The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-07
THE MISSING PRINCE.
ADVENTURE or AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE
BY ARTHUR %aRITFITHs.

The firm of Black g. Brightsmith was good
enough to cxpressits great and RrateIui appro'
citation OF my hclp In tho case OF tho Escondida
mine. 1t promised mo other work of the same
kind, plenty IL I cared to take It up, and BOON
sent to nsk whether 1 could undertake n conf
dental mission TO Algeria
1t was to convey n considerable sum OF money
in specie TO the town of Biskra, q health resort
of growing popularity, situated In the far-on dcs-
ert, almost on tho confines Of the great Sahara.
THE money Is To be paid over In exchange for
a certain compromising documcntone hat close
ly Affects tho character and honor OF a great
family, Will you goi' said Harry Brightsmith.
1 expressed my readiness, but asked why tho
sum could not be paid by check.
"Tho demand Is for gold. In any case. we
wish to secure tho papers In full acquittance,
and this cn~nbost-can oDly-bc done by the hand
OF n thoroughly trustworthy agent, some one
who will, II necessary, give and take at one and
the Same time
IF necessary I inquired, catching at tho
doubt implied.
w have no absolute certainty, Mac, that
the demand Els justified, that tho case is bona
fde and not trrmpsd up for the extortion OF
blackmail. This is another and still stronger
reason for our application to you. IL you can
only find that there has been any foul play any.
where, you will earn the eternal gratitude of his
Highness as wcll.asa handsome douceur. Wait,
let mo tell you the whole story.
you have heard of the Medeas7 They were
once a reigning house, and may some day
como to the throne again. Meanwhile. Prince
Casiniir dc Modca lives in great retirement. on
the Thames, and his eldest son, Stanislas, who
has como to mans estate, has been sent round
the world to complete his education. with q
Cook ticket, in eighty days.
prince Stanislas Ia said to be a lively
youth, fond of horses, sport, amusement, the
far sex-all shat makes life enjoyable at %.
He has cost his Highncss n good deal OF money
Mt times, but his father has paid without a
murmur-until now. The present demand
that on which we seek your cooperation, Mac
Is for the liquidation of a gambling debt incurred
under peculiar-indecd asi Is alleged. disgrace
full circumstances. The young Prince has been
accused of a fragrant attemptito correct fortune"
I'm plain English, of cheating ut cards2"
Nothing 'less. And on the surface the case
seems perfectly clear. Tho charge of cheating
is supported by his own confession owning up.
in so many words. signed by his own hand, and
duly attested. We have the notarial. authenti-
Gated copy in our hands. Here II Is. But first
read the letter that accompanied It,"
1t was dated fron.the Hotel des Zibaus- Bisk-
ra, and, translated, ran as follows:
YOUR HOLINESS: 1t is our inexpressibly pain
fulstask to bring to your Highness's notice tho
deliberately dishonest and disgraccful conduct
hoen caught choatino NJ h,ocarot. oauoht IN
tho act fsagrantlr This denIorahIo agsir n
Cured at the Cercle ell Salahin, to which the
Prince was readily admitted on account of his
rank and presumed gentlemanly character.
Last night, when engaged In a friendly
game, he took the bank with a capital of 2, 200
gor,nt ~ tho c,rh IN n th.t 49, 10 IA
loo, sto,dYv h,t now IN. ,,,- trrnod 7. h.
came nhenoren., At every deal the Priv.
WON. bo o,oored tho tah,. Eor ,u;t. ~, 49,
tbis l.stod hut ,.;th , rror;nr .,an;,,o, l.. AZ.
minds ~ soyoro, r,.vors tbot all us,s M. Iii
We SGT ourselves to watch the Prince 7 nv.
sc,f yvas chosen IN stand hohind b;m a,a a.,
oi,on ,nonon+ n sior,I hojnn I'D ,o saI.a
and hold his hands
az Ala G, ond in,uodiot,,r . ,a,L ...a
oo,c.oIo6 sor,o,hor. ,r;,h;n ~, 49,, 81 40
tho Ground II ,yo. n nocL rod. m oh;aeras
.tbrees, and .sixes, 70 vonr Hioh,.,s a, y.
ouasnted with the oame ~ haocarot ,ho ;n,nou-
tanco Of these numbcrs will need M e,nIonation
"play was STONED. and two of nc wore do.
putcd to draw nm n proces verba, describiny
the occurrence
..Of course the Princes gains were declared
nun ana Void, ana he was called upon to make
restitution, also TO pay his previous losses and
the ad made by the gerant. These
.monntod In ali 10 , ,o- franz. nnd as ha has
no funds, | discharged the debt, taking his &C.
know,edpment
..,y-a - $1,000
we also prepared for your sons signature
a confession of his misconduct, n copy of which,
dulv ccrtitied nv a notary is now inclosed Tho
original will he surrendered m vour son or N
So W 'oui IN W
any person you may nam on one condition.:
hat you hand over In exchange a sum of 35, 900
francs. to be applied for the relief of the moor
prN p"o'
Arabs in this oasis.
I'VE think that your Highness will see the
,visdom of meeting us foirlv and nron,nt,, 7,
Misuoin VI meetins 70 Jury anu promptly IL
can hardly be your wish that a Prince de Medea.
the direct heir to your ancient:name and future
bo der Of tbe hioh fortune that NAV soma .v
49," " " =" nnsh hu"no Hne.h n"i 'ono q
return 10 your noble house. should be exposed
as a cheat. branded as a blackguard, through
out the civilized world. 1t is only out of con.
ou''ho ''""o ny .o"
sideration to your flghness that we spare him
the ignominy he so richly merits.
ooade. " prh,in;,S ,o = nnesnn, - w rouairo ~ tsa