Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-17

picture is too valuable to be left about like that
If you will let your bring me some canvas.
shall wrap it and place it up the table here off
the floor. Suppose there were mice here!"
Kale thanked him. The necessary orders were
given, and finally the picture carefully wrapped
and placed beyond harms reach, whereupon de
Lesseps adjusted himself paper, easel STOOL and all
and began his work OF copying. There Kae left
him.
Three days later Kae just happened to drop in,
and found the artist still at his labor.
Il just dropped by" he explained to see how the
work in the gallery was getting along 1t will be
finished in another week hope am not disturb
ing youf" -,
finished See how am getting a1ong?" He turned
the easel toward Kale
The millionaire gazed from that toward the orig-
miraton for the artists efforts his eyes, Why
it's fine!" he exclaimed. Its just as good as the
other one and bet you don't want any five thou
That was all that said about it at the time
Kale wandered about the house for an hour or so,
then dropped into the ball room where the artist
they walked back to the hotel. The artist carried
under one arm his copy of the Whistler loosely
rolled up.
Another week passed. and the workmen who had
been engaged in refinishing and decorating the
gallery had gone De Lesseps volunteered to assist
in in the work Of rehanging the pictures and Kale
the afternoon of the day this work began that de
Lesseps chatting pleasantly with Kae, ripped loose
the canvas Which enShrouded the precious RubenS.
Then he paused with exclamation of dismay.
The picture gone; the frame which had held it
was empty. thin strip of canvas around the inside
edge showed that sharp penknife had been used to
cut out the painting
All of these facts to the attention of Professor
Augustus S. F. x. Van Dusen-The Thinking Ma
chine. This day or so after Kae had rushed
into Detective Mallory's office at police headquar-
tiers, with the statement that his Rubens had been
stolen. He banged his fist down the detectives
desk and roared at him.
cit cost me fifty thousand dolars!" he declared
violently Why don't you do something? What
you sitting there staring at for?''
advised. II will put my at work right now
to recover the-the- What is Rubens anyway"
Its pictured" beloved Kale. "a piece of
canvas with some paint on it. and it cost me fifty
thousand dollars-don't you forget that!"
So the police machinery set in motion to re-
the picture And in time the matter fell under
the watchful eye of Hutchinson Hatch, reporter He
learned the facts preceding the disappearance of the
picture, and then called on de Lesseps. He found
the artist in state of excitement bordering hys-
terra; ntimaton from the reporter of the object
of his visit caused de Lesseps to burst into words.
Mon DieM it is outrageous!' he exclaimed
"What can do? l was the only in the
for several days I the one who took such
pains to protect the picture. And it is gonel
The loss is irreparable. What can dor"
Hatch didn't have any very definite idea to
just what he could do, SO he let him 60 LAS l
understand it, Mr.. de Lesseps, he interrupted at
last, mo one else in the room, except you and
Mr.. Kale all the time you were there?"
"No else"
And 1 think Mr. Kale said that you were max