Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-08

1T couldn't have been he. for he
was with Mrs Howard. Neither Of
them was in the city after o'clock yes
terday afternoon. They went away to-
gether. and think she is still across the
river in the sovereign state of New Jer-
sey"
My friend doubtless enjoyed the WOE.
derment his words caused. and perhaps
he was not oensurable for wishing 10
| extract some entertainment at my ex-
pense. He crossed his legs, and through
the smoke of his cigar looked ut me with
that chronic smile which it seemed
! would never leave his face. | was an
noyed that he should be so cool and
seemingly Indifferent
] waited minute or two for him 20
add something in the way OF explana-
ton, but he did not. and continued:
"Mr. Howard called this morning,
and paid him the price, $50, 000 for
the ruby
Exactly. He offered you $40, 900 as
your commission. but you refused and
took only s5, 600, which isn't bonus TO
be desired. You spoke Of paying him
with check, but he preferred the funds
themselves. and you let him have them.
did he tell you this?" | asked in as
tonishment.
| "Mr. Darius c. Howard OF London
and have never exchanged word. y
'Then il is impossible"-
"Faugh! Brown, don't make an ass
OF yourself. walked by the store three
times this morning while the transac-
tion was going on"
"But you couldn't have heard word
that passed.
My eyes were my ears, as they
would have been with any one. You had
told Inc the price he asked for the ruby.
saw him proffer you something. You
shook your head and returned him part
| Of the bills. That, Of course, was because
your sense Of honor would not let you
accept the fee he offered. Ten thousand
dollars il about the sum grateful man
would offer you for such favor as you
had done him. Half Of that was what
you would accept Which Is all there Is
in that . ,,. ,,,na ron % No IN
front of my store at the timer"
IL was satisfied that Mr.. Howard
would not wait till the end Of the week
before calling TO learn about the sale OF
the ruby. was on the other sido OF the
street an hour before he showed mp.
Had he not done so | would have stsid
In the neighborhood all day and would
have been Oh hand tomorrow and So on
until ho did appear. Fortunately | was
not kept waiting long.
was still inystitied.
II receive word from your home and
from headquarters that you were ab-
sent and your family did not know
when you would return.
They never do, because don't know
myself. II wasn't necessary TO let any
Que, not even you, know that the bust
ness which took me away was that
which related TO the Mana Sahib'sruby.
Never thelcss i; vas the fact. "
"Ah, then. you took hold OF this
matter from the first without consult
ing me OF any oue:'
Witmer, who had done so much
swayiug If h.s head, now gave 1t n sln'
gle inclination. He had been 'i: it
from the first.
"Then you suspected something
wrong:
well" he replied more thoughtful
", 1.-THE histories Of all great gems like
the Kohinoor, the Pitt diamond. Mana
Sahib's ruby and others are tragedies.
Whenever you seo man in the posses
sion Of snch prize you may make up
your mind that beyond and behind his
possession are crime, murder and rob
berry. Sach is tie fact regarding this
ruby, for the nan who led 10 tho Him
alayas u generation ago with 1t IN his
turban was one Of the fiorcest Lends
that ever lived.
"Whcn therefore this rubv-for still
believe it is the same-turns up in your
store III the possession Of an East IN
dian. it is proof that the gem has re-
suned its course of melting TO crime. |
set out to learn what could about It
and so far have learned nothing.
But you have ascertained something
about the two persons concerned with
it?'' y., ,.,,o .h,. tho
handsome man and the beautiful wom-
an are husband and wife, though why
they should go to different hotels and
hail from widely separated points OF
Europe is beyond my comprehension.
After the husband called yesterday to
inquire about the ruby he walked up
Maiden lane to Broadway and then to
the Astor House, where he went 10 his
room Oh the third floor. At o'clock ke
came down to the lunch counter carry
ing valise and fall overcoat. he did
not pay his bill in the Office OF the no
tel, SO it was clear that he did not ex-
pect to be gone long. OF course he left
some baggage in his room.
His lunch finished, he lit an expen-
siye cigar and auntered down Broad
way TO Cortlandt street and thence
crossed over to the railway station at
Jersey City. There in the waiting rooms
Of the Pennsylvania rsilroad he allowed
several trains to go out, while he kept
his seat OF walked up and down, watch
ing the arrivals from New York Moth
ing was clearer than that he was expect
ing some one and did not intend to
leave until he or she appeared.
"A little before 1 o'clock she came
from the ferryhouse. Truly, she is the
most beautiful woman on which | ever
looked. She was elegantly dressed and
carried a small alligator handbag. Her
walk was the perfection OF grace. She
must have been little late, for she was
fiurricd just enough to give glow to
that dusky complexion of hers which
intensified its beauty.
"As she entered the waiting room
she glanced around, as il she, too, was
expecting to see some one. Howard was
there, standing near the door leading tc
the trains. They did not approach each
, other. but noted the quick, lightning
like look OF recognition shot between
them. She purchased ticket to Rah
way, and he had done the same half al
hour before, passed through the dool
, and boarded traiTwhich left five min
utes later. He followed at a leisurely
pace aud entered the smoking car.
while Mr.. Howard was waitipy - a
the station he scrutinized in his sharI
manner every man and woman in Il
and who passed through in either direc
sion. Eis black eyes darted look at mi
several times, and il was evident tha