THE RAIAH'S RUBY

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1712, 6 February 1895, Page 4

THE RAIAH'S RUBY

BY J.G. BETHUN

V ' (Continued;) CHAPTER VL

MASSON RAD ALREADY CAUGHT A NEW SOUND.

Detective Mas Manson when he set out to track the two natives of Hindooatan was confident that, if the missing gem was ever recovered, it would he through his efforts rather than those of his clever comrade, Folsom Simpson. He believed’ that his rotund friend had deliberately thrown the opportunity in his way. “It would he Just like him. He came to EHeirvWe unwillingly, hut in obedience to orders. He staid long enough to help me to the true theory and stays behind to go through theiorm of doing something. That owlish look when I pnt the question to him was with a view of deceiving me. Folsom is a clever fellow, but I can road him," It proved Dot very difficult to trace the aliens. Traveling with their packs, it was their custom to spend several days at different villages and towns. When through with any place, they did not walk to the nest harvest field, but traveled by rail Before leaving Ellenville Manson made some inquiries, the result of which was - not altogether -satisfactory* He found that the peddlers had never been arrested for the suspected robbery of Miss Livermore. There was considerable suspicion expressed concerning them, but it never went to the point of interfering with their movements. “Dr. Maidhoff told me that those i wo men were arrested and subjected to rigid examination without proving anything against them. What could his object have been in deceiving me?” ‘ It was hard to answer the question. After all it did not seem of special imGrtance, and he soon dismissed it from i thoughts. ,jv

The agent at Ellen villa remembered that the two men had bought tickets fop a point about 20miles away. Thefact that it was in the direction of New York caused Manson some uneasiness, for his fear was that they might elude him by going straight to the metropolis and sailing for Europe. He decided that if he should find they had gone directly to the city he would telegraph to Chief Varick and set him at work.

Leaving the train at the point indicated, he quickly. 'gained tidings of the fellows. They had left the town only two days before, stdH proceeding In the direction of New York. Their tickets would carry them alarmingly dose to the metropolis, and Manson’a n£tegfrdng3 Increased.

A surprise awaited him when he once more left the train and succeeded, after some inquiries in gaining track of the men. That morning they had bought tickets for Wingfi<sd, whither they had undoubtedly gone with their packs and trinkets.

The curfojis feature of this last move was that Wingfield, Instead of being to the westward, lay in a directly opposite course. The East Indians had turned back over their oym trail.

“That’s queer,” reflected Manson, “but those people are as cunning asthocobras of them own country, and probably they are indulging in this deliberation for the purpose of throwing off all possible suspicion."

It was past 11 o'clock when the detective stepped upon the platform at Wingfield, which, os far as he could tell with the aid of the moonlight and a few oil lamps, was of about the same size as Ellenville, and, Eke that primitive town, contained but a single house for the entertainment of man and beast. Making his way thither, he found the landlord ffmoiring his ipipe in the barroom and on the point off retiring. -His visitors had departed, and of his guests only a couple weke visible jfi> the belated arrival. They Were the Hast Indians whom ha was seeking. ’_•_ ' .' .. > v There could bo no mistake -onj thatpoint, for ’ &> single glance was sufficient to identify them, with their swarthy skins, their (jet black hair and eyes, their white, glassy teeth an'd their half/ oriental garb. * J. They were seated in chairs in gem corner of the rooiu talking in their native tongue. Naturally they glanced up at Manson as he came' in, and nodding to them as well as the landlord. he registered and stated tha&jfie would probably spend several days 'in'the “village. It was a vast relief to the detective to find that he had run down the couple in such a brief time and with comparatively little trouble. He fully believed that one of them at that moment had the ra-. jab’s ruby about his garments, for it was.not to be supposed that after once getting their hands on it they would take the risk of forwarding it to India, or indeed of allowing it to pass out of their possession unless compelled as a matter of precaution to take the step. Quite confident on this point, the struggle, as the detective now viewed it. narrowed down to a conflict of wit and cunning between him and these swarthy miscreants, who had traveled so many thousand miles to commit the robbery. His theory, as intimated elsewhere, vrga that the 'fellows arriving in Ellen-

