The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-11-21

TcNctaiVu lcht rue UoWu.
dered. But the wave Of
JOY which suddenly swept over me
vac unmista<abie.
Burke" I said. "iust how did you
come to put the ssm.-or the paste
rsplica-in the soap?"
Il might a well tell 1t. A. you
say, knew the jewel box-and hon.
estly thought 1t contained the ruby
and the Clara Cooper letters were In
the safe. and never had On oppor-
tunity to take them till Tuesday night
q week ago. The assurance that Page
was going to Duluth that night. com.
binsd with the backing Tshen would
give me, put me In a position where
could take the ruby and defy Page.
I was SO sure that Page was going to
Duluth that night that arranged .
meeting between Fluette and the Bur-
man at Pages house.
For you surmised correctly when
you declared that Fluette would not
buy the ruby on the strength OF my
representations alone. The purpose
OF that meeting was to convince
Flustte Of the good faith Of Tshen's
claim to the stone. whersupon was
to procure It from the safe--ths let
tiers. too-and he was to pay over .
certain sum OF money for them"
How much?" I bluntiy demanded.
Two hundred thousand dollars"
So this was the reason why Alfred
Flustts must needs help himself to
Oenevteve's patrimony. That rapa.
cious monster. the Wheat Pit. had
sources. and 80 mad was his obses-
sion that he scrupled not to steal.
I entertained only hard feelings for
him at that moment. He had not
bought the ruby. however. and doubt
less Genevieve's fortune was still In
tact.
100 on" I commanded curtly.
what happened them"
"well. Maillot's arrival demoralised
everything. Fluette was to come at
ten o'clock and Tshen at ten thirty.
l didn't know what to do. l had no
way Of getting them word at that
time of night, and soon realized that
Page had given over the trip. con.
trived, however. TO smugEls all OF
them UP to my room. without anybody
explained the state Of affairs. and
assured them that ! would fulfil my
part Of the agreement a. soon a. Page
and Maillot retired and the house
grew quiet.
The light was out in my room. and,
psertng through the crack Of my door,
I watched Page bid Maiilot good night.
The old man was holding . lighted
candle In one hand and tho small
leather box In the other. ] know II
IVES the ruby he showed Maillot"--
~ suppose YOU were In the cur
tanned alcove while he and Maillot
were talking" interrupted.
sNot all tbs time; didn't dare BE-.
The old man was AZ sharp as a fox.
He didn't trust anybody.
"However. ! carried out my part OF
the programme. all right: hut just "a
I reached the top Of tho stairs felt
the magnetism Of somebody's presence,
I looked back and saw Page-he
locked positively Observation-Disclosures
me. How no enjoyed catching any
body In such a predicament!"
"And them
swell, then-why. I must have lost
my head. I. started for my room. but
the old man commanded me to stop
and stopped. People generally did
when Page told them to-. Flustts
learn what was the matter. Page
could not sec him then because OF
the angle In tho corridor. and the
old man paused by the etagore "a
light the candle In the iron candle
stick.
AFTER that the old man walked
right up to me and held out his hand
for the box and tho bundle Of letters
but before had time to give them "a
him, F1uette rushed In between us
His appearance startled the old man
- that he rocoiled . pace or two
This gave Fluetts the opportunity hs
He smiled at Page. and said:
"Tehx Page, you sha'nt thwart me
this time: for once I've got the uppel
hand OF you. and mean to keep IT..
Fiuette, you see, had put In the time
while waiting in my room listening "a
Tshen's story and examining his Gre
dSatials.
"That Infatuated Page 20 that he
went clear OF his head. He set down
the iron candlestick upon the floor and
plunged right into Fiuette. Quickor
than you can think. they were wres-
thing furiously for the box and the
bundle OF letters.
ri ran into my room and told Tshen
what was going on. Three of his
party were with him, and they were
all 10 excited that I could scarcely dc
anything with them. Next ! ran back
Ato the hall, where the two men were
sttuggling and threshing about They
saved their breath TOR their exertions
each trying with might and main tC
wrsst the precious package from the
other.
IAN at once the jewel box was
wrenched open. The ruhy--or what
] thought was the ruby-few out and
fell o. my feet. l stopped In q nash
ana picked II up. As ] Strengthened
upright, saw that Pags had succeed