Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-07-04
From q Detectives Notebook.

ss
out during dance, and they firted all
through a set OF lancers, without any
impatience at their length.
At last they got up and went into
the ballroom again. On the chair where
the girl had been sitting lay some
thing shining. 1 strolled across and
examined it. 1t was her vinaigret
which she had probably left there by
accident. I replaced it, thinking it
might serve as a trap for our fashion
able thief, if he were in the neighbor-
hood, and withdrew to my corner,
where l was almost invisible.
! Presently an old gentleman strolled
out to smoke a cigarette. He was a
tall, handsome, intellectual-looking
man, with the air of the true aristo-
crat His name 1 didn't know, but
! had noticed him chatting with the
guests He was evidently known to
every one, and was man Of social
Importance.
! Presently his eye caught the little
/ jeweled vinaigret. He looked careless
ly round the conservatory, to see if he
were observed, and picked it up. Ee
now had his back to me. was on the
point OF stepping up to him, when he
turned round and replaced the vinai-
gret and walked quietly away.
1t was lucky 1 had not moved. I
1 -sIIUufu e. e---7rsrv-->---sIJH9t IooiisiA-
Some curios instinct bade me cross the
conservatory, and look at the vinaigret
again. Without thinking about it,
l put it to my nose.
The next thing l remember is, that
I found myself sitting in a chair.
Gradually things became clearer. The
vinaigret lay by my side. It was
drugged For a few minutes had
lost consciousness. I still felt dizzy
and sick, but knowing that everything
depended on my being prompt and
acute, 1 managed With an effort to
pull myself together.
Then arose the question: What
should do next? Should go straight
to the man who had tampered will
the vinaigret? A moments though
showed me that that would be worse
than useless. I had no proof of any
thing. The situation must be allowed
, to develop itself before 1 interferred.
After some little reflection, I decid
!, ed to go back to the drawing room
where I could see what was going on
Under any circumstances I must no
: lose sight of the girl to whom th'
yinaigret belonged.
For nearly half an hour I waited II
: vain. She danced with two or thre
. different men, but did not seem t
have missed it.
l At last, after one of the dances, sh
appeared to be looking for something
} With what was, presume, an apo1og
to her partner, she skipped across th
room to group of girls. Evidentl
she was asking if any of them ha
seen the vinaigret. For some time sh
l got no information, but presently
< girl who was passing, leaning on
t mans arm, turned rouni and mad
: some remark, pointing with her fan I
: the conservatory door. The owner {
!, the vinaigret gave a little nod c
thanks, and hurried across the room.
ALI lAAS lAAIc OUStIV6u JuuL IL
:, man who had drugged the scent bo
e tie, and who was chatting with SON
S Of the people standing about, watche
e the girl closely
e AS soon as she had left the drawn
g room he broke off his conversatio
g and strolled quietly toward the CO
= servatory. AS he passed through ii
Il curtains I noticed that he glance
e round to see if he were being followe
e That settled it; I had found n
man and must Get promptly Lac
d yarmouth was standing near II
1t piano. Remembering her injunctio
I that there was not, under any circul
.e stances, to be an expose o. a seen
< 1t was necessary to proceed with ca
lie ton. caught her eye without MT
T. difficulty. She understood at once til
i had something to say and disengag
le herself from her friends.
iy 'Will you come with me to the &C
" seryatory?" I said quietly. 81 belle
Of have solved the mystery
ie She turned pale. Every well,' S
a said. "Give me your arm. Be care1
n what you do, Mr.. Love-" she add
w in troubled voice. ut must
d, hushed up
z When we reached the conseryatc
we found, just as I had expected, t
lg young lady lying back in chair I