The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-19
BETWEEN TWO FIRES
BY MRS. G.. N. WILLIAMSON
Lady Mary the House. 1.-THE Grey"
fortunes Sport" Etc. Etc. Etc.
All Rights Reserved.

to be married also within the last few
days, and wished to keep his meeting
with me secret. I only learnt that
last night"
HE came to you after calling at the
house of the British home secretary in
London. He was seen to enter there
by a private detective, and tho he Ger
tainly was not seen coming out, he
must have done so, as he was in Paris
in the evening""
But it is to the daughter of. the
British home secretary that he is en-
She came, think, little later, and
with friends, SO that the situation was
dangerous for him. You say you
know what happened at the hotel, but
I will explain the inner meaning Of It.
Mr.. Brent was to have brought me my
letters. He gave me a letter-case,
saying they We're. in it; at that instant
the light went out, whether by design
or accident I don't know
cit was not design on the part of the
police" the chief Interrupted. 1T,
hotel"
when the case was opened by the
commissary of police, and saw the
diamonds, L was much surprised; the
more so, as they had been stolen from
the Comte de Ribaumont few days
ago. Again I confide in you as
man of honor. They were the prop
erty of dear friend an elderly lady
we'll known in Paris, who is an in
veterate gambler, but a charming
woman.
.She dared not tell her husband of
her losses, but begged Maxine to sell
the jewels for her in Amsterdam and
have them replaced with paste. On
sion the necklace was stolen from him
You can imagine his state Of mind
and my surprise on seeing it reappear.
in so extraordinary way. I believed
that somehow Noel Brent had recov-
cred it; and it was only to keep my
letters (Which had not yet received)
out of the affair, and also the Comte
de Ribaumont's name in connection
with the diamonds, that I told the
commissary of police that the neck
lace was a gift from my lover. The
instant had spoken the words I re-
GREETED them, for fear of conse-
quences, but it was then too late.
when the police had gone I asked
Mr.. Brent for my letters. He said he
thought he had given them to me; and
| he knew no more Of the diamonds
than I did-far less, indeed.
Il was in despair at discovering that
my letters were gone, tho / was thank
sake, to have the necklace, which since
I have give nto him. MI. Brent be-
lieved that the letters must have been
stolen from him in the train, tho he
could not account for the presence of
the jewels in his pocket; but as he sus-
pected a man who had travelled with
him, he determined to try and find
him, promising to bring news to my
house after the theater at ~ o'clock.
tHe came a little later, having been
detained with friends at the hotel till
midnight. One of these friends was
Miss Revelstoke. He had employed q
private detective named Dubois, but
had learnt nothing yet, and, while ne
was telling me this Conlte de Ribau-
mont was announced. I was Obliged
to force Mr.. Brent Ito conceal himself
in my boudoir, which he reluctantly
did; and I can prove to you by one
of my servants, if you do not care tc
take my word alone, that he was no,
able to escape until nearly half-pas
one. He could not. have called twice
/ in the Rue de la Tour, as the papers
say that the concierge believed, for he
was in my boudoir. How he found
! the address Of the man he suspected
as the thief cannot tell you
i eve already know that. It was
thru letter.
:, "Ah!'' Ct made the exclamation a:
innocently as if I did not remember
all I had heard from Count Ipanoff.
| wv
house. 1t was to get my letters which
he hoped to find there. And you SET
also why he has kept my name ou
of the affair, refusing to compromis'
me even to save himself great trouble
perhaps danger. How could he ruiz
my happiness when he knew that
had lied to the Comte de Ribaumont
saying that was alone?'
IT see. And I applaud his chivalry,'
said the chief of police
you are the man to understand it
Now that I have Inundated myself
will he be released? It is clear-is i
not-that the murder must have beef
, done long before the time when h
could have reached the Rue de l;
Tour after leaving my house at half
past one
THAT is clear. There are still Ger
tain forn1alities to be gone thru befor
the accused man can be released; but
I may as well inform you, dear made
moiselle, that not ten minutes befor
/ lyou came in received news of the ar