St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-04
CALCATROHpS REVENGE.

Sh6Vh uSuh ~ III xiv W 1
OF course you remember that affair
which caused so much gossip four or
five years ago, at the wedding of Anto-
min Leroux, the bankers son, and Mile.
Combe aux Fontaines.
LerouX had formerly been associated
with an Italian count named Calcatroni,
who was often numbered among the
bankers guests. He is seen there no
more, however.
There were rumors afioat casting
doubt on the solvency of the bank, and
many persons predicted that the mar
riage would never take place, yet it did,
and the presents were magnificent.
Among the guests was an old friend
of the brides family, the learned Des-
roches, librarian of the Garde Meuble,
a man whose position obliged him TO
cultivate two very different qualities; 1t
was necessary for him to be at the same
time the most courteous and the most
suspicious OF men-to treat every reader
in the library as brother in science,
an esteemed friend, but friend who
must be closely watched. and whose
pockets must be probed with glance.
est men," he often said; but there is
no human being on earth who is not. at
some time of life. tempted to walk off
with valuable book"
To return to the wedding. On leaving
the church the bridal party and guests
went to Nine. LerouX'S home, where
collation. was served. In one of the
parlOrs the presents were on exhibition,
according to despicable custom which
forces every guest to contribute with
generosity often involuntary. Among
the jewelry was diamond necklesS, the
gift of the bridegroom's father, which
attracted every eye and put to flight all
doubts as to the state of the bankers
finances. 1t cost 10000 crowns at the
lowest estimation.
While every one was busily engaged
in the dining room sudden clamor
arose. and whisper passed from one
guest to another:
THE diamond necklace is stolen"
Mr.. LerouX behaved like a true aris
tocrat. When the catastrophe was re-
ported to him he turned red in the face
for an instant, but recovered himself
Immediately, and said in tone Of calm
ness:
''Do not excite yourself, my friends;
mere money loss Is not a mortal
wound. l do not want trifling disap-
pointment to cast gloom over day
like this. My dear children, may this
slight and unforeseen shadow be the
only one to fall across your life's path
way.'
"He is plucky dog.' muttered phi
losophical guest, but all felt the situa
tion painful one. and most of the
guests breathed more freely on finding
themselves outside the house.
In ten minutes the rooms were empty,
and then servant informed Mr.. Lee
rouX that gentleman wished to speak
to him in the library. Hurrying in he
found Desroches, who was evidently
much excited.
'Mr. Leroux," said the old librarian,
''the duties of my profession have
caused me to acquire the habit of watch
ing the people round me. | saw the
diamond necklace stolen. The thief is
man of about fifty, tall, slim, and very
dark. He must be friend of yours, for
noticed him shaking hands with you
repeatedly in the sacristy after the mar
rage. l have been following him, and
was about to speak to him when we
were separated by the crowd in the
street and he got into a cab and escaped
me. l took the number, however, and
you will have no difficulty in tracing
the fellow. Of course / shall be de-
lighted to testify. Shall we 20 to the
police at Once?"
At the last words Leroux sprang up
and stood barring the door. as if he
| thought DeSrocheS himself the thief.
"Wait a minute. please" he ex-
claimed, 81 think l know the person
you suspect"
Suspect? The deucev' interrupted
Desroches. 81 tell you / saw it.
Thanks to mirror, [ distinctly saw
| him put the diamonds into his pocket.
| He will sleep in Jail to-night-that is,
if lie is sleepy. Only, we must not
| lose any time"
II beg your pardon, Mr.. Desroches
| the unfortunate wretch will sleep in his
own bed. | am not very intimate with
him, but we once had business rela-
| tions with each other. l do not choose
to prosecute him. Therefore, monsieur.
| you saw nothing, do you understand!
| Accept my thanks for your trouble"
DesrOches left the house in Il state OF
| amaZement. Such magnanimity seemed
to him to SAVIOR of completely, and, after
thinking the matter over carefully, he
| repaired to the office of the project OF
police and reported the theft, giving al
the details possible, and then went
home with a lightened conscience
The next day LerouX was visited by al
officer, and.On seeing the librarians sig
nature, he clenched his fist and wished
his officious friend with the Furies. Ht
declared his intention of making III
complaint iii the matter and dismissed
the officer. Five minutes later he wa
in secret council with Coindart, man
ager of the best detective agency il
Paris. He stated the case in a few
| v,ordc anh hic licfnnQr ahdad.
And you wish us to keep watch Oh
the count?"
YES" replied Leroux; ''you are t
watch. but not to arrest him; on tn,
contrary, you are to prevent his beinl
arrested. An idiot of a man has gon,
and put the police on his track" Coin
dart TOOK notes in shorthand, and lie
roux added uneasily:
ut probably seems strange to you
Nothing seems strange to me-" inter
rupted the detective, land this is no
the first time have had such charge
If the public knew all our secrets the,
would be less astonished at the failure
of the police to make arrests. | under
stand; you wish our gentleman to b
put to no inconvenience whatever
That evening Calcatroni. on leaving
the opera house, stopped to take out
cigar, and was accosted by a stranger
whoasked the favor of light. He hat
the air of perfect gentleman, and
raising his hat politely, said:
Count Calcatroni, if You think of go
ing to your home now advise you t
change your plans, or within tifteel
minutes you will be seated 10 cab be
tween two police officers. You woul,
do better to come and spend the nigh
with me. And, by the way, where ar
the dIamonds?"
pause he said haughtily:
"You carry the joke too far. Who ar
you?"
"A fairy, guardian angel, like tn
one in The Black Domino" renlia