THE RAIAH'S RUBY

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1710, 30 January 1895, Page 4

THE RAIAH'S RUBY

BY J.G. BETHUNE.

chapteb L

EE CAREFULLY OBSERVED THE MANNER OB'

THE DOCTOR. Detective Max. Manson uttered an ex. pression of impatience. “This is too. bad. I have teen away from home for nearly six weeks on that affair in Manitoba, and having worked it up so well that the chief took the trouble to telegraph me hit thanks and congratp. lations I was confident of haying a little vacation with Mollie and the baby a home. I was so certain, indeed, that 1 have telegraphed her on what train to expect me, and now this turns np confound it!” , The “this” to whioh he referred was $ cipher telegram that he held in his hand, ft was his duty to keep them _ posted at headquarters as to his precise whereabouts, so that it was easy to intercept him at any point. Thus it happened that when within a few hours’ride of Ins home the following peremptory message reached him: . •* : ,

Miss Antoinette Livermore at Ellenvillehaa been robbed of valuable Jewelry, Go thither without delay and take charge of the case. Varick.

It was a sore disappointment, hut Detective Manson had followed his profession long enough to learn to take things philosophically, and by and by his ruffled temper was tranquilized, and ho was able to address himself to his new task with his accustomed energy and skill. A half hour later the train drew up at the junction, and the detective, taking down his grip from the rack overhead, buttoning his overcoat about his athletic figure and “shaking himself together,” as the expression goes, stepped out upon the platform and watched the train with a sigh as it swept out of sight around a curve. Then he stepped into a little telegraph station and sent a message to his wife apprising her of the sudden change made necessary in his arrangements. He thought himself warranted in indulging in a slight explosion of wrath over their mutual disappointment.- , “It will add a little to the cost of the telegram.” he grimly muttered, “but it is a relief and worth all it costs.”

The crisp autumn night was closing Swhen Detective Manson left the train the small station of Ellenville and made his way to the only inn in the conn*

try town, He expected a letter giving him . fuller information, and on inquiry at the postoffice the missive was placed in his hand. . Not until he had eaten his dinner and gone to his room did he open the letter. He found it to the point as far as it went. Miss Livermore was a wealthy spinster about 50 years of age, who lived alone with her niece, Evelyn Gilder, an orphan. The latter was a most excellent lady, hardly ont of her teens, bright, beautiful and accomplished. Naturally she was believed- to be the heiress of the wealth of her aunt, who had been in poor-health for a long time. Miss Livermore was the owner of a number of very valuable jewels, heirlooms that had descended to her through several generations and with which nothing could induce her willingly to part. The gem of the collection was an immense pure “pigeon blood” ruby worth more than SIOO,OOO, and with a history which traced it back to a famous rajah of India.

; Like all great jewels of the world, the story of the “rajah’s ruby” was one oi fire, blood, rapine and crime. It had played a prominent part fei many fierce struggles between the native chieftains of the Punjab, and at one crisis in its bistory, came near causing a war between two leading nations in the east. Finally, through means which it will not do to inquire particularly into,, it came into the possession of Captain Burbank of the royal navy, who when he sailed for England tookihe magnificent gem with him. This Captain Burbank was an ancestor of Miss Livermore, and from him it tranquilly -descended through several generations to her, who was a resident of 4he sleepy New England town of Ellenville. After imparting these interesting facts the letter of Chief Varick broke off with the instruction to'Detective Manson to consult Dr. Henry Maidhoff, the family physician, who would give him all necessary information. Under other circumstances this suggestion would have read strangely, but Detective Manson accepted it as the most natural thing for him to do. No one could be presumed to be acquainted with the family history of the despoiled family to that intimate extent as the gentleman who had ministered to the ailments of the invalid. He was the one of all others to whom he should apply, and the officer decided to go thither before,calling at the house to interview Mlbs Livermore, the victim of the crime, though hL inclination was to begin his investigations at headquarters, as it may bfi termed.

He was fortunate in finding BtaMf hoff in his little office and disengaged. He was a small, wiry man, slightly gray* nervous and quick of speech and movement, and with the keenest and most piercing eye that the officer had ever seen in all his experience. It cannot be said that the appearance of the physician inspired the visitor with instant confi. dence.

