Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-21
ed them to a conventionally furnished

hotel suite parlor.
I'm just one monument, miss" he
said; and disappeared into q room be-
yond.
Van Braun walked to q window, and
stood looking out across the tree tops
of Central Park. When he turned, II
was at the sound Of a mans voice, and
to see a rather f1orid, dissipated-loo
ing young man, with bristling waxed
mustaches, bowling in the exaggerated
foreign manner to the newspaper wo-
man.
my advertisement" Van Braun
heard him say, was Intentionally q
little misleading. I offered no reward,
for instance, because I did not wish to
be called upon to examine scores OF
old slippers. And I widened the boun-
daries of locality, in order that might
by single question discover whether
the slipper was being returned by the
actual finder, or a second hand"
But you, sir?" Miss Williams re-
turned. How am I to be sure that
you represent the loser?"
The fiorid man smiled. Il will tell
you just how the slipper came to be
lost. Then, If you know the circum-
stances under which 1t was found, we
shall both, maintain, have established
our temporary right to its possession.
My sister and 1 had been attending a
dance at Sherry's, where, unfortunate
ly, she chanced to sprain her ankle. In
our car she removed her slipper, and
handed it to me to hold. My hand, In
which it rested lightly, lay loosely
along the top Of the lowered window,
when a sudden jolt Of the car-there
must have been an awkward hole In
the roadway-sent the slipper flying.
l wished to return for 1t; but on ac-
count of her aching ankle, she would
listen to no delay. I had, a whim
nevertheless, to recover it; and hence
the advertisement"
He paused and the newspaper wo-
man began fumbling with the catch OF
her handbag.
Now. where did you find it?" he
asked.
II saw it fly from the window OF
your car" she answered. You had
not yet crossed Forty-second street.
Van Braun, listened, realizing the
cleverness of the deduction. And yet
he questioned whether the answer was
so obtained. He turned sufficiently to
see her pass the slipper to the claim
ant.
You recognize it?" she asked.
He was turning 1t about in his
hands; gloatingly, it seemed to the
watcher; when abruptly, the door from
the passage was swung wide, and two
burly men rudely invaded the room.
without a word of explanation or
apology and before anyone Of the oc-
cupants was able even to conjecture
their object, the leader had flung HIM
self upon the young man Of the waxed
mustaches, and snatched the slipper
from his surprised fingers.
Customs officers!" Van Braun MUIR
INJURED. And they have probably
heard every word"
The ensuing conversation verified
his conjecture.
I'm sorry, sir" was the conclusion
of the officer who was thrusting the
slipper into his pocket, but I'll have
to ask you to go along down town with
me-"
But why?" ranted the accused.
What is the charge? You surely don't
accuse me Of stealing"
You are accused of being a party
to an attempt to smuggle into the
United States one of the most famous
and valuable gems in all Europe-the
Vaurigard red diamond, which Is hid
den in the heel Of the slipper"
But, my dear man." was the an
swering protest. Il give you my word
that"
Gramercy Van Braun, stepping for
ward, Joined the group. And 1t was
at sight of him that the speaker hesi-
tated.
THAT slipper belongs to my sister,
Miss Edith La Fontaine," he concluded
boldly. Surely" he added, you
would not dare accuse her of such a
thing"
With fist clenched, Van Braun gave
emphasis to his first words.
One more cowardly lie like that
from you, and there'll be nothing left
of you to arrest" he cried. Miss La
Fontaine's brother! She has but one;
and he and l have been friends from
boyhood" He turned to the customs
men. You'll find this persons por-
trait and record at police headquar-
ters. Those who know him best, / be-
lieve, call him Billy, the Duke He's
a confidence man, CRATER, and crook
in general. Three years ago he was
working the transatlantic liners, and
he seems still engaged in the old
game"
The accused offered no defense. He
SIMPLY SullllllOHSu iliS NoiSl hhu ~
uuested that his hat, coat and walking
stick be brought to him. Miss Will
liams, meanwhile. was making rapid
notes on a roll of copy paper she had
extracted from her handbag. The OF
ficers were thanking Van Braun.
When, a few minutes later, that gen.
tleman entered the elevator, Miss Will
liams, hastily pursuing, became his fell
low passenger. In spite of a seeming
outward composure, he noted that she
was very pale.
It's turned out a cracking good
story" she declared, but there are
lot of details still to be cleared up.
Maybe you can tell me where / may
find Miss La Fontaine."
The young man regarded her with
an interest that was the reverse OF
friendly. IF l were you," he said, his
accents measured, I'D let we'll enough
alone. So long as l don't bother about
certain details, why need you? SO
long as don't ask why you called me
up, early this morning, made an en-
gagement to lunch with me and then
Ia