The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-07-30
J
NINE, vESTRIS' NERVE.
She Knew Burglar Was in Her Bed,
room and Sang for Him.

She Knew q Burglar Was in Her Bed
room and Sang for Him.
The following episode in the career o
the celebrated Nine. Vestris happened il
the winter of 1847, when the star of be
genius was still in the ascendant, in spit
of her fifty years. She had married tn
famous Charles Mathews the younger
only short time before, and was visiting
Paris in his company. The chief objec
Of their visit was to secure ballot troup'
for spectacle the preparations for which
were then in progress at one OF the large
London theaters, at the time under their
united management. But it so chancheo
that the selection of the ballot fell pria
cipally upon Mathews, because his wife
was temporarily disabled BY an unlucky
sprain of the ankle. She was confined to
their hotel in the Rue Sainte Honore,
where, of course, she could console her
self by giving receptions to her admirers,
who were quite as numerous in France as
in Eng land.
One evening she was alone in the
small but elegant salon adjoining her
apartment. Taking up newspaper, her
attention became absorbed by the first
article on which her glance alighted, for
it was upon subject that had excited all
Paris for number of days.
FoREwARNED, FoREARMED.
A number of robberies had taken place
in quick succession, whose perpetrator
had not been discovered. It was evident,
from certain characteristics common to
all the crimes, that they were the work of
one man. His favorite, and indeed only
method, had been to secrete himself in
close proximity to some fashionable and
wealthy lady's sleeping apartment, and
then possess himself of her jewels and
other valuables after she had fallen
asleep. When his victim happened to
awake he had not hesitated to use violence
to prevent her giving an alarm. The
only clew to the villain, as yet, lay in
the knowledge that he had but two fingers
on his left hand.
Nine. Vestris was woman of exception
ally strong nerve, but she could not re-
strain little timorous thrill ,when, having
finished the article, she limped across the
salon to the door of her boudoir, intend
ing to summon her maids and retire for
the night.
KNEW HIM BY THE SHADOW.
As she cast final glance over the room
she was suddenly filled with fear on per-
ceiving, cast out upon the floor directly
across her stool, the unmistakable shad
ow of man crouching under the table
at which she had been sitting. She re-
manned perfectly quiet, but her terror was
increased a hundredfold as she saw the
image of man that possessed but two
fingers. She was convinced that the mys-
FERROUS criminal, whose deeds had so ex-
cited the city, was lying concealed there
and had so lain, probably in contact with
the folds of her dress, the entire evening.
Without extinguishing the lights she
began to carol light operate air, while
resuming her seat, and touching the sill
yer spring bell on the table with which
she was in the habit of summoning one
or the other of her maids. This action
alone costs her a great pang of fear; for if
the spaniels should accompany the maid
they would at once sniff out the presence
of the concealed robber, who might then
attack her without delay. Fort unately,
however, the maid who responded to her
cali was not accompanied by the dogs,
which had romped themselves to sleep in
one of the remoter apartments.
woMANLY sTRATAGEM.
"Adele," said Nine. Vestris, sis the es
Enlistment of NJ. Vernac, the jeweler
still open, think your
"Oh, yes, madame!" replied the maid.
at is Saturday night, when all the.shops
keep open until IL, and it is now but
little after TO-"
II shall then have to get you to take
message to him at once," said the actress.
he has been repairing my costliest dia-
mond necklace and my tiara of sapphires
and brilliapts which he promised to re-
turn this evening. shall not sleep with
out having them tiny bedside to night.
whether repaired or not, he shall send
them with you by one of the clerks.
Bring me the writing materials from my
boudoir."
Adele did as she was directed, and still
humming her song, Nine. Vestris, with a
firm hand penned the following, which
she sealed and directed to N. Vernac the
then fashionable jeweler Of the Rue des
Italiens:
MONSIEUR: The two fingered villain
is concealed under the very table at which
write, unsuspicious of my knowledge of
his presence. Summon the police and
lose not a moment in fastening to
NINE. VEsrRIs."
sThere!" said the heroic actress, hand
ing the mlssive to her servant, THAT l