The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-09-05
The C0rrect0r of DeStinieS
Being Tales of Randolph Mason as Related by
His Private Secretary, Courtland Parks
MADAME VERSAY
Rv Melville DavissOu Post
Copyright by Edward J. Clode

carriage before Randolph Mason
house. | have known churchmen TO
appeal to Mason In desperate straits
perhaps upon theory that one should
try all temporal doors before knock
ing on the gates Of alabaster. But
that the esthetic and venerable blsh-
Cd of New York should require profane
assistance was quite beyond belief.
l pulled up short by my ancient friend,
the crossing policeman.
"Scally," l said, Il believe the raw
ages of age are beginning to mark me-
Can it be Bishop Simonton's carriage
l see yonder?"
The great Celt raped himself gent
ly on the belt plate with his club.
Sure" he said, cts not the ravages
of age that's dom ye any harm this
mornin', Misther Parks. IT'S his nib's
wagon, all right"
Some aldermen must be squatting
on the Church lands" said, ito bring
this good man out at quarter before
ten on winter morning"
Visit" replied the Irish king half
covering his mouth with his gloved
hand; "'us a woman" Then he
crossed the street to stop a line OF
drays.
The mystery was now beyond con-
lecture. l walked on slowly to the
gate and up the flag-path to the house.
Certain airy, nebulous conceptions had,
Proyo <ho Mao ooptrios ~ earJv italian
letters and recent scandalous posters
along the book stalls, presented them
selves with piquant explanations.
Within the house q second and great
Or surprise awaited me. Pietro met
me at the door saying that Randolph
Mason wished instantly to see me. l
gave Pietro my coat and hat and went
at once to the private Office. My state
Of mental flippancy had little prepared
me for the type Of woman who arose
as entered. have not seen her like
In New York. II the word elegant
were not SO thumbed, should write
It here as descriptive of her-not in
tinseled or bedizened sense, but az
the panther is elegant, as the red silk
On horses of a rajah are elegant. High
breeding, down an immemorial line
produces such animals, time, through I
hundred generations, carving carefully
like a gem engraver. Tall, supple ant
straight; the eye steady, calm. re
served, fearless, the nose straigh
and thin: the lips fine, dell
cate and resolute; the chin up
the black, glossy hair parties
In the middle and brushed back. Sh
was gowned in we'll fitting black. Thi
woman was perhaps fifty years ole
instantly fitted her into the frame Q
4 easement window along the batter
In Charleston, or the white column
Of an estate on the James. bowe
Is she turned toward me. think tn
statue of Nathan Halo, outside In tn
Hurry of snow, would also have bowe
mad 1t been standing in my shoes. Sh
lid not speak to me at all, but waite
In dignified silence for Mason to ga
what was necessary to be said.
Mason was standing by his tabl
apping it impatiently with the tiI
II his long. sensitive fingers. though
he lines along his mouth were bro
IN bit, his eyes tribe warmer. B,
his was certainly fancy, for whe
V spoke it was in his usual cold voic
Parks" he said, you must ind
certain variety actress, calling herse
Madame Versay. She has in her pc
session a case Of pearls belonging
Miss Caroline Pickney. She will
mand ten thousand dollars In cash +
the return of these jewels. You W
ay to her that Miss Pickney has fin'
y arranged to pay her this none
That on the tenth day of February
en- o'clock, the vault oficer Of the j
serson Trust company. in the city
Richmond, in the presence of MI
rckney here and you, will deliver
1er ten thousand dollars in current
She must bring with her the case
ewels and hand 1t over to tho val
nicer, who. upon the payment Of t
money, will give 1t to Miss Pickn'
This Madame versay is said to be ,
1er the protection Of one Robert HI
lerson, q police detective of NJ
fork. This person may also b pr
mt, II Madame Versay wishes h
be. You will arrange for this p
nase with Madame Versay. You v
hen accompany Miss Pickney to Ri
aond and be present with her at
ransfer Of the money. Miss P1ckr
viii personally attend to the oil
Istails Of the matter"
When Randolph Mason had finisf
peakins, the woman picked up Il
pat from her chair and began to
/ on. helped her with the col
fit She thrust her black-glo'
lands in the deep pockets. then
armed to Mason.
these jewels were brought from
ia b, -ny great-grandfather." she 81
they were worn by my gr'
grandmother at her wedding;
ny grandmother; by my motl
heir value to me is bey'
stdmate. Still do not wish to viol
ather the laws Of Virginia or tn
the United States in order to
over them. do not greatly fear
avs Of Virginia. It cannot be
~ fathers have made laws that VIC
.ermit q creature like this actress
etain my Inheritance. But I wish
Q assured, Mr.. Mason. Of the en-
afety Of this plan"
Mason's face showed annoyal
Madame" he said. - rubber Of wi
uuld not be safer"
Then" said the woman, Il bid
ood-morning."
A little snow was falling, and 1
.nmnanieA Miss Caroline Pickney