"Now, young Janet, let's try to step back a bit and examine

the "hows" and "why's" of this museum robbery!  First, let's

give the museum curator a call!  What I cannot understand is

why the ruby was not guarded most carefully. There are so many

things that just do not add up!"

Poirot picks up the telephone .

"Yes, front desk, can you connect me with the museum curator. Sorry

I don't have the number."

"Right on it, Monsieur Poirot! By the way, when are you going to

come down and greet your public? They are dying to see you and

get autographs! It is all I can do to keep the crowd at bay!", the

front desk reception responds.

"Ah, do not worry! Poirot will greet the public in due time. First, I must

satisfy my "little grey cells" and get some answers!"

"Whatever, Monsieur Poirot, I am putting your call through now. Hold

on a minute."

The telephone rings a few times.

"Yes, this is the front desk of the Whitemanor Hotel. A Monsieur

Poirot, the famous detective from London has a few important

questions for the curator, is he available to talk to Poirot right now?",

asks the front desk receptionist.

"Why yes! Always have time for Poirot. Connect me please!"

"Sure thing!"

"Hello, I understand, Monsieur Poirot, that you have a few questions

for me? I am right this moment in a bit of a crisis myself. The famous

ruby of the Spanish Princess has been stolen! The police are

on there way here now!", the museum curator says quickly.

"Ah, but I have the ruby here with me! What I do not understand

is why you do not have more guards around such a precious jewel?

Why do you leave it unattended like this ? You are just asking

for a robbery!", Poirot inquires.

The museum curator replies, "But, as you know this is a small, one

horse town where people leave their doors unlocked at night. About

six months ago, I was in Spain and visited the museum where

the Spanish Princess Ruby was originally kept. It is a stunning

jewel and very old!  I inquired if it ever goes on tour and offered our

humble museum as a safe haven for tourists to see such a precious

jewel. I also talked to the museum curator there and he said they

would take my inquiry in special consideration because I took the time

to visit the original home of the Spanish Princess Ruby and our

little museum would be put on top of the list! I was indeed honored!!

But now look what has happened!! You see, this robbery will shut

down our little museum as how can we afford to replace an

irreplacable Ruby?", the curator explained.

"But, Poirot just said that I have it in my possession right now.

I am at the Whitemanor Hotel. I will take my private car and

come to the museum toute de suite and explain everything. Do

not worry. Everything will be okay. Poirot is on the case!"

"Yes! I am worried. This museum means so much to this little

town. If it shut down, half of our tourist trade would be ruined! Come

right on over. I will be at the front entrance waiting."

~~~~~~~~~

"Okay, Janet. lets go out the back entrance of this hotel. I will

let my driver know so we can slip out quietly, I hope!"

Poirot and Janet go out the back entrance of the hotel and in a few

minutes arrive at the museum where the curator is waiting in the front

lobby. The curator is pacing back and forth, very worried.

"You came quickly. I thank you for that. Come inside my office and

let me know what has happened to the ruby. Sit down please."

The three sit down as Ppirot reaches into his pocket

and shows the curator what he believes to be the Ruby of the

Spanish Princess....

The curator takes the ruby from Poirot and examines it carefully. He

put it to the light and gets out his magnifying glass to examine

even more carefully. A frown comes across his face

as he hands the Ruby back to Poirot.

"This is not the Ruby of the Spanish Princess. It is a fake! The real

Ruby was stolen!! What you have here is what the police call

a "switch and run" robbery!!"

Poirot gasps and Janet says, "But if this is a fake, why did they

struggle so hard to get it back? Why was I selected to get this

fake ruby? Was all this a scam to get more time to steal the

real ruby? "

"Yes, Janet, this is a fake ruby! Trust me on this one. I feel responsible

as I should have had it guarded more carefully!", the curator says.

Poirot explains, "Let me fill you in on what happened. As you know

half of this small town was attending a science fair, where I , Hercule

Poirot was the guest of honor, and Janet won my contest to have

me attend! I am guessing here from what I see, that the robbers

took advantage of the fact that everyone would be so busy rushing

to the Whitemanor Hotel to get my autograph and attending

the science fair and it seems a perfect opportunity to steal the

real Spanish Princess Ruby!"

"I see", says the curator, "But where is it?", the curator asks.

Janet stands up and starts pacing.

"The only thing I know is that I was almost kidnapped by a bunch

of thugs that must have been the robbers. They sure tried to get

me inside that van!  And remember how wierd Jimmy acted at the

science fair, Monsieur Poirot? What's up with that? He could

possibly be involved in this robbery also, even if it is a wild guess!"

Poirot asks, "But why would they pull a "bait and switch" jewelry

robbery on a young girl like Janet? "

The curator shook his head. I only know we have to get that

Ruby back before it is either pawned or the robbers get out

of the state or this museum will be shut down.

Do not worry, Poirot and Janet will find the real Spanish Princess

Ruby!

to be continued...