The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-12
The
Blood Stone Rmq. =

/ want 20 see the best detective you
have on the staff." said "A gentleman who
appeared at the Central one day In De-
cember, when 4 was away i'm ireland, at
the same time presenting caro- bearing
the name Middleton. II nave been rob-
bed right and left In the most mysterious
manner possible, and though l am un-
willing 10 suspect any one about me, /,
can remain passive no longer"
THE best detective?-thars me-" said
NJ Sweeny with great alacrty, while
every one else I'm the room hastened 10
hide his mouth With his hand.
Your name is MGovan. / suppose?"
said the gentleman with a pleased smile,
and frankly offering his hand.
"No-not exactly, answered NJ Swee-
ny, with an ill-concealed writhe. M
Govan is IA Kind of cAnm or assistant of
mine. but most people prefers me, be-
cause IL he blunders ne loses the case,
while II l blunder, begorra. I'm sure 10
win 1t; and N -S2eeny- passed -graadIp-
as II waiting for an admiring world TO
crown him with laurel.
"Well--but really-I think l would
rather sec MGovan," hesitatlngy inter-
posed Mr.. Middleton, after an awkward
pause.
"Yls. but we can't unless ye've got a
molshty strong telescope that1i raich
all the way 10 Belfast" said NJ Sweeny.
with a delighted twinkle of the eyes.
Hes gone there after one, OF our
bairns, an won't be back for three sood
days anyhow"
After few moments consideration,
and discovering that therc was no other
detective then in the Office Mr.. Middle
ton concluded that he would place his
case before MSwetny.
Mr.. Middleton was a retired account
ant, who rather prided himself upon his
own penetration and acuteness, yet In
beginning he confessed that the robbery
which he came to report had puzzled him
completely
II live at Rose Mount villa, out at
viewforth, as you will sec by the card"
he proceeded to say 81 keep only one
servant, and we've had her for ten years
since she was a mere girl, indced-and
/ am certain that she at least has no
connection with the robberies After her
there is only my wife and children, these
being far too young 10 know the mean
Ing Of the words robbery or valuables."
Followers, p'raps?" suggested NJ
Sweeny.
THAT is innpossible; Mrs. Middleton
and myself have always been strict on
that point We allow no sweetheart or
follower OF the servant 20 come within
the garden gate She may see them out
side as often as she is free, but never
on my premises. Not that / have any
uOuNl Dl lnt kul cAtdhlHFS's btA IL is
best to err on the safe side
And what have ye missed2' said NJ
Sweeny. Initiating somewhat successfully
the buslness-like look he had seen on my
face under such circumstances and
scrawling away rapidly at hieroslyphics
meant for notes.
II have list OF them here and, pro-
ducing a paper. Mr. Middleton read aloud
the items. which were duly recorded by
VI Sweeny. the only alterations being in
The spelling and capital letters. The
first article was n mother-of-pearl card
case, mounted with silver. a valued pres
eut. which Mrs Middleton would not
have lost for ten ropnds. That was miss
ID about a month ago. Then thcre Is a
solid gold ring Of my own. set with n val
uable bood-stone The ring was valued
at two Ruineas. but worth htty times
that sum TO me- rs I had Il given me by
a client now dead. I never could under
stand how that ring vanished. for ] sell
dom took ~ OF except when my hands
were unusually dirty--as with working
M the garden--and ] was about 10 wash
hem II vaniehed one dpv rs If by r7ag-
&C. and 7 have never seen II since. That
was about a month ago. Then there are
ove rilver t&aanoons missed al diTe--
ont times n gold watch Of Mrs. Middle
toms, which cost cit; silver fruit knife
with a urother-of-pear handle, lace