Detective Manson introduced himself and explained that he had, called at the

I suggestion or'fils employers, wno’ assfixeu him that the doctor would impart valuable information. “I am glad to see you,” replied the physician in his sharp, nervous maun® l '* “It was I who wrote to your office in New York asking them to detail one of their best officers to trace the gem that ■was stolen last week/’ “Last weekl” repeated the officer# “Why, we are close to the end of the present week. This is Friday. When did the robbery take place?” “On Wednesday a week ago.” /. “And when, may I ask, did yon write to the office?” “Eight days ago.” “Why did you delay so long? Hours are worth davs.at such times." “One day is not very long, but I see that it would have been better had I been more prompt. Regrets, however, can do no good now. You must remember, too, that the flurry and excitement caused by the funeral naturally interferred with deliberate action.” “The funeral? Of whom?” “Is it possible that your folks did not tell you? Whose funeral would it be but Miss Livermore’s?” ; ■ 7 “Is Miss Livermore dead?” asked the detective, forgetting himself in his excitement. “We are not accustomed to bury people alive in Eilenville, though it must be confessed that such instances are not unknown.” ,“I beg pardon, but will you be kind enough to give me the particulars of the robbery?” - “Briefly they are these: Miss Livermore at the time of the burglary was at borne alone—that is, with but a single female attendant. She kept this famous ruby with a number of superb diamonds in a safe in the diningroom. About midnight of Wednesday of last week she was aroused from slumber by a masked man with a dark lantern at her bedside. You will admit that the experience was enough to startle the bravest person. Consequently when the fellow demanded that she should give him the combination of the safe under pain of instant death in case of refusal she could do nothing less than comply. The burglar opened the safe, took out the “rajah’s ruby” and departed without leaving a trace behind.” “You said there were other jewels in the safe. May I ask whether any party is under suspicion?” J 9 Dr. Maidhoff seemed to be disturbed; by this pointed question, for if his eyes were sharp and penetrating they were no more so than those of his visitor, who, Bitting back in his chair twiddling his fingers in front of his face, looked straight into his countenance while making his inquiries. ■ “Have a cigar?” abruptly said the doctor, springing up from his chair in front, of the grate and taking a half filled box from the shelf. Manson thanked him and accepted one of the weeds and proceeded deliberately to light it with the match which his host handed to him. It need not be said that he carefully observed the manner of the doctor, though appearing not to do so. “And they are there still. The visitor seemed to have a fancy for rubies only, or rather for this particular specimen fie took nothing else.” “But you spoke of Miss Livermorba death.” 1

“The criminal offered her no violence, for, as I told you, she complied with his demand without question, but the shock of his visit (for what could have been more terrifying to one in her weak, nervous condition?) threw her into a deplorable ' state. The servant came in great haste for me in the morning v for not until then was the poor woman’s condition discovered. Miss Livermore was suffering from an affection of the heart, and despite all I could do survived but an horn after my arrival. During that hour she managed to give me the particulars of what I have Just told you, to request that she should be buried beside her mother in her native town of Warhamptoh, to leave a message for her niece, Miss Gilder, and that is all.” ‘ Now that the professional gentleman was on his feet he became more at ease. He took two or three quick turns across the small Office, then dropped into jbds easy chair, crossed.Ms legs, puffed at his cigar and replied to the question of his visitor: “I hardly know what answer to make to your query. For a couple of days after the robbery 1 did not suspect any one. I would not have done so even then had I not learned that two suspicions characters were in Ellenville the day before the crime.” “Who were they?” “A couple of ostensible peddlers. They seemed to be East indians-rswarthy fellows, almost as dark as negroes, with white teeth, jet black ©yes and hair, fantastic dress and a lot of laces and handkerchiefs, of which they sold quite a number in this town. When I learned of their presence, I wrote at once to Hugh Varick, who is an old acquaintance of mine.” - CHAPTfat Ifc ' “watch Etni!” “You know how such things are managed in a sleepy town like Ellenville,” continued Dr. Maidhoff. “I have been a practicing physician hero for more than 20 years, and this is the first instance of a burglary that I have known. I informed the chief cpnstable, and,” he added with a smile, “he went through © certain investigation, looking' exceedingly solemn and wisio all she time, with the result of declaring that tiie crime had been committed by some person or persons unknown.'! nt _--*aw- ... ‘ ‘What of thblerapposed East Indians?” ‘‘They were traced to the adjoining village of Meadmore. arrested and subjected to an examination.” “With what result?” v

