The Springfield herald., 1912-08-23


carriage before Randolph Mason'f
house. have known churchmen tc
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 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, II believe the raw
ages of age are beginning to mark me
Can 1t be Bishop Simonton's carriage
see yonder?"
The great Celt raped himself gent
ly ION the belt plate with his club.
Sure" he said. Its not the ravages
of :age that's doin' We any harm this
mornin', Misther Parks. IT'S his nibs
wagon, all right"
:Some aldermen must be squatting
on the Church lands."I said. ito bring
this good man out at quarter before
ten on a winter morning"
"Wist!' replied the Irish king half
covering his mouth with his gloved
hand: Its 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,
from the pleasantries Of early Italian
letters and recent scandalous posters
along the book stalls. presented them
utif mir mt ,loy tone
Within the house second and great
err 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
ut once to the private Office. My state
OF mental Gippancy had little prepared
me for the type of woman who arose
as i entered. l have not seen her like
in New York. II the word elegant
were not SO thumbed I should write
1t here as descriptive of her-not in
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
hundred generations. carving carefully.
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 violating 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. l bowed
rs she turned toward me. l think the
statue of Nathan Hale outside in the
furry of snow, would also have bowed
had 1t been standing In my shoes. She
did not speak to me at all, but waited
in dignifled 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. l thought
the lines along his mouth were brok-
en- bit. his eyes trihe warmer. But
this was certainly fancy, for when
he spoke 1t was 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 n 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
ly 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 it over to the vault
officer, who, upon the payment of the
money, will give it to Miss Pickney
This Madame Versay is said to be un-
der the protection of one Robert Hen
derson, a police detective of New
York. This person may also be pres
ent, If Madame Versay wishes him
to 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
1t on. l helped her with the collar
of it, She thrust her black gloved
hands in the deep pockets. then she
turned to Mason.
These Jewels were brought from In
iia 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
IS estimate. Still do not wish to violate
either the laws of Virginia or those
Of the United States in order to re-
cover them. l do not greatly fear the
laws of Virginia. 1t cannot be that
my fathers have made laws that would
permit a creature like this actress to
retain my Inheritance. But | wish to
be assured. Mr.. Mason, of the entire
safety of this plan"
Masons face showed annoyance.
Madame" he said. "a rubber of whist
could not be safer"
Then" said the woman, Il bid you