The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-01-11

e. lyss v - - " EBuaily quiet tue du
a General Ippe rtSwas an
q state Of great excite
tnent. Carriages and
+. g. cabs drove to the house
81 Madame H and
crowds OF we1l-dfessed
\ people elbowed their
ls3 way to the salons on
the fitst floor. It was a
5a 8 few days before Made
fnois eiie Yyonne rs marriage, and
u Big display had been made OF the
trolsseau and presents.
Tho three receptionroorns were
thrown open, and long narrow tables
\ covered With jeweIry, fans, plate, and
works ot art Of every description lined
the walls. AT the principal table,
where jewelry and lace were exhibited,
Y a3glass case had been specially fitted
10 guard the contents against tndis"
Greet fingers,
AS rule, ,detectiyes-who by the
4 uniniiiated are often taken for poor
relations are engaged TO guard the
property, as 1t is difficult to know how
many uninyited may manage to make
their way into the house. Madame
however, had not taken this
ptecanttcn; and this mistake caused
lac, to make her acquaintance.
1t was discovered that costly pen
ialt had nlysteriously disappeared,
and early the next morning was in
the Rue du General Appert, seated OPP
iposite Madame II (the widow OF a
Wealthy merchanN. her daughter
gvonne, and a fat, red.faced, pompous
gentleman, whom the ladies' addressed
Il as Uncle Jerome. He was loudest in
4 his lamentations, and soon discover
led the reason: the pendant had been
presented by him. and he seemed to
take It as a personal affront that the
thief should have selected his gift.
sI5had many questions to ask, so that
Lhad to cut him short and beg the
/, ladies' to show me the glass case from
(which the jewel had been distracted.
This case was absolutely intact. and
the thief must have watched his OPP
portunity to raise it unobserved. Only
aman with cool head and a steady
hand would have dared to attempt
this. ina room full Of people with half
a dozen attendants near the tables,
Uncle Jerome had already question
ed the servants, driving them to the
! verge Of Mysteries. I came to the con-
cluslon that they knew nothing, and
8 that no information Of value could be
obtained from the ladies or their loud
voiced relative.
sjs While l was examining the room In
search Of a possible clue, heard I'm
Gle Jerome call out in angry tones:
.And what about the baron's coat?
Does Monsieur Goron know anything
about that?"
i turned around.
"What baron, and what coat?"
"Well, you see, Monsieur Goron."
said Madame H. ut was altogether
an unfortunate day, for when Baron
is asked for his coat It was no.
lwheresto befound."|
4 elias anything else been stolen?" l
inquired.
X ! =ss".No," said Madame H. II think
sthis,was quite enough for one after
noon"
.Fef think so too" interrupted the
uncle; "the baron must have fine
opinion Of the people you receive"
And turning to me, he added:
II have the pleasure Of being one
Of the baron's friends. and 1t makes
& I'll very awkward for me-very! in
PRODUCED him here"
AT my request Madame made a
rough sketch of the pendant. 1t was
or Oriental design, set with large dia-
,monds, ending in small lotus flower.
Y / also asked for the address OF the
baron, whom ! wanted to see about
tie coat, and learned he was a Rus
( sian, very rich, living in the Avenue
del.Alnd. AS / rose TO leave, Uncle
Jerome insisted on minutes private
conversation.
Monsieur Goron," he began when
NE were, alone, 81 did not like to speak
before my sister-in-law; but consid'
Ier It my duty to mention a certain
lgehtleman to you-Alfred O., a rel
Iattye by marriage of Madame H, a
Notwithstanding, who has been mixed
up in several ugly affairs. begged
4 my sister.in.law repeatedly not to re-
ceiye him; but he plays the funny
man. amuses the ladies, and makes
himself at home here-too much So"
..Do you mean to imply"
S'iI imply nothing, / am only giving
$son hint
q The vniet opened the door for me-
4 and at that moment q closed cab drove
ap Young man alighted and remained
KING to a lady inside. A lace veil
mid her face,
sWho is that?" l asked the valet.
%That's Monsieur Alfred" he re-
oiled, with, the shadow OF sheer.
ind that woman inside is his friend
sfips. e
I! VINO isSTips?"
MOI, much good"
a Aided apparently was not q per