Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-08-30

carriage before Randolph Mason's
house I have known churchmen to
annual to Mason in desperate straits,
nerhaps upon theory that one should
trv all temporal doors before knock
\ ing on the gates of alabaster. But
that the esthetic and venerable Bish-
an of New York should require profane
assistance was quite beyond belief.
pulled up short by my ancient friend,
the crossing policeman.
"Scally," said, Il believe the raw
1 ages of age are beginning to mark me.
j Can it be Bishop Simontons carriage
! I see yonder?"
The great Celt raped himself gent
4 " on the belt plate with his club.
Sure" he said, cts not the ravages
Of age that's doin' We any harm this
! mornin', Misther Parks. 'Tis his nib's
wagon, all right"
Some aldermen must be squatting
on the Church lands" said. ito bring
this good man out at quarter before
ten on winter morning"
"Wist!" replied the Irish king half
covering his mouth with his gloved
hand: "'tis a woman" Then he
crossed the street to stop line of
drays.
The mystery was now beyond con-
/ lecture I walked on slowly to the
gate and up the 1ag-path to the house.
i Certain airy, nebulous conceptions had,
j from the pleasantries of early Italian
4 letters and recent scandalous posters
along the hook stalls, presented them
selves with piquant explanations.
4 Within the house a second and great
er surprise awaited me. Pietro met
me at the door saying that Randolph
Mason wished instantly to see me. /
gave Pietro my coat and hat and went
at once to the private Office. My state
4 of mental fiippancy had little prepared
4 me for the type of woman who arose
1 as l entered. l have not seen her like
4 in New York. If the word elegant
were not so thumbed, should write
/ it here as descriptive of her-not in
q tinseled or bediZened sense, but as
4 the panther is elegant, as the red silk
en- horses of rajah are elegant High
breeding, down an iplmemorial line,
produces such animals, time, through a
hundred generations, carving carefully,
like 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-ftting black. This
woman vas perhaps fifty years old.
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. / bowed
as 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 dignifed 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 trifie warmer. But
this was certainly fancy, for when
he spoke it 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 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
iy arranged to pay her this money.
ten o'clock, the vault officer of the JEFF
ierson Trust company, in the city OF
Richmond, in the presence OF Miss
Plckney 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
omcer, who, upon the payment of the
money, will give it to Miss Pickney
Ihls Madame Versay is said to be I'M
uer the protection of one Robert Hen
uerson, police detective of New
York. This person may also be pres
ent if Madame Versay wishes him
10 be. You will arrange for this pur-
chase with Madame Versay. You viii
then accompany Miss Pickney to Rich
mond and be present with her at the
transfer of the money. Miss Pickney
WIS personally attend to the other
"DETAILS of the matter"
When Randolph Mason had finished
speaking. the woman picked up long
coat from her chair and began to put
II On. helped her with the collar
OF It, She thrust Ter black-gloved
nands IL the deep pockets. then she
surned TO Mason.
These jewels were brought from In
aia ey my great-grandfather she said.
'hey We're worn by my great
slahdmother at her wedding; by
NY grandmother; by my mother.
'neir value to me is beyond
esumate. Still do not wish to violate
Ia L.