An exhibition of artifacts from the tomb of Ho Tem Ra is about to take place in San Francisco and West and Gordon are put in charge of security. As the agents arrive to meet with Logan, the museum curator, and Heisel (Sorrell Booke), the Egyptian representative, men in gas masks break in and steal a large ruby from one of the statues. The ruby is part of Egyptian Princess Miasmin's (Cindy Hunter) dowry; without it, her wedding to another potentate will not take place, threatening peaceful relations between the two countries. The agents receive a ransom note for the ruby but the exchange ends in disaster - the mastermind gets away, his lackey Ferret (Hal K. Dawson) is killed and the ruby disappears along with Rosie (Penny Gaston), the belly dancer who was wearing it on her big toe. A three-way contest for the ruby begins between the agents, the original thieves and a new group who wants the jewel for their own mysterious purposes...
Disguises used by Artie: Captain Hull, former Captain of the Northcumberland
(10:30)
Tropes present in this episode:
- Bald of Evil: Heisel turns out to be this.
- Bar Brawl: One takes place at the waterfront bar after Ferret takes a knife in the back.
- Big Bad Wannabe: Jason Starr (Tom Troupe), leader of the gas-masked gang who steal the ruby from the museum. He ends up killed by the true Big Bad's men.
- Cool Old Guy: Ferret is not only a mute and an expert at spotting fake jewels, but Rosie's surrogate father who took her in when no one else would; she's understandably distraught when Jason gets him killed.
- Death Trap: When Heisel tries to open the hiding place of Ho Tem Ra's treasure, the light from the laser kills him, and the treasure spills out over his corpse.note
- Father Neptune: Artie's disguise of the week is a shady British sea captain who tries to sell the ruby to Amalek.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: Jason has the kind of facial scar that's usually associated with good guys.
- The Heavy: Amalek (William Marshall), who serves as leader and face of the third group after the ruby. He's a far more threatening and capable opponent than Starr, though as it turns out, he's only The Dragon to yet another baddie.
- Justified Criminal: Yes, Rosie tries to steal the ruby (and later, two candlesticks from the Wanderer). However, the episode treats her with understanding for several reasons: she's desperate rather than evil; she loses her father figure because of Jason, who later takes her prisoner and threatens her with torture; and she only wants the ruby so she can stop dancing (and worse) and become a seamstress. In the end, Jim and Artie let her have a diamond that Princess Miasmin gave them as a reward for recovering the ruby so she can realize her dream. She even gives the candlesticks back voluntarily!
- The Mole: Heisel, the Egyptian diplomat, turns out to be the man in charge of the mysterious third group trying to recover the ruby. And not because he wants to get it back for his government; he's after hidden treasure.
- Race Against the Clock: US diplomat Finley (Walter Brooke) gives West and Gordon 24 hours to find the ruby.
- Smug Snake: Jason may not be the most effective villain in the story, but he makes up for it with sheer arrogance and ruthlessness.
- Spiders Are Scary: Jason threatens Rosie with a tarantula while holding her hostage.
- Sundial Waypoint: The pharaoh's tomb has one, albeit one using moonlight instead. The ruby is required to focus and direct the moonlight so that the location of the treasure can be revealed. The ruby also serves as a primitive laser; Heisel learns this the hard way.
