The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-12

down the sharpest detective we have,
and you know who that is, when you're,
at homel"
This compliment from our inspector,
who is no flatterer as a rule, pleased
me very much, and / felt the strength
of a lion rise in me al his words. l
fancy 1 got a bit red, as 1 answered:
Thank you kindly, sir! 1 suppose
the business is of Importance"
Every Importance! Property to
the amount Of thirty thousand pounds
missing, under circumstances which
seem TO point to-however, / shall leave
you TO find out that for yourself! You
may be detained some days in The
Gables; indeed, you are sure to be,
Are you prepared for it?"
Il can write to Mrs. BHsby fer what
may require, sir" / replied. MAY ]
ask on whose information we are act.
;ng?"
20 yesl No secrecy about the mat
ter! The person who has written for
YOUR attendance 10 Sir Charles Files.
mere, the master of the house. His
father died only last week-was
buried yesterday-the jewels found
missing after the reading of the will,
lie says they are of fabulous value,
and a family heirloom"
"All the better" / said, they will be
the more easily traced. They won't
give me so much trouble as Messrs.
Mears and Allcock's gold and silver did,
Stones can't be melted down into
Jumps of ore!"
"Ah! Busby." the inspector was good
enough to say for the second time.
that was q sharp piece of work and
II won't be forgotten! You'll reach
Manningford about five o'clock, so you
had better put up at a hotel till you've
had your breakfast, then off to The
Gables as soon as may bel"
Every good, sir! III start at once,
and wire you all particulars as o o
al I've heard them. And II / require
assistance, III have Crewe, il you're
willing. He has the coolest head, l
know!"
after your own, Busby!" said the
inspector, laughing, and / thanked him
again, and started on my journey. 1t
was November, and the nights were bit
terly cold. 1 wrapped myself up wei!
In my rug, and leaning back in a corner
of the railway carriage, tried to resume
my broken slumbers, but 1t was useless.
/ had been too thoroughly reused.
When i arrived at the Manningford
hotel, / sat in one corner of the office
room till it was light enough to have my
breakfast. BY that time several GUS
toners, chiefly travellers, were down
also, and two or three outsiders had
strayed in TO warm themselves with n
cup of tea or coffee before they started
OF their days work. i soon found that
the mysterious robbery at The Gables
was the general topic Of conversation.
"But it's quite incomprehensible!"
said one man, "the jewels was safe and
sound in the old baronet's bedroom n
week before he died, for Rachel Marks
saw them with her own eyes! And no
one entered the room till after, and then
only the undertake-sl"
"Ahl them undertakersl" exclaimed
another man, II wouldn't trust them
any further than l could see EN-! Why!
] remember when my mother died, and
they was left in the room TO lay her in
her coffin, there wasn't a pin left in the
cushion the next morning. and the very
soap was took out Of the soapdish, for
I've heard my sister say so n score o.
times"
Them jewels was worth n power Of
money" ~interposed a third. "The old
gentleman be rot them from tho tino 80
49, ans.es, 'anu tasy "~e NntStu at a
million poundsl-
ale stole them, most likely" said the
first speaker. at was i'm the days OF
old John Company. when the British.
ers stole right and left; loot they
called II, but II came TO the same thing.
And now. you see. this is what they calls
n Nemesisl They've lost them agaiul
Lori IL won't be fer longl Sir Charles,
be have teleRraphed for . detective from