Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-13
VAN BIBBER'S WAGER.

MS particular set were Hfouptl hlpuhu
the clnb window after luncheon, or
breakfast, NJ IL happened 20 be-, when
Van Bibber said he thought seriously "
entering upon a career of crime. Van
Bibber was given 10 making disturbing
atatemcnta OF this tort. which required
one 10 think. cyon II one did hot reply to
them, and the other men rather wished
he would not.
"For instance" said young vau Bib
Der, ~ went 10 a dance last night, aud
the room where you were 10 put your
hat was filed with old silver. little bits
OF it-snu1 boxes mud spectacle cases
and bonbcn boxes aud buckles aud
girdlcs Tho chap had made n colloc-
lion Of them. and had them al lying
sround loosA. had u good mind 90 iill
my oyercoat with half Of en-, and then
4 thought IL would b. much more fun to
al every other mans pockcts. and wait
and ace the row. but some one came In,
sud l couldn't do II. Now. there nro
these teas and receptions and days and
all that sort Of thing that women 20 TO-
Why shouldn't start ont some afttr-
noon and sweep the places bare. and
melt the silver down and get richi
might become eort Of Jack the Rip.
per or 'Louin tho LITTER Ill bet" cx.
claimed Van Bibber. becoming more In.
tercsted IN his idea. that can 10 out
this afternoon and bring back moro
than FIVE hundred dollars worth Of sil-
yer aud bric-a.hrac. aud III do IL. too.
n amy Of you have any sporting blood"
There wns no question ~ 10 tho men
having sporting blood. They jumped NJ
tho chance. Van Bibber found not tho
least difficulty In dividing up his wager
among them all.
"But wait" aaid Trayers. show do
we know that Van Bibbor won't fix II
with tho people In tho houscy Even II
his friends did no him handling tho
bric-a.bracQr even II no put fork down
his coat sleeve, they'd not say anything
They'd think he was joking. Or he mny
lie, them into 1t beforehand"
"Well. must say | appreciate your
confidence" growlcd Van Bibbcr; I'm
play fair, Of courne. and Ill tell you
what III dot to mako sure, III only go
TO houses where they don't know me.
and III bring back spoons marked with
the peoples initials.
This recklcsancas delighted his friends.
"You arc sport. Van Blbber." they
cricd with admiration, "and you'll be in
Jail before o'clock"
Tho servant brought them n society
paper that made u feature OF printing the
announcements Of coming social events.
and Van Bibber carefully selected tbs
names Of five eAtimablc ladies who were
giving receptions that afternoon. aud
who were making n desperate fight 10
set into society. as tho proper people to
rob. Al 4 he ordered hanson. put his
list inside his hat. placed frcsh chrys.
anthcmum In his coat. and started rmil.
tngly forth on his career Of crime. His
frieIsls watched him from tho window
with keen delight and with much excite
ment.
Now, thon," said Travcrs promptly
and decidedly. "the thing for Us to do Is
to send detective after him and have
him arrested"
EXACTLY" said tho rest.
Mr.. Van Bibbpr nlighted frat Mt a
very handsome brown stone house, Just
few doors OF tho avenue on Forty.
third street. There was an awning over
the door, aud line OF carriages on either
eide Of the street The name Of tho lady
who was paying for this he discovered,
by referring to his slip. to be Mobiles.
The man saw him through the door and
opened It. saying, Third floor. front. %
Mr.. Van Bibber pushed his way
through tho crowd OF women and girl.
and old men and pots Of ohrysanthe-
NUNS. and threw his oycrcnat IN cor
mr.. There was no ono In the room,
and Van Bibber. while adjusting his
cravat, cast a wandering eye over tho
dressing table. II was Uttered with ail-
Yer toilet articles. He picked somo Of
these up and bit them. In a most pro.
foSsional manner. "Plaiol." he 10.
marked. with some disgust, "lady prob.
ably geis her silver ftom caterer.
Hardly worth while TO try down stairs.
Gpcss IN move on 10 neat place
lie picked mp his overcast aud hat
again, and went ont without having
gszed upon Mrs. Mobiles. The ncKi
place was on tie avenue itself, aud wa.
very crowded. Van Bibher pushed hls
way slowly up stairs 10 the second loor,
aud. without moments hesitation,
gathered up four silver Photograph
frames, n complete manicure set Of Ill
VIZ, gold watch, which hung IN "a slip
Per nj tho side OF bed, and pair Of lil
. yer backed hair brushes. lls placed
these carefully IN his oyefcoat, aud went
down stsirs In stately and dignihci
manner. Ho avoided the first door
where he guessed tho hostess was stit
toned, und made his way toward tho
rear Ihcro WAS "a terrible crush, and
yet he saw no one ho.m.w.
In the rear room there was n long
table overloaded with things To eat. a.
gathered up three or four spoons. ono Mt d
time, after examining them carefully, aud
stored hom away back OF o bitsi china
on q sideb9ard, then he went back nftt,
more sleoa. Nobody paid any atIcn
ton 70 linn, aud h0 paid no attention "a
any ono else. Ito carried q plate will
some srlad on 1t IN his hand. aud picked
at this dalutily with tho spoons ~ No
transferred them from tho Table to tho
uldehoard. When No had dozsn he
covered them with his handkerchief and
slipped them into h,s coatiail rocket,
Then ha put on his grcatcoat, and went
out A. calmly aa he had como Ia. II,
found tho stolen utticlcs somewhat
heavy, so as soon as he was IN tho hnn.
hon, ho took them ont and put them
under the seat
Mn, Charles T. Van Dyke was IN,
L4.-4e VI - Avstcss ~ Tho t,ext ninr.