Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-01-29

noticed couple take Pp a posi-
ton in the opposite corner They
were both young, and evidently
very much IN love with one anoth-
or. The girl was handsomely
dressed and wore some valuable
jrwelry. In particular | noticed a
pair of diamond ear drODs, which
had just come into fashion again.
Without being a cOnnoiSsenr of
precious stones | understand them
Well enough to KNOW that these
were very valuable indeed, and
likely to be worth several hundred
pounds.
These two Young people were
sitting out during IA dance, ana
they ed all through set of
lducers, without any impAtlence
at their length.
AT last they got mp and went IN
to the ball room again. On the
chair where the girl bad been sit
ting lay something shining.
strolled across aud examined 1t.
Ii was her vinaigrette, which she
had probably left there hyaccident,
IrepIaced 1t, thinking it might
serve as a trap for our fashiJna
bic thief, if he were in the neigh
boIhood aud withdrew to my cor
uer where 7 was almost Invisible.
Presently an old gentleman
strolled out to smoke a cigarette
He was tall, handsome iutellec'
ual looking man, with the air OF
the true aristOcTat. His name |
didn't know, bat l noticed him
chatting with the guests. Hewa7
evidently known to every one,
and was man of importance.
Presently his eye caught the
little iewelled vinaigrette. He
looked caIelessly round the cOn-
servatOry. te see If he were obSer
we'd and picked it up. He now had
his back to me. was on the point
of stepping mp to him whan ne
turned round, and replaced the
ylnaigrette and walked quietly
away.
1t was lucky l had not moved.
I should have looked rather fool
ish. Same curious instinct bdde me
cross the conservatory, and look
at the vinslgrette again. With
out thinking about it | put it to
my nose
rhe next thing | remember is
that | found myself sitting in a
chair. Gradually, things became
clearer. The vinaisrette Law by my
side. 1t was drugged. For a few
minutes / had lost consciousness.
I still telt dizzy and sick, but
knowing that every thing depended
on my being prompt aud acute, !
managed with an effort to pull
IN, self together.
TDen arose the question. what
should do NEXT S,ould | go
straight 10 the mdn who tampered
with the vinaigrette7 A moments
thought showed me that that
would be worse than useless. ]
had no proof of rythlng. Toe
situation must be allowed to de-
velop itself before I intertered.
After some little reflection, |
decided to go back tn the drawing
room, where could see what was
going on. Under any clrcnmstan-
ces must not lose sight of the
giIl TO whom the vnaigrette be
lOnged.
For nearly half an hour | wait
ed In vain. She danced with two
or three different men, but dill
not seem to have missed it.
AT last alter QUE of the dances,
she appeared to be looking for
something. With what was, |
presume an apology to her part
ner, she skipped across the room
to group of girls. Evidently she
was asking ii any OF them had
had seen her vlniagrette. For some
time she got no information, Out
presently girl who was pasSiu <
lraniug on mans arm, turned
round and made some remaik k,
pointing with her fan to the con
servatory door. The owner OF the
! viaiagrette gave a little nod OF
thanks, anu hurried across the
room.
All this time | observed that
the man who had drugged the
scent bottle, and who was chatting
with some of the people standing
about watched the girl closely.
l As soon as she left tine drawing
: room he broke off his conversation
e aud strolled quietly toward th'
conservatory. As hepassedthrougl
] 4,