Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-03-05

course / was liable to get into trOu-
Bile, but given young man and pret-
ty girl the result is risk when there is
anything to be gained or lost bv fisk.
| lay in bed on the treasure till noon
trying to form a 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 ] wished
for n room where | would get more
light. He gave me one facing the
street. A porter came and transferred
my baggage, aud ] bctook myself with
the brooch to my new quarters.
thought | saw some advantage in this
removal in the fact that in case of
my being accused | could claim that
the stolen property had been taken
away after | had left the room.
remained in my new quarters but
few minutes, when. taking the brooch
with me. went out to my banker
and asked him TO deposit ii with some
OlIltI dllHitS IlI'I IIIiHIt al DuIIuIt
of alI-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-
bic by the thief At any rate. | was
ready to take the risk of becoming in
p6IVal and OF in -.
not be found on me and ! could pstab-
lish my responsibility / had not much
to fear
! did not return to my hotel till even
ing and went at once to bed. The
next morning ! lOungcd about the hO-
tel, keeping my ears open for any
word about stolen property, but heard
nothing and did not dare ask any qucs
lions lest my showing 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 20 out. The
father had Il 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, "IOu may offer 10000 francs" |
This settled the matter with me- 1t |
occurred to me to make Il confession |
then and there but before could |
bring myself to do so the four mem
bers of the family left the hotel, en-
tered cab, and, since ] went out di-
rectly behind them, | heard the gentle
man direct the driver to take them to |
the baths of Caracalla.
Turning into the Corso Umberto, |
walked to the Piazza Colonna. and, |
taking Il seat at one of the sidewalk |
restaurants to be found there, | called |
for liter of wine and, slipping and |
bethought myself what next |
to do. After making up my mind !
returned to the hotel, looked at the
register and saw the names Edward |
X. Larned Mrs. Larned. Miss Larned |
and Ned Lnrned. Going to my room, |
wrote to Mr. Larned. stating that
II valuable brooch had come into my
possession which | believed had been |
stolen. hair had chung to IL of n |
peculiar shade. had noticed the
shade of hair of the young lady be-
longing to his party. and since the one
to the brooch appeared to be
of the same hue | suspected that both |
might be hers. If he would inform |
me that my surmise was correct |
A M, 4 H.,
ticle
| battered myself that | had the ad- |
vantage of the gentleman in not ask
Ing him to prove property. took my
note down to tho landlord for delivery.
then left the hotel and did not return
10 1t till after II O'Clock the same
night
l 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 surmisc was correct His daugh-
ter had left the brooch In her room
without locking it In her trunk, as was
their custom with their vnluables. and
1t had doubtless been stolen by n scrv-
ant told him that ! was very happy
to be able to restore the lost property.
but could not do SO till the next day
since l had taken 1t to my banker
for safe keeping, He stammerul
something about having offered 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 ut noon, we went up to
our respective rooms In the same elc-
Yator
When delivered the brooch the
next day Mr.. Larncd said that his
daughter desired IN opportunity to
thank me for returning it. and he in
vited me to lunch with his family. 1t
IL needless to say that | accepted the
iuyitufinn unI