“Nil If they 3 guilty parties, of course they were cunning enough to hide the ruby beyohd all possibility of its being traced.” “They certainly had every opportunity to do so.” The interview between the detective Cud physician had progressed far enough for the former to see that prodigious blundering had marked every eten • on the part of the authorities, even if it could he conceded that any steps at all had been taken. The fact that Miss LiyernmreiejDlL yalpc

1 able' jewels* in a safe 'lnTfi.eir nQ# ! was a standing invitation fpr desperate men. to make just such a visit as had fceen made. The wonder was that it was delayed so long. The safe*, might have been sufficiently secure to Resist a regiment of soldiers, and yet so long as sjie of possessed the secret of the combination it could be obtained on demand precisely as it had been obtained. “Respecting the niece of the deceased, Mis? Gilder, where is she?” ‘ ‘She was visiting among her relatives jß,t WarKampton when Bhe received my telegram summoning her to her aunt’s bedside. She responded at once, but of course' did not arrive until some hours aftpr her death. She and Mr. Fairchild wero &t the funeral.?’ A is Mr. FairchiMf 1! - V&yovrig lawyer in this place.” „ “There must have been a good many others] at the funeral. Why do you refer to Hm by name?” “It Is generally considered that he will ®oon become the husband of Miss Gilaer." i © “Do you biow such to he the fact?” “I am not honored with the confidence of Mr. Fairchild,” - |“Nor with that of Miss Gilder?” i “Not to fhe extent that your question would imply.” . J • ¥ “What will be done with the home and the property left by the late Miss liivenpore?” I “We shall be governed by the instructions contained in the will. That follows as a matter of course.” f Detective Mansoa was quick to notice the uso of the pronoun. It came in the Mature of a revelation to him, f “Then you are one of the executors?” The physician inclined his head. He ■was now quite cool and self possessed. The two gentlemen looked at each other from behind their respective clouds of tobacco smoke and talked as though they had been acquainted for years. “Who is the other executor?”

“Pardon me, Mr. Manson, but it strikes me that your questions are taking a singular line.” r- “And you will pardon me, doctor, if they seem to be objectionable.” - “I would hardly put it as strong as that. The information you ask could be readily obtained elsewhere, and it would be rude in me to refuse it, It was only that I failed to see the bearing of the knowledge you seek. Mr. Aaron Birchett, an elderly gentleman and a lawyer, who has spent all his life in Ellenville, is the other executor of the estate.-”

“The late Miss Livermore having been buried, I presume the will lias been rea “Yes, but not yet admitted to probate. Would you like to know its provisions?”

” “I confess to some curiosity in that direction.” “The* late Miss Livermore had no near relatives excepting her niece, Miss Gilder. She seems to have been estranged from all besides her. What more natural, therefore, than that she should have willed everything to Miss Evelyn Gilderf “Including the diamonds and the rajah’s ruby?” “Including them. It makes Miss folder quitd independent, for, leaviagthe jewels out of the question, the property will amount to close upon $350,000,” “Miss Gilder is a lady to be congratulated, and from what I have heard of her Mr. Fairchild will be an exceedingly fortunate man.” ‘fThat cannot be disputed, provided he wins her hand.”

“You speak as though there is doubt in the matter.”

“Life is made up of doubts, and there is nothing certain in this world except death, which is the most uncertain of all things.” At this juncture the office bell of Dr. Maidhoff tinkled, and excusing himself he arose to answer if;. To do so he was obliged to step without upon the side porch. Instead of closing: the door behind him. while speaking to Ms patient, as delicacy ought to have required in order to prevent the words of the caller from being , overheard, he held it partly open. Standing thus his slight figure was in plain sight of Manson, who fox 1 the same reason remained in the doctor's field of virion. Not oniy that; but the physician kept his head partly turned, so that Ms viator could not make a move without being seen. Detective Manson smiled grimly and reflected:

“We are enemies, but all the same I would like about iO minutes in wMch to go through some of the drawers and bookcases over there.” TM doctor 'Spent out a minute or two talking with the man who was in quest of his professional services. He turned about, and without sitting down again began preparations for going out. “lam sorry to appear inhospitable, Mr. Manson. but a doctor is at the beak and call of every one, and i must answer an urgent summons to a point several miles out in the country,” “That is one of the penalties of popularity and skill,” replied the detective, with much heartiness, as he arose to ids feet. “1 am very muoh obliged to you j?or your kindness and shall not fail to let Mr, Vari&k know of yourcourtesy.” “It is not worth mentioning,” said the doctor, drawing on Ms gloves. “May I ask how the matter Btrikes you?” Detective Manson shook Ms head disparagingly. “Why didn’t the cMef let me go on home to the bosom of my family instead of sending me on such a wild goose chase as this?” • “Is that the question wMch you will ask Chief Varick?” inquired Dr. Maidhoff, with a laugh. “Will it not be the question wMch he will askMmself when he has all the facts before him?”

