The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-11

The queerest things that happen never
IND their way into the newspapers 1t
Is difficult to say why; perhaps il is be-
cause they are too queer. For instance.
i doubt II YOU ever have heard OF a
strange incident that happened only
season or two ago i'm that select section
of the fashionable world known as $50
ciety."
A lady OF title, Lady Barmouth re-
quested me 20 call on her one morning
about the beginning OF June. ths London
season being then at it's height
u want your help, Mr.. Lowe" she he
gan, and then stopped awkwardly. Per
haps you are not aware that at several
balls and dinner parties this season there
have been jewels sno ornaments stolen.
III has, OF course, caused great deal OF
unpieasantness In sevccal cases trim
kets have even been actually taken from
the wearers without their knowing how
IL was done or who did H.
l had heard several wild tales of arti-
cles having been missed at fashionable
gatherings, and there was much specu-
lation as 10 who was the culprit The
articles were not, as a rule. OF immense
value. and they always disappeared sin
gly, consequently no public notice had
been directed 10 the matter. In one OF
two cases the police had been consulted.
put IL was impossible FOR them to help.
There could be no doubt that the thief
was a person who mixed IA society as an
equal, probably woman who had al
lowed her love OF jeweiry 10 tempt ner
to dishonesty.
II presume. then, that the-er--thief Is
guest--a person in society," / said in
quiringly.
II am afraid so. Two or three things
were missed at dance which / gave
last week. Now. / am giving another
dance next Thursday and ! am.of course5
most anxious Il should not occur again.
at any rate i'm my house. | thought 1
would engage your services for the even
ing, 10 see II you detect anything suspi-
cious. or course, you would be treated
as a guest"
We made arrangements about terms
anc ii was agreed that / should be in
troduced as an American, by name Capt
Burke.
Il suppose. Lady yarmouth" I said
carelossly, "you don't suspect anybody
in Particular
"Oh. no. she said. but l noticed what
I thought was look OF anxiety on her
face. and made a mental note OF it.
AS ] was leaving. Lady yarmouth said:
"Of course Mr.. Lowe YOU quite under
make any discoveries, they must be treat
ed as secrets. can't have scene OF
any kind Ii must be hushed up"
| 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.
to the house. Practically, my duty
was TO mingle with the guests. enjoy my
self and keep my eyes wide open. Nothing
seemed 10 be more improbable than that
there should be thief among the brill
liant throng that crowdeSiN the rooms.
Everything was conducted In the most
sumptuous and luxurious style, a Hun
sarian band dscoursed the sweetest 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 permitted. I
ticed a couple take up a position i'm the
opposite corner. They were both young.
and evidently very much in love with
each other. The girl was handsomely
dressed and wore some valuable jewels.
In particular noticed pair of diamond
eardrops which had just come into fash
ION again. Without being a connoisseur
of precious stones, i understand them
well enough TO know that these were
very valuable indeed, and likely to be
worth several hundred pounds.
These two young people were sitting
out during "A dance. and they fiirted all
through set of lancers, without any inn
patience at their length.
At last they got uD and went into the
ballroom again ON the chair where the
girl had been sitting lay something snln-
IL was her Vinaigret, which she had prom
ing. ] strolled across and examined H.
ably left there by accident. ! replaced
IL, thinking II might serve as "A trap for
our faShionable thief. II he were In the
neighborhood, and withdrew 10 my cor
ner, where i was almost invisible.
Presently an old gentleman strolled out
To smoke a cigarette. ne was a tall
handsome Notwithstanding man, with
the air of the true aristocrat. His name
i didn't know but had noticed him cha Z
ting with the guests. He was evidently
known To every one. and was a man OF
social Importance.
Presently his eye caught the little Jew.
eled vinaigret. He looked carelesslS
round the conservatory. tc see II he were
observed, and picked IL up. He now had
his back to me. | was on the point OF
stepping UP to him, when he turned
round and replaced the vinaigret anC
walked quietly away.
1t was lucky had not moved / should
have looked rather foolish. Some curious
instinct bade me cross the conservatory
and look at the vinaigret again Withou-
thinking about IL. | put IL 10 my nose.
The next thing ] remember is, that
found myself sitting In chair Gradual.
" things became clearer The vinaigret
lay by my side. II was drugged For a
few minutes I had lost consciousness.
still felt dizzy and sick, but knowing that
everything depended on my being prompt
and acute. | managed with an effort e
pull myself together.
Then arose the question: What should
/ do next? Should I so straight 10 the
man who had tampcred with the vinal-
gret? A moments thought showed me