The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-25

she secreted her small parcel IN her
lsrge handbag. A slight. dapper. clean
shaver youth. evidently a valet. re-
sponded to her summons. and admitted
them TO a conventionally furnished ho-
tel suite parlor.
In just one moment. miss" he said:
and disappeared into a room beyond.
Van Braun walked to a window. and
stood looking out across the tree tops
of Central Park. When he turned. Il
was at the sound OF a mans voice. and
10 see a rather iorid. dissipated- look
ing young man. with bristling waxed
mustaches. bowling in the exaggerated
foreign manner to the newspaper wo-
man.
MY advertisement" Van Braun
heard him say. was Intentionally a
little misleading. offered no reward.
for instance, because did not wish TO
be called upon to examine scores OF
old slippers. And / widened the boun-
daries OF locality. in order that I might
by a single question discover whether
the slipper was being returned by the
actual finder, or at second hand"
But you, sir?" Miss williams TO
turned How am I TO be sure that
you represent the loser?"
The fiorid man smiled ct will tell
you just how the slipper came to be
lost Then. II you know the circum-
stances under which Il was found, we
shall both. maintain. have established
our temporary right to its possession.
My sister and / had been attending q
dance at Sherry's. where. unfortunate
". she CHANGED to sprain her ankle. In
our car she removed her slipper. and
handed 81 TO me to hold. My hand. in
which Il rested lightly. lay loosely
along the top OF the lowered window,
when a sudden jolt OF the car-there
must have been an awkward hole in
the roadway-sent the slipper flying.
wished to return for e.: but on &C
count OF her aching ankle. she would
listen TO no delay. I had a within.
nevertheless. TO recover &C.. and hence
the advertisement"
lie paused. and the newspaper wo-
man began fumbling with the catch OF
her handbag.
Now. where did you find it?" he
asked.
Il saw Il fy from the window OF
your car" she answered. You had
not yet crossed Forty-second Street"
Van Braun, listening. realized the
cleverness OF the deduction. And yet
he questioned whether the answer was
so obtained He turned sufficiently TO
sec her pass the slipper TO the claimant
You recognize ~" she asked.
lie was turning It about in HIS
hands: gloatingly. Il seemed 10 the
watcher; when. abruptly. the door from
the passage was swung wide. and two
burly men rudely invaded the room.
Without a word Of explanation or
apology and before any one OF the &C.
cupants was able even 10 conjecture
their object. the leader had flung him
self upon the young man OF the waved
mustaches and snatched the slipper
from his surprised fingers.
Customs offcersl" Van Braun muir
INJURED. And they have probably
heard every word"
The ensuing conversation verified
his conjecture
I'm sorry. sir" was the conclusion
~ the officer who was thrusting the
slipper into his pocket. but III have
70 ask you 10 20 along down town with
me"
But Why" ranted the accused
What De- the charge? You surely don't
accuse me Of sealing"
you are accused o. being a party
20 an attempt % smuEgle into the
United States one 81 tho most famous
end valuable gems In an Europe-the
Nauricard red diamond. which IL hid
den in The heel o. this slipper
"Ulf my dear man vas The an
surr'nE protest q give you my word
that
Gr1mpr-v Van Braun. stepping for
uarf. io.ned the eroup And o. was
a' srff % BIN that ftr speaker hesi-
fafaf
.Ttaf slipper terorrr f1 my Sister.
rF"HH EH|fH "a rrrfnr~r rr HnrH rrHrH