“I am inclined to think you are right, though of course everything possible will be done to trace the ruby, which is a fortune in itself. What a pity that after such a varied Mstory it should become the prey of an ordinary housebreaker!” Mr. Manson thought it best to sympathize with tMs view, though ho might well have replied that the last robbery was in keeping with the Mstory of the wonderful jewel. More than likely few owners of the gem for a century of years could have shown a clean moral title to its possession. Bidding the doctor goodnight thecall-

gassed out; or eho oMce clown t-ns suon, graveled walk, stepping briskly, sf though he had important business on his hands or because the keen autumn air stirred his blood. The first point whither he made his way was the telegraph office, where he sent the following dispatoh to Chief Yarick in cipher: “What is yonr opinion of Dr. Maidhofle?” As some time must elapse before he could expect a reply, he inquired the way to the office of Lawyer Birchett. It was on the main and indeed only street of Ellenville, and he found it without difficulty, a small, dingy place, known to every person who had ever Bpentafew hours in the town. Although the evening was well along, and he supposed the old gentleman was at home with his family, he was pleased to find him within and alone busy over some legal papers. Mr. Manson did not deem it best to present himself to the old man in the character of a detective, though he came near doing so when lie stated that he was an officer from New York, who, being in the neighborhood and hearing of the robbery of the late Miss Livermore, had called to learn whether he could be of any help in tracing the criminals. Mr. Birchett scanned him closely over the top of his spectacles before he made deliberate answer:

“I certainly wish you could, but I see no way in which you can be of any as- _ Bistance at all. To my mind one of thosb%fc tramp peddlers who were in Ellenville V last week was the f allow that opened the safe, and so much time has passed since then that it is impossible to fix the guilt upon them, to say nothing of the missing jewel.” “I am surprised that the investigation was delayed so long.” “It was a great mistake,” replied the old lawyer, twirling his spectacles oyer his fingers while he looked thoughtfully to the cobwebs on the ceiling. “I reproved Dr. Maidhoff. but he had so much on his hands tnatne was excusamw for not thinking of it.” Detective Manson did not expect to pickup any important information here, nor did he do so. He wished to see the lawyer so as to form an impression of him. On bis return to the hotel he called at the telegraph office, as he had promised to do, for the reply to the message sent to New York. It had just arrived and consisted of two words, which being translated, read: 1 > “Watch him!”, CHAPTER HI j HE WAS NOT DISTURBED. ... Detective Manson believed there was) U good deal yet to be learned about the! rajah’s ruby. At the same time he wa | also convinced that he had picked up a* few threads of exceedingly important evidence. Perhaps he was wrong. Indeed it was more than likely that he was in a fair way to commit several blunders if he had not already done so. The man of infallible judgment is yet to appear.

“The simple fact as I view it,” he wrote to Chief Varick, “is that Miss Livermore was robbed of an exceedingly and died a few hours Tateffrom the 3hosfe»—©eneraLsuspicion points to the two East Indians wbo,were seen in Ellenville about the time of' the robbery. It is not at all impossible that), learning of the whereabouts of the rajah’s ruby, they have been sent or haye come of their own' accord from the othe| side of the world to recover it. Those Asiatics are capable of any crime to secure such a gem, and so are other people. “But just now the most suspicious person to me is Dr. Henry Maidhoff. He Is shrewd and cunning, and while pretending to help is doing all he can to baffle me in my attempt to trace the ruby. He would not do so without reason.

“Dr. Maidhoff was the only person who was with Miss Livermore when she died. Ho must have known about the gem, where it was kept, and more than likely he possessed the combination to the safe. Suppose he stole it. None of hja acquaintances would suspect him, and therefore he incurred little risk.” The field of investigation expanded almost infinitely before Manson, and & score of “theories” presented themselves, upon any one of which an apparently stable structure could, have been_rearecL (To be continued.) rnrrnimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmßmmrvm it ‘f