The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-06-11
: Little Mrs. Patten.

| Judge Patten, had arrived without her
husband because just as they We're
about leaving Chicago an associate
| judge had been taken i'll and Judge
Patten had to sit In case for him. He
had sent his wife on and would join
her within a week.
At the end of the week the judge did
not appear. He wrote letter instead.
The letter was shown to the landlord
and then accidentally" left en- a table
in the parlor for half day. and it was
doubtless read by score of the female
| guests. He would be detained another
week. much to his sorrow, but would
| surely arrive then. There was print
ed letter head to show that the Judge
belonged to a high court, and in the
letter he inclosed a draft on New York
for hundred dollars. If there was
any doubt about Mrs. Patterns social
status the letter settled it. The hus-
band wrote that she had been inquired
after by people whom all of US knew
to be prominent in society.
Little Mrs Patten had been with US
eight days when there was robbery
in the house-the first for i've years.
There was no dress except at dinner
Sunday evenings, and then for such a
lot of conservative people as we were
there was quite display of jewelry
A lady who had got out her diamonds
to wear was called from the room
moment, and when she returned the
stones were gone. The value was about
$1,000, but the excitement kicked up
was valued at five times as much. The
theft was laid to the chambermaid. to
walter and to others, but in such
cases nothing can be done but to sus-
pect We all talked, and we all sympa.
thized and suggested. and little Mrs.
Patten adorned herself with $1,000
worth of diamonds and acknowledged
that she was very careless and expect
ed to be robbed herself some day.
l must explain to you that the regu-
lar doors had been taken off for the
summer and replaced by Stat or blind
doors to permit of free circulation.
There was space of about foot at
top and bottom, and no watchmen
We're kept In the halls at night. AS
these Stat doors locked, the idea was
that the thief was slim enough TO slip
over or under them. There were per-
haps ten boys at the hotel with their
parents, hut none of them could be
suspected. In fact, the detective who
was summoned and came down as u
guest could not find a thing to found
suspicion on. After working his head
for day he recommended that watch
men be stationed IN the halls and went
his way. Girls were placed on watch.
Nothing occurred Monday night, but
on Tuesday night there followed three
more robberies of rooms. The plumber
was about the same as before. In two
of the rooms were husbands and wives ).
In the third was woman whose huss
band had AIKEN run up to town on
business. Not one of them had been
awakened. There was girl on watch
IN that hall. and. of course. she was at
once charged with having fallen asleep.
Wednesday, might ! went to bed to
Sleep soundly' but | had my plans for
the following night. am an old bach
elor, and had room by myself. Lit
tie Mrs. Patten acted no different. from
the other ladies. She was free to talk
about the robberies anu had taken her
jewels to the Office safe or had at least
handed In d case. She was the thief
as you are prepared to hear. but not
one PROFESSIONAL detective ina hundred
would have had the slightest suspicion
of her -
When 4 went to bed Thursday night
I did something very smart. crawled
under instead. of into the bed. | ex-
pectcd the thief to come and meant
TO make aicapture. | had black jack
with me and ropes for tying the rascal,
and at that date'I could handle almost
any man | came across. Nothing &C.
CURED up TO midnight, but an hour
later heard and felt some one in the
room. Whoever 1t was could not have
slipped over or under the Stat door. He
must'have entered by the window. He.
was searching about for my clothes
when called out that if he moved
hand or foot l would shoot, and | then
began to crawl from under the bed.
When struck light had the room
to myself
! didn't sit. down and wonder, If L
hadn't been deceived l knew hadn't.
That some one had been in the room /
proved within two minutes. That some
one had lost'a little list shoe generally
called sneak. 1t was too small for
any mans foot IT meant woman or
boy. l went down to the office and re-
ported to the night clerk, and together
we visited little Mrs. Patterns room.
She did not respond to the knocks, but
that was because she wasn't there. She
had left most Of her wardrobe behind |
and had gone away dressed. as young
man, taking only hand satchel.
Clear across the rear end of the hotel
ran q balcony on everv floor Tuo f,o