Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-11-09

70 COmpoKc WIFI one OF the COUuteO0
Woronxoff's"
"Dumont! 1mpossiblei was talking
to him the whole time I was absent,
ana he only left me at the top of the
staircase two seconds before I return.
ed"
Nevertheless, mon ami, he has been
here, and has taken my earring. See!
1t Il gone"
Effectively" agreed the count, with
a grim smile; "but Dumont has not
taken It. 1t Il to the last degree un.
likely that the empress would make
such request. Depend upon 1t, you
have been the victim Of O thief, made
up as Dumont"
"1mpossiblew cried the countess, in
her turn. "The affair Is absolutely as
tell you. 1t was the veritable NJ. Du.
mont I see opposite who came into this
box and took away my diamond. Only
wait a little, and he will bring 1t back
intact"
ITO walt little IL to lessen the chance
Of its recovery. I will go and inquire
Of Dumont, II can get at him, whether
he has been seized with sudden at.
tack Of kleptomania; because the idea
Of the empress having sent him roam
Ing about the theater, borrowing o
lady's jewels, regard as preposterous.
All, these Partisan thieves! You do
not know what scientific geniuses they
are In their way"
With this the count departed, and the
second act was nearly at an end be.
fore he returned. In the meantime,
the countess perceived that she was an
object Of interest to the occupants Of
the imperial box.
II was right" whispered the count.
re-entering and bending over his wlfe's
chair; "Dumont knows nothing Of your
earring, and, needless to say, the EN-.
press never sent him Oh any one else
upon such an errand. have put the
matter into the hands Of the police, and
they will do all that Is possible to re-
cover It,"
The countess was duly commiserated
by sympathlzing friends; but nothing
more was heard of the stolen jewel un.
til the following day.
Early In the afternoon the countess
was about to start for her daily drive
In the Bots. The frozen snow lay deep
upon the ground, and her sleigh, with
its two jet.black Russian horses jing.
ling their bells merrily in the frosty
air, stood waiting In the courtyard
while the countess dOnned her furs.
A servant entering announced that
an officer Of the police in plain clothes
asked permission to speak with Nine.
In Comtesse concerning the lost d.a.
mOnd.
Certainly" said madame, gracious.
ly; "let the officer be shown Into the
boudoir."
Into the boudoir presently came the
countess, stately, beautiful, fur.clad,
buttoning her little gloves. Near the
door stood short, wlry-looking man,
with keen, black eyes, closely cropped
hair, and compact, erect, military fig.
urc. The small man bowed profound.
~ while he said, with the utmost re-
spect, at the same time laying letter
upon the table:
II am sent by order of the chief of
police to inform Nine. Ia Comtesse that
the stolen diamond has been satisfac.
torily traced, but there Ii unfortunately
some little difficulty connected with Its
Identification. l am charged, therefore,
to beg that Nine. Ia Comtesse will have
the goodness to intrust the fellow ear.
ring to the police for short period, In
order that It may be compared with the
one foSnd In the possession Of the sus.
pected thief. Madame will hnd that
the letter bring cOrr0bOratcs my state.
ment."
The countess glanced hastily through
the letter, and, ringing the bell. desired
that her maid might be told to bring
the remaining earring Immediately; this
was done. and the dapper little man,
bowling deferentially, departed with the
precious duplicate safely In his posses.
sion.
The countess descended to her sleigh
and drove to the club, to call for her
husband en- route for the Bois. Cross.
Ing the Place de 10 Concorde, she re.
lated to him the latest incident In the
story Of the diamond earring.
"You never were induced to give ur
the otherv cried Count Ivan0n, In.
credulously.
"But tell you. mon ami, an ONCE,
Of the police came himself to fetch It.
bringing o letter from his superl0rs
vouching for the truth of his state
ment."
III the project himself had come.
don't think should have been cajoled
into letting him have It after last nights
experience" laughed her husband
However. for the second time Of ask
ing, We will 20 and inquire"
The coachman turned and drove, al
directed, to the Bureau of Police, Of
which the count had lodged his com
plant the night before. After some
what protracted delay, the count re
joined his wife with seml.grim l0Ol
of amusement upon his handsome
bearded face.
"The police know nothing Of your de
tective or his epistolary efforts" HI
said, drawing the fur rug up to his CHR
as the impatient horses sped away Ovel
the frozen snow; "yOur second earring
has been netted by another member OF
the fingered fraternity, and, upoI
my honor, think he was the more &c
cOmpllshed artist Of the twO!'
And from that unlucky day to this
the Countess IyanOff's celebrated dia