A ROVANCE RO A DIETECTIES CASEE-BOON 71

deep interest in the man, for there was an individuality about him that stamped him at once as a somewhat remarkable person. His voice was in keeping with his looks. [t was firm, decisive, and full of volume, and attracted onc by its resonance. [ felt at once that such a man was not likely to give himselt much con- cern about trifles, and, therefore, the business he had come about must be of considerable importance. Do, push- g the papers 1 had been engaged upon on once side, I turned myv revolving chair so that I might face him and have my back to the light, and telling him that I was prepared to listen to anvthig he had to say, [ half closcd my cves, and began to make a study of him.

“ 1 will be as brief as possible,” he began, as he placed his highly polished hat and his umbrella on the table. “ 1 am a military man, and have spent much of my .time in India, but two years ago | seturned home, and took up my residence at the Manor, Iosher. Twice since T went to live there the place has been robbed 1 a some- what mysterious man- ner. The first occasion was a little over a year aco, when a number of antique silver cups were stolen. The Scotland Yard autho- rities endeavoured o trace the thicves, but taited.” |

“ I think T remember hearing something

about that robbery,” I remarked, as T tried to recall the detmls, = Buat i what wav was it a mysterious one # " '

“ Because it was ‘mpossible to determine how the thieves gained access to the house. The place had not been broken into.”

““How about vour servants ? " I asked.

“Oh, I haven't a servant who isn't honesty itself.”

TOIHE coroNEn?

“Prav proceed. What about the second robbery 27

“That 1s what T have come to vou about. Tt 1s @ very serious busimess indeed, and has been carried out in the mysterious wayv that characterised the first one.”

“You mean 1t s sertous as regards the value of the property stolen 7

“Inoone sense, ves but 1t 1z somecthing more than that. Dur- mg my stay o India [ rendered very consi- derable service mdeed to the Rajah of Maol- tan, a man of great wealth., Defore T leht [ndia he presented me with a souvenir of a very extraordinary character. It was nothmg more nor less than the skull ot one of his ancestors.”

As it seemed to mie a somewhat frivolous matter for the Colonel to take up my time because he had lost the mouldy old =kull of a dead and conce Rajah, I said, * Kxcuse e, Coloncel, but vou can hardly expecet me to devote my energies o tracing this scmewhat oruesome souvenir of vours, which probably the thiel will hasten to bury as speedily as possible, unless he hap- § pens to be of a very

morbid turn of mimd."”

“You arc a httle

premature,” said the Colorel, with a sus-

picton of sternness. That skull has been

valued at upwards of twelve thousand pounds.”

“Twelve thousand pounds ! T echeed, as My mterest momy visitor deepened.

“Yoes) siry twelve thousand pounds. It 1= lashioned into a drinking goblet, bound with solid eold bands, and cencrusted with precious stones. In the bottom of the goblet, mside, 15 a diamand of the purest water, and which alone 15 ca1d to be worth two thousand pounds. Now, quite apart