Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1912-06-07

markable, because they could not very
wcN be cashed without an identified
ton book | carried in my corsage.
Time passed. and the mystery was
not explained. Then some friends of
mine came to Rome who entered the
social world there and gave me an
opportunity of getting an occasional
glimpse of it myself. At ball given
at the Quirinal palace. to which my
friends gained me an invitation. was
destined to another surprise. lady
whom | had met said to me: prince
Palioni desires to be presented to
you. May bring him?'
| answered her that should be
pleased to meet any friend Of hers.
and little later ! saw her advancing
ON the arm of young man wearing
several decorations on his breast. ON
being introduced he bowed so low that
did not see his face. but when /
did see it it expressed mingled en-
barrassment and merriment. He was
the thief had found in my room.
There was probably cause for his
amusement in the expression of my
face Notwithstanding the return Of
my checks and the amount they called
for had never doubted that this
man was thief. Had not come sud-
denly upon him in my room. found
my checks missing. and had he not
shown every evidence of having taken
them? His making memoranda of my
name and the amount Of my loss had
regarded a clever trick to throw me
momentarily off my guard so that he
might make his escape The return Of
the checks l had accounted for on
various theories; the 5000 francs l
had received had remained an unsolv.
able mystery.
So l stood staring at him with as
much wonder as if my great grand
fathers ghost had suddenly loomed up
before ME. He, on the contrary. had
an advantage. He had seen me, rec
ognized me and had asked to be pre-
scented to me. knowing Of our previous
meeting, and had prepared himself for
this second one.
You are surprised" he said. with a
very pledSdHL w hlSA iCNCaACd
white teeth under his dark mustache.
Il should think have reason to be
surprised. You speak English. Why
did you not address me in that tongue
when
when l was piifering in your room
that you spoke that language? l tried
you in Italian, then French. Mean
while l had become terror stricken at
the position l was in-caught in a
lady's chamber and her money miss
ing. How could ever explain to the
world? In the incident l saw men
staring me in the face"
"But how
"How did come to be there? A
friend Of mine who was Ill in the
G. hotel begged me to come and see
him. l went and sent up my card.
He directed that l be shown to his
room. A stupid waiter piloted me and
leaving me before your door, left me.
l knocked and received no reply. Sup
posing my friend might not be able to
speak loud enough for me to hear, l
turned the knob and went in Sur
prised to see no one there, I was gap
ing about me when you entered"
why did l not think of something
like that before? Well, where did you
go when you left me? Who sent me
the 5000 francs? Who stole my
checks?'
Zone reply at time. if you please.
Frightened out of my equanlmity, /
left the hotel by a rear passage, then
went to my bank. drew 5000 francs
and sent them to you at once"
why did you do that?'
Because you needed the money, and
l hoped that it would induce you to
refrain from setting the police on my
track. AS to your checks, l know
nothing about them"
How do you account for their loss ??
Some one. doubtless a servant of
the hotel, entered your room and, find,
ing your trunk open. took them"
And could not realize on them with
out the Identification that was given
me with the checks, which l carry al
ways on my person."
Il wished on that memorable morn
ing that you had carried all your be-
longings on your person."
1t seemed to me now that had been
very stupid about the whole affair.
should not have taken a gentleman for
u thief and told the prince so. but he
smiled and said that there were plenty
Of thieves who were more aristocratic
looking than himself. | asked for his
address that might return the 5000
francs he had sent me. for which
L now thanked him. inasmuch as at
the time | received them | certainly
needed them. Then he asked me TO
dance. and we whirled away, l feeling
very strange at dancing with thief.
The more | thought about the
princes action upon being innocently
caught in my room with my trunk open
and my property missing the more |
admired not only his presence of mind,
but his ability to decide quickly the
best way out Of the matter In an in
slant he decided ON course that was
bis only hope Of escaping temporarily
from the critical position he was in and