The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-18

compare with one Of the Countess Wo-
~ronzof's."
"Dumontl Impossible! I was talk
ing to him the whole time I was absent,
and he only left me at the top Of the
staircase two seconds before I returned"
Nevertheless, mon ami, he has been
here and has taken my earring. See! 1t
is gone"
effectively, agreed tho count, with
9 grim smile, "but Dumont has not
taken it. 1t Is to the last degree I'M
likely that the empress would make such
arequest. Depend upon it, you have been
the victim of a thief made up as Du-
mont"
Impossible - cried the countess in
her turn. "The affair is absolutely as I
tell you. It was the veritable NJ. Du-
mont l see opposite who came into this
box and took away my diamond. Only
wait a little and he will bring it back
intact"
"To wait a little is to lessen the
chance Of its recovery. will 90 and in
quire Of Dumont, if I can get at him,
whether he has been seized with q sud-
den attack Of k~leptomania, because the
idea Of the empress having sent him
roaming about the theater borrowing a
lady's jewels l regard as preposterous.
All, these Persian 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 al end be-
fore he returned. In the meantime the
countess perceived that she was an OBJ
ject Of interest to the occupants of the
imperial box.
Il was right" whispered the count,
re-entering and bending over his wife's
chair. "Dumont knows nothing Of your
earring, and, needless to say, the en-
press never sent him or any one else up
on such an errand. l have put the mat
ter into the hands Of the police, and
they will do all that is possible to re-
cover it,"
The countess was duly commiserated
by sympathizing friends, but nothing
more was heard Of the stolen jewel until
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 jingling
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 Mime.
La Comtesse concerning the lost dia-
mond.
Certainly, said madame graciously.
"Let the officer be shown into the
boudoir."
Into the boudoir presently came the
countess, stately, beautiful, fur clad,
b~uttoning her little gloves. Near the
door stood a short, why looking man,
with keen, black eyes, closely cropped
hair and compact, erect, military figure.
The small mar bowed profoundly while
he said, with the utmost respect, at the
same time laying a letter upon the table
II am sent by order of the chief Of
police to inform Nine. la Comtesse that
the stolen diamond has been satisfac-
torily traced, but there is unfortunately
some little difficulty connected with its
Identification. I am charged, therefore.
to beg that Nine. la Comtesse will have
the goodness to intrust the fellow earring
to the police for a short period in order
that it may be compared with the one
found in the possession Of the suspected
thief. Madame will find that the letter l
bring c~orroborates my statement"
The countess glanced hastily through
the letter, and, ringing the bell, desired
the remaining earring Immediately.
This was done, and the dapper little
man, bowling deferentially, departed
with the precious duplicate safely in his
possession.
The countess descended to her sleigh
and drove to the club, to call for her
husband en- route for the Bots. Crossing
him the latest incident in the story Of
the diamond earring.
"You never were induced to give up
the other - cried Count Ivanoff incredu-
lousy.
But I tell you, mon ami, an officer
Of the police came himself to fetch it,
bringing a letter from his superiors
vouching for the truth Of his state
ment."
IF the project himself had come, l
don't think l 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 60 and inquire"
The coachman turned and drove, as
directed, to the bureau of police at
which the count had lodged his COM
plant the night before. After a some
what protracted delay, the count re-
joined his wife with a look of amuse-
ment upon his handsome bearded face.
1.-THE police know nothing Of your de-
tective O his epistolary efforts" he
said, drawing the fur rug up to his chin
as the impatient horses sped away over
the frozen snow. Your second earring
has been Melted by another member of
the light fingered fraternity, and, upon
INV ho~~- %l.~l- l. $500