The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-08
STOLEN
GEM
BY ALAN HINSDALE

sra globe trOtter, was in India lie
large ruby, not knowing its
be.
bru Worthington reached London
submitted his purchase to a pre-
: stone expert, and the report was
.riSing. 1T is a pigeon blood red
4 almost perfect in color and trans
leucg and worth anywhere from
,dred 10 a hundred and fifty thou
ID dollars.
was evident from this that the
II had been stolen, and Worthington
nh have liked to return ii to its
er. but. in the first place, he did
know who was the owner, and, in
second. he was obliged to sail with
DELAY for America.
IL lie steamer coming over he car
his ruby on his person by day,
ming il il his inner vest pocket.
hin the vest carefully and putting
hinder his pillow at night One after.
b. having spent the day on deck.
went 70 his stateroom, and, having
! his key in the lock and taken it
he noticed bit of something
lite on it. Examining it thoroughly.
.fomad the substance TO be wax.
korlhinston pondered long as to his
Sroverv. for he suspected at once that
1e one was in possession of the Sc
\ IF his having the ruby. He had
no one of his purchase. and no
! had seen it except the London
b expert. How. then, could any one
bw that 1t was in his possession?
H. did not care to part with the
Eel hy having it stolen from him.
price he had paid for it. the fact
/ ne had unwittingly bought "A
ben property and that he was de-
bus If returning it to its owner con-
incd him TO he on his guard with
Ii occurred TO him to turn il over
safe keeping to the purser OF the
N. Out that officer would ask him
value. and he did not wish 10 inn
h this to any one. Fearing that If
kept it on his person he would be
rdercd for its possession. he con
led t. hide it.
foing to the ships carpenter. he bor-
ted 4 few tools and, returning to
staleroum. took up a board in the
br, placed the ruby, wrapped in cot
in the cavity and replaced the
ord Returning the tools. he borrow
some yarnish and revarnished the
|turbed place. While doing this work
made sure that no one was in any
| the adjoining staterooms.
Parus thus put the gem where he
5 sure ii would be safe, he felt
bier, though he was careful not to
10 lonely parts of the ship and bar
bded his stateroom door at night,
| he thought one who was after the
b might think it was kept on his
fson.
@t the end of the voyage while the
. I was being locked Worthington
bowed the board under which he
\ placed his gem and was thunder
|nck to see the place empty.
fe was more discounted at not be-
/ able to return 1t to it's owner than
the loss of the price he had paid for
But what engaged his whole at
3tion was how could the thief have
fwn where he had hidden it.
Pc thought of calling for search
all on board, but abandoned the
"a as futile. There seemed nothing
fdo but pocket the loss and think no
| re about it.
Fhe morning after Worthington's ar
p at his home in New York he was
that visitor wished to see him.
4 Person proved to be- of dark color
cast of features common in In
He was well dressed and appear
10 be an upper caste. Advancing
Northington. he handed him a check
slo0oo.
Pr. Worthington," he said, "a ruby
recently stolen from the rajah of
gpure in India, by one of his serv-
and sold to you for the amount of
check. The thief was arrested,
lessed and told what he had done
the gem, which is one of the
u N the world. His highness the
III directed me to follow you and
Yer the gem. | did as he com !
ded and have it in my possession.
Dut why, asked Worthington. did !
not tell me that the ruby had been
eh and ask me to return it,"
fslly ! could only ask you to re-
~ ! could not compel you. Sec
" ! did not know whether you
y surrender it or what terms you
lld make"
Ut you would have had the law"
Worthington.
IS but you western people have
shg. Possession is nine points in
Jaw We Indians have something
F. better than the law. We are
ps IN secret methods"
shail certainly not Dispute that"
"orthington. "Now that the mat
: hnlshed l wish you would tell