Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-23

FiTfFisJ served MIR. Powlscourt, my head clerk
l4zE1 AZ he entered my private room. "Ht
declares he must sec YOU at once"
Il suppose he has been having some
trouble with poachers again." l observed, with a
smile Il believe that man considers poachino
worse IMAM murder Well, show him in, and III
try and sootbe him down"
My clerk retired with a bland or;, I1o 80
Vurned minute later, followed by his lordship
'ail red'iaced man, with gray whiskers and an
irritable mouth.
Great Scott, Davies, here's an internally nret.
ty go!" he roared. And then as pointed to a
chair, he shook his head angrily. and added.
Can't SIT down. Too excited--too much upsetl
wouldn't have lost that ruby for check ot
ten times its vauel"
You have pleasant fashion Of plunoing in
medias res, Lord settrington" said with a
smile 1t is refreshing, but hardly lucid SUP.
pose you tell me quietly just what has occurred.
beginning at the commencement"
Well, here are the facts in few words 7
was In Chawnipore last season. and I bappened
TO show the Rajah of that territory--a deuced
nice cbap-some conjuring tricks. The old fel.
low was delighted insisted on my teaching him
the tricks, and then summoned speciaI audi
enee OF courtiers and hangers-on to watch his
performance. He bungled some of the feats ter.
roy, but, OF course they all kow-towed to him.
and he was absolutely enchanted. When 7 said
goodbye, he promised to send along token of
his satisfaction, and it reached me yesterday even
ing by registered post
And the token the ruby to which YOU
have referred?' limited
Precisely A magnificent stone, large as a
herons egg and gorgeous simply gorgeous-in
color | took the ruby to my study, locked the
door, placed the stone the table, and then
switched on the light.
Why did you lock the door," l asked inno
Gently.
Davies, you're fool l locked it because
wanted to be safe from interruption and because
/ didn't want any Of the servants to get wind of
the arrival of the stone"
Il see" I replied. "Please 90 on"
Well, having turned on the light I went to
the table to examine the ruby, when 10, and be-
hold sir, the thing was gone!"
"Gone!" echoed.
Gone, sr--vanished, melted into space for
the moment was dumfounded; but an instant
later | was searching the room to whether
anybody was concealed there. | peered under
sofas, behind curtains and into cupboards; but
not a trace of living creature could unearth'
Perhaps the thief escaped through the win
dow"
"Out of the question for two reasons Firstly,
no thief could have seen me place the ruby on
the table, because the room was pitch dark when
I came in. Secondly, the distance from the WIN
dow to the street is nearly forty feet. Thirdly,
the window was securely locked, and so your
theory concerning it isn't worth twopence"
"And the toor," / asked-"did you examine
the door?'
'The door also locked, as have told you.
but ! made assurance doubly sure by testing it.
The affair is a mystery-an appalling mystery"
Most mysteries are perplexing until they are
cleared up, Lord Settrington," I replied, with
smile. "And perhaps I shall be able to help
Won in the matter But first of ALL will you prom
ise not to be offended if l ask you plain ques
tion?"
Hang it all, sir, how can ] promise until I
know the nature of the question:"
well, will risk it," I answered "And it is
simply this: Had you been dining last evening
at all expsnsively?"
He sprang up from the chair into which he
had sunk moment before and paced the room
fercely.