Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-03-26

criminal fraternity, and he was a per-
feet master of the more modern and
debased form Of Romany, the gypsy.
In the Quinton jewel affair Hewitt
came into contact with a very accom-
plished thief. The case will probably
be very we'll remembered. Sir Valen-
tine Quinton before he married had
been as poor as only a man of rank
with al old country establishment to
keep up can be. His marriage, how
ever, with the daughter Of a wealthy
inancier had changed all that, and
now the Quinton establishment was
carried on Oh as lavish a scale as
might be.
Lady Quinton's jewels made quite a
collection, and chief among them was
the great ruby, II of the very few
that We're sent to this country to be
sold Cat an average price of some
where about 100000 apiece, 1 believe)
by the Burmese king before the an
nexation of his country. Well, this
great ruby-which was set in a pend
ant, by the bye-together with a neck
lace, brooches, bracelets, earrings-in-
deed, the greater part of Lady Quin-
toms collection-was stolen. The rob-
berry was effected at the usual time
and in the usual way in cases Of care
fully planned jewelry robberies. The
time was early evening-dinner time,
in fact-and an entrance had been
made by the window to Lady Quin-
toms dressing room, the door screwed
up on the inside and wires artfully
stretched about the grounds below to
overset anybody who might observe
M pursue the thieves.
On an Investigation by London de-
tectives, however, a feature of singu-
larity was brought to light. There had
plainly been only one thief at work at
Radcot Hall, and no other had been
inside the grounds.
Some few days passed, and although
the police had made various arrests
they appeared to be all mistakes, and
the suspected persons We're released
one after another. l was talking of
the robbery with Hewitt at lunch and
asked him if he had received any
commission to hunt for the missing
I. Jewels.
"No," Hewitt replied, 81 haven't been
commissioned. They are Offering an
immense reward, however-a very
pleasant sum, indeed. I have had a
short note from Radcot Hall informing
me of the amount and that's all. Prob
ably they fancy that l may take the
case up on speculation, but that is a
great mistake"
We talked Of other things, and pres
entity rose and left the restaurant,
strolling quietly toward home. Some
little distance from the Strand and
near our OWE door, we passed an ex-
cited Instrumentation doubt an
Irishman by appearance and talk-who
was pouring a torrent of angry COM
plants in the ears of q policeman.
Something interesting in our conversa-
ton made me stop for a little while
at Hewitt's Office door on my way up,
and while l stood there the Irishman
stairs. He was a poorly dressed but
sturdy looking fellow, apparently a
laborer, in a badly worn best suit Of
clothes. His agitation still held him
and without a pause he immediately
burst out:
(Which Of We jintlemen will be
Misther Hewitt, sor?'
This is Mr.. Hewitt" l said. "Do
you want him 2
TITS protecshin l want, sor-protec-
shin! I spake to the polls. an they
laff at me, begob. Foive days have I
lived in London, an tits nothin' but
battle, murdher an suddhen death for
me here all day an livery day! The
polls say Pm dhrunk. but begob, I
ib'lieve they think I'm mad. An me-
being thracked an folleyed an logged
an waylatd an poisoned an blandan-
lhhered an kidnapped an murdered,
an for why I do not known
"And who's doing all this?'
"Sthrangers. sor-sthrangers. IT'S a
stranger here I am mesilf. They're
,laytn' for me in the sthreet now, 1
mksdoubt not"
This, I thought, must be one OF the
very common cases Of mental hallu-
etnation which one hears of every DAY
the belief Of the sufferer that hs IL
surrounded by enemies and followed
by spies
But what have these people doNer'
Hewitt asked, looking rather intessnt
ed, although amused. What actual
assaults have they committed. and
whenP And who told yox to cozns
hereT'
"who towld me, ts ut! Who but
the pay1er outside-m the street be-
bw! / explained to 'um, an seq he:
.Ah, you go an take a slape,' SEE he;
you go an take a good Shape. an
they'll all be gone whin We wake up
But they'll murdher mev SEE /. oh,
no! sez he, smilin' behind av his ugly
face. 'Oh, no, they won't! You take
ut aisy, me frind, an go home! Take
ut aisy, 10 ut, n go home! SEE L.
why, that's inst where they've been
last, a-r~uinationin' an a-turnin' av the
place upside down, an me strook on
the head onsenEdble a mile away. Take
Tt aigy, is ut, We say. whtn an the