The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-09-06
The COrreCtOr of DeStinieS
Being Tales of Randolph Mason as Related by
His Private Secretary, Courtland Parks
MADAME VERSAY
BY Melville DAVIDSON Posi-
Copyright by Edward J. Clode

February e find Bishop Simonton',
carriage before Randolph Mason:
house. / have known churchmen tc
appeal to Mason IN desperate straits
perhaps upon a theory that one should
try all temporal doors before knock
ing on the gates OF %alabaster. But
that the esthetic and venerable Bish'
op OF New York should require profane
assistance was quite beyond belief,
! pulled up short by my ancient friend,
the crossing policeman.
"Scally," l said, Il believe the raw
ages of age are beginning 10 mark me.
Can 1t be Bishop Simonton's carriage
see yonder?"
The great Celt raped himself gent
ly on the belt plate with his club.
Sure" he said. its not the ravages
mornin', Misther Parks. It's his nib's
wagon. all right"
Some aldermen must be squatting
on the Church lands l said. Ito bring
this good mar out at a quarter before
ten on a winter morning"
Visit" replied the Irish king half
covering his mouth with his gloved
hand: "'tis a woman" Then he
crossed the street TO stop a line OF
drays.
The mystery was now beyond con-
lecture. l walked IN slowly TO the
gate and up the fiag.path to the house.
Certain airy, nebulous conceptions had.
from the ~pleasantries of early Italian
letters and recent s%candalous posters
along the book stalls, presented them.
selves with plquant explanations.
Within the house a second and great.
or surprise awaited me. Pietro met
me at the door saying that Randolph
Mason wished instantly to see me. !
gave Pietro my oat and hat and went
at once to the private office. My state
OF mental iippancy had little prepared
me for the type Of woman who arose
as l entered. l have not seen her like
In New York. II the word elegant
were not so thumbed, / should write
It here al descriptive OF her-not in
q tinseled or bedizened sense, but as
the panther is elegant. as the red silk
en- horses OF a rajah are elegant. High
breeding, down an immemorial line.
produces such animals, time, through a
hundred generations, carving carefully,
like q gem engraver. Tall, supple and
straight; the eye steady, calm. re-
served, fearless, the nose straight
and thin; the lips fine, deli
cate and resolute; the chin up;
the black, glossy hair parted
in the middle and brushed back. She
was gowned in well.itting black. This
woman was perhaps fifty years old.
I instantly fitted her into the frame OF
a easement window along the battery
In Charleston, or the white columns
Of an estate on the James. I bowed
as she turned toward me. l think the
statue OF Nathan Hale, outside In the
furry OF snow. would also have bowed
had II been standing In my shoes. She
did not speak TO me at all, but waited
In digniied silence for Mason TO say
what was necessary to be said.
Mason was standing by his table,
tapping It impatiently with the tips
OF his long, sensitive fingers. ] thought
the lines along his mouth were brok-
en- a bit, his eyes a triAe warmer. But
this was certainly a fancy, for when
he spoke II vas In his usual cold voice.
Parks" he said, "you must find a
certain variety actress, calling herself
Madame Versay. She has In her pos
session a case of pearls belonging to
Miss Caroline Pickney. She will de-
mand ten thousand dollars in cash for
the return Of these jewels. You will
say to her that Miss Pickney has final
~ arranged to pay her this money.
That on the tenth day of February at
ten o'clock. the vault officer OF the JEFF
ferson Trust company. in the city OF
Richmond, in the presence Of Miss
Pickney here and you, will deliver to
her ten thousand dollars In currency.
She must bring with her the case OF
Jewels and hand II over TO the vault
oficer, who. upon the payment Of the
money. will give II to Miss pickney.
This Madame versay is said to be In
der the protection Of one Robert Hen.
derson. a police detective Of New
York. This person may also be pres
ent. II Madame versay wishes him
70 be. You will arrange for this pur-
chase with Madame versay. You will
then accompany Miss Pickney to Rich
mond and be present with her at the
transfer Of the money. Miss Pickney
will personally attend to the other
details Of the matter"
When Randolph Mason had finished
speaking. the woman picked up a long
coat from her chair and began to put
Il on. I helped her with the collar
Of Il. She thrust her black.gloved
hands in the deep pockets, then she
turned to Mason.
These Jewels were brought from In
Aia by my great-grandfather." she said.
~they were worn by my great
grandmother at her wedding; by
my grandmother; by my mother.
Their value TO me Is beyond
estimate. Still I do not wish to violate
either the. laws Of Virginia or those
q the United States in order to 70