The Washington herald., 1912-07-14

He was held as though in a vice
Apart from that. the muzzle of revol-
yer was pressed to his forehead
On second thoughts" Peter Ruff
said, Il think we will keep you like
this. Driver" he called out, please
return TO the Court at once"
The man hesitated.
You recognize the gentleman who is
with me?" Peter Ruff said He is the
detective from Scotland Yard. Please
do as say"
The car was backed and turned. the
Frenchman struggling all the way like
a wild cat So they drove up to the
front door OF the Court. to be welcom-
ed with cries OF astonishment from the
whole Of the shooting party. who were
just starting Peter Ruff touched the
hatbox with his foot
If we could trouble your lordship.'
he said, TO open that hatboX. you will
find something that will interest you.
Mr.. Dory has planned little surprise
for you. in which | have been permitted
to help"
They all crowded round Lord Clenar-
Won, who was cutting through the
leather strap OF the hatbox. Inside the
silk hat which reposed there, were the
Clenarvon diamonds. Monsieur le
Marquis de Sogrange was one of the
foremost to give vent to an eXc!ama-
ton OF delight
Monsieur lie Marquis" Peter Ruff
said, this should be lesson TO YOU,
hope, to have the characters OF your
servants more rigidly verified. Mr..
Dory tells me that this man came into
your employ at the last moment with a
forged recommendation. He is, in ef-
feet, dangerous thief"
you amaze me- Sogrange exclaim-
ed.
we are all interested in this affair y
Peter Ruff said, and my friend John
Dory here is, perhaps, too modest to
properly explain the matter. If you
care to come with me, we can recon-
struct, in a minute, the theft"
John Dory and Peter Ruff first of all
handed over their captive to the two
policemen who were still on duty in the
Court. Afterward, Peter Ruff led the
way up one flight Of stairs, and turned
the handle of the door of an apartment
exactly over the morning room. 1t was
the bedroom of the Marquis de So
grange
Mr.. Dory's chase in the motor car"
he said. was, as you have doubtless
gathered now. merely a blind. 1t was
obvious to his intelligence that the
blowing away of the window was mere
ly a ruse to cover the real method of
the theft. If you will allow me. | will
show you how it was done"
The floor was OF hardwood. covered
with rugs. One of these. near the FIRE
place. Peter Ruff brushed aside. The
seventh square of hardwood from the
mantelpiece had evidently been tani-
pered with. With very little difficulty,
he removed it.
"You see," he explained, the ceiling
of the room below is also Of paneled
wood. Having removed this, it is easy
10 lift the second one, especially as light
screws have been driven in and string
threaded about them. There is now a
hole through which you can see into
the room below. Has Dory returned?
All, here he isl"
The detective came hurrying into the
room, bearing in his hand a peculiar
shaped weapon. a handful of little darts
like those which had been found in the
wounded mans head, and an ordinary
fishing rod in linen case
There is the weapon Peter Ruff
said. which it was easy enough to FIRE
from here upon the man who was lean
ing forward exactly below. Then here,
you will see, is a somewhat peculiar in