The Virginia enterprise., 1913-01-17
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TRUTH ABOUT THE CASE
The Experiences Of M.zF Goron, Ex-chief
of the Paris Detective Police
Edited by Albert Keyzer
THE LOTUS FLOWER
copyright by J. B.. Lippincott Coz
Edited by Albert Keyze
THE LOTUS: FLOWER

p. AIpplucOlt COZ
can see her almost every night at the
Cafe. Sylvan. She likes late suppers.
A month ago her bicycle was stolen.
happened to be in the police commits
sary's Office when she came to tell
him of it. I promised her to do my
best, and have sent her a note that
will make her happy. 1 reckon she
will be here tomorrow to ask for her
bike"
Tips had aroused my curiosity.
when she comes l want to see
her.
"All right, sir"
Before calling on Baron s"
made an inquiry about Alfred o.,
and what heard was deplorable. The
fortune he had inherited from his
mother was squandered in less than
two years, and his father, a retired
colonel, was almost ruined by his
sons extravaganza. Alfred raised
money when he could, and in gam
bling-club had been accused of at
tempting to cheat. This charge had
never been proved, and it ended in a
duel, when he ran two inches Of steel
into his traducer's body. He belonged
to a good family, and was dtstantly
related to Madame H, whose
house he visited regularly.
The baron, learned, had an estate
in Russia, where he passed the sum-
mer. The winters he spent in Paris and
he was very popular in the world ou
lon s'muse. He had an apartment in
the Avenue de pAlma; and I went
there toward eleven in the morning.
His servant, tall, well-built young
man, Informed me in bad French with
strong Russian accent that his mas
ter was having his bath, and would
receive me in a few minutes. He
soon appeared, distinguished, aristo-
cratic man.
I apologized. for disturbing him so
early, and begged him to give me an
account Of the disappearance of his
coat
Between ourselves" he smiled, II
am surprised these accidents do not
happen oftener This is my second
winter in Paris, and the third time I
have attended one of these functions.
They are boon to the Paris thieves.
am sorry lost my fur coat; it was
valuable. My idiot of servant will
tell you how it occurred-Boris!"
The valet, at the baron's request,
then explained to me, in his abomin-
able French, that he had been waiting
in the hall for his master, with the
coat over his arm. Finding it cumber-
some, with SO many people passing in
and out. he had put it in a little room
leading from the hall, and when he
went to fetch it it was gone
But why did you not leave it in
charge of one of the servants?" 1
asked
II expected my master to come down
every moment. and as the door of the
little room was open I could keep my
eyes on the coat all the time / may
have lost sight of it for a second"
The baron shrugged his shoulders,
and l heard the wood fool"
put few questions; but as neither
the baron nor Boris could supply any
further information, / withdrew. In
fume. very faint, without being able
to fix it with certainty. l could not
positively say whether 1t emanated
from the room itself or from one of
the men. Slight as it was, it caught
my attention, as my sense of smell is
acute.
had written note to Alfred o.
asking him to call, and found him
waiting for me. need not describe
that type of young man-to be met
on the race-course, at first nights, at
fashionable gatherings-to whom life
is nothing but huge joke. He roar
ed with laughter when I broached the
subject Of the robbery.
"Please excuse me, Monsieur Goron,
the whole thing is so ludicrous. Do
you know, that Uncle Jerome, whom
you saw this morning, darkly limited
that l stole the pendant? l heard il
from the little German governess.
think he does it out of revenge be-
cause l made fun of it. You never
saw anything so ugly. The diamonds
are magnificent. but the design is gro
tesque, with that silly little flowel
dangling at the end
You were at Madame HIS the
day the pendant was stolen?"
Yes. the greater part of the after
noon"
Did you notice anything likely tt
throw any light on the AFFAIR.""
Nothing whatever. 1t seems very
strange. Uncle Jerome is terribly up
set; but, think, more on account O
the coat. The old chap is proud of hi
acquaintance with baron!'
The next day when was busy inves
tigating a case that had happened dur
ing the night, WAS informed tha
Georgette Chevallier, alias Tips, wa
downstairs, having come about he
bicycle.
SHOW her in at once" l said
Georgette was pretty. She wa
small, remarkably graceful, with large
brown, intelligent eyes.
You wanted to see me-" she re
marked in a gentle voice.
MADAME Georgette-" began.
please call me Tips; everybod
does
Very we'll; Tips. since you prefe
it, l had the pleasure of seeing you
couple OF days ago.
Me? Whereo"
In a cab; you were talking t