The San Francisco call., 1907-01-20

row box on the table IN front OF baLnso.
The chief opened II and drew ous
magnificent sapphire necklace.
forty superbly cut stones sclne!llt-Ie
beneath the bright rays OF the mean
descent lights Mrs. Harrington, Isis
and HaSson involuntarily closeo
around the chief. The moment the
cider woman saw the sapphlres ueL
gaze reverted to the other set hanging
about her neck and her emotions Iounu
vent in a piercing scream. Elsie Was
too much astonished for words anu
Hasson looked on in amazement
Tell me your story" said the cnieI'
addressing Clancy and ignoring the IN
curing glances about Lim.
I'VE followed your instructions hter-
ally" replied the man. "and didn't per-
NIT him to get out OF our sisht TOT
second. The crisis came when ne en-
tered the oface OF Cromptons the gem
broker. I posted an off1cer IN the 1fohS
and one in the rear OF the place anc
then entered IN time TO see MN Up
open his cloak and turn the sappnires
ever to Crompton-"
was there a struggle!
eyes" replied Clancy. modestly; but
Il was one-sided. CrOmpton has
ready been turned over TO the On4seo
States District Attorney
what does this meanT cried MIS-.
Harrington, unable to suppress helseiA
any longer.
that your social ambition has maos
you the credulous victim OF q scouh-
drsI. This man has been using you
and your niece for his own oaSe pui
poses. He has forced those counter1eie
gems on you to defect suspicion from
himself and to enable hirn 10 escape
with the real sapphires-
"Counterfeit!' gasped the woman
She Razed 1xedly at the Count. put
he did not return her glance no
seemed bored. A small, white man
cured hand, very much beringed' was
raised Ianguidly and drawn across a
na. row forehead. The next moment
the same hand wearily stroked
luxuriant mustache. betraying by the
movement two rows OF even, white
glistening teeth.
Counterfeit gasped the woman for
the second time.
"Yes. counterfeit" cried the chief.
his voice rising with indignation The
man himself Is a counterfeit He's no
Frenchman. He has no chateau; hes
no Count. The cables have been work.
ing, and / find the title he claims "a
extinct Stripped OF his Partisan to
hat. his Partisan cloak and his ParfsianN
manner, you'll find him to be, as I've
found him to be-after piecing my bits
OF information together-plain BIZ,
Snyder, the best dressed, the best
groomed and the most ingenious pro
fessional smuggler OF the present
generation"
''whatd you bring me here forT'
asked the erstwhile Count, yawning-
TO humiliate you before these la
dies-if such a things possibIe-as
you've already humiliated them."
thundered the chief. ''As for the rest,
the law will give you all that's coming
TO you"
Five minutes later the prisoner, still
languidly stroking his mustache, waa
in a carriage with the officers on his
way to prison The appraiser entered
at this juncture and was invited to
Join Clancy and the chief in taking
the Versailles sapphires to place OF
safety.
Mrs Harrington was In q state of
collapse. Every vestige OF her nor
mally aggressive manner disappeared.
She looked at the chief imploringly.
I'VE will be disgracedr' she cried
The story OF how was duped by this
impostor will make Us .Ae laughing
stock OF society
The chief walked over and placed
his, hand gently on her shoulder. He
looked IN the direction OF John Has
son, who held his arms protectinKly
about Elsie. and his face softened
Are you reconciled to thatT' he
asked, pointing to the happy couple
She nodded her head.
Then" he said, stOutly. 'Tll never
give the newspapers the real story OF
the attempt to smuggle the Versailles
sapphires."
And later on. when the reporters
visited him. he lied like gentleman.