The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-06-28

Fii!Fi mas iAsiIfifl iIIb MIS- harrington. .
cxquisiteiy appointed apartments at the
New Amsterdam. The bogus ge,as re-
posed on iits. itarringtor's ample bosom.
Elsie was In splendid SPIRITS. The prese1ce
II Hasson evidently helped to drive the
Tlalior from her checks. Hasson seemed
half defiant. Mrs. Harrington looked un-
comfortable.
"Where's the count" quericd the chief
after the first greetings were over.
The count failed TO keep his appoint-
ment." said Mrs. Harrington stiffty.
No one appeared to share ner disappoint-
ment over this catastrophe. Indeed, Elsie
and John. by a species of wireless teleg-
raphy. We're exchanging glances which
were distinctly charged with joy.
May l use your telephone?" asked
Barnes.
Without waiting for a reply he lifted
the receiver and called up the custom
house.
is that you, COM" he asked.
The reply must have been in the air.
NATIVE, for he Immediately followed it
with another question::
Can you get into communication with
Count de Vontain?"
Those in the room heard a mumbling
sound come over the wire.
Well" continued the chief, tell him
he's committed an objectionable offcnse.
He's kept two American ladies waiting.
That may be permissible in France, but
We'll not tolerate it here. Bring the count
to the New Amsterdam at once"
During the next twenty minutes the
chief charmed the ladies with the extent
and variety of his conversation. Anec-
dotes flowed from his lips lik- crystal
water from an everlasting spring. So in
terested did they become that they all
most forgot the existence of Count de
Nontain. 1t was Mrs. Harrington who re-
verified to the painful topic of the sap
nbirac Tho oIiaf ,-ac ,N,.cf,,ca in lic rrn.
testations:
ladies'" he concluded.
But the dear count?" inquired the
older woman.
The dear count said the chief, grimly,
looking at his watch, lis a very unpunc-
tual man."
At thai moment a scuffling sound was
heard on the stairway; the door opened
and a man entered in the custody of two
customs officers. His clothing was disar-
ranged and he showed to disadvantage.
He scowled fiercely at Barnes, but refused
to notice the other occupants Of the room.
Cornelius Clancy, who brought up the rear
of this strange group, saluted his chief.
THE COUNT gasped Mrs. Harrington
at the prisoner.
Did you get the gemso" asked Barnes
eagerly, not noticing this salution.
w did," said the little man, with a
broad grin.
Where We're they?"
"He had EN- sewed up in the lining Of
his cloak"
"Where are they?"
Clancy advanced and laid a long narrow
box on the table in front of Barnes. Tho
chief opened it and drew out a magnificent
sapphire necklace. The forty superbly cut
stones scintillated beneath the bright rays
of the incandescent lights. Mrs. Harring-
tom E1cin q md H. cS0I1 nvo1rntari1v r1QCad
in around the chief. The moment the
older woman saw the sapphires her gaze
reverted to the other set hanging about
her neck and her emotions found vent in
a piercing scream. Elsie was too much
astonished for words and Hasson looked
on in amaZement.
Tell me your story said the chief, adj
dressing Clancy and ignoring the inquire
Ing glances about him.
I'VE followed your Instructions LITERAL
ly," replied the man, land didn't permit
him to set out of our sight for a second.
The crisis came when he entered the office
of Crompton, the gem broker. i posted an
officer in the front and one in the rear of
the place and then entered in time to see
him rip open his cloak and turn the sap
phires over to Crompton."
Was there a E~truggle?"
Yes" replied Clancy, modestly; but 1t
was one sided. Crompton has already
been turned over to the United States dis
trict Attorney
what does this mean" cried Mrs. Har-
rington, unable to suppress herself any
longer.
ut means" said Barnes sternly, Chat
your social ambition has made you the
creGulous victim of Il scoundrel. This man
has been using you and your niece for his
own base purposes. He has forced those
counterfeit gems on you to defect sus-
picion from himself and to enable him to
escape with the real ~sapphires."
'Counterfett!' gasped the woman.
She gazed fi&edly at the count, but he
did not return her glance. He seemed
bored. y small, white, man.cured hand,
very much be-ripged, was raised languid-
ly and drawn across a narrow forehead.
The next moment the same hand wearlly
s-roAed a luNuriant black mustache, be-
traying by the movement Two rows of
even, white, gIistennng teeth.
Counterfeit" cried the woman for the
second Cine.
Yes, connterfeit!' cried the chief, his
voice rising with MS Indignation. THE
MAJ himself IS a Counterfeit. Hes no
Frcnchrnan. He has no chateau, he's no
count. The cables have been working and
l find tA.e title he claims is< extinct.
Stripped of his Partisan top hat, his Par
sian cloak and his Partisan manner, you'll
!ind him 10 be, as I've found him to be
after piccing my bits OF Information to-
SN'4+N- ioi III hoIiN tIl, inc DeSL
dressed, the best groorned and the most
Ingenious professional s~lnuggler of the
present generation"
"Wlatd you bring me here for?" asked
the erstwhi3c count, yawning.
TO hulniiiate you before these ladies'
if such a thing is possible-as you've all
ready Inundated them" Numbered the
chief. for the rest, the law will give
you all that's coming to YOU"
FiNe minutes later the prisoner, still
lansuiGly stroliing his lnustache, was in a
carriage with the officers on his way to
prison. The appraiser entered at this
j%uncture and was invited to JOIN Clancy
and the chief in taking the Versailles sap
phires to q place of safety.
Mrs. harrington was in a state of COL
lapse. Every vcstige of her normally ag-
gressive manner disappeared. She looked
al the chief i1nploringly:
w will be disgraced!' she cred. 1.-THE
story of how l was duped by this i'm
poster will make US the laughing stock of
society"
The chief walked over and placed his
hand gently on her shoulder. He looked
in the direction of John Hasson, who held