THE RAIAH'S RUBY

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1719, 2 March 1895, Page 4

THE RAIAH'S RUBY

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(Continued.) CHAPTER XX HONE OF .THAT -LITTLE PAHTY EVEE SAW - v. HIS FACE AGAIN. 1

’'.Mr. Fairchild left orders that the package was to be given to him only,” B<iid the clerk, glancing hesitatingly at the letter, in his hand and into the face of the East Indian. The latter replied courteously and in good English: “Yery true, as he explained to me, but ho is with a party up town to whom he is anxious to show the article; two of his friends leave by the steamer tomorrow and wish to have a look at the diamond before they go. Mr. Fairchild was about to call a cab to drive down here to get

it,- and they offered to accompany him, I J)ut that -was inconvenient since they are ; so pleasantly placed.' Besides they have a number of lady friends with them, and it would be hardly proper for them to come here.” | “Did Mr. Fairchild say nothing about • any difficulty you were likely to have in securing this diamond?” | Inasmuch as the discussion was concerning the rajah’s ruby, it struck Simpson as singular that Wichman should refer to it as a diamond, but the officer held his peace. _ j “Yes, it was that fact that caused him to hesitate, but several gentlemen assured.him that a written order was all that was needed, and two or three of ua volunteered to come and get it. I. respect your scruples, but there is his request. You may not be familiar with his handwriting, but you can compare his signature with the one in your register and decide as you think best.” | The clerk had already compared the

• - two, but he did so again. He was embarrassed as to what he ought to do. An expert in writing would have sworn that the same hand had written both* and yet Folsom Simpson knew that the signature to the letter held by the clerk was a forgery, though a wonderfully skillful one.

“Well, I suppose it is all right,” remarked the official after a little more parleying.

“If you have any misgivings,” continued .the East Indian in his broken language, “I will return to Mr. Fairchild and his friends, but it will be a great disappointment to them, and lam sure Mr. Fairchild will be offended.” ’ Wichman was marvelously clever in his diplomacy. He saw that he had carried his point, and it was wise to assume the position he did. ;- r ' ' „ The clerk turned to the safe with the intention of; handing out the valuable package. Of course he had noticed the man standing a few paces back, bnt Wichman was so engaged that he did not observe: that a person was behind him.

This same individual now decided that it would not dofofchim to defer action any longer. “I beg your pardon, but before doing anything will you please read this?” As Simpson spoke he handed a twist of paper from his notebook to the clerk. The latter glanced inquiringly at him and then read the slip, on which was hastily traced the following: “This man is a scoundrel. The ordei which you hold in your hand is a forgery. Don’t deliver him the package.” This certainly .was enough to make the recipient open bis eyes. He stood for a minute looking- at the penciled words and then stared at the man who had Written them. . ■ The appearance of the latter was not prepossessing. His clothing was disarranged, and his hat especially looked as if it had been “through the. mill and ground.” Despite the detective’s usual coolness, too, his face was flushed from his recent excitement. “"Who are you?” abruptly asked the ho tel man. , “One who knows what he tells you-. Disregard what I have said, and you will pay heavily for the consequences.” Wichman -must have, recognised the officer the moment he stepped, forward, and he must have understood, too, that he was trying to prevent the delivery of the package into his hands.' “Will.you allow an intoxicated person to interfere with a gentleman?” Simpson, even in his -anger,-could not help admiring the cleverness of the fellow. He did not show the least agitation, except perhaps to the extent ol looking surprised that such aw ell informed clerk should give heed to a man Under the influence of liquor. He cast a Bupercilious glance at the officer and then showed himself triilingly impatient at the mistaken courtesy of the employee. It. was plain that Simpson had not made a good impression, and .the clerk was more disquieted, than e.ver. While, on the one hand, ho did not'wish to offend a guest, he was disposed to refer the question to his superiors before complying with it. There was still danger, and the detective was uneasy. ] “I repeat what I wrote on that paper —that man there is a scoundrel. I will add more—he has come all the way from Calcutta, accompanied by ns thorough a villain as himseli. to steal a gem known as the rajah’s ruby, and which is worth 1 a good many thousand dollars. That ruby is in tho package .w—.-.b ilr. Fair-

child left with you ror safe keeping. These two rogues, baffled in all their attempts heretofore, have now resorted to forgery to obtain the gem, and it looks, too, as if they would have succeeded had I been a few minutes later in reaching here.”

