Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-04-05

l pressing lear tuat sue uuSus NC
robbed some fine day on one OF her
walks abroad, as she persisted in wear
ing all this warpaint indoors and out.
don't be fussy old granny before
your time, Larry, DEAR" was all the
thanks l got for my solicitude. 81
haven't lived ten years on the Riviera
for nothing "-(she had not, as heI
losses at Monte Carlo could testify
''and I'm quite able to take care OF my
self and my property. We have, fort
unat ely, outlived the days of highway
robberies upon public thoroughfares. .
My aunt had known lack Moncrief $
family in past years, and was deeply
interested in my mission to Paris.
Very reluctantly. to satisfy her almost
childish pleading. 1 showed her jack
souvenirs, placed in my hands in trust
for his sister. 1t seemed a sacrilege to
produce them in such an atmosphere.
My annoyance was extreme when Aun,
Carriston begged to be allowed the
custody of these valuables until even
ing, as she particularly desired to show
them to a friend. l refused at first,
but her voluble pleading at last made
me weakly give in.
A few hours later, as l was particu-
larly distinguishing myself over game
of billiards, fellow brought me a note
summoning me to the Hotel DIES Palm
iers. where my aunt lived. with all pos
sible speed.
Here l found pretty state of COM
motion. Mrs Carriston, my aunt. had
been attacked In the avenue. and
robbed, the thief escaping with his
plumber. As soon as I had ascertained
that my respected relative had come
off without bodily hurt could not re-
press an unworthy feeling Of inward
triumph at my astute prediction being
so promptly and forcibly verified. but
l. of course, maintained discreet 81
lence upon this point while listening to
the victims account of her misfortune.
Il was returning to luncheon leis-
urely enough" she began. "when, on
turning into that quiet bit of ilcx-walk.
l was startled by man jumping over
the hedge and saying something to me
which I did not understand Then.
all in a dash, he pushed me back
against a tree. clapped one hand over
my mouth-oh, such dirty hand =
and with the other tore off my bag. the
chatelaine, and all the rest of it. He
got some of my bracelets. too. though
l don't quite know how many. Then
he bolted. and how did yell! but it
was of no use. A cloud of walters went
scudding down the road after the ras-
cal. but he was too quick for them.
I'm very sorry, Larry, but those
medals and things of poor young Mon
Grief were in the bag. They were fort
unately not of much value, and l
don't suppose"
"Good heavens you don't mean to
say the thief has got Jacks last gifts
to his sister !' l cried, in Mortified dis
may.
"Yes, they are gone; but what are
those bits of things compared with my
black pearls, the real Indian fligree,
and"
interrupted with some exclamation
more forcible than polite, / fear, for /
was vaguely conscious of my aunt's
gazing at me in high dudgeon.
What fool I had been to allow
Jacks trust to leave my hands for a
moment! I was no more fitted to be
given such a mission than any rascally
blackleg Could I ever hold up my
head again at the bare thought OF
Mora Moncrieff. whom I had so wronged
with my dastardly carelessness and
rs for looking in her face, how could
dare do that unless these stolen goods
could be recovered ?
They must be recovered; if it took
my last penny. would win back poor
Jacks legacy, or never know light
conscience again.
"What was the fellow like, aunt,
who made the attack ?" asked, with
flattering eagerness, provided my de-
sire had been to search for her stolen
treasures.
"a shortish. stumpy man, with a
broad nose. and small, dark eyes. One
of his hands had the letters IS NJ
branded on the back. :"
This was a useful and important
clew which the police officers noted
with avidity, and shortly had the as.
surance that the best measures possible
for tracing the criminal would be
| taken at once.
My state of mind bordered on dcs-
peration, and I could not see no clear
way out of my difficulty. I shrank
from. presenting myself before Miss
Moncrief minus her brothers. gifts,
and yet she must wonder at my nom
appearance, having been told of my
mission by Dysart- On the other hand.
loathed the idea of tarrying at Mem
tone, where the mishap had occurred.
In the midst of my perplcxities
heard the day after the robbery that
suspicious characters had been traced
to Marseilles. one of whom might turn
out to be the man we desired to entrap