LA ESMERALDA. F. CAUSER ZIHY & CO., Mexico and Paris. And a faintly scented piece of violet note-paper lies beneath the double lining, containing, in a woman's hand, this: The diamond necklace is from Maximilian's crown, the Emperor of Mexico. The centre stone has thirty-three and seven-tenths carats, and the eighteen surrounding it no less than one each. The diamond ring, the stone thereof, was in Maximilian's ring at the time he was shot. But that is all; there is nothing to tell what hand snatched the jewels from the lifeless fingers of the dead Emperor, or who purloined the necklace from the royal household. In a dusty compartment on my desk there lies a brown manila envelope, and sometimes, when the day's work is over and I have glanced for the last time across the court-yard of the Tombs at the clock tower on the New York Life Building, I take it out and idly read the press story of the famous diamond. And there rises dimly before me the pathetic scene at Queretaro where a brave and good man met his death, and I wonder if perchance there is any truth in the superstition that some stones carry ill-luck with them. But it is a far cry from the Emperor of Mexico to a New York bill-poster. * * * * * Dockbridge threw the manuscript on his desk and lit a cigarette. "Is that all?" asked the lank deputy, stretching himself. "I thought it was going to have some sort of a plot." "It's a pretty good story," said the chief of staff. "Have you really got any clippings?" "I think it's rotten!" remarked Bob. "Well, it's every word of it true, anyway," muttered Dockbridge. Extradition I "Dockbridge," said the District Attorney, coming hurriedly out of his office, "I've got to send you to Seattle. We've just located Andrews there--Sam Andrews of the Boodle Bank. One of Barney Conville's cases, you remember. Here's the Governor's requisition. Barney's down in Ecuador, so McGinnis of the Central Office will go out to make the arrest; but I must have someone to look after the legal end of it--to fight any writ of _habeas corpus_--and handle the extradition proceedings. They might get around a mere policeman, so I'm going to ask you to attend to it. The trip won't be unpleasant, and the auditor will give you a check for your expenses. Remember, now--your job is to _bring Andrews back_!" He handed his assistant a bulky document bedecked with seals and ribbons, and closed the door. Dockbridge gazed blankly after his energetic chief.