The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-04
THEIR PLATING IDOL.

subject of much conversation and merri-
| ment.
There dwells on Summit avenue. not
great way from the old Kittson residence,
family who rank among the very SWEETEST
Of this city. The paterfamiias is a capital
ist of considerable wealth. In fact 1t was
once said of him that he commanded more
of the Filthy lucre in ready cash than
anyone else in the city. For conveniences
sake he might be called Mr.. Kash. In his
family there is an elder daughter, diVinely
tall and divinely fair. Without her grace
full and commanding presence no social func-
ton of the elite is complete. But she is more
than the average society woman, for combined
with her stately beauty and fascinating
talents is a generous heart which beams out
in her face; she has a kindly smile for the
low we'll as the high.
The five fast men are about the same as
any other five fast young men. One of them
is a college lad the next clerk in his
fathers wholesale house, two others gem
tlemen of leisure" and the last reporter.
About five months ago these five fast young
men, while saunterng on st. Peter street,
stopped in the entrance of the Lowry build
ing and inspected the display of photographs
exhibited there. In the center of the group
was an unusually large platinotype photo OF
very handsome young lady in white even
ing dress. She was portrayed leaning on
the back of a chair, her head resting upon
one shapely hand suggesting meditation. Her
deep azure eyes looked out clearly ana
straight into those Of the small audience OF
five. 1t seemed if she was able to favor
all with a modest but graciously frank
glance without turning her head. Evidently
the lady of the picture had made serious
impression upon the five fast young men, for
they stood as if rooted to the spot. Finally
after heaving what Bertha M. Clay would
call deep, horribly pathetic sigh, one OF
them shook himself out of what appeared
to be trance-like state and said:
"Boys, let's have drink.
Over their glasses they discussed the fas-
cinating picture and its original. Many sur
misses were made regarding the model, out
no one seemed to be able to throw any lght
upon the subject, and it was decided the
college lad should be the one to learn the
fair ones name.
1t did not take the college boy long to
identify the girl in the picture as Miss Kash,
society leader and charity's benefactor
Three weeks passed by, and during that
time hardly day elapsed in which each of
the five fast young men did not find it con-
venient to visit the Lowry building and hold
silent communion with the platino of Miss
Kash. One evening the reporter brought to
the camp Of the "gang'-a suite OF rooms
in block on Wabasha street.-the startling
intelligence that during the afternoon the
picture of the beautiful Miss Kash had been
removed by the artist, and had been replaced
by the facsimile of a portly but very
fashionable Dayton avenue woman.
The news was received with CONSERVATION,
for the thought of not being able to see the
now familiar face of Miss Kash saddened
them. True, the college lad had taken innu-
merable snap shots of it, but either he was
not familiar with the art of outdoor Pho
Biography or his kodak refused to penetrate
the glass of the show case.
Miss Kash, of the platino-finish, always
had a glass smile for the fast young men
as she gazed out from her company of pic
tured neighbors. Night or day, she had
never deserted her post since her first in
PRODUCTION to them, and the boys never failed
to walk a block out of their way to bid
her "bon soir'' en- route to the den after
evening out.
So it was with heavy hearts and "blue"
countenances that they congregated about the
fireplace to discuss the bitter news. The
rooms did not present their usual air Of gay
ETY. and noisy chaf. The "gloves" lay idly
in a corner, and the green baize covered table,
ornamented with stacks Of red, white and
blue chips, deserted.
The wholesale clerk was the first to lay
before his comrades definite plan by which
they would again be able to view the picture
of Miss Kash.
''Boys," he said, "lets steal her-the picture
1 mean" lR
His suggestion received unanimous COM
mendation, and a plan of attack was lmme-
diately open for consideration.
The pot was carefully planned, and though
it savored little of recklessness the dar-
ing feature of the proposed theft only added
TO its fascination.
At a little before the following afternoon
a small trap, drawn by powerful gray horse,
drew UP to the Lowry building and four young
men alighted, leaving a companion in charge
of the vehicle Two of them entered the
building and ascended in the elevator. An
other walked to the corner OF Fourth, handed
the policeman on that beat cigar, and, walk
ing the officer down the street towards Third,
engaged him in conversation apropos of re-
cent crime committed in the city, the coop
per-" entering into an elaborate explanation Of
how he would have "pnched de guy" If de
chief had put him on de lay The fourth
young man strolled leisurely up and down
the sidewalk, gazing at the window displays.
He finally stopped in front of an opticians
window and surveyed an exhibition of glass
eyes and spectac.es with unusual interest.
The driver sat with the reins hanging list
lessIy in one hand. His head nodded forward
and he apparently dozed.
The two who entered the elevator ahghted
at the photographers floor, and soon had the
chic Young miss in charge of the reception
room chatting gaiy. They showered ques-
tions at her of all kinds, relative to the price
of photographs different sizes. etc. She did
not notice that the young men were Sizing
up their surroundings, neither did she OBJ
serve the look of serene c0ntentment which
enveioped their features as their eyes rested
upon a large platino-fnished picture of a very
charming figure in corner near a half-open
window.
The girl and one of the prospective Gus
toners held different views on the respective
qualities of platino and aristo finishes and re-
tired to a counter in the rear of the room
TO compare specimens of both. The other
Young man walked to the window, thrust out
his head, coughed violently and withdrew the
aforesaid caput.
Just as the ob.iging girl had turned her
back and was reaching for another handful
of pictures the first Y. m. was also attacked
with a fit of coughing, and as y. m. No.
heard his companion, he grasped the picture
of Miss Kash, held it far out Of the window
and let it drop.
There were comparatively few people on the
street. and no one seemed to notice the in
cident. The gentleman who had been so in
terested in the wares of the optician sprang
forward and caught the falling photograph as
is bounded from an awning. 1t took but an
instant for him to put it under the seat of the
trap. The driver suddenly awoke, put whip
TO the gray horse, and the outfit was speeding
I'D st. Peter street at rapid gait.
That night was a gala one for the occu-
pants of the den, for looking down upon them
from conspicuous place on the wall was
the heroine of the platino, who had been kid
+ho of har