The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-31
nald, we are in a cleft stock.

inald, we are in a cleft stock. The man has. got us tight enough. He knows where that ruby is. If we don't buy the secret of him-of course, ] don't believe a, word of his cock-and- I bull story of a second man-he will stick to the ruby, stick to the infor- nation which he has obtained, heav- en knows how! We shall have to | give him the money he asks. We must! And there is the child, too; we | must find her, if we have to give an- 1 other five-and-twenty thousand pounds to MT. Dexter Reece-con- | found him!-for the clue" Sir Reginald remained silent for a moment, his brows knit, his lips tight ly set.
 ''This mystery has overshad dowed my life, Lexham," he said-"that and the trouble with Ronald; it has over shadowed the whole place; we have | lived in an atmosphere of murder theft, sordid mystery. For Gods sake let us give this man the money | he demands!"
 | "But the law began MT. Lex ham, shaking his head. | Sir Reginald made an impatient almost furious gesture.
 e'The lawi'' he exclaimed bitterly. What has it done for us?" It has been incapabiy blind all these years. Are we to regard-i it now-now that tery? I, myself, will pay the money; poor as I am, I will raise it somehow" He pointed to the writing-t ta ble. | 'rDraw up a paper, a kind of agree ment, something that will give us some hold, however loose a one, on this slippery knave.' l With a groan, MT. Lexham went to the table and wrote for a few min utes; then he handed the paper to Sir Reginald, and said:
 That is the best I can do. It pledges us to nothing until the ruby is in our hands," | Sir Reginald nodded.
 Fetch the man in!'' he said stern- lly
 l MT. LeXham returned with Dexter Reece; the latter read the paper and l bowed,
 'I am quite satisfied,' he said. ''l think it only right that the matter should be treated quite formally. By 1 the way he added, as the other two men signed the agreement, you will want a witness, will you not?"
 MT. Lexham bit his lips with annoy ance at this lapse of his; and Sir Reginald said:
 Ask MT. Vane."
 Dexter Reece looked up sharply but made no remark. MT. Lexnam ly with Harry Vane. He did not in troduce him to Dexter Reece; MT Lexham would not have introduced :. shoeblack to that gentleman.
 Would you be kind enough to wit ness the signing of this paper?" said Sir Reginald. Pray read it. This gentleman has found the Giant Ruby; it involves a monetary transaction be. tween us, as you see.''
 The three men signed Vane, havins | written his name, was retiring as si- lently as he had come; but Sir Regin- aid stopped him.
 'I will ask you to remain, Vane, if you wiil?" he said. You may be oi assistance to us.''
 | With pleasure, Sir Reginald" said Vane gravely. "I am at your ser vice."
 Sir Reginald turned on Dexter Reece.
 "Now, sir where is the ruby?" he demanded sternly.
 "If I have been rightly informed ' replied Dexter Reece, with perfect self-possession, it is hidden in the mill on the moor'
 MT. Lexham uttered an exclama- ton.
 Il Great heavens!' he said, with agi- tation. "The man-the girl! We've all been blind! He swung round or Dexter Reece. we will go at once You will take us there, please!'