The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-29
A Royal
Gem
It Was q Bone of
Contention
By r. A. mitchell

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One morning I was aroused by tele-
phone from my bed by my chief and
directed to 60 to the house Of a Mr.
Ackley. was to apply at the base
ment door. where I would be admit
ted by tho gentleman himself.
found q residence that indicated
its occupant was wealthy. Mr.. Ackley
was waiting for me at the basement
door. He gave me the points in the case.
Not long before, while travelling
abroad, he had purchased sapphire
which had originally been in the crown
Of a Balkan sovereign. Whether 1t
had been stolen or purchased by the
person who sold 1t to Mr.. Ackley he
did not himself know. He was told.
however, that his majesty was in finan-
cial straits and had parted with it for
ready money. At any rate, the king
now desired to regain 1t. He had sent
an agent who had bargained for 1t.
offering very low price for 1t, basing
his offer on the theory that 1t was
stolen property. Ackley preferred not
to sell 1t at any price, but, not being
willing to keep it from its original
owner, offered to exchange it for a
price equal to what he had paid for
1t, which, though less than its value,
was considerable. This offer was de-
clined, and the agent withdrew from
further negotiations.
Not long after his withdrawal a
Frenchman named Du Pierris brought
q letter Of introduction to Ackley from
q gentleman the latter had met in
Rome, member Of the court of Victor
Emmanuel. Du Pierris proved so at
tractive to Ackley that he had invited
the Frenchman to visit him in his own
house. Du Pierris had become Ack-
ley's guest, and Ackley had introduced
him to society.
The Balkan sapphire Ackley kept In
his own house in a safe where many
Of his valuables were deposited. One
night while lying awake he decided to
60 downstairs for a bite and glass Of
wine, as he often did when wakeful.
hoping that he might thus regain slum-
Der. On such visits to the larder he
usually turned on the electric light In
the hall after leaving his room, but on
this occasion he saw mans silhouette
against the window at the other end OF
the hall. The safe was located midway
between Ackley and this window. He
paused and waited and watched. But
he dare not turn on a light for fear OF
soaring the person away and could see
| nothing more of the figure. Presently
he heard family sound that resem
bled the closing of a safe door, ther
saw the silhouette between him ant
the window. The silhouette vanished
probably entering one Of the rooms OF
the hall.
Ackley went back to his room and
after waiting awhile, stole down init
the hall with an electric lamp, fiashet
It against the safe lock, opened tn
door and looked about for his valu
ables. The sapphire was gone.
Closing the safe as gently as possible
he returned to his room.
Only members Of the family AM
guests slept on the floor In question
None Of the family would steal any
thing, and the guests, excepting D.
Pierris, were old and long tried friends
It suddenly flashed upon the host tina
the Frenchman was an agent OF tn
former royal owner Of the sapphire an,
that he had imposed upon Ackley'
Roman friend and secured the letter
Introduction in order that he might bt
come intimate with him and steal tn
gem.
| If this theory were correct the mex
move on the part of Du Pierris woul
be to get away with the gem, and b
would not likely allow much time
elapse before doing so. Ackley decide
to forestall him, so, putting on a gov
and slippers, went downstairs to IL
telephone booth and called up our o
fee, where he had before applied Il
detective service.
II Such were the facts given me by Nj
Ackley. who added that so far as fixin
the theft on Du Pierris was concerne
that was very simple. If he were th
thief he would either disappear will
out bidding his host goodby or b
would offer an excuse for departing In
mediately. To this l assented. aske
: Mr.. Ackley for a description Of tn
stone, for l might have to leave hiI
at any moment to follow Du Pierri'
1t was of that variety Of sapphire cal
ed astoria, or star stone. the color b.
ing a reddish violet, with an opalescer
luster. Mr. Ackley had scarcely give
me this when we heard step descend
ing the grand staircase as Of som
one treading softly. The steps were {
wood and uncarpeted or We would ne
have heard it. Ackley put his finge
to his lips and, moving noiselessly
the door Of the room, peeped. Then b
turned and by meaning look assure
me that it was our quarry. But b.
fore any action could be taken d
| Pierris had opened the front door an