The Press., 1914-12-30

against me that could be made availa- ble by the thief. At any rate, l was ! ready to take the risk of becoming in i yolved, and since the property could l not be found on me and l could estab- 1 fish my responsibility l had not much to fear. 1 did not return to my hotel till even ing and went at once to bed. The next morning 1 lounged about the ho- tel keeping my ears open TOT any word about stolen property. but heard nothing and did not dare ask any ques- tionS lest my showing a knowledge Ot the loss should duplicate me. While 1 was in the reading and writing room of the hotel saw my American friends come downstairs ready to go out. The father had long conference with the landlord, which. with other evidence 1 possessed, tended to the theory that the brooch ill my possession belonged to the formers daughter. He left the landlord, saying loud enough for me to hear. "YOu may offer 10000 francs.
 This settled the matter with me. It occurred to me to make confession then and there, but before l could bring myself to do so the four mem berS of the family left the hotel, ell tered cab. and since l went out di- rectiy behind them, l heard the gentle, man direct the driver to take them to the baths Of Caracalla.
 Turning into the COrsO UmDertO l walked to the Piazza COlOnna. and. takiu" d seat at one of the sidewalk restaurants to be found there. l called for d liter of wine and, slipping and smoking, btthOught myself what next to do. After making up my mind returned to the hotel, looked at the register and saw the names Edward R. Larned. Mrs. Larned. Miss Larned and Ned Larned. Going to my room, | wrote to Mr, Larned. stating that a valuable brooch had come into my possession which l believed had been stolen. A hair had clung to it of d | peculiar shade. l had noticed the shade of hair of the young lady be- 1 longing to his party, and since the one clinging to the brooch appeared to be of the same hue l suspected that both
 
 me that my surmise was correct should be happy to restore the lost ar ticle
 aattereA myself that had the ad- vantage of the gentleman in not ask ing him to prove property. l took my | note down to the landlord for delivery then left the hotel and did not return to it till after II o'clock the same ! night.
 l found Mir. Larned up waiting for me. had no sooner entered the hotel than the landlord pointed me out to him. and, approaching me, he told me that he had received my note and that my surmise was correct. His daugh- l ter had left the brooch in her room without locking it in her trunk, as was their custom with their valuables. and 1 it had doubtless been stolen by a serv- ant. I told him that l was very happy to be able to restore the lost property, but could not do so till the next day since I had taken 1t to my banker for safe keeping. He stammered l something about having offered re- ward, but pretended not to hear him. | and, telling him that 1 would meet him l with the brooch in the reading room the next day at noon, we went up to our respective rooms in the same ele- vator.
 When l delivered the brooch the next day MT. Larned said that his daughter desired an opportunity to thank me for returning 1t. and he in vited me to lunch with his family. !t is needless to say that l accepted the invitation and received a charming smile from the young lady as we'll as her thanks.
 How lucky" she said, that one of my hairs clung to the brooch! Had 1t not been so I presume l would not have recovered my property"
 She evidently did not consider that it was my bounden duty on finding the brooch to turn it over to the land
 lord. and I did not enlighten her.
 II had remarked" I said. "the simi- larity of your hair to that in Titan portraits. and since the single hair was the same was sure the property was yours.
 Have you the hair with youY'
 II have not"
 II should like to see it.
 II shall be pleased to show it to you
 but yon must remember that reward
 usually gp'es with restored property knew that she understood. for she dropped her eyes. and when she spoke
 again she changed the subject.
 That was how I secured an intro
 iluction to the American girl and how
 l found my wife. for after travelling
 several months in company we return ed to America engaged.