While the clerk was impressed by the pointed words of Simpson, he was not yet fully satisfied regarding him. The battered hat was a big obstacle in the way of confidence. “How comes it that you know so much about this-business? - You have not yet told us who you are.” “Nor do I admit my obligation to do so. He knows who I am.” The . detective jerked tire top of his cane toward Wichman and added: “I am responsible for what I say.” The matchless Asiatic remained as cool as an iceberg. With inimitable contempt he responded: “This is the first time I have had the misfortune to look upon your face. Had I been aware that this hotel permits intoxicated persons to insult guests I would go elsewhere. The knowledge certainly is worth acquiring.” Could this be the native of Hindostan, dressed so like an exquisite and talking after the manner of an educated, high bred gentleman? Folsom Simpson was almost tempted to doubt his senses, but his bedrock common sense told him there was no mistake. Observing the hesitation of the clerk, he added:

“I see you are in. doubt. Under the circumstances there is but one safe course for you to take—give yourself the benefit of the doubt and hold the package until the return of Mr. Fairchild. Suppose that by doing so you offend him? The offense is not serious, and I will guarantee that he will hold no ill will against you.” “You will guarantee it,” repeated the clerk, with a fine touch of sarcasm, “and yet you do not condescend to tell me who you are.”

“Well, do as- you please,” replied Simpson, beginning to lose patience, “but if you choose to assist this forger I will see that you receive your deserts. If you wish it, I will convince you that he has been falsifying while standing here talking to you.” “Instead of boasting so much,” interposed Wichman, who realized that the crisis had come, “do what you proclaim yourself able to do.” ' “Yery well. You have referred tothe package as containing a diamond. I assert that there is no diamond in it. On the contrary, it holds a ruby of rare size and fabulous value.”

“Does the gentleman consent that that shall be the test?” coolly asked Wichman of the clerk.

“I won’t promise, but that strikes me as a fair proposal,” replied the latter. “I will agree to it,” said Simpson. ‘,‘Open the package in our presence and decide.” ' The clerk turned to the immense safe, and after some careful fumbling brought forth the small package wrapped in brown paper. > “Can it be I have.made- another, blunder?” the detective asked himself. “Why is this fellow so confident? Is he Only bluffing, or is there something back of this which as yet I have not fathomed?” The young man behind the desk began gently unwrapping the paper, while the couple watched him intently, as did two other gentlemen—new arrivals—with less curiosity. Simpson’s heart almost stopped beating when he caught the unmistakable sparkle of a pure white diamond.. The clerk hastily wrapped the paper around the inclosing cotton and returned the package to its place in the safe. “I have accepted the test of this person,” said Wichman, with the same imperturbable coolness, “and will leave it to the gentleman to decide who has won.” Simpson remained dumb. This was another instance in which he felt unable to do justice to the occasion. But a fourth party arrived on the scene. He was one much higher in authority than the clerk. As he stepped forward he glanced keenly at the disputants in front of the desk and smiled and nodded at Simpson. “Hellol” he called, with a laugh, “was that hat won on the last election?” “There was nothing the matter with it until it fell under a horse’sheels and was trampled on.”

“I understand —I understand,” said the gentleman, with a significant shrug of the shoulders. “I’m not saying anything; .but,” he added more gravely, “it looks to me as -if there had been some argument here.” C - There could be no doubt that Folsom Simpson and this person were old acquaintances. The fact was the detective had done work for him more than once.

The clerk was vastly relieved to have the embarrassing load lifted from his shoulders/ He quickly explained the situation. , His superior listened gravely and then nodded to Simpson to approach. “How is this, Fol?” The detective made everything clear in as few words as possible. “This is an extraordinary story indeed! John,” he added, turning to his clerk, “you .came: near committing an unpardonable error. You -must never take any such chances, for it would prove a costly' piece of stupidity on your part. lam astonished • that yon should have considered it for a moment. I don’t blame you for looking upon him with /suspicion," for that hat ought to rule him out of civilized society. As for this other individual —bless uie! where is he?’ Wichman, the East Indian, had fled, and none of that little party ever saw his face again. CHAPTER XXI. - “LISTEN,” THEREFORE!”" Detective Simpson and his old friend conversed for some time, speaking in Buoh .low-tones that not even the clerk, whose curiosity was aroused, could overhear what was said. Then some arrivals diverted the attention of the hotel man. and Simpson strolled out. Malring his way to the cigar stand he purchased a couple of perfectos and was sauntering away. again when he found himself face to face with Arthur Fairchild, just returned from witnessing the “Old Homestead.” “The very gentleman 1 want to seel” exclaimed the officer.

