The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-08
SOCIAL HIGHWAYMEN.
Bulging Vest and False Bot
tom MOxie Bottle.
How Coogan's Diamonds and Other
Valuables disappeared.


Irving Marks stole the Coogan diamonds
al Narragansett Pier. lie says that he
| did, so il must be so, and again the police
didn't think that he did, which may be
taken as coroborative evidence OF his con-
fessIon. Only portion OF the stolen
jewels. however, were recovered with the
capture OF the thief, for his pard has
escaped with the swag to parts unknown.
This accomplice, who Is called Benton by
Marks, is having his fun now, thus re-
versing the situation. His part in the
game, up to the lime of the arrest, bad
been TO stay at the Pier as an obscure
person, for whom society bad no attrac-
tion, while Marks. the elegant young
man, with the oval face and olive COM
plexion and fine tapering fingers has been
one of the real cream Of Pier society.
He hobnobbed with judges and other
| dign itaries on the verandas Of the hotels
and danced with their daughters at the
hops and assemblys, drove in their dog
carts and provoked admiration on the
tennis court and at the bathing beach by
| the grace of his figure and the case OF his
movements.
But at all times the ease OF his move
ments was underesti mated. Between a
waltz and q court lanciers the delightful
| Mr.. Marks would excuse himself from
some sweet companion of the dance for a
few moments and glide up stairs, not for
long bur for great deal. Mhen he re-
sumed his place i'm the ball room, bowling
to his opposite and offering these taper
ing fingers TO his partner, the latter
might have noticed that the perfect
set OF his white waiscoat and somew hat
marred by a slight elevation OF the cloth.
But, being no relation OF Sherlock
Holmes she couldn't tell that the little
bunch was caused by gold aud precious
| stones taken from mama's jewel box up
stairs. And when the robbery was re-
ported the next morning. hours after the
obscure and quiet Mr.. Benton and the
dazzling MT. Marks had spoken together
for few moments and the swelling
under the vest OF Marks bad been trans
ferred TO the outing shirt OF Benton, then
would the partner of the night before be
the first TO express his regrets and offer
his assistance to eaten the miscrcant. 1t
must have been fun for Marks, and who
ehall say that Benton did not enjoy
weig hing his gold and jewels in the quiet
and obscurity Of his humble quarters Ia
a boarding house, even II the rules of
society did prevent him from leading the
former owners In the merry oance
ayes, 'soliloquized Benton, "Marky is
n bowling swell this summer, but hell
be pinched yet ana III have the jewels
and next summer will see me at the
Thousand Isles or at the mountains doing
the elegant and where'll Marky. be then,
poor thing? That olive complexion will
be spoiled by the prison tan and those
taper digits will be marred by tapping
sbves and Gaming chairs. F"
"And the girls hes waltzing with to-
night won't know him no more, and
they'll forget to 60 out on visiting days
and send flowers
And Benton brushed away the tears
that would come, put few thousand
dollars worth OF golden knick-knscks in
the false bottom of Moxie nerve cure
bottle and went TO bed. He listened for
hWnlle 10 the music tnht HOateu on tno
breezes from the brilliantly lighted ball
room OF the hotel, wondering whether
his fri end was eating an ice with that
belle from Augustine or mp stairs lifting
that string OF pearls which he had sd-
mired that night down by the rocks.
And then he fell asleep, and dreamed Of
the over production OF gold, and the pos
sibility of diamonds being adopted by the
great commercial nations as the standard
of values.
But now Bepton's worst fears for his
friend are realized. Ravellis is in King
sion jail and Cadeau is far away with a
tag of sun bursts.
Marky confessed to Mr.. Coogan himself
that he had taken his wifSS jewslry.
lie told OF o.her thefts he had com
mitted, and also stated that some OF the
property could be recovered st Newport.
This was found to be true, ana several OF
the victims at tie pier hotels nave had
the articles returned, but the bulk OF tho
booty is with the missing Mr.. Benton.