The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-11-25
THE MAN ABOUT TOWN.
DY A DETECTIVE.

itself for the tricks played upon it by
one it has courted. The votaries of
fashion are not unfrequently made
the victims of the adventurer, but for
the sake of fconcealing their own want
of sagacity the wrong doer is seldom
punished.
Nevertheless, there are episodes now
and then occurring which, if they met
the public eye, would afford a rich
morsel of humor and ridicule. One
of these came under my own observa-
ton few years since. had done
business fora well known merchant
and he was pleased with the manner L
had executed it. I was not surprised
therefore, when he came to the Chiefs
Office one day and, desired to speak
with me.
81 have some work for yourself and
friend" said he, referring to my part
ner.
"What is it?" inquired.
He then went on to detail to us the
particulars of a number of successful
robberries that had been perpetrated
recently in the society in which his
family moved. Strange as it may ap-
pear, all of these were done at fashion
abte gatherings, either at his own
house or those of his neighbors."
It would be impossible" he said
9" to suspect any of the guests yet the
servants had been strictly watched,
and no evidence could be found to
implicate any of them. Diamond
bracelets mysteriously disappeared
from the wrists of the fair ladies
gentlemen lost their jewelry, watches
and chains, and even gold headed
canes, in the most unaccountable way
at every house where a fashionable
party met, some robbery of this dis
cription ensued. 1t had begun to Gre
ate an intense excitement. Ladies
were afraid to appear with jewelry
about them; gentlemen hesitated to
display their diamonds, and were rest
less when any one approached them
Suspicion had grown up, and a cold
ness, which began to assume a very
serious aspect, had been engendered
between several families. The matter
he said, would have to be sifted, but
how to do it he was at loss to know.
I told him he would have to intro
duce me to his fashionable acquaint-
ances, and as his guest. l attended
the next party at his house. Even a
stranger could discern the GOODNESS
and lack of free and genial kindness
that pervaded the assembly. The at
mosphere seemed to breathe suspicion.
Every body suspected his neighbor.
Gentlemen were watched over closely
as they paid their deUoirs to fair ladies
and the bellies to whom devotion was
offered freely, were eyed keenly least
they should spirit away a more costly
jewel than a gentleman's affections.
One gentleman, however, noticed at
once as entirely free from these un-
worthy suspicious. His manner was
radiant with q gay insouisunce that
charmed every one. His repartees
were bIimful of wit and sparkled with
fun, while the bright smile with
which every lady greeted him showed
that he at least had not fallen under
the cloud that had settled on the rest
Yet noted the rapid, lightning-like
glances with which he surveyed ev.
erybody that approached him. Some.
times the great dark eyes would dark,
Ell with shade of anxiety, as he en-.
countered stern looking visage, and
then flash out merrily as he saw il
harbored no suspicion of him. The
man fascinated even me. l saw he
was acting. His conduct, apparently
controlled by natural kindness of dis.
position, perceived was the.result OF
ccnsumate impudence, and sang
fold that enabled him to invest it with
Il genial grace and apparent careless,
ness. The half started eager looB
which he sometimes threw around
him, overlooked by his associates, was
seen by me.
had settled in my own mind thai
he was the culprit. But to any one
else my conclusion would have ap.
peared uncertain and my suspicion
vague. Still l watched him. / wa:
eager to see how he would maneuvre
his successful larcenies. For moro
than all hour he radiated from one
part of the wide saloon to another
apparently unsettled in his mind, ol
eager to make his depoirs to all. A
last his arm was given to a lady, anG
they started out on the veranda, l a
once solicited the pleasure ola prom
enade with my hostess, and while
charmed with the sprightly grace ant
witty nonsense of my companion, still
kept an observant eye upon the Mer
QUITO, whose brilliant nothings .wer,
charming his inamorata as serpen
fascinatcs bird. The man was
study. I could hear, as passed then
his low-voiced pleasantries, the wi
that flashed and sparkled from hi
, tongue as diamonds sparkle and fiasl
in lamplight. l began to doubt tn
5 justness of my owu suspicious, whel
i suddenly his hand crept to the lady
ear; sparkle and flash Of diamonds
sparkle and flash of wit, and he lie,
her back to the drawing he
face radiant with bushes, but th
pink like ears 10 longer cumbere,
with the gawdy jewels. Agaia an,
again the same maneuvre was repeat
ed with others, and some costly orna
# ment disappeared, some beautifU
bauble had been lost.
But this was not all l saw. Th
> fascinating stranger had strived for
. jewel that he priced less than those {