.luenaucareruiiy looked oVer^thegr o and decided that the safer couis them-waa to bribe Dr. Maidhaff te SSQ1 * the gem for them. Doubtless they 08 ":, : prepared to pays large price r for - not have been the intrinsic value h* -f“ ruby, great as it yas, which gave « worth in the eyes of the descendant; 0 fitefissi owners. The physician had secured the/I^ Z0 > as beqonid readily do, and tiho detective was inoliaed to suspect that he hesitated at the grime ®£ murder in or “ r to carry .out his part of the bargain. He had received the wagesof ibis treachery, and tho messengers of evil werei®nlnng , their way homeward with the priceless jewel oiid doing ao with a off all suspicion. • *■ v. ; Manson sahdoWn for a brief the landlord before retiring? ? te r r^ e night. He ? apparently bestow* little attention on the fellows in the corner, but he wanted the chance to study them, to make a preliminary survey .9* ‘'ke ground, as may be said. • $| ’ ’ On their part they, seemed to feel no interest in him, but every time he stole a glance at the dusky conntenau<^», wl *“ their red felt skull caps, tassels dangled, he those snaky eyes which instantly flitted their looks in another direction. \?< “It is impossible that they should suspegt me,” was his conclusion* ‘ an y moro than they may sugpeqjfc/hu strangers. lam sure thay are fully anh e d. pjhd the couple will bo dangerous’to - attack. They continued conversinkwth °°?' eiderablo animation, being frte with their gestures and apparently deep y interested in what each was saying. M “If I only understood H ndoostam," thought Manson, “I might be °bl° to pick up a valuable pointer or two, for they must feel free to talk! their lingo before any people besides their own.' Suddenly they rose, and bne of them said to the landlord in fair English: “Wo go to bed, please.” p “All right,” he replied, iph a yawn, glad to find that he was about togaan the sleep for which he vrbsl yearning. “I’ll be back with you in ahiinute,” he added, addressing Manson, ;who nodded and said he was ready also to retira At tho time of writing his name on the well thumbed book of the hotel Manson noticed the twb signatures of the natives, which were simply “Wichman” and so that it may be said their identification was complete. Nothing was tof be gainedby questioning the host, who not only was sleepy, but was stupid. So he followed him up stairs behind his tallow candle and along the nncarpoted hall. "Your room is next to them chaps,” said the landlord as he‘turned about to leave, “but I guess they-ain’t dangerous. ” “I have no fears*” replied Manson, closing the door, locking and bolting it. Now that he was alone, however, he naturally asked himself whether it was possible to make any tu® of'.what, under other circnmstances, would clearly have been an advantage. . f >

“If they would onlytalk in English,” he muttered as he the hum of their voices, “I could catch possibly worthrknO' WifigT I migßti as well be a mile away jfrom them.” The professional instil actfled him softly to unfasten his door and to thrust out his head, with bis ear close tb the next door. . As he did so a thrill passt id through him. Wiohman and Lugro were conversing in English. “He watch me—he watch yo u—he after us,” was the astonishing remi irk of one of . them. '• jilgi -" ' “1 see dat,” replied his companion. “Tomorrer he bring anoder officer —he take ns to jail—he hnntour pO' ckets —our bundles—cror everyt’ing—he fink he find it—den what we do?* “Mebbe won’t find it,” suggested the other.

“Why he no find it?” j“Mebbe we bide it.” £ r “Where? In woods?”; “No, he watch us tomorrer. Ho see us—wo hide it here in flia room r for he no look here,”

“Duuno, dunno,” commented the other in. a voice which showed nevertheless that lie was impressed fey, the .proposal of hiacompanion.

best place. He no look here. Leave it here two, free days— mebbe two, free weeks—den come-back, stay one might, get it’glut” If , i This amazing conversation nowueased. For several minnies only a word or two was uttered, and then it,was in-their native tongue. But the listening Max hTtmanr. had already caught a new Bound. It was such as would have been by a man cutting an opening in thowodden surbase of his room with a keen edged knife. He was confident ly knew what the Bonndmeant, OHAPTER VIL “i don’t think you hayh got the rajah’s KEBy.” The following mornlitg, when the two eepoys appeared bn" % front porch of the Wingfield hotel, Mamijoil vm to the act of saying £OO% to the landlord “I must take the train to New York," said he; “the fetanceto the sta* tion'is so Bhori HI wifo fctti I have qo time to lose.” 'it Nevertheless he stood, a few mimites after one o. the aliens Parted in the direction of the station, When the detective reached thaflfeotat, the fellow was lounging among several waiting passengers. Without seeming to pay attention to him Max ’ that he bought no ticket. There could be no doubt that he had g6iie,thither to Watch Manson.

