The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-13
SOPHIE LYONS

competitor. He said he had suffered a
considerable loss and it was only fair
that his competitor should be placed on
even terms with him. was quite young
at that time, and did not dare take up
such proposition as this, for I had found
that when things are made easy for you
there is something bad going to happen
to you later on. So would not take
chance with the diamond merchant A
year later I was back in st. Louis and
learned the true state OF affairs; how the
competitor flirting with this mans
wife and how finally the whole matter
went into the divorce court for adjust
ment. While l was there I met the
jeweller, and he told me he would soon
be free from his wife and asked me to
marry him. I had to decline
Some years ago when l was summering
at Nice, had an experience which afforded
me a lot of satisfaction. I found out
afterward that had stolen a march on
Mrs. Helen Gardner, alias Lady Temple.
the notorious English swindler and conf
dence woman.
One of the fine jewelry shops for which
this resort Is famous had diamond
bracelet which l coveted more than I
ever did any other piece OF jewery. It
was a magnificent thing-but the price
was entirely beyond my means. At last
decided that if could not get it by
fair means would by foul.
One morning 1 was standing in this
store pretending to he looking at some
rings, but really watching for an oppor-
tunity to get my hands on that bracelet.
when the woman who later proved to be
Mrs. Gardner, alias Lady Temple, en-
tered. She was a tall, beautiful brunette
-gowned in the most expensive fashion,
was attracted not only by her striking
appearance but also by the SLY way she
had of taking everything in from the cor
ners of her eyes without seeming to be
looking. This, and some other familiar
mannerisms made me jump to the con-
clusion that she was either a high-class
thief or n detective
This woman took up position just be-
hind me, and, although I could not SEQ
her, something told me that she was
watching my every movement with more
than passing interest. l was just on the
point of abandoning my plans for the
bracelet when to my great relief she fin
ished her errand and left the store.
AS the door closed behind her my long
awaited opportunity came. The salesman
who was showing me the rings was called
away for minute. leaving me all alone
In the front OF the store
He had carelesSy left the showcase
open. There in full view lay the brace.
let-the bracelet for which my fingers
fairly itched! Could l reach it?
There was not a second to lose. I
raised myself on tiptoe, bent my body for
ward over the broad showcase and
reached my right hand down into the
opening at the back. BY stretching my
arm until the muscles ached my fingers
barely touched the bracelet. G.
Another mighty stretch, and my hand
closed over it, More quickly than 1t takes
to tell | drew my arm back and hid the
precious plumber In my sleeve I was not
an instant too soon, for the salesman re-
turned before | fairly had time TO resume
the normal attitude OF an honest customer
was so excited and jubilant that I felt
like running all the way to the hottl.
The bracelet was easily worth $4,000. and
knew that the minute its loss was dis
covered there would be n great hue and
cry. So hid the costly trinket in a jar
of face cream and prepared to seclude N.Y.
self in my room under pretenSe Of sick
ness until the excitement had time to
blow over.
To my delight no detectives came to
disturb my solitude and the only news
got OF the robbery was from the long &C.
counts the newspapers printed. Soon I
thought II safe to recover my health and
go out again. On the first day l ven
tured downstairs whom should | meet In
the hotel parlors but the same woman
had seen in the jewelry store.
My guilty knowledge Of that bracelet
In the cold cream jar upstairs made me
inclined 10 avoid her. She, however.
plainly showed her anxiety to make my
acquaintance, and at the first opportunity
fairly forced a conversation | soon saw
that she was no detective. but just who
she was--where she got her money and
what she was doing at Nce-long re-
NAMED a mystery TO me-
But although diamond robberies frequent.
ly net big returns. even the most expert
professional criminals who have followed
this line OF work have Invariably found
that their success Is short-lived-and that
CRIME DOES NOT PAY.
SOPHIE LYONS,