River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-12-19

few days before Made
moiselle Yvonne HIS marriage, and
big display had been made of the
rousseau and presents.
The three reception-rooms were
thrown open, and long narrow tables
covered with jewelry, fans, plate, and
works Of art of every description lined
the walls. At the principal table,
where jewelry and lace were exhibited,
a glass case had been specially fitted
to guard the contents against indis-
Greet fingers.
As a rule, detectiyes--whO by the
uninitiated are often taken for poor
relations-are engaged to guard the
property as it is difficult to know how
many unlimited may manage to make
their way into the house Madame
II, however. had not taken this
precaution; and this mistake caused
me 10 make her acquaintance.
1t was discovered that a costly pen
dant had mysteriously disappeared,
and early the next morning l was In
the Rue du General Appert, seated op-
posite Madame II (the widow of
wealthy merchant), her daughter
YvOnne, and fat, red-faced, pOmpous
gentleman, whom the ladies addressed
as Uncle Jerome He was loudest in
his lamentations, and I soon discover
ed the reason: the pendant had been
presented by him. and he seemed to
take it as a personal affront that the
thief should have selected his gift.
had many questions to ask, so that
had to cut him short and beg the
ladies to show me the glass case from
which the jewel had been distracted.
This case was absolutely intact, and
the thief must have watched his OPP
pOrtunity to raise it unobserved. Only
a man with a cool head and steady
hand would have dared to attempt
this, in room full of people with half
dozen attendants near the tables.
Uncle Jerome had already question
ell the servants. driving them to the
verge of Mysteries. / came to the con-
clusion that they knew nothing, and
that no information Of value could be
obtained from the ladies or their loud
voiced relative.
While | was examining the room in
search of possible clue, l heard I'm
Gle Jerome call out in angry tones:
And what about the baron's coat?
Does Monsieur Goron know anything
about that?"
/ turned around
What baron, and what coat?"
We'll, you see, Monsieur Goron,"
said Madame H, 1T was altogether
an unfortunate day, for when Baron
s. asked for his coat it was no
where to be found.
"Has anything else been stolen" |
inquired.
NO" said Madame H. Il think
this was quite enough for one after
noon"
II think so too" interrupted the
uncle: the baron must have fine
opinion of the people you receive"
And turning to me, he added
Il have the pleasure of being one
OF the baron's friends, and it makes
It very awkward for me-very! | in
troduced him here"
At my request Madame made a
rough sketch of the pendant. 1t was
Of Oriental design, set with large dia-
monds, ending in a small lotus flower.
also asked for the address of the
baron, whom | wanted to see about
the coat, and learned he was Rus
STAN very rich, living in the Avenue
de Palma. AS 1 rose to leave, Uncle
Jerome insisted on a minutes private
conversation.
Monsieur Goron," he began when
we were alone, Il did not like to speak
before my sister-in-law; but l consid-
er it my duty to mention a certain
gentleman to you-Alfred O., a rel
ative by marriage Of Madame HI, a
good-for-nothing, who has been mixed
up in several ugly affairs. ! begged
my sister-iR7law repeatedly not to re-
ceive him; but he plays the funny
man. amuses the ladies, and makes
himself at home here-too much SOL
do you mean to imply"
Il imply nothing, | am only giving
you a hint"
The valet opened the door for me,
and at that moment a closed cab drove
up; a young man alighted and remained
talking to a lady inside. A lace veil
hid her face.
Who is that?" asked the valet.
That's Monsieur Alfred" he re-
piled. with the shadow of a sheer,
"and that woman inside is his friend
Tips"
Who Is Tips"
Not much good" e
Alfred, apparently was not per-
soma grata. H
Thus far l had no clue whatever. ]
therefore resolved not to act before
had seen both the baron and Alfred.
In my office two inspectors met me
with smiling faces.
You were right. sir" said one,
about these bicycle thieves. We ar
rested theSn this morning. and found
about twenty cycles in the place you
mentioned" rs
Nodding to his companion: THAT
will be good news for Tips Hers was
among the lot"
Who the deuce is Tips? This is
the second time within an hour heal
her mentioned" -
Her name,-sir,s is Georgette Che
WALLER. She was married to trainer
brute. who beat her and drank him
self to death. She speaks English as
well as French, and is we'll known &c
the English trainers1 and Jockeys il
Chantilly and Maisons Lafitte, who
christened her Tips because she al