The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-08-22

to act.-Dressing myself in the very
highth of fashion, / hired carriage,
and drove to the house of the Hon.
Mr.. -, found him at home, and
stating my vocation and purposes
was admitted into the library.
Il fear you have assumed futile
task, Mr.. Morse he said when we
were seated
l expressed my convictions of sue
cess.
'How do you intend TO proceede p
he asked.
| remarked tn at | should be gov
erned by circumstances, handed me
complete list, which he. had OBJ
tanned from his lady. | ran my eye
over the column with eager interest.
Many of the persons | knew person
ally or by reputation. They were
principally married men and their
families. One name-a lady
menced to make an impression on
my mind. | had never heard of her,
and-though it was hazardous
novel ventured to ask who she
was.
sOh,' said Mr.. G., Madame
Ricaude-she is an old friend. !
knew her husband when l was coun-
Gil at Paris. He was second inten-
dent of police, and died during my
term. She is an American lady with
birth, whom he fell in love with on
visit to Paris with her father, Ia
Boston merchant. She is very beau
tiful and amiable."
This disarmed me, for / knew an
other question would give offense,
and his report was perfectly satisfac-
tory. / next asked the names OF a
few persons who had lost jewelry.
He marked the names on a paper.
l then took my leave with many ex-
pectations of good will and hopes of
success of the honorable gentle
man.
My next visit was to the residence
of one of the ladies who had been
victim to the mysterious pickpock-
ct. Mrs. NJ, with whom l was &C
qualnted, received me kindly, and
eagerly gave all the information in
her power. Her loss was a large
diamond breastpin Of great value,
of which she gave me concise dis
cription, also gold locket taken
from her eldest daughter, containing
the portrait of her deceased husband.
By her kindness / was introduced to
several others who had lost various
other articles in the way of brooches,
earrings, necklaces. etc. Some of
these had been lost at the academy );
others at the wedding of st. Johns
church.
Having obtained this information,
| sat down to consider, and found
myself about as wise as when l
COMMUNICATIONS of the ladies had
lost br acelet at the first mentioned
hall, and had loaned me fellow to
it. This being almost my only clue
| resolved to work on it.
Taking list of all the pawnbro-
kers in the city, / visited each one
and made thorough inventory
of their recent jewelry receipts, but
could find nothing to match my
bracelet, nor accord with my de-
scription OF the other articles lost.
What was to be done next?
l asked myself this question, as |
was seated in my office, after my
long, fruitless search. In moment
l was in the carriage again and off to
Mrs. Ms.
'What have you gained clue al
ready 2 she exclaimed as l entered
hastily.
Not yet l replied. But all is
not lost that's missing. Tell me- /
added, who gives the next grand
conversazoi'ee in your circle?'
Mrs. Elwood.'
| 'When?'
TO morrow evening"
Can you get me billet d'eaatree"
'Certainly?'
sThen procure it Immediately for
Mr.. De Clair, Georgia planter Of
your acquaintance. If Clara, your
daughter, would play my chapero'ae,
it would be better for our scheme
Miss Clara was gay, rolicking
girl ofnineteen, with black eyes and
merry, laughing mouth, was espec-
tally fond of adventures, and being
let into the secret gave her ready as.
sent to accept my protection-tor
the evening only-as the play-bills
say.
The next morning | received a
special card of invitation to attend
Mrs. Ellwood's soiree in Thirteenth
street.
At the proper hour / handed Miss
Clara from her carriage in front of
her house, and led her into the grand
reception room,
/ had got myself up in tremendous
style. was supposed to be deter
mined to make hit-whether l did
it or not will appear in time-I am
rfraid that if asked, l could not have
sold the use of jewelry / wore. Ger
tain it was that l had plenty of it
rings in abundance-not exactly in
taste-but like my watch chain, belt
ed across my vest and large seal
dangling across my tob-all spuri-
ous-they were my bats, which l
had thrown out as an angler throws
out single line, with dozen hooks
at the end of 1t. That was my cash
capital upon which / would win my
fortune of success. If there was
pickpocket there / was determined
he should have fair chance at it,
though like the angler referred to, if
he bit at the bait he would find a
hook in it, for every article was fas-
tened with secret steel chain.
The pleasure of the evening pro-
ceeded, was introduced to several
young ladies and gentlemen of con-
genial temperament, and as con-
versed, apparently unconscious of
any purpose, scanned carefully
each Individual of the company.
/ 'Clara!' in whisper.
'What, Mr.. La Clair p
who is that singular looking lady
in the center of the groop by the
Window
'Why do you think her singular
looking? p asked Clara NJ, in tone
of surprise.
i Because she is So l replied.
Her face is pale almost to gastliness.
except one little spot where she
paints, while her black eyes dance
about like motors, and her raven hair
seems like an ebony coffin REVEALING
| dead face. She is dressed in mourn
in0 and che Ia the moat oou on1 foc