"That," said her employer, "I call the Isburn Ruby. It belonged to my
mother, and it is precious to me, both on account of its great
intrinsic value, and as an heirloom."
He dropped it into the brass apple, replaced the cover, and shut the
doors of the bookcase.
"That cover can only be removed when the bookcase doors are open;
they can only be opened by touching the button in the secret drawer
in my desk, and, even then, a notice of the opening is given by the
electric bell. I think the ruby is well protected, but if anybody
steals it I shall call upon you to find the thief."
Miss Dana said, laughingly, that she feared she would never have a
chance to distinguish herself in that direction.
About a fortnight later, Mr. Isburn sat at his desk one morning
opening his mail. He was so preoccupied with an interesting letter
containing an account of the very mysterious disappearance of a young
woman, that he was not aware, for some time, of the presence of a
person who stood beside his desk.
He looked up, suddenly, and saw a pretty girl, dressed in picturesque
Italian costume, holding a basket filled with roses, pinks, and other
cut flowers. Mr. Isburn was passionately fond of flowers and kept a
vase filled with them upon his desk. He selected a large bunch of
flowers made up of the different kinds.
At that moment the door was opened and a clerk appeared: "Mr.
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