The young man had walked down from Fourteenth street, and his face was aglow with health. He looked inquiringly at the detective, who added: “I am the gentleman who sat behind you in the smoking car from Warhampton this afternoon, and if you can spare a few minutes I will be obliged fora short conversation with you.”

“With pleasure,” said Fairchild, leading the way to a corner, where they were beyond the reach of eavesdroppers. Then, when both cigars were in full blast, the officer told his story. ‘T am Folsom Simpson, a detective in the employ of the well known agency of this city. Something less than a fortnight ago Dr. Maidhoff. of Ellenville, Conn., wrote to us asking that we send a man to that town to investigate the robbery of Miss Livermore, who was the owner of a valuable gem known as the rajah’s ruby. Chief Varick dispatched an officer who picked up a few points, but the doctor, instead of giving the aid that we had a right to expect, interposed every obstacle he could.**

“What reason have you for that assertion?” asked Fairchild severely.

“You will not question it when you learn all that I know. Be that as it may, our man withdrew, and I took charge of the case.”

“And pushed it to success, I presume?” was the inquiring comment of his listener.

“Fairly so. Let me enumerate some of the facts which came to my knowledge. In the first place, Dr. Maidhoff received from Miss Livermore a letter sent her from Calcutta, warning her that two sepoys or Thugs would soon leave that country for Ellenville for the purpose of securing the rajah’s ruby, a gem of great value, and which had been in the possession of her family for a couple of centuries or more." “That is quite correct,” observed the young man, who doubtless knew that the physician had imparted that much to the detective.

“Now, these East Indians happened to arrive in Ellenville on the same day that the letter reached there. Dr. Maidhoff was indignant when he was justly questioned as to why, on learning that a burglary of the Livermore homestead was impending, he did not place guards in the house instead of submitting Miss Livermore to a shock which some people believe was the cause of her death.” ; . VI do not understand the meaning of that remark.”

“I say some people believe that the shock caused her death, when the fact is that Miss Livermore is alive at this hour. ” “I hope you understand the language you are using, sir." “Most certainly I do. Ido not think that eyen you will deny that Miss Livermore is now at her home in Warhaffipton, with her niece, Miss Evelyn Gilder, to whom you are engaged for marriage.” Arthur Fairchild did not deny it. Qn the contrary, he compressed his lips and held his peace'until, observing the hesitation of the officer, he quietly said: “I am listening.”, - • - 7

“The sepoys or Thugs committed the burglary as they planned, and believed for a time that they had secured the real rajah’s ruby, whereas that which they obtained was nothing but a piece of colored glass, intended to serve the very purpose that it did serve. They started on their way home with the supposed prize, but had not gone far when they discovered the trick that had been played on them. They returned to renew their attempt to secure it, or to be revenged on Dr. Maidhoff. ’’

“Revenged for what?” sharply interrupted Fairchild. “For outwitting them—one of the strongest motives that such persons can have. Thoy lurked in the neighborhood of the Livermore homestead and doubtless discovered the truth.”

: “What do you'mean by the ‘truth?’ ” “That the rajah’s ruby was in the possession of the doctor, or rather of him and yourself, for on a certain night not long ago you sat with him in the upper room of the house with the lamp burning on the table, while you discussed what should be done with the gem, meanwhile passing it back and forth between you. Ido not think yon will deny that.” “I have not done so.” “If you wish to know why I am so certain about it, 1 reply that I saw you thus engaged.” Arthur Fairchild turned and stared at the detective as if he would look him through. The only response he made was: :

“l am listening; go on.” “The warning which I gave Martha, the servant girl, put you and the doctor on your 1 guard, so that the two scoundrels, prowling on the outside, dared not attack you. You and the doctor agreed that the best course was for you tc bring the ruby to. New York, and you did so today.”

“How can you know that?" “You carried it wrapped in raw cotton and brown paper, and placed it on the inside of your vest on the left side. As soon as you reached the Astor House you gave it to the clerk, who deposited it in the safe, and you imagine that it is still there.” * 4 Fairchild bounded to his feet. ’’‘lias it been stolen?” he crasned-

(To be Continued.)