The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-04-23

family have two residences, house in
Vienna and an ancient castle in the
Tyrol, situated on the heights above
Meran, a most picturesque place, | I'M
derstand, but very shortly you will
know more about it than do, because
The Bugle expects you to go there as its
special correspondent. Here the dia
mond robbery took place something like
two months ago, and the affair is still
as great mystery as ever. The prin-
cess was to open the season at Meran,
which is fashionable resort, by giving
a fancy dress ball in Schloss Steinhei-
mer, to which all the Austrian and for
eign notables were invited
at was just before the ball com
menced that the diamonds We're first
missed. In fact, the princess was about
to put them on-she represented some
gorgeously decorated character from the
ARABIAN Nights when the discovery
was made that the diamonds Were gone.
She was naturally very much upset over
her loss and sent Mt once for the prince,
her husband, insisting that the police
should be notified Immediately and de-
tectives called in, as was perfectly nat
ural. Now, here comes strange fea
ture of the affair, and this Is that the
prince positively forbade any publicity
and refused his sanction when she de-
manded that the police should be in
formed, and yet the prince knew as well
as anybody the very considerable value
Of the stones.
"What reason did he give for his re
fusal?" asked Miss Baxter, looking up
from her notes
Il am not quite certain about that
but | think he said 1t was mira dig. for
the Steinheimers to call in the police
Anyhow, it was an excuse which did
not satisfy the princess, but as guests
were arriving and it was desirable
there should be no connection to mar
the occasion the princess temporarily
yielded to the wish of her husband, and
nothing was said about the robbery.
The great ball was the talk of Meran
for several days, and no one suspected
the private trouble that was going on
underneath the public event, During
these several days the princess insisted
that the aid Of the police should be in
voked, and the prince was equally siren
Aous that nothing should be said about
the matter Then, quite UNEXPECTEDLY,
the prince veered completely round and
said he would engage the best detectives
In Europe. Strange to say, when he an
nounced this decision to his wife she
had veered round also and opposed the
calling in of the detectives rs strenu-
ously as he had done heretofore. "
"What reason did she give for her
change Of frontT p asked Miss Jennie.
"She said, I believe, that it was now
too late; that the thieves, whoever they
were, had had time to make away with
their plumber, and there would merely
be fuss and worry for nothing,
"Do you know, am inclined to agree
with her." said the girl
care your Then tell me what You
think Of the case as far az You have
got.
"What do you Think"
~ shan't tell You at this stage, be-
cause l know of further particulars
which will give you later on. | mere
ly want your opinion now, so that |
may see whether what / have to tell
you afterward modfies it in any way. "
"Well, to me the case looks decided
ly dark against the prince. -
"That is what Mr. Briggs thinks. lie
imagines his highness has the jewels. "
"Where did you get all these particu-
lars2"
"From Mr. Briggs, who, of course,
got them by letter from his daughter. "
"Then we have, as it Were, a one
sided statement. "
"Oh, quite so, but still you must re-
member the princess does not in the
least suspect her husband of the theft .
"Well, please 90 on What are the
further particnlarsy'
"The further particulars are that the
prince made some quiet investigations
among the servants, and he found that
there was a man who although he was
a friend of his own, was much more the
friend of the princess, and this man
had, on the day the ball was given, the
entire freedom Of the castle. He is a
young officer and nobleman, Lieutenant
Won Schaumberg, and the prince knew
that this young man WAS being bard
pressed for some debts Of honor which
he did not appear to be in position tc
liquidate. The young man went uneX-
pectedly TO Vienna the day after the
ball and on his return settled his obi
cations. The princess from one Of her
women, got word Of her husbands sus.
picion She went to the prince at once
and told him she had come to his OWL
opinion with regard to the lost dia.
monds. She would under no circum.
stances have detectives about the place.
Then he told her that he had changed
his mind and resolved to engage detect
ives. So here they were at deadlock
again. She wrote to her father with
great indignation about the princes nm.
just suspicions, saying Won Schaumberp
was gentleman in every sense of tho
uord uothn, that rpluf iapg hot yyanr