Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-15

would have thought. The first feeling
was that fate had thrown into my path
the means Of helping in the solution OF
the mystery. would shadow the indi-
vidual pick up what information /
could, and who could say that it would
not be mine to unravel the whole skcini
Blu, this ambition remained but
few minutes with me. have not the
first qualification Of a detective and was
certain il | undertook the role 10 make
an egregious blunder at the beginning
and most likely block the efforts o.
those who might succeed il left alone.
| decided 10 proceed on my way with
out noticing Mr. Howard, but 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, never indulge. re-
piled. SO flurried that was in doubt
whether 10 enter tho 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 rurchased"--herc he glanced
approhensively around and lowered his
voice still more-"ihat property OF mine
would be willing to return il for the
price given. you retaining, OF course,
your commission:
| was satisfied that he was trying 70
sound mo for some other purpose.
We'll, he was so pleased with his
bargain that / doubt it-in fact. yon
might just as well have received double
the price you asked
Suppose you make him the PROPOSE
tion:"
Il will mention il the next time l
sec him. Have You chance to do better
with il elsewhero!"
1T is not precisely that, but | am
convinced l made mistake in parting
with il III such haste. "
"In matters of that kind n seller
should change his mind before the
transaction is completed. "
True, and perhaps it would be un-
wise TO mention it. Well call 1t OF.
Good day. j."
Still in doubt rs to the wisdom Of my
words, ! boarded the car. and leaving
it a, the proper point proceeded straight
TO the Windsor hotel, where l dined
with Sandhusen.
"Wittner spent couple Of hours
with me, he said, land gave him all
the information l could. which was
what you received, and that is nothing.
What did he say"
| VERY little. You know he is man
| 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 / rose in my sleep
and removed the ruby, and that 1t Is
somewhere in my apartments. l made
thorough search again 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 OF
| oth,r however, ! believe he will reach
ths .-Eth."
II hope SO, for, though grieve over
the loss of my prize, it is the strange
way in which it vanished that puzzles
ne.
"You will employ no one besides Witt
ner?''
mo: the more detectives you have
in a matter of this kind the less likely
Won are to be successful. Nopersons are
more 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.
us Wittner to report to your
"Not until he obtains something def.
mite. have promised him one-fifth oil
the price paid for the ruby II he RECEIVERS
it."
Enough to spur the best detective. y
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 he could not do was
certainly beyond our powers. We de-
cided to.await events with the best pa
tience possible, but my part In the
drama was not yet finished.
The following morning l 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 l fol
nearly as many years.
Brown" said my companion aftel
few Incidental remarks. ''step into oul
store, and / will show you something
that will make your eyes sparkle. l ven
ture that you have never looked on any
thing of the kind. long as you have beer
handling precious stones ["
"Have some Of Eugenie's diamonds
come into your possession. or is it tn
Orloff, or that monster that used to be
long to Dom Pedro. and which the,
won't let be tested for fear it will prov
70 be not diamond?'
''This is not diamond. It's ruby
the finest In the country"