The Van Buren press., 1877-04-24

thus mentally photographed his estab
hshment, gave him quarter and let
him go. There was nothing more to be
done for the present except to telegraph
a general description OF The woman aud
the diamond cross, to the principal cities
of the country, and to keep an eye on the
outward bound steamers for Europe and
elsewhere. This l managed to do with
out much difficulty while attending to
other business More important cases
soon engrossed my attention, and the af
fair of the cross gradually fell into the
background, when, alter the lapse of sew
months l received telegram from de.
tectivc in Boston, stating that noted
gambler named "Jumping Johnny
who had twice been IN state prison for
counterfeitng, had been seen in that city
lately in suspiciously intimate relations
with 4 woman residing in Columbus Av-
enue, who answered in some respects to
the description of our heroine The house
in Columbus Avenue, and the appearance
of the woman were altogether too respec
bic for such close connection with
Jumping Johnny, without mischief being
in the wind.
l had not the pleasure of Jumping
Johnny's acquaintance, but l started
that same night for Boston to look at the
woman, taking Stephens & Marley S
salesman with me to identify her ! pre-
cured a couple of officers from the Bos.
ton force and proceeded to the house IN
Columbus avenue. II was large, hand
some structure of brown stone, and no.
ticel that the curtains to all except the
lower story were closely drawn | sus-
pected from this that the upper rooms
were all unfurnishcd, and that the lower
and basement floors only were occupied
by the inmates, who had doubtless their
own reasons for choosing an innocent
looking dwelling in a fashionable quar-
ter, for carrying on a business that might
not bear the scrutiny it would be sub
iected to in more public locality. But
this, of course was all guess work.
posted an officer on the eurbstone
before the house, and another in the
rear alley, with instructions to keep his
eye Oh the back gate and the roof.
!" don't want Jumping Johnny" ex
planned to these sentinels, am after
tile woman who stole our diamonds. II
YOU see a woman come out, detan her. .
I did not care to trouble jumping
Johnny, because, first, had no evidence
whatever that he was implicated in the
diamond swsndle, and, second, because
was employed to recover Stephens d
Martley's stolen property, and to lind the
party who stole it, and it was not my bus
mess to ferret out counterfelters, l re,
served that part of the affair for sepa
rate job.
The name Oh the door plato was simp
's-.' n'n"-as. gaag the bell, and at,
ter some delay, dufi,s which l detected
a pair of eyes scrutinizlng us from he
hind the basement blinds, the door was
partly opened by a very angular servant
with shock OF fiery red hair, who plac-
ed her anatomy in the passage and dc
manded our business.
u would like to see Madam ID Orsay,
If you please Is she at home? p
II don't know
BE good enough to find out, if you
please. Oar business is very important y
"What is it?'
placed my finger on my lips myste.
riously.
"I wouldn't do to tell it here in the
street." | said. II saw a cop on the
sidewalk ont here =" The girl looked
wise and returned my wink. 40! you
belong to them do YEP" che observed.
"Well, walk in.
She ushered us into large parlor,
handsomely furnished, and left us alone
In few moments we saw through the
open door an elegantly dressed lady dc
scending the stairs.
"By heavens p exclaimed the sales.
man, starting. That's the woman who
bought the cross
l was on the right track tnen, at last.
She entered the room with queenly step
and stood still, looking at us enqulring
ly She was certainly the most beautiful
woman | ever saw, before or since. She
evidently had no remembrance of my
companion, or if she did, she concealed
her recognition of him admirably.
This gentleman" said, rising and
pointing to my companion, sis from the
firm of Stephens & Marley, of New
York"
She turned very pale, and grasped the
back OF a chair for support.
u, madam" l continued, am an Of
6cer of the detective police We have
called in relation to a certain diamond
cross purchased by you from Stephen d
Marley several months ago which was
paid for iu counterfeit notes.
She sank into a chair, pale as death,
and trembling in every limb,
"W hat is the penalty p she asked
1--WE will talk of that afterwards
said. "Is the cross still in your poses
sion r.
alt is" she said, will you let me go
if return the cross and the money? q,
sir, please let me go. You only want
the property back, surely. | will pay
you that and more, too. if you will not
take me away"
1t was hard to resist this kind of talk.
She sat there wringing her hands, and
with her beautiful eyes sutIused with tears
a picture to melt a heart of stone.
You don't know what it is" she
said, "to be forced to lead life like
mine You don know what it is to be
compelled to do it by one who owns your