Tho latte? 'conghi some ostentatioa tickct for tho ; metropollß tered tie smoking which **** U Lf Sautes later. The g"*" c # at the piatforaa showed _u-o East lad{a n still there, where hedonhtlsss etrnd until after the cara had steamed away, f v"?» i f* 1 booked for New York, reflected Hanson, “and is sure that I wUI go st raigM through, but I haye some doubt, oifthot in f The tot which A trata tow up was about 10 miles away. There the disembarked and a halt hour late} boarded the cara

j in the " opposite'dire<®d®. Before they came to a halt he took a cautious survey ; of the platform. K the Asiatic was there, he intended to stay on the train, for it was necessary above everything that his return to Wingfield should he unknown and unsuspected by those fellows.The coast seemed to be clear, and he stepped ouV* number of other people doing the same, to say nothing of several who fex>k their departure from the place. M&neon was specially anxious to get back tp th© inn without detection by the foreigners. He made his way along and through the street with the greatest possible precaution. It was be supposed I that the peddlers would he. absent by that time retailing their . knickknacka ■ through the neighborhood. '> Manson was confident, therefore, when he ascended the steps of the hotel, Witlhcut having caught the first glimpse of t hem, that he bad nothing to fear in the' way o£ dis* ) covery. ...... - ' i The landlord naturally shewed some . surprise at seeing his late gv iest again, but the latter, shaking him heartily by the hand, saidi ", Y" “Strange that I -should have ifergotten something. With your pemmssion I would like to gi> to my room far a few minutes.” A

“Of course, of course,”' was the response; “ make yerself at hornet Hi be glad to have yon stay a week.” ..They were neat and tidy at the . hotel, for, though the hour was quite early, Manson found that his bed> and room had been put in good order. The landlord had given min a key with which he admitted himself, setting his valise on fire floor. Listening for some minutes and cautiously surveying his surroundings, he was convinced that no one was in sight. He inserted the key in the adjoinyig do6r, whan the peddlers had spent the preceding night. He could not help smiling'.when he found that the lock responded as readily to the key as did his own. “Eve no doubt it will fit every door along the hall,” was his conclusion as he relocked his own door after setting down ids valfae in the room he was about to inspect. ha case any one should come upon him while engaged in this apartment he could make the reasonable plea of a mistake quite natural under the circumatane’ea. The detective lost no time. The appearance of the room showed that the late occupants expected to return, for a considerable of theiyTrumpery lay about the floor, and some of thein extra clothing Was suspended from the hooks in the Closet Recalling where he hadiheard that peculiar notee when listening the night before, Manson began a careful examination of the surbase running along the eide of the room next to his own.

