Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-05

alone III tne presence oI inc Deautilui
fury, and duty whispered in my ear:
Have care or you are lostP'
BY q supreme effort l pulled myself
together. twas useless to quail before
this being, for she had no mercy. II !
shrank or faltered, she would crush me-
Behind that regal form crouched the
mystery Of Mana Sahib's ruby. and
naught but boldness, daring, audacity.
mercilessness, would avail me- In d
minute was myself.
Madam, said, with bow, II am
an officer Of the law. You heard me tell
Mrs Bridges my errand'-
But it was lie!" she broke in with
a sweep Of her right arm and a step for
ward Leave this instant, or twill be
the worse for you'
This threat and the biting words
ncrved mo still more strongly. became
calm, cool, self possessed, on the In
slant.
II will leave when am through
with the business which brought me
hero and not one second before You
and your husband and all the miscreants
| from India cannot compel me. / am arm
ed and will defend myself even against
your'
Strange words 10 utter to a woman,
whose strength could not have surpassed
that of child. A strong man like mo
ought to have been abashed at the sound
of his own voice when they were spo-
ken, but was in for it and meant to
maintain bold front 10 tho end.
That my reply was unexpected was
shown by her manner. She never re-
moved those piercing eyes from me. and
once | believed, when / saw the delicate
fingers pervously working, that she
meant TO leap at my throat. She breath.
ed short and fast, but did not change
her superb poise.
PRAY be seated. | added, with as
sumed courtesy, rs placed my hand on
the back Of the nearest chair and set il
down beside her. with your permis-
sion | will do tho same. wish few
words with you. "
Ny own chair was placed so close to
the door that had / inclined il to tho
rear il would have rested against il.
sat down with my hat in my lap and
looked expectantly at her.
She did not stir muscle, but remain
cd like a statue, and it seemed that the
flame Of those eyes would burn me
through,
Il am a detective and have been
watching you and your husband for
some time.
II knew i'll" she Missed ~ erect and
upright ~ ever.
"Thon | might have saved my words.
| have learned some things, but there
are number Of others about which /
would like TO question You. It's rather
odd that you should register at the
Windsor, while your husband went TO
the Astor House. | hope there was no
connubal trouble.
She treated this impudence with the
scorn il deserved.
1T sort Of looked that way, for nj the
jersey City station you avoided each
! other not sitting even in the same car,
though you were friendly enough when
you left the train at Railway and rode
20 this place in "a cab,
However, all that is your own bust
ness and Of no particular interest TO me.
Some days ago your husband sold an
immense Jewel, which he called Mana
Sahib's ruby, 20 q gentleman IN New
York. Mr.. Howard received the price
he asked, but on the very night Of the
purchase the buyer was robbed OF the
stone and am seeking TO find out the
truth about II
watched that fascinating face close.
| ly while uttering these words expect
ed her to show surprise when told oi
the theft Of tho ruby, for. if innocent,
how could she know anything OF the
circumstance? But nothing OF that ma
ture lit up her face. She demanded Will
tho cooness of a judge:
why do you come 10 me?'
Because | am sure you can give me
the information.
Your words are what l might have
expected from you. On what night did
this robbery, il there was any, take
place."
Last Tuesday, the l3th-excuse me,
you are going to say that you and your
husband were not in New York that
night, which is fact, as ! learned for
myself. If the charge was made against
either Of you, therefore, you could prove
an alibi. presume you know the mean
ing Of that word:'
She paid no attention to this slur, but
calmly looking at me uttered the single
word "Well?' with the most splendid
circumfiex infection conceivable ut the
end.
You know that sometimes several
persons are concerned in matters Of this
kind 1t is safer to employ al agent
Whoever took that ruby from Mr.. Sand
husen's room at the Windsor did the
clevcrest job of the year. Now, If you
will tell how it was done. will let up
on you and your pretended husband.
Come now!'
doubt whether man pretending t.
be detective ever did more audacious
and seemingly absurd thing than this.
We have all heard Of the profane farm
er who, when confronted by an unusual
cause of provocation, simply held his
peace because he could not do justice to
the theme. Ii must have been something
of the same with Mrs. Howard, for she
merely looked at me and remained
speechless.
My next move required explanation.
l set my chair away from the door and
in the nearest corner, which was only
FIVE or six feet from the door. never
removed my eyes from tho woman while
doing this. AS l resumed my seat /
drew my revolver and rested it loosely
across my knee, in which position /
could use it with the quickness Of light
ming. suspected the occasion for such
use was at hand.
Don't be alarmed" 1 said, looking
In her face. IF you intend no harm,
you will receive none, but il anything
is attempted against me God help you"
What do you mean?" she asked, with
q slight recoil.
CHAPTER XVIII.
"Since entered this house and came