Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-09
THE PEARL
NECKLACE
rOrlgtnal.l

= lorlsinai.l
Y0ung Edgar Desmond. des,rfnr +,
U6ovs IN ths swim sf society and reai.
Ting that without q fortune be n.ust
- ahas to make some return for invi.
tattonA cast about for method al
eotng 20. He could not sing o. play ON
nv musical instrument. He could not
IA the cotillou. One thing he could
4o-he could work tricks of sleight Of
land. By this means be gradually got
invited to the best houses and soon
Seund himself in great demand.
One evening Edgar attended large
ban given BY one OF society's magnates.
He was standing In a room crowded
with people when suddenly he saw a
hand passed between two people and
. pearl necklace dropped from 1t into
q fold Of lady's dress, which formed
sort OF pocket The lady who was
TIE Involuntary recipient OF the jewels
was Miss Rosa Mafnwaring. the daugh.
ter Of q rich banker.
Now, Desmond was one of those self
contained fellows with an eye constant
to business who always get on. In
Q twinkling he had formed a plan to
turn what he had seen to great adyan-
6ge. A thief had doubtless purloined
the necklace and for some reason had
been obliged 10 get rid Of it. This rea.
Qon was soon explained. Hearing 4
9ommotiOn in the hall, Desmond went
there and found one Of. the guests, Rob-
ct Chamberlin, young man Of ire.
uroachahle character, being searched
hy private detective for the necklace
which had been momentarily laid of
= the ladies' robing room and had dis
appeared A maid had reported seeing
man In the robing room when no one
else was there answering to the descrip.
ton Of Chamberlin. OF course the
Jewels were not found.
The detective retired in confusion.
Nevertheless the news Of the accuse
ton soon spread, and Chamberlin found
himself In 4 very unenviable position.
Desmond sought the hostess and said
= her:
III you will permit me to entertain
some Of your guests by 4 few sleight
Il hand tricks, l think l can add to
the eclat Of your ball.
Certainly, Mr.. Desmond. l would
have suggested It myself, but did not
IKE to trespass on your amiability."
Ten minutes later a number Of guests
were assembled IN the music room.
Edgar mounted q platform used for
musical purposes and delighted them
with his magic. Miss Aainwaring was
in the room, and presently Chamberlin
srolled In, looking very unhappy.
'The next trick" said Edgar, II call
the lost necklace Perhaps you do
not al know that ARs. Worth has lost
q valuable pearl necklace this even
Ing"
A painful constraint III on the audi
eace.
Magic Ia worthless II It can't restore
stolen property. In other words, ths
necklace 10 not In ti3s possession Of 4
thief, but OF an esttmabls hAy whose
Integrity ID unQuesttoned."
The coastraint was TUNED int 4
surprised expectancy.
"Let me see." tapping BIZ forehead
and closing his eyes. Twice -four are
eight which. being divided By two.
gives four. In 4 fold It the dress Il
the fourth lady sitting In the eighth
row Of chairs the necklace Will b.
found" fM
Stepping down from the platform.
Edgar advanced to Mis- Nainwaring |
and, putting bis hand into the fold,
teok out the necklace, held It aloft,
then handed It 10 the lady who had
lost It.
There was 4 elapping Of hands. not
very expressive Of appreciation Of I'D
gar's skill. but of rejoicing at the dis-
covery that the whole affair was 4
trick. Nevertheless Edgar was blamed.
"That fellow win step ct nothing"
said enc.
Some day hsn sst himself IN trss-
BILE with bis ricis." said another.
"He had no business" aid 4 third,
ITO use any guest for the purpose Of
display ing his skin without that guests
permission" /
Have your pardon" said Edgar to
Miss Mainwarfng. "fer placing the
necklace with youT
Miss Mainwaring granted the par
don, but with no good grace.
Edgar sauntered away, as though In
different to the effect he had produced,
but as soon as he got out of the room
be fastened to the hostess and begged
her to assemble the three persons In
terested in a private room. When they. |
The hostess included, came together,
Edgar closed the door and said:
"This matter of the necklace was
more serious than is supposed, and had
not acted as l did 1t might have re-
Iulted very unpleasantly. The neck
ACE was undoubtedly stolen, and saw
/ hand drop it in Miss Mainwarings