The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-08-20

lively makes me shudder to look at my
own guests, and to think that some of
them are criminals"
We stood together in the conserva-
tory OF her house in Portman square,
looking down upon brilliant ball
room, upon n glow of color, and the
radiance OF unnumbered gems. She
had taken me aside after the fourth
waltz to tell me that her famous belt
of rubies had been shorn OF one of It's
finest pendants; and she showed me
beyond possibility of dispute that the
loss was no accident, but another of
those amazing thefts which startled
London so frequently during the sea-
son OF 1898. Nor was hers the only
case. Though | had been In her house
but an hour complaints from other
sources had reached me. The Countess
of Dunholm had lost crescent
brooch of brilliants; Mrs. Kenningham-
Hardy had missed a spray of pearls
and turquoise; Lady Hallingham made
mention OF an emerald locket which
was gone, as she thought, from her
necklace; though, as she confessed
with a truly feminine doubt, she was
not positive that her maid had given 1t
to her. Ano these misfortunes, being
capped by the abstraction of Lady
Faber's pendant, compelled me to be-
lieve that of all the startling stories of
thefts which the season had known the
story of this dance would be most re-
markable.
These things and many more came
TO my mind as 1 held the mutilated
belt in my hand and examined the
fracture, while my hostess stood, with
an angry flush upon her face, waiting
for my verdict.
IF you will look closely" said l.,
you will see that the gold chain here
has been cut with pair OF scissors.
AZ we don't know the name of the per-
son who used them, we may describe
them as pickpocket's scissors"
Which means that | am entertain
ing a pickpocket," said she, flushing
again at the thought
OR person in possession of pick
pockets implements" | suggested
How dreadful" she cried, mot for
valuable, but for the others. This Is
the third dance during the week at
which peoples jewels have been
stolen. When will 1t end?"
THE end of 1t will come" said I,
directly that you. and others with
your power to lead, call in the police.
1t is very evident by this time that
some person is socially engaged in a
campaign of wholesale robbery"
You speak very lightly of it," she
interrupted, as l still held her belt in
my hands. do you know that my
husband values the rubies in each of
those pendants at eight hundred
pounds?"
Il can quite believe it." said 1;
some of them are white as these are,
| presume; but l want you to describe
1t for me, and as accurately as your
memory will let you"
Well" said she, the stolen pen
dant is in the shape OF a rose. The
belt. as you know, was brought by
Lord Faber from Burmah. Besides
the ring Of rubies, which each has,
the missing star includes four yellow
stones, which the natives declare are
ripening rubies. 1t is only a supersti-
ton, of course; but the gems are full
OF fire, and as brilliant as diamonds"
IL know the stones WELL" said /;
the Burmese will sell you rubies Of
all colors If you will buy them.
though the blue variety is nothing
more than the sapphire. And how
long is it since you missed the pen
dant?"
mot ten minutes ago." she an
swered.
Which means that your next part
ner might be the theft" / suggested.
Really, dance is becoming a cap
ital entertainment"
my next partner is my husband"
said she, laughing for the first time,
"and whatever you do. don't say a
word to him. He would never for
give me for losing the rubies."
When she was gone, I, who had
come to her dance solely In the hope
that a word or face there would cast
light upon the amazing mystery Of
the seasons thefts, went down again
where the press was and stood while
the dancers we're pursuing the dreary
paths of q Square" There before
me we're the hundred types one sees
In a London ball room-types OF char
acter and Of want OF character, Of age
aping youth, and of youth aping age,
OF addressed women and addressed
men, Of dandies and of the bored, Of
fresh girlhood and worn maturity.
! knew that a nimble-fingered gentle
man might be at my very elbow, that
half a dozen others might be dancing
cheerfully about me In that way Of
life TO which their rascality had called
them, ] had not SO much as a hand
breadth OF suspicion. saw no face that
was not the face of the dancing ass,
or the smart man about town: did not
observe a single creature who led me
to hazard q question And so pro
found at last was my disgust that
elbowed my way from the ball room
in despair, and went again TO the con
servatory
There were few people in this room
at the mOmeut--old Gen. Sharard
who was never yet known to leave a
refreshment table until the supper
table was set, the Rev. Arthur Nell.
bank, the curate OF st. Peters. SIP.
ping tea; a lean youth who ate an
Ice with the relish Of n scboolboy.
and the ubiquitous Sibyl Kavanagh.