Murphy bore the reputation of being very close-fisted. The three men drank together, and then Kidd produced the diamond. The old “fence” took the gem in his hand, and held it near the light. His well-trained facial muscles betrayed no astonishment. His hand trembled as he gazed upon the wondrous stone. “An emerald, as I remarked before seeing it.” “That is no emerald!” said Enoch. Kidd’s jaw fell. The latter knew an emerald, even of that size, was vastly inferior to a diamond in value. “My friends,” said Monte, “I believe I can honestly claim to correctly tell one jewel from another. I say this is an emerald.” Murphy knew the stone was what Enoch claimed it to be. Never had he seen a jewel so beautiful. It was worth the ransom of a king. “But,” continued Monte, after a pause, “emerald though it is, the stone is quite valuable.” “How valuable?” asked Kidd, speaking for the first time. “I might be able to get eight or ten thousand dollars for it, but I am not going to pay you that price.” Kidd and Enoch exchanged looks. Both felt rather crestfallen. Dick believed Murphy’s statement. Cook did not. “Well,” said the latter, “I guess we will have to take the jewel to another mart.” “I will give you five thousand dollars for it.” “I’d throw it in a sewer before I’d accept that price!” said Enoch. “You must be well supplied with funds, when you can throw away five thousand dollars,” remarked Monte. “We won’t take less than fifty thousand, not a penny.” “You’ll never get it.” “Give me the stone!” Enoch held out his hand. “I rather think I shall keep it!” said Murphy, and he coolly pocketed the gem. Both the others sprang to their feet. “Stop!” The door was thrown open, and two men rushed into the room. Each of the newcomers had a revolver in hand, and they covered Cook and his pal. “What does this mean?” “It means,” said Joe Snell, one of the intruders, “that, if you or your friend raise a hand, we will send the pair of you to visit the devil!” Monte smiled at his visitors’ great discomfiture. “Do you mean to rob us?” cried Enoch hoarsely. Both he and Kidd were deathly pale. “I shall keep the diamond,” said Murphy, “until an owner for it turns up.” “You old villain, it is ours!” cried Kidd. “Joe Snell,” said Enoch, “I didn’t think you would act like this.” “Shut up!” “No,” said Monte; “throw them out.” Covered by the revolvers of his friends, Murphy backed out of the room. Both Kidd and Enoch were beside themselves with rage. A fortune had slipped out of their hands. CHAPTER X. ZULIMA AND THE DETECTIVE. On the morning following the capture of Henry Stolburst, Burt visited the latter’s hotel. The explorer’s valet told him his master had left the hotel the evening before, promising to return in a few hours. “Do you know where he went?” inquired the detective. “He did not say,” replied the valet, whose name was Jacob Bude. “Have you no idea?”