The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-01

1--WE are entertaining thieves 1t posi-
lively makes me shudder TO look at my
own guests, and In think that some %
them are criminals"
We stood together in the conserva'
tory OF her house In Portman square
looking down upon a brilliant ball.
room. upon glow OF color, and the IA.
dance OF unnumbered gems. She had
taken me aside after the fourth waltz to
tell me that her famous belt of rubles
had been shoru of one OF its finest pend
ants: and she showed me beyond poss
biity OF dispute that the loss was not
accident. but another OF those amaz-
ing therts which startled London so fire.
quentlv during the season OF 1888 Nor
was hers the only case. Though l had
plants from other sources had reached
me. The Countess of Duholm had lost
n crescent brooch OF brilliants Mrs. Ken
nineham- Hardy had missed n spray OF
pearls and turquoise; Lady fiallinGham
made mention of an emerald locket which
was gone. as she thought from hor neck
lace; though. as She confessed with q
truly feminine doubt. she was not posi-
tive that her maid had given ii to her
And these misfortunes. beine capped by
the abstraction OF Lady Fabcr's pendant
startling stories of thefts which the, sea-
son had known the story OF this dance
would be most remarkable
These things and many more came 10
my mind as / held the mUtilated belt in
my hand and examined the fracture. While
my hostess stood, with an angry flush
upon her face waiting Tor my verdict,
y moments inspection of the bauble re-
vcaled to me Mt once its exceeding value.
ana the means whereby pendant OF IL
had been snatChcd.
''If YOU will look closely" said I, "you
VIII sec that the gold chain here has
been cut with n pair OF scissors. As
ne don't know the name Of the person
who used them, We may describe them
as pickpockets scissors
(which means that I am entertain
ing a pickpocket' said She flushing again
at the thought,
cor n person in possession OF pick
pockets Implements" / suggested.
How dreadful" she cried. mot for
myself. though the rubies arc very Valu-
able. but for the others. This is the
third dance during the week at which |
peoplc's Jewels have been stolen. When
viii ii cnd?"
directly that you. and others with your !
power to lead. call in the police II is |
very evident by this time that some per |
wholesale robbery While silly deli !
cacy forbids us TO permit our guests 10 |
be suspected or in any way watched. the |
person we mention may consider himself |
in q terrestrial paradise, which is very |
near the seventh heaven Of delight. He |
will continue TO rob with impunty. and
30 offer up his thanks FOR that generosity
or conduct which refuses us n glimpse OF
his hat. or even an inspection OF the
boots In which he may place his plum
der"
ou speak very Ilghtly oi IT, sno IN
jerruntcd. rs T stll held her belt in my
hands do YOU know that my husband
values the rubics in each OF those pend
ants al goo pounds?"
II can quito believe it," said |, "some
OF them arc white as these are. ] pre-
sumo; hut ! want YOU To describe II for
Inc. and as accurately as your memory
viii let YOU"
How viii that help IT'S recovery" she
asked looking az me qucstloninglY.
Possibly not at all. ] replied; but .
should be glad II | had The means OF !
restoring IL to you. Stranger things have
II believe" said she sharply. "you /
would like 10 find out the thief your
Il should not have thc smallest OBJ
lection" | exclaimed frankly: III these !
'obbercs continue. no woman in London J
Mill wear real stones and | shall be the
oser'
81 have thought of that said she: 5
but YOU know. you are not 10 make !
The slightest attempt TO expose any J
;ue"t in my house: what you do outside
'.Exa.tIy." said /. "and for the mat 2
er of that | am likely TO do very little
n either case; We are working against 5
lever heads. and IL my Judgment be
orect. there is q whole gang to cope '
With But tell me- ahout the rubics." I
''Wcll" said she. the stolen pendant
'ou know. was brought bv Lord Faber
rom Burmah. Besides the ring of ru-
les which each has. the missing star In h
ludes four yellow stones. which the ma "a
ives declare nre ripening rubies. II is
My superstition, Of course: but the L
ems are full Of fire. and as brilliant as
iamonds.'
Il know the stones we'll" said I: "the -
you will buy them. though the blue a
aricty is nothing more than the sap r
hire. And how long is IL since you &
missed the pendant?'' :
Not ten minutes ago" she an "
(which means that your next partner +,
light he the thIef?" | suggested Really, o
dance is becoming a capital entertain II
lent." II
my next partner is my husband" said e
he. laughing for The first time. 'and s.
i'm. He would never forgive me for is
jsing the rublcS." II
When she was gone. l. who had come d
o her dance solely in the hope that ii
pon the amazing mystery of the sea- n
on's thefts. went down again whore the
ress was and stood while the dancers Is
ere pursuing the dreary paths OF
There before me were the :.
urdrcd types one sees In a London ball
lom-types OF character and Of want OF y
outh aping age. OF we'll dressed women
nd i'll dressed men, of dandics and OF II
lc bored. of fresh Girhood and worn p
lelody. YOU the lean forms of boys u
Nc robust forms of men: the pretty fig e
res of the girls just out; the figures, not a.
D pretty OF the matrops, who. for the II
axe Of the picturesque. should long ago lt
ave been In. As the picture changed lN
nickly, and the fair faces succeeded TO q
ark faces. and the coquctting eyes Of u
rotty women passed by with Il glance TO II
I've place To The uninteresting eyes of b
le dancing man. ] asked myself what
ope would the astutest spy have OF get II
ng clue TO the mysteries in such "A al
1om, how could he look for moment II
name one man or one woman who hsrd Il
art or lot in the astounding robberIcs "
hich were the wonder OF the town? Yet 81
knew that If nothing were done the ir
lie Of jewels in London would come 10 In
ie lowest ebb the trade had known and fr
rat /, personally. should suffer loss So | T.
p extent which / did not care to think al
bour. Ia
have said often in jotting down from II
~ book a few Of The most interesting ! cl
ises which have come TO my notice
nat am no detective. nor do I pretend Il
the smallest gift OF foresight above W
" fellow man Whenever / have busted a
yself about some trouble il has been a,
ON personal motive which drove INC tc
2. or in the hope Of serving some one tc
no henceforth should serve me And 81
ever have ] brought TO my aid other III