The Washington times., 1912-01-24
In spite of her nerve Mathilde paled.
III don't know what you mean"

In spite of her nerve Mathilde paled.
II don't know what you mean"
'.Stop> pretending. A tall. slim young
woman came here yesterday; she wore
thick, black YELL and size carried q
wrapped up in the kind of paper that
bakers and confectioners use, and tied
with a red string. She stayed In here a
little while, and she Is coming back to-
subway station and took the train to
the Alma. You went TO see your friend,
the Comtesse Odette de valfeury, or
rather Marie Trognard. From there
YOU went to the pawnshop IN the Rue
ess' necklace for 5000 francs"
Il don't deny It,"
"In that establishment you met that
young girl who Ia in the next room.
After you left the pawnshop you went
back to the countess and gave her an
account of the transaction"
1T IL true, but Id like to know how
you know all that"
I "Ohi II was very simple. and I am
,, going to tell you for your edifcation.
happened by chance to be walking In
this street, when / saw that woman ir
black come into your house in mys'
terious manner; ! came s.r up the st, stai r,
her handbag little parcel wrapped VI
In paper. She threw the paper in q
corner after having crumpled 1t into 9
ball. I heard slight jingle. and
up the paper, and inside there was Q
| tiny piece Of thin paper like pastr,
cooks use; the jewels were wrapped
up in this first and then In the news
paper that she had thrown away.
knew that the string tying It was red
because there. was a slight red mari
! on the paper"
my congratulations. monsieur, yo'
are truly a Sherlock Holmes!'
lone does what one, can, my dear.
| waited for the woman In black to go
aid I noticed when she went cut, in
stead of looking at the number Of TIN
house, as a person who intends to write
she looked intently at the shops oil
| either side of the entrance so as to rec
ognize your house from the distance
Then she just glanced In her bag t
see that what she had was safe. Tha
proved to me that sne had not finishes
her business with you
| II was going to follow her when
saw you come out, and ] thought
would be more Interesting to know
where you were going. Your hurrie
visit to the Countess de Valfleury an
then to the pawnshop showed me tina
! you procured some money as quickl
as Il was possible, 30 as to settle wit
| the lady in black who is coming bacl
today. You see. my dear, | haven
| wasted my tlHie'
| Mathilde frowned. 1t was anythin
hut agreeable to have Dufreny meddlin
] in her affairs. This transaction of jew
1 els, that she had so much trouble {
arrange, would now fall through. An
she would be fortunate~if they did no
| accuse her of receiving stolen goods.
well" she said, trying to hide he
anxiety. how can this woman's vis'
interest your
"The Jewels that she brought to 20
are stolen. Understand
How do you know they are:''
| Never you mind. but ] do know"
You know nothing at all" said Ma
| thilde. "yor are Sc ylng what is false
! thinking to find out the truth
| "If YOU like, I'll give you descrir
J lion of them There Is a heart in n,
bics, surmounted with a crown, an i'm
mcnso gray pearl yet In the crown
and there IL a Ilarq,iise ring.
| In spite Of her audacity the woma
paled This good business deal was es
Gaping her, hut she still tried to strus
gle. ,
when jewels like you describe ar
brought to me. haven't / the right
buy them?" ana,
"Oh, no. dear madame, these httl
| trfnkets have already changed hand
| several times; q description OF them ma
been sent to all the jewelers. and thos
who deal In these things, and you your
self received 1t the same as the other
II didn't pay any attention to 1t, sal
@That's what I II bought" said tn
hyprocrite Dufreny. ''and ! SO believe
you that that is why came here to as