The Washington times., 1901-07-14

TO the barOny and the immense wealth. OF
his house nearly twenty attempts TO rob
him in some way or other had been made
though in all cases but one unsuccessful
y. The explanation may have been that
certain rogues believed that his iordship 5
huge fortune. his youth. and easy-going
wavs would make him careless Of his
treasures. Whether the belief was origi-
nalIy sound or not it is hard TO say, but
certainly the repeated attempts made 90
rob Lord Beaussarris caused that gentle
man &c be very careful
He was man .rho would rather have
given GL009 away for no consideration
than have been cheated or robbed of :.
tin sixpeuce- Consequently, no sooner was
a vain attempt made by some burglars TO
rob his lordship of his famous collection
Of jewels than he sent the entire lot to his
bankers for safe custody, and immediate
y after a man had succeeded in cashing
q check purporting to have been signed
by the wealthy baron his lordship set
himself the task of invc1ting a signature
which would defy forgers: moreover. he
made i, rule never 70 sign a check for
less than e1O0, which considerably reducsd
the number of his checks cfrcula ted. and
hence the facilities for evildoers to ac-
quaint themselves of the nature of his
signature.
II was due TO these precautions that
more than seven men found their way in
TO prison for divers attempts to forge
lord Beausarris' name to checks and
bills. and that a gang of expert jewel
thieves who broke into his lordship's town.
residence, after three weeks of careful
planning how TO obtain the BeaUSS--ts
diamonds, got of with nothing more valu-
able than some plate
1t thus became point of honor with
scientific thieves that Beausarris should
be shown that. despite his precautions, he
was no match for the ingenuity Of Inen
who had devoted themselves to the study
OF criminal science; he was to be beaten
on the very ground where he had en-
trenched himself or the higher class of
criminals would have their confidence in
themselves very rudely shaken
Beausarris was taking quiet. lonely
lunch one April noon, previous to paying
round of duty calls" when the post
man brought him a letter from Z lady
with whom rumor said his lordsnip con-
templated matrimony; at least, the letter
implied that it emanated from the Hon.
Clarice Marshton, and Beausarris accept
ed it as such. since it was signed in her
name and written in her calIigraphy-
out departure until tomorrow. ! should
be so pleased to see you this afternoon.
Your CLARICE."
Beausarris was annoyed by finding that
his lady love was stiR in town, and he
had missed four days opportunities of
seeing her by crediting the report that she
and her parents had gone to Monte Carlo
fer the spring. BeaUsarris had heard
from Clarice herself a week ago that
they were TO leave London in a few days
time, and he had quite satisfied himself
that She had gone, because he understood
that Lord Marshton's house had been let
for the period of the family's absence.
Beausarris was too annoyed to have any
doubts of his own mistake. He fell into
the trap as q duck waddles into a pond.
He could hardly have suspected that any
one possessed Of evil designs would rent
the town residence of a peer, however
fmpecuuious that peer happened to be-
An hour after lupch his lordship step
ped into smart hanson and set out for
Lord Marshton's house in South Kensing-
ton
Twenty minutes quick drive put him in
front Of his lordship's mansion He paid
the cabman, moU1ted the steps. and
Knocked at the door.
of the footrran who answered his knock
The man bowed as he opened the door
wider. Beausarris glanced casually at
the man. and it did strike him as strange
that the Marshtons should have engaged
a new man servant within a few days Of
their leaving for abroad But he did
ret attach any suspicion to the matter.
He followed the man into tke small draw
ing-room at the back Of the house with
out the shadow OF an idea that anything
unusual was IN the air
Without a word the man ushered Beau
sarris into the UuocCupied drawing room
and withdrew. The door had har.+3y clos
ed before il opened again and two men
entered
They were both slightly above the av-
erage height; one was dark, stout, and
wore gold-rimmed eyeglasses; the other,
who seemed to depend upon his corpan-
ion for guidance, was fair. with frank.
honest race. thick, fair beard and slight
Iy foreign general appearance.
Beausarris bowed in his cold, stiff fash
ion in acknowledgment of the profound
obeisauces, but before he had time to
wonder who they were the dark man, who
looked the elder Of the two. enquired With
some servility:
You desire to see Miss Marshton2"
That Is the object of my visit" Beau
sarTis replied easily. May
Il regret to have to inform you that she
is at Monte Carlo sai2 the dark man,
with another bow. which seemed q trifie
knocking.
What? Pray pardon my surprise, but
It was only this morning l received from
her note asking me 10 call here this
afternoon. Am 1 10 understand that the
letter was delayed in the post. and that
am iutrgding upon the gentleman to
whom Lord Marshton has let this house?''
1 am Baron Steinheiser-the sub-tenant
of this house" replied the dark man. To
that extent your presumption is correct
But the letter was written by my friend
here, NJ Paul Panier." indicating the fair
man. who drew his heels together and
bowed.
BeaBsarris realized Immediately that he
had been trapped for the purpose Of some
elaborate fraud.
And may I enquire the reason for
which you have drawn ne here by means
OF a forged letter." he asked, sternIy,
looking the men up and down angriIy
For an object We have in view" said
the baron. i may add that the object
Is one which-nOw that you are safely
here-Cannot fail 10 prove TO you that ali
your elaborate precautions 20 guard your
Jewels and immense wealth arc
inadequate to protect you against
long been the desire of my