The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-10-10
From 0 Detectives Notebook.

The Queerest things that happen never
find their way into the newspapers. 1t is
difficult to say why; perhaps it is because
they are too queer. For instance, | doubt
if you have ever heard Of a strange Incl
dent that happened only a season or two
ago in that select section Of the fashion
able world known as society"
A lady OF title, Lady yarmouth, re-
ouested me to call on her one morning
about the beginning of June, the London
season being then at its height.
u want your help, Mr.. Love-" she be-
gan, and then stopped awkwardly. per
haps you are not aware that at several
balls and dinner parties this season there
have been jewels and ornaments stolen.
1t has, Of course. caused a great deal of
unpleasantness. In several cases trinkets
have even been actually taken from the
WearerS without their knowing how 1t
was done or who did it,
| had heard several wild tales Of arti
cles having been missed at fashionable
gatherings. and there was much specula-
ton as to who was the culprit. The arti-
cles were not, as rule, Of immense value
and they always disappeared singly, con-
seQuently no public notice had been dl-
rected to the matter. In or two cases
the police had been consulted, but it was
impossible for them to help. There could
be no doubt that the thief was a person
who mixed in society as an equal, prob
ably a woman who had allowed her love
of jewelry to tempt her to dishonesty.
L presume, then, that the-er-thief is
guest-a person in society?'' l said in
Quiringly.
Il am afraid so. Two or three
things were missed at a dance which
gave last week. Now. 1 am giving an
other dance next Thursday, and | am, of
course most anxious it should not occur
again. at any rate in my house.
thought | would engage your services for
the evening, to see if you detect any
thing suspicious. Of course, you would
be treated as a guest"
We made arrangements about terms
and it was agreed that [ should be in
PRODUCED as an American by name Capt.
Burke
Il suppose. Lady Barmouth," I said
carelessly,, YOU don't suspect anybody
in particularly
ooh, no. she said. but I noticed what
[ thought was look of anxiety on her
face and made mental note of it,
AS [ was leaving, Lady yarmouth
said: "Of course. Mr.. Lowe, you quite
understand, there must be no expose. If
you make any discoveries, they must
be treated as secrets. | can't have a
scene Of any kind. It must be hushed
up"
L returned to the office impressed with
two ideas. First, that my task was one
of those delicate cases that require all
your tact and yield very little credit
secondly, that Lady yarmouth knew
more, or at any rate, guessed more than
she cared to tell.
Thursday evening arrived, and | went
to Merton house. Practically, my duty
was to mingle with the guests. enjoy
myself and keep my eyes wide open.
Nothing seemed to be more improbable
than that there should be a thief among
the brilliant throng that crowded the
rooms. Everything was conducted in
the most sumptuous and luxurious style.
a Hungarian band discoursed the sweet
est of dance music, and the guests were
among the highest in the land
For long while nothing occurred of
the smallest significance. But at about
2 O'Clock in the morning, when | was sit
ting in a snug corner of the conserva-
tory, where cigarette smoking was per
p mitted. [ noticed a 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 yal,1-
able jewels. In particular [ noticed a
PAIR OF diamond eardrops which had just
come into fashion again. Without being
cOnnolsseur of precious stones, | I'M
derstand them we'll enough to know that
tneSe were very valuable indeed. and
likely. to be worth several hundred
pounds.
These two young people were sitting
out during dance, and they firted all
through set of lancers, without any i'm
patience 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 shin
ing. / strolled across and examined it.
It was her vinaigret, which she had
probably left there by accident. l re-
placed it, thinking it might serve as a
trap for our fashionable thief. if he were
in the neighborhood, and withdrew to my
corner. where | was almost invisible
Presently an old gentleman strolled out