The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-27

 pardon, Count I happen to know that have the honour of taking wine with the Italian lover of the lady of whom Sir Mortimer robbed him. l happen to know that the murderer of Sir Mortimer, the man who stole the Giant Ruby and abducted Sir Mortimer's child, returned, for req sons best known to himself, to Eng land, and worked a certain mill on Exmoor. I happen to know that the girl of the mill was that child. Per init me to show you my proof" He slid the miniature of Lady Mortimer across the smooth and shining table, and the miniature stopped up against the clenched hand.
 Still keeping his eyes on Reece, Raven took up the miniature, glanced at it, and slid it back again.
 Thanks murmured Reece. You admit the fact, I see. You are wise: it saves time. Now for the ruby. I happen to know that you concealed it in a little space a kind of lumber cupboard. in the corner of the mill"
 "You spied on me?" fell from Ravens lips.
 Exactly" assented Reece. And I know that you have the ruby still, or I should not have the pleasure of en- toying your hospitality tonight; in other words, you would have told me to go to the devil and do my worst"
 ''You are very clever" said Raven. "But does it not occur to you, my clever friend, that a man who, ac- cording to your argument, is in dan ger of the gallows, will not hesitate to save himself by-
 His hand darted to his side, flashed upwards; dagger so thin that it re- sembled a long needle glittered in the electric light. Dexter Reece did not move, though terror tore at his heart strings, and the smile was forced on a white face.
 ''The weapon with which you slew Sir Mortimer.'' he said. "But you won't use it on me, Raven, for good reason. Keep back! Keep back! I have left letter at the hotel, instructing them to open it and follow me here, if I do not re- turn by a certain time. It is ad- dressed to the police, tells the story of the crime"
 Raven sank slowly back into the chair, and returned the dagger to it's secret place.
 "Yes, you are clever" he hissed, his lips drawn back like wolf's, the ferocity still gleaming in his eyes. ''We will discuss this matter calmly. At the finish I may still decide to kill you; meantime there shall be truce. We will make a bargain. you and I. You want the Giant Ruby? Oh, yes; I have it still-for a very good reason"
 t.It is not easy to dispose of?' sug- gested Reece, covertly wiping the sweat from his brow.
 
 ly. ''It would have been difficult for a poor Italian to offer such a price less gem for sale; questions would have been asked, the poor Italian swer them, he would have run his head into a noose.'' He made a hide ous gesture at his neck. ''But cir cumstances have changed. Since I had the exquisite pleasure of meeting you on that horrible English moor I had windfall-a piece of luck" He shrugged his shoulders. ''It would take too long to tell you about it. I am no longer an Italian fisherman, a miller, but a Count, a man of wealth, who could own and dispose of such a gem as the Giant Ruby without rous- ing suspicion
 That is true," said Dexter Reece. 1T congratulate you on your accession to-your requirement of-a fortune. Before we proceed further with this pleasant little discussion, would you mind telling mel am a student of human nature, and am therefore cur ious-why you went back to the scene of your cri-little adventure at Thor den Hall?'
 "A somewhat poor student, fear" said Raven, with touch of contempt in his tone, GOT you would know that the safest place for criminal is to be found in the vicinity of his crime. No one thinks of looking for him there; no one suspected Lemuel Ray en, of the mill on the moor; even you did not, until you found that minia- ture."
 Which might have been found by any one else,'' Reece reminded him.
 Raven shrugged his shoulders.
 T did not know of its existence" he said almost indifferently. But, TO matter. To our bargain. You de- mand the ruby: What do you offer me in exchange, MT. Reece?"
 Your safety" replied Dexter Reece laconically.
 Raven laughed a low, sinister laugh.
 Tt is not in so much danger as