The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-29
LOST EARDROPs.

dln1cult to sny why. Perhaps 1t Is because
they are too queer. For instance, doubt
II you have ever heard Of certain strange
Incident that happened only season or
two ago III that select section of the fash
ionable world known as "society."
A lady Of title, Lady yarmouth, request
cd me to call on her one morning about
the beginning Of June, the London season
being then at its height.
II want your help, Mr.. Lowe" she be-
gan, and then stopped awkwardly. "Per-
haps you are not aware that at several
balls and dinner parties this season there
have been jewels and ornaments stolen. 1t
has, Of course, caused great deal of un-
pleasantness. In several cases trinkets
have even been actually taken from the
wearers, without their knowing how it
was done or who did it." .......
had heard several wild tales Of articles
having been missed at fashionable gather
ings, and there was much speculation as
to who was the culprit The articles were
not, as rule, of immense value, and they
always disappeared singly, consequently no
public notice had been directed to the mat
ter In one or two cases the police had
been consulted, but 1t was impossible for
them to help. There could be no doubt
that the thief was a person who mixed in
society as an equal, probably woman,
who had allowed her love Of jewelry to
tempt her to dishonesty.
81 presume, then, that the--er-thief Is
guest-a person in society,"" I said in
quiringly.
II am afraid so. Two or three things
were missed at dance which gave last
week. Now, am giving another dance
next Thursday, and am, of course, most
anxious It should not occur again, at any
ratio in my house. l Thought would en-
gage your services for the evening" to SEQ
II yon detect anything suspicious OF
course you would be treated as guest"
We made arrangements about terms,
and 1t was agreed that should be intro
duced as an American, by name, Captain
Burke
~ suppose, Lady Barmouth," I said
carelessly, lyon don't suspect anybody in
Particular"
"Oh, no." she said, but noticed what
l thought was a look of anxiety on her
face and made mental note of 1t.
Ash was leaving Lady yarmouth said:
cot course, Mr.. Lowe, you quite under
stand there must be no expose. If you
make any discoveries, they must be treat
ed as secrets. l can't have "a scene Of any
kind. 1t must be hushed up"
returned to the office impressed with
ttpO iIDno Eirst that INV taal- woo ONO of
those delicate cases that require all your
tact and yield very little credit; secondly,
that Lady yarmouth knew more, or at
any rate guessed more, than she cared to
tell.
Thursday evening arrived, and I went
to Merton House. Practically my duty
was to mingle with the guests, enjoy my
self and keep my eyes wide open. Nothing
seemed to be more improbable than that
there should be thief among the brilliant
throng thut cSowded the rooms Every
thing was conducted in tho most sumptn-
GUS and luxurious style A Hungarian
band discoirsed the sweetest of dance mu-
sic, and the guests were among the highest
In tho land.
Fer long while nothing occurred of the
hiIGilpbp lDuu az aDUuU .
O'Clock in the morning, while was sit
ting in shug corner of the conservatory,
where cigarette smoking was permitted,
noticed u couple take up position In the
opposite corner. They were both young,
and evidently very much in love with one
another. The girl was Handsomely dressed
and wore some valuable jewels. In par
ticular | noticed u pair Of diamond ear
drops, which had just come into fashion
ngain. Without being Connoisseur Of
precious stones, understand them well
enough to know that these were very val
liable indeed and likely to DO worth sew
eral hundred pounds.
These two young people were sitting out
during dance, and thoy firted all
through set Of lancers without any i'm
patience at Its length.
At last they got up and went into the
ballroom again. On the chair where the
girl had been sitting lay something shin
Ing l strolled across and examined It, 1t
was her yinaigrette, which she had prob
ably left there by accident. replaced 1t,
thinking 1t might serve as trap for our
fashionable thief, II he were in the neigh
borhood, and withdrew to my corner,
where l was almost invisible.
Presently an old gentleman strolled out
to smoke cigarette. He was tall, hand
some, intellectual looking man, with the
air of tho true aristocrat His name
didn't know, but had noticed him chat
ting with the guests. He was evidently
known to every one and was man Of So
cial importance.
Presently his eye caught the little jewell
ed vinaigrette. He looked caYelessly round
the conservatory to see If he were observed
and picked 1t up. He now had his back to
me. was on the point of stepping up to
him, when he turned round and replaced
the vinaigrette and walked quietly away.
1t was lucky had not moved should
have looked rather foolish. Some curious
Instinct babe me cross the conservatory
and look at the yinaigrette again. With
out thinking about 1t put it to my nose
The next thing l remember Is that
Iound myself sitting in chair. Gradual
y things became clearer. The vinaigrette