Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-02-13
STORY OF A y X + 4
= = kLEPTOMANIAC.

A detective runs across q lot Of
~ queer things In his life, and
Il somehow the queercst never ind
their way into the newspapers. It ID
dinicult to say why; perhaps II II be-
cause they are too queer. For instance.
doubt IL you have ever heard Of GER
tain strange incident that happened
only a season or two ago In that select
section Of the fashionable world known
a. society"
A leader Of fashion. Mrs. Register, re-
Qucsted me to call on her one morning
when the season was at It's height.
II want your help. Mr.. Love-" she
began. and then stopped awkwardly.
'Perhaps you are not aware that at sew.
eral balls and dinner parties this season
there have been Jewels and ornaments
stolen. 1t has. Of course. caused great
deal Of unpleasantness. In several cases
trinkets have even been actually taken
from the wearers. without their know.
ing how Il was done or who did IT,"
had heard several wild tales Of arti.
cles having been missed at fashionable
gatherings. and there was much specu.
lation AZ to who was the culprit. The
articles were not, AZ rule, Of immense
value. and they always disappeared
singly. consequently no public notice
had been directed to the matter. In one
or two cases the police had been con.
suited. 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.
II presume. then, that the-er-thief
IL a guest--a person In societyf" said.
anQulringly.
II am afraid 30. Two or three things
were missed at a dance which I gave
last week. Now. I am giving another
dance next Thursday, and I am. Of
course. most anxious II should not &C.
cur again. ut any rate In my house.
thought would engage your services
Tor the evening. to see II you detect any.
thing suspicious. OF course. you would
be treated as guest"
We made arrangements about terms,
and It was agreed that should be In.
PRODUCED rs IN Engllshman. BY name
Captain Burke.
II suppose. Mrs. Register" I said.
carelessly, you don't suspect anybody
In particularly"
"Oh. no." she said. but noticed what
thought was look Of anxiety on her
face. and made a mental note Of II.
As I was leaving. Mrs. Register said:
"Of course, Mr.. Lowe. you quite under.
stand. there must be no expose. II you
make any discoveries, they must be
treated an secrets. I can't have scene
Of any kind. 1t must be hushed up"
returned to the Office impressed
with two ideas. First. that my task
was one Of those delicate cases that 70.
Quire Nil your tact and yield very little
credit; secondly, that Mrs. Register
knew more. or. ut any rate. guessed
more. than she cared to tell.
Thursday evening arrived. and went
70 tho Register mansion. Practically,
my duty was to mingle with the guests,
enjoy myself. and keep my eyes wide
open. Nothing seemed TO me more i'm
probable than that there should be
. thief among the brilliant throng
that crowded the rooms. Everything
was conducted In the most luxurious
style. q Hungarian band discoursed
the sweetest Of dance music, and the
guests were among the highest In the
land.
For while nothing occurred Of the
smallest Significance. but at about two
O'Clock In the morning, while I was sit.
ting In snug corner OF the conscrya.
tory, where cigarette smoking was per.
United. ! noticed couple take up DO.
sition 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 particular I
noticed a pair of diamond ear.drops,
which had just come into fashion again.
without being a cOnpOisseur OF pre-
clOus stones. ! understand them well
enough to know that these were very
valuable indeed, and likely to be worth
several hundred dollars.
These two young people were sitting
out during a dance. and they hirted all
through set OF lancers. without any
1mpatience at their length.
At last they got up and went into the
ballroom again. On the chair, where
the girl had been sitting. lay something
sh'Aing. strOlled across and examined
1t. 1t was her vinaigrette. which she
had probably left there by accident. !
replaced 1t. thinking It might serve az
trap for our fashionable thief, II he
We're In the neighbOrhOod. and with.
drew to my corner. where was almost
Invisible.
Presently an old gentleman strollcd
cut to smoke cigarette. He was q tall,
handsome. intellectual-lOokin man,
with the air Of the true aristocrat. His
name didn't know. but had noticed
him chatting with the guests. He was
evidently kns'wn to everyone, aud was
Q man Of social Importance.
Presently his eye caught the little
5eweled 'vlnaigrette. He looked care
lessly round the conservatory, to see II
ne was observed. and picked It up. He
now had bis back to me. was on the
point OF stepping up to him, when he
turned round. and replaced the vinai-
grette and walked quietly away.
1t was lucky had not moved. I
should have looked rather foolish. Some
curious instinct bade me eros the en-