Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-01

for it is plain Darius G. Howard, and
he halls from London. Look out foi
him.
CHAPTER III.
Having established the genuineness
Of the great ruby. another duty was be-
fore me-the finding Of purchaser.
The conviction mat there was something
wrong behind the whole busiDess-tbat,
in other words, Darius G. Howard was
one of those brilliant criminals who are
continually pitting their brains against
the law and generally winning-was
fixed In my mind. IL was incredible
that he should have brought such q
priceless gem thousands Of miles across
land and ocean, passing by more invit-
ing markets on the road. and then plac-
ed il in my hands at an absurdly low
price. He must have had some all pow
srful reason for this extraordinary step
There was no ground for fearing that
could become implicated in the dark
work. What | had done was wholly
regular, and my standing could not be
imperiled by anything that he or any
one else could do.
| gave up the idea Of negotiating tho
sale through some Of our correspond
ents in Europe, not that feared |
would not secure princely price, but
because of the annoying complications
that were sure 10 follow.
"You may speculate for days and
weeks, remarked my friend Carl Witt
ner after he had made his report Of what
he had learned about my caller. "and
the chances are that you will be- further
from tho truth than at first. There Is
cae point where you can stand upon
,afe ground.
Where's that?"
"At the beginning Thus we know
that n gem worth several fortunes has
been placed IN your custody by man
who is registered at the Astor House as
Darius c. Howard from London. he
has told You an interesting story OF how
he found il on the spot where the late
lamented Mana Sahib crossed the great
divide and--well, that is all We know
about it, "
But we know that what he says is
untrue. ="
"wo know nothing Of the kind. We
simply know nothing.
What is your theory"
Wiitner shook his head, with a sig
nificant grin.
"No, you don't have given up the
business Of dealing in theories haven {
been very successful Ny last theory re-
qured the murder Of that merchant III
the Tenderloin district. The whole
thing was perfect. but III the end flaw
appeared. Tho merchant was unieeling
enough 10 come back from Europe and
prove he hadn't been murdered at all.
No, Brown, there isn any satisfaction
in the theorizing business. Take my all
yice and keep out Of II. GabOriau' ; de-
tectiyes who could spin facts and theo-
ries down TO the millionth OF hair
never lived. The only man who could
strike true theory in this business was
Sherlock Holmes, and now he has been
killed-an objectionable crime on the
part Of the gifted Doyle So, as said,
let's keep out OF the whole thing"
Bat a mal can't help thinking.
True. but lot him strike out and try
10 get hold Of the truth. The mystery Is
before him. Solve that If he can, and
let theories alone
"You 20 to the other extreme What
is the harm Of speculating when you do
not allow yourself 10 be misled by your
speculations.
You cannot help it. For instance,
you have formed the belief that Mr..
Howard has lied to you about the ruby;
that it was not the gem which Mana Sa-
hib carried in his turban with him TO the
Himalayas.
"No: don believe il, nor do you -
Never mind about me. but Mr..
Howard may have told you the truth.
suspect that that ruby Is what he de-
clar.s it TO bc. IL seems 10 me that II IL
was not great deal more would be
known about il. but his story explains
the fact that you, and, so far as you
know. less than half dozen persons are
aware Of its presence among CIVILIZED
people. My advice is 10 sell the thing
IL you can find buyer, explaining the
circumstances, of course, and then wash
your hands Of the business. Have you
any purchaser in view!'
"Yes; Geoffrey Sandhusen. He has
more money than he knows what to do
with and is connoisseur IN precious
stones. You remember that II was he
who bought the Darak diamond OF me
last year and that famous black dia-
mond from Kimberley couple OF years
ago"
Wittner nodded his head.
IAN old friend Of mine. I've done
some work for him. Did he ever tell
you how he lost the black diamond and
l succeeded in recovering it!'
Never heard the story"
81 may tell you some time; can't
now. Is he at homer"
mo; his family have not returned
from Europe He's staying at the Wind
sor III take the ruby up there this aft
ernoon.
Wittner left a few minutes later, and
was sitting in my Office reading u
daily paper when q lady entered the
store and asked to look at some dia-
monds. | remained in my seat, leaving
the clerks to whit upon her, when l
heard her ask:
LET me see the finest rubies you
have.
The words. rs well as the slightly
foreign accent, caught my attention,
and laying down my paper l strollod
| into the store.
As l did so my gaze fell upon the
most beautiful woman have ever be-
held. She was elegantly dressed, was
perhaps 80 years old (though am aware
that may be far out of the way in that
Ruess) and instantly recalled the visitor
with the great ruby. Like him, her
eyes and hair were Of the deepest black
and her complexion olive. But the nose,
slightly squiline, just enough to give
character 60 her countenance, the
matchless teeth, displayed as she talked,
the perfect contour Of tho face. eye
brows, forehead and the tout ensemble
were her own and in their way were
eYouisisely perfect