Morris tribune., 1914-02-20

asccurse Twas Table e get into tr0u-
BILE, but given a young ilsan and pref
ty girl the Jesuit Is risk when there is
anything to be gained or lost by risk.
lay in bed on the treasure till noon
trying to form plan which would
gain me what desired came to
no conclusion as to any definite action
with regard to the disposition of the
property | had found, but decided to
change my room. | called for the
landlord and told him that l wished
for room where would get more
light. He gave me one facing the
street. A porter came and transferred
my baggage. and | betook myself with
the brooch to my new quarters.
thought | saw some advantage in this
removal III the fact that in case of
my being accused l could claim that
the stolen property had been taken
away after l had left the room. l
remained in my new quarters but a
with me, went out to my banker
and asked him to deposit it with some
other articles-I had made a bundle
Of all-in his safe.
/ now felt better about the situation,
for | could take my own time about
the return of the brooch and could not
see that there was any evidence
against me that could be made availa-
BILE by the thief. At any rate, l was
ready to take the risk of becoming in
volved, and since the property could
not be found on me and could estab-
fish my responsibility l had not much
to fear.
did not return to my hotel till even
ing and went at once to bed. The
next morning / lOunged about the ho-
tel, keeping my ears open for any
word about stolen property, but heard
nothing and did not dare ask any ques-
tons lest my showing a knowledge of
the loss should implicate me. While
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
possessed, tended to the theory that
the brooch in 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- 1t
occurred to me to make a confession
then and there, but before l could
bring myself to do so the four mem
bers Of the family left the hotel, en-
tered a cab, and, since | went out di-
rectly behind them, | heard the gentle
man direct the driver to take them to
the baths of CaracaIla.
Turning into the Corso Umberto,
walked to the Piazza Colonna, and.
taking seat at one of the sidewalk
restaurants to be found there, l called
for a liter of wine and, slipping and
smoking, bethOught 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
valuable brooch had come into my
possession which l believed had been
stolen. A hair had chung to it of a
peculiar shade. | had noticed the
shade of hair of the young lady be-
longing to his party. and since the one
clinging to the brooch appeared to be
of the same hue l suspected that both
might be hers. If he would inform
me that my surmise was correct
should be happy to restore the lost ar
ticle.
| fattered myself that had the adj
vantage Of the gentleman in not ask
ing him to prove property. 1 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
found Mr.. 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-
ter had left the brooch in her room
without locking it in her trunk. as was
their custom with their valuables, and
1t had doubtless been stolen by serv-
ant. l told him that was very happy
to be able to restore the lost property,
but could not do so till the next day
since had taken it to my banker
for safe keeping He stammered
something about having offered a re-
ward. but | pretended not to hear him.
and, telling him that would meet him
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 delivered the brooch the
next day Mr. Larned said that his
daughter desired IN opportunity. to
thank me Tor returning it. and he in
vited me to lunch with his family. 1t
is needless to say that accepted the
invitation and received il charming
smile from the young Indy as well as
her thanks.
How lucky :" ShfA said chat ,,na or