The San Francisco call., 1910-12-04

German nobleman engaging himself TO
an unknown woman Of comparatively
little or no means Here was a titled
foreigner figuring in an out and out
love match wherein monetary cOnsid-
erations were conspicuously absent.
Strange-but true.
And no one scented the rodent-
stranger still
They were married.
The happy pair left Immediately after
the ceremony for Europe. They arrived
in Berlin after a delightful trip. The
bride was glOrioUsly happy and eager
10 drive TO. that castle on the Rhine.
The noble bridegroom insisted that
they should first so to a hotel as it
was necessary for him to instruct thTN
house keeper to prepare she old castle.
which for months had been unoccopled
by any but servants. for the royal en-
tree-his dark eyed queen, his Iiebchen
bride"
He impressed upon the baroness the
grandeur of the castles surroundings,
described the immense driveway ex-
tending through thick forests. the huge
hunting preserves. the galleries on
whose walls hung the wonderful paint
ings and portraits OF his iuustrious
ancestors.
They should live. indeed. he assev-
Grated. emphasizing his words with a
kiss. as beitted their stations. and
there would come a day. soon, too,
when they Would be received BY the
great kaiser.
Al lthis the bridegroom poured into
the ears OF the baroness as they drovs
to their temporary location. one sof the
leading hostelries Of Berlin, and were
ushered to the bridal suite.
Now, dearest said the baron IN hfs
and my castle and make arrangements
for our reception"
He kissed her fondly. as he opened
the door. blew one more kiss from his
shapely fingers ard departed
The baroness was radiantly bliss.
fully happy Her right name at that
moment was COntentment, spelled with
the capital Her baron. her husband
ah, indeed. he was man of men. How
fortunate she was! She thought OF
Duncan and her boy. A pang shc;-
through her heart, but she. recovered
quickly. Her mipd reverted to the
castle-her castle on the Rhine. she
mused on the hOnors to come-the Ger
man emperor. the social favors from
her husbands aristocratic relatives and
friends Oh. how good il was to be.a
real. live baroness-yes. indeed. It was
good.
The moment the nlustrious baron
closed the door to the Baroness apart
menI he vanished. No genii IN the
Arabian Nights disappeared more
nystertOusly. The bride from CaHfOf-
MIA was most shame1essly deserted, by
her German bridegroom.
Though not an educated woman nor
especially clever. the baroness was not
a fool She had lived and learned in a
hard school. Instead OF sitting down
wEinging her hanGS RRd weeping or
meditating suicide. she put her men
tality to work on the puzzle OF her
marriage and desertion- Her vanity had
received a shock that had opened. her
eyes to many things she had hitherto
passed by unheeded.
She had an inspiration. and lost no
time IN acting upon it. Pawning her
jewels, Of which she had many OF value,
gifts mostly from Duncan in the first
months Of their connection. she took
the proceeds, bought her ticket and
returned to San Francisco. For her tho
baron no longer existed.
She went TO no private detective
agency but straight 70 Chief OF Police
isaiah w. Lees. She told her story. and
though hurrfedly. she told It well. The
Immediate result OF her dramatic tale
was the warrants issued for the arrest
OF Duncan and Sterling for conspiracy.
But the Red Spider was true to his
name He dropped out Of sight and has
never been seen here since
Duncan was not 50 fortunate. and
though there was insufficient evidence
10 connect him with the conspiracy or
to convict. all the details of the story
became public. Practice. friends. fam
ily-he lost them all.
Well. Billy" said the chief TO me-
one Cay long after the baron and his
bride had been forgotten by the read
ing world. I've Just received a letter
from the superintendent OF police ~,
Melbourne. Australia. He Is seeking IN
formation regarding man with rel
hair and flowing red mustache who had
been caught in crooked transaction io
southern Australia. WHas 40 vou thlnI~
BillE Guess t.le Red Spidsr's' atili
weaving new wehs- alA2'