The Cairo bulletin., 1904-06-15

ing her ruby.
But, Mitchell, said Mr.. Randolph.
while Of course one does not like to
lose SO valuable agem, ut tho same time
you can safely replace it, "
What makes you think so?"
Why, y0u have 50 many Jewels. Do
/ you know | was saying only recently that
any ono who like you, would hoard
up rare gems, keeping them locked in
vault where no one can see thom. is in
a way insane. | was glad when Won
gave that ruby to Miss Rcnson, and
took II rs a symptom Of returning lucid
lily that yon should untarth one Of your
hidden treasures. have no doubt that
you have others like it buried in some
corner Of your safe. Why not get one
out and present it to the lady$V
"You arc mistaken, Randolph. can
not SO easily produce q mate to that
ruby
Why not? Was there anything pc,
cuiiar about it,"
es, but we VIII not talk Of it. ~
This curt way Of disniasing tho sub
leVt was surprise to Mr. Randolph
for however little Mr.. Mitchell cared to
show his gems he had never before been
unwilling to embrace any opportunity
to talk about them. Mr. Randolph start
ed IN a new direction, remembering the
hints Of the detective.
Mitchell, said be, 81 would almost
be willing to wager that you not only
can give Miss Remsen as good a ruby.
but that you could actually give her the
same one. "
II hope to do So" was the quiet re-
ply.
You don't understand me. Imean
that half believe that your sickness in
Philadelphia was all farce; that you
came over and yourself stole the gem.
Indeed: And what leads you to such
a preposterous deduction:'
II think that this is your way Of en-
deavoring to win your wager. think
that no one but yourself could have
taken the pin from Miss Rcmsen HAIR
as for no one else would she have sub
United
Randolph, your repeated illusions
to Miss Remsen III this connection, and
especially your insinuation that would
ask her to be an accomplice in such a
piece Of duplicity, and that she would
consent, are distasteful to mo in the OK,
treme. II you Will pardon my saying so,
it is a poor entertainment to offer .
guest "
"Oh, | meant no ofTense, old man. | /.
assure You We viii drop tho subject,
of course "
This was followed by a silence. Mr.
Randolph was at his wits end to find q /
way to force MIR Mitchell to talk He /
felt that nothing had boon accomplish /
cd Mr. Barnes, however, thought diff /
fo1ently, for he had at last como to
positive conclusion From Mr.. Mitchel's .
tone Of voice and the words Of his last
speech the detective felt certain that
whatever part Mr. Mitchell himself may
have played in ties robbery Miss Rem.
sen was innocent. He also wondered
whether the conversation would now
drift back to thoruhy. Perhaps it would
not have done 80 had not Mr. Thauret,
who, up to this point had scarcely
spoken during the progress Of tho meal, /
1nco moro preached the subject.
II beg pardon, Mr. Mitchell, said
he, Int your remark just now, that
thoro is something special about tho lost
ruby, has greatly excited my curiosity.
Unless you have some private reason for
not doing So, | beg that you Will tell us
the history Of the gem, if it has one. "
There was Il pause, during which Mr.
Mitchell looked ut his plato and seemed
rs though studying a problem Mr.
Randolph WAS delighted that Mr.
Ehauict had como to his assistance in
his unexpected way, and as be- observed