The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-05-23

the Mairoda ruby, no. Ten days ago
there was a small paragraph in the
papers giving an account of a motor
accident at the gates of your country
house?"
Yes, that is so. MY husband was
driving. We had Just passed the
lodge--.nere is a sharp, a danger
ously sharp turn, coming out of the
drive on to the main road. Luckily
we always make a rule of going slow
there. Just as we got on to the road
cyclist coming in the opposite di-
rection dashed into us before we
could stop. We took him straight
to the house, of course, and had him
taken up TO bed. We were afraid OF
internal injuries, for, barring a
scratch or two and cut knee, there
was little to see, and my husband
drove off straight to Hertford for a
doctor.
"The poor fellow seemed in con-
siderable pain, and the doctor could
not discover the seat of the injury,
He remained there in bed for couple
of days, and then, at his own request
he was moved into hospital. He
left, as a matter of fact, four days
ago."
"The papers spoke of the cyclist as
at student at Markham's Hill Col
lege," said the Vigilant, (which is, as
you may know, civil service college
where they train, among others, the
sons of Indian, Siamese and other
potentates. This particular young
man was Siamese, according to
their account"
$50 he told my husband.
THAT letter that he wrote to his
friend contained an exact description
of the outside of your jewel case. /
have no doubt that he succeeded In
getting tracing, which was also
sent in the letter.
Now to go back to the Mairoda
stone. AS far back as its history can
be traced, it has been the cause OF
countless murders. 1t first comes to
light in the hands of a Chinese man
DARN. He was strangled, and years
after the stone appears in Russia in
the dagger hilt of certain Duke
Vlodmir, who also died a violent
death, and so on for a period of four
hundred years-roughly, until your
husbands grandfather won it at the
gaming tables at Crockford's. Short.
ly afterward an attempt was made to
assassinate him; it was unsuccessful
and since that time its history has
been uneventful
Now 1 will read you one or two
short extracts. Kioto!"
Third pointed to the bookshelves,
and gave an order in low voice.
The small Jap, soft-footed, laid
some volumes on the table at his ell
bow. The Vigilant picked up the
first.
This is an exhaustive work on
fire-worship. Toward the end we find
tsis;
Notice must also be made of the
Gaewaks, an almost extinct tribe OF
Northern Siam, who in long past ages
worshiped not fire, but gigantic red
jewel, probably ruby OF great size
and value, which was supposed to
have buried in its heart liquid fire
from the sun, so tradition runs; and
though 1t vanished, or was stolen
many centuries ago, there still exists
temple and sect of priests of this
peculiar worship at little known
place far up in the hills called Mey-
IA oil 10
do you know who wrote these
words? Mr.. Endover, your host al
the ball that night on which you wore
the stone, and one of the greatest
living authorities on Siam and its
folklore and religions. He has spent
first and last, nearly ten years of his
life there. When you mentioned his
name just now'I recalled the fact, and
with it another that in an account in
the Morning Post it mentioned thai
there were several princelings from
Northern Siam present.
"The case now becomes obvious;
one of those bejeweled princes from
the north saw your ruby and recog
nized it,"
Lady Borrodaile started.
you're right, quite right. One oi
them-I shouldn't know his name OF
be able to pronounce it If did
asked to be introduced to me, and
through his interpreter asked me al
sorts Of questions about English
country life. and how we spend oul
time"
quite so. He found out what HI
wanted, and waited his chance al
only an Oriental can wait. Finally
despairing of getting glimpse o
your Jewel case, he or one of his de
pendents arranged with the cyclist
who was also a Siamese, for tha
little scene of the accident, which en-
abled them to duplicate the case.
but why--why not have broken |
open?"
If only that one stone had bee,
taken they would inevitably narroy
the field of inquiry; by taking all
not only did they make 1t seem
commonplace robbery, but havin
found that you rarely opened you
Jewel case, they gained days, and bu
for your wanting a Jewel reset woul,
have gained weeks In which to ge
their Mairoda stone safely away.
"The cyclist, entering the hospita
empty handed and helpless, woul,
naturally be beyond suspicion. Mean
while. the duplicate having beel
made, the real thief, the prim