Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-15

L dskfu Nun " Ntifi i'fh illH tHVhlh
be in the rooms had had for five years"
This was a good clue, and with the de-
scription given by the clerk of the man
who had asked for the key, | telegraphed
all over the country. / was answered by
other hotel detectives looking IN the same
man.: and in week We hal our sleek
bird landed in town, where he will remain
for year at least.
\ SLICK JOB.
Thieves. you know, are a bralny class
OF men. Sometimes | can't hep admiring
their ingenuity and wishing II could be
put to better account. You know that
hotel rooms mostly all lead INTO one an
other. When only one room r. wanted the
door is locked between. and bureau
placed against It, This WAS the case
with Miss Narick's room. The dresser
almost hid the door, one afternoon Miss
Varick locked the door, took oft her
Jewels, which were very handsome, and.
laying them upon the dresser with some
other pieces which abe intended TO wear
that night sat down in an easy chair by
the window to read. The day was hot,
and Miss Narick thought afterward that
she might have dozed or. Anyway, she
awoke with a start. looked around the
room, saw everything was all right, and
was about to settle herself for another
nap Miltll Sllt idtlFiHl ~ EldHNt dl tue
dresser, only 10 find 1t empty of all her
jewels. Not ring even was left. She
got up and stared at its marble top IL
was as blank as a sheet
Quickly Miss VariclI rushed to the door.
1t was securely locked. Outside sat the
chambermaid on watch. Both agreed that
the door could not have been entered.
although the chambermaid admitted that
she, too, might have been asleep IN the
heat OF the afternoon. At the office there
was no trace OF any stranger in the
house. l really was nOpplussed this time.
The rapidly OF the robbery ps1zied me;
and for while / thought Miss NLick
might be one of The communicates who
furnish plots FOR SO many novels. But
she was no sournambulist. as search
around her room revealed. She was
quite Frustrated with fright and shock,
and / really had my hands full. la the
next room were two gentlemen. old men
and very dignided They left the after
noon of the robbery. As | afterwsrd
found. they left within five minutes after
Il was committed. ! went 10 their room
and searched the door, but there WAS
nothing to show that IL had bt,n I'M
locked. The big hook that held II was
on Miss Varick's side OF the door. Yet
through that door seemed TO me the ohiy
reasonable way of accounting for the
robbery. The men had LEFT very hastily.
THE MIRROR SWUNG.
As I searched the door for the hun
dredth time. / notic.d that the paint
around one OF the panels was scratched
Picking at the fretwork around the panel
! lifted Il out easily, and the panel
pulled toward me by inserting nail IN
an old nail hole.
Now" said to Miss Narick scat
Yourself where You were on that AFTER
noon and keep your eyes upon me
dresser"
Very quietly / slipped into the next
room. took out the panel pushed tne
mirror Of the dresser forward and re
moved the ,pinciLshlon from the top. Miss
Narick SIT watching me with eyes VIDE
open. "The very sound that woke me
that afternoon," she exclaimed. III was
the swinging Of that mirror J" After that
things were easy. We caught the thieves
| I'm Boston. but not until we learned 10
| know them without the wigs and specta-
cleS which changed them from well
| known crooks to respectable mloAhe-aged
| citizens
4 CENT 1MEN THIEF.
This was one of the most serious hotel
| mars fair name and fame were in CUES
| ton. / had noticed tor some weeks that
| Mr. Blank Was paying devoted attention
| 10 Mrs. Beech, although that ladys bus
| band came no 70 the hotel twice a week
| aud che was surrounded by five little
| children she was evidently flirting with
| Mr. Blank. and that it was not quite
omen | believed from the reputation
| which | knew Mr.. Blank TO bear IN the
southern city from which he hailed. III
| short, ne had been implicated IN one OF
| TWO society robberies. Ills thettS had
| been hidden by his family, who paid
| great sums 70 get him clear. and he him
| eelf rad got scot free by pleading that
h. was an uncomfortable kleptOmaniac.
| The robberies were years ago but il Is
| my business to remember these things
| against people.
Mrs. Beech, always elegantly dressed
| began 10 wear new pieces Of 1eTelry
| and by actual count saw her witt
seventeen different diamond rings and
| a dozen different diamond bracelets. a.
! ,u q few days / became verY Suspicious
! She and Mr. Blank were tnseparahl e.
! though in the lax espionage Of 4 summer
| hotel they had Occasioned no remark as
yet. one day there came letter from
A fellow detective. telling me of 4 jeweliy
! robbery. two weeks since, that ha'
| baaled his efforts, and a day later by
! a system We detectives have, came an
other letter from another detective. tell
| ing OF similar robbery. The jewels h2t
| disappeared a social functions. dinners
balls. and concerts. searched MI
! Blanks room during dinner and foun,
/ nothing ut all. That night Mrs Beer
! appeared with chatflaine watch. pre-
| cIsely Ike the one described in letter II
| my rocket / did not wit minute
| Calling a hal-bOy. | said 10 him, step
ming 10 behind dr. Black. so he couiS
| haar ne. III you see Slr Bunk Tel
him gentleman from the AverSre iote
ON the se2shore f. mere and wants to se
him. Go look for him now"
CURED OF HER FOLLY.
| When I turned Mr.. Blank was gone a
I suspected ne would b~, and half al
hour later had the pleasure Of l-arninl
M the desk that he he'd lett for home
and would not return. 1t was now plan
sailing.
Il would ike to see you 4 minute.
said later that nigtlt, tapping Mrs
Beech upon the shoulder. i nave mes
sage from Mr.. Blank.
Smiling. she followed me into the rp
ceotiou-room. But her smile soon faded
Here Is a warrant for your arrest sai
I. "as being the receiver or stoitn gooas
! | have a description Of the articles. WI
YOU give them to me now! Or shah
serve the warrant
"For Gods sake" she began.
GIVE me the jewels them l SAID
win 20 10 your room with you while 20
collect them. No. Mr.. Blank Is not mere
He has left. h told me he had give
,.ou the stolen articles. lie took thrr
from the seashore places he has visite1
lie said | could get them from you. IA
described the articles-the rings, the brace
lets; that watch
Half carrying the almost-fainting Mr.
Beech. l went 10 her room, and got IN
things. Two days later had the rewar
iln.,.ing in my pocket, and i felt that IN
end justified the means, rs long as
cured MIS- Beech Of her folly, as 1t cei
taInly did for she devoted herself TO ne
children the rest OF the summer NJ
blank was arrested later, and IS now
IAN. II he ever sees Mrs Beech agar
they will discover the trap | laid Il
them.