“They were at work somewhere near that spot/’ he said, looking keenly at the portion near the comer of the apartment. “I heard them using their knife for a good while. They are cunning workefS-at that sort of thing and have concealed their work well.” When some minutes passed without any discovery, a feeling of doubt crept into his mind, and he asked himself whether it was not some tnck, after'allT which they were playing upon him. “If it was, £ can’t suspect its nature, but Til find out.” There was so little light in the comer, despite the two windows, that he struck h Snatch, and stooping down passed it slowly along the woeu. Using his vision the best he could, he finally detected a tiny bit of chipping on the cheap, ingrain carpet close to the wall. It re* Ambled A fragment froin. a match that some one had dropped, but it was the dew for which he was searching. Areotangular ridge two or three inches inlength extended along the surbase so faintly marked that only the closest scrutiny could detest it. inserting the point of his knife, be e»a steady and increasing pressure. Soon there was & Slight yielding, and then to shell of wood resembling the thin Hd oJ a small box fell cant on the floor, reveal-tog a cavity behind it a couple of inches In depth. Max Henson’S heart gave a quick throb when fee perceived a fine tissue paper renting within, but without any cervoußDWß of manner, though Ms excitement was intense, he drew it out. Ha unfolded it just enough to catch a glimpse cif a red, round substance within, When he ishoved it into his vest pocket. *Ehen with the same care hfc had glidwn •'from the first he replaced the c overing, adjusting it with such deftfregs thaffthe appearance was precisely tshe eame as before. He blew out the •third match which he had found it neo•essary to' enroloy, placing that, like its companiona/m his pocket so as not to 1 leave any trass of his work behind. Rising to hie-feet, ha passed cat of the iroonncareMly/elockedthe door behind him and once more entered the apartment where he had spent the previous, night. Then, walking to the window, wtere he had Ml light* he took out the Sandnnrolledit. ; Jua exclamation of delighted astonishmtrnf, him. The object was the StSK a robin’s egg, deep red in color, bright and seemingly with a light almost as luminous as tha t of a diamond. “Eureka! I have fonndit. That’s the rajah*? ruby sure as I live] . Rid any" man over have a better stroke of for-' turned it over in his hand and : feasted hia eyes upon its beauty. *«I not much of a jmdge of precious : stones, but I’ll wager that that gem is worth fill that is claimedl, which is SIOO,000 What a story it co uld tell if it but possessed the power of s peech!” Max Maqson was certainly authorized in felicitating himself, for his success had been little short of marvelous. 4 ‘My theory was rig/ht. Dr, Maidoff sto’e the gem from Miss Livermore and was paid well for it by these two wretches. The shook from which she died was not caused by their visit, but by the physician himself. There ought to be some way of punishing him, bu I know of none, for these fellows will never betray him. When they find how they have been outwitted, they wdl quietly swallow their loss for I don t intend to give them a second chance to steal the Pr There wasno call. for him to stay Jonu-

er at the notei, so no Dacitr the landlord goodby again, and hurrying to the station was just in time to catch a through train for New York. He scanned his surroundings closely before entering the cars, but observed nothing of the East Indians; but, all the same, the very one. that had followed him to the station that morning saw him. - This fellow was the one known as Wishman, and peering around thecornerof a building, carefully screening his* body from observation meanwhile, hekept his black eyes fixed on the detective' as long as ho was in sight. Max Manson did not forget his obligations to Folsom Simpson, whom he had left working on the case at Elftnville.. A moment before entering the care he telegrapned nimln cipher: | “The case is closed. I have recovered the ruby and am on my way to headquarters. Wire me there.” “Simpson is a good fellow and wilt send me his congratulations. Whatever % he says, too, he will mean, for there is no envy in his nature. I can see now plainer than ever how he maneuvered from the first to throw the glory of the whole thing in my way.” 1 The day was drawing to a close when his train rumbled into the .Grand Central Station, and calling a cab he was soon whirled to headquarters Chief Variok was absent, and he found no onepresent to whom he deemed it advisably to make his report. a The following message, however, Simpson was awaiting him, and, as may be supposed, Manson read it with peculiar feelings: “I would like to congratulate you, old fellow, but I don’t think you have got the rajah’s ruby.” “What the mischief can he mean?"' Manson asked himself as he held the writing in his hand and read and reread it. “I told him plainly enough that I had recovered the gem. It looks to me . as if Fol feels a little jealous after all.” Yielding te? a vague misgiving for which he could not account, lie left the office, and boarding a street car rode to the well known establishment of Tiffany & Co. «I wiU get them to write out cate for me . and forward thatrfeo For, since he won’t accept mine." . , ' Max Manson expected to- see the eyes of the clerk before whom lie laid the stone protrude with amazement. So they did, but when the gentleman took the gem in hand a peculiar expression came over his face, an expression which deepened the detective’s uneasiness. “You don’t often see a-gein like that,” remarked the visitor. * “I don’t know,”, replied the clerk, with a smile. “It i 3 truer they are not generally made so large. ’T “Not made so large! . .What do you mean?” “I suppose, my friend, you know that this gem, as you call it, is nothing but a piece of colored glass, worth at the most perhaps two or three dollars?”

CHAPTER Vm. •“THOSE FELLOWS PLAYED IT ON YOU MIGHTY’FINE.”

Detective Manson was dumfounded, and Bitting alone, that evening with Chief Varick he made known his perplexity, giving the particulars of his strange experience after being put on the case of the. rajah’s ruby. The chief! listened with his usual impassiveness, but did not allow a syllable of the story to escape him. Once or twice *he spailed at some portions of the narrative and occasionally asked anfincisive ouestioa. (To be continued.), b.. ■■ iihiwi i