade trees, led to house fully zoe
yards distant from the main highway
and SO hidden among trees. as soon
learned. that, except in the winter sea.
son, it could not be seen by any one
passing over the road. A more secluded
dwelling could not be found in long
search, and the starlike twinkle from
the surrounding trees showed the house
to be occupied.
! turned into the lane, the gate Of
which must have been removed long be-
fore. and walked silently up the avenue
in the gloom, the conviction strong upor
me that was on the verge Of impor
tant events
To my surprise, the sound Of carriage
wheels broke the stiffness. A vehicle
was coming from the house toward thu
highway. ! stepped to one side among
the shadow of the trees and waited.
The carriage was approaching. will
the horse on o walk. as II the driver
was uncertain Of his bearings in th'
gloom. From that I decided that he wal
not familiar with the place.
The obsourity was 90 deep that / only
caught the outlines Of vehicle. anima
and driver as they moved past, and en-
tering the highway turned toward th'
town. What ! saw, however, showed
that It was cab. such as are seeI
around the railway station at all hour