Jewel Weed - Page 166/181

* * * * * Something over a month later, Mr. Early burst in on Mr. and Mrs.

Percival as they dawdled over the breakfast-table.

"It's no time to be paying calls, I know," he apologized, "but I've had

such a sensation this morning that I had to come over and share it.

Yes, there are times when a man wishes that he had a wife to talk to!"

"What is it, Early?" Dick asked indifferently.

Mr. Early was waving a bit of paper about in a way quite hysterical.

"Do you see that?" he cried exultantly. "I never expected to see it

again, but I declare it is worth its price. I was going over my bank

accounts the first thing this morning and I found it."

"How do you expect us to know what it is when you're fanning it about

that way?" Dick demanded.

"It's a check, man, a check for five thousand that I gave Ram Juna the

very day of his unceremonious departure." Lena turned scarlet, and Mr.

Early noticed it with fresh glee. "A check I gave Ram Juna," he

repeated. "It's been cashed, with four indorsements, in New Orleans. Now

how did he manage that, tell me. The Swami is one of the great geniuses

of the age. Of course I wanted to see the rascals punished, and it makes

me hot to think how they used my house and all that, but, by Jove! I'm

glad they haven't Ram Juna. From New Orleans, a seaport, mind you! I am

willing to make a good-sized bet that he's well on his way to his

favorite Himalayas by this time, ready to meditate on the syllable 'Om'

for the rest of his life. Oh, it's too good! How he must laugh in his

sleeve at the rest of the world! But how did he get that check cashed?"

"Well, if I were in your place, I should have it traced back," said

Dick, the practical.

"Of course I shall," exclaimed Mr. Early. "Of course I shall. I shall

put it in the hands of the police at once, for I'm sure of one thing, if

it helps to root out any sinners, Swami Ram Juna won't be among them.

He's gone for good, take my word for it; and as for the other rascals, I

hope with all my heart they may suffer." He nodded jubilantly at Mrs.

Percival, and she flushed again.

"It's a very good joke, certainly," said Dick, "but rather an expensive

one for you, I should say, Early."

"Oh, I shall get five thousand dollars' worth of satisfaction out of

it," Mr. Early went on enthusiastically. "And I'm proud of the Swami,

proud of him. And the splendid simplicity of him! I was talking

yesterday with the detective that ferreted him out. The plunder they

found in my little room was perfectly primitive. He had practically no

tools to make the cleverest counterfeits in years. A deft hand and a

wonderful thumb had the Swami."