Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-05-11

you were away. he cdne, Oh the part
of the Empress, and carried off one of
my earrings which Her Majesty wished
TO compare with one of the Countess
Woronzoff's."
"Dumont. Impossible. l was talk
ing to him the whole time ! was alb
sent
Nevertheless, dear, he has been here,
and has taken my earring. See. 1t Is
gone
effectively" agreed the Count. with
grim smile; but Dumont has not
taken it. 1t is to the last degree UNI
likely that the Empress would make
such a request. Depend upon 1t, you
have been the victim of thief made
up as Dumont.'
'Impossiblew cried tine Countess In
her turn. "The affair Is absolutely as
tell you 1t was the verltable NJ. Du-
mont who came into this box and took
away my diamond. Only wait little,
and he will bring 1t back intact"
40 wait little Is TO lessen the
chance of its recovery. | Will go and
inquire of Dumont If can get at him,
whether he has been seized with sud
den attack of kleptomania; because the
idea of the Empress having sent him
roaming about the theater borrowing
lady's jewels regard as preposterous.
All. these Partisan thieves
With this the Count departed, and the
second act was nearly at an end before
ha paftt IN ha n inn fha
Countess perceived that she was an OBJ
ject of interest to the occupants Of the
Imperial box.
II was right" whispered the Count,
re-entering and bending over his wife's
chair. "Dumont knows nothing of your
earring, and, needless to say, the EN-
press never sent him upon such an
errand. have put the matter into the
hands of the police, and they will do all
that Is possible to recover it,
The Countess was duly cOmmlserated
by sympathlzing friends, but nothing
more was heard of the jewel until the
following day.
Early in the afternoon the Countess
was about to start for her daily drive in
the Bols. The frozen snow lay deep
upon the ground, and her sleigh, with
its two jet-black Russian horses jing-
ling their bells merrily in the frosty air,
stood waiting in the courtyard while
the Countess donned her furs.
A servant entering announced that
an officer of the police In plain clothes
asked permission to speak. with Nine.
la Comtesse concerning the lost dia-
mond
Certainly" said madame, gracious
ly; "let the officer be shown into the
boudolr."
Into the boudoir presently came the
Countess, stately, beautiful, fur-clad,
buttoning her little gloves. Near the
door stood a short, wiry-lOoking man,
with keen, black eyes, closely cropped
hair, and compact, erect military fig
ure The small man bowed profoundly
while he said, with the utmost respect,
at the same time laying letter upon
the table:
Il am sent by order of the chief of
police to inform Nine. Ia Comtessa that
the stolen diamond has been satisfae-
torly traced, but there is, unfortunate
ly, some little difficulty connected with
its Identification. l am charged, there
fore. to beg that Nine. In Comtesse will
have the goodness to intrust the fellow
earring to the police, for short period,
in order that it may be compared with
the one found in the possession of the
suspected thief. Madame will find that
the letter bring corroborates my state
ment."
The Countess glanced hastily through
the letter, and, ringing the bell, desired
that her maid might be told to bring the
remaining earring Immediately; this
was done, and the dapper little man,
bowling deferentlally, departed with the
precious duplicate.
The Countess descended to her sleigh
and drove to the club to call for her
husband. Crossing the Place de Ia
Concorde. she related to him the latest
incident.
You never We're induced to give up
the other" cried Count Ivanoff. incred
ulously.
But tell you, dear, an officer OF the
police came himself to fetch 1t, bring
ing letter from his superiors vouching
for the truth of his statement
If the project himself had come. /
don't think l should have been caJoled
into letting him have it after last
nights experience" laughed her hus-
band. However, for the second time,
we will inquire
The coachman turned and drove. as
directed. to the Bureau of Police, at
which the Count had lodged his COM
plant the night before. After some
what protracted delay, the Count re-