The Washington herald., 1914-03-22

IOilOW tOHlOlIOW uiBnt. VIII Magyar
obtain the pearls? That's a matter
for Scotland Yard and Ragtar."
Half past ten. -...
The roulette rooms we're nearly filed
with constantly changing throng. The
Princess Radziwan was there, wearing
her priceless ropes about her neck, and
there, too, was the stout man with the
mad eye who talked to her now and
again while she staked and lost-staked
and lost
Suddenly there came quick tramp
on the stairs; the door was thrown
open; a police inspector with SIX Of
fcers stood on the threshold, and sur
yeyed the scene one brief moment be-
fore curt orders were given, the door
was shut and guarded, and they ad-
vanced.
The croupiers stood still in their
places; the last ball rolled; men ex-
claimed profanely; women whitened
and tried to laugh after the first stified
cries. The thing was the affair of a
few moments before the croupiers and
proprietors were under arrest. The
bank-of surprising amount-was con-
fiscate to the law, and the inspector,
with a few curt, respectful re-
grcts, entered in his notebook the
names and addresses of all present.
Most of them were too well known
to attempt evasion. The women at
tempted little would-bc amused, half
hysterical rcmonstranccs.
A certain stout elderly man stood pet
rifed with madness in his eye. The in
spector cleaned at him humorously.
The stout man advanced on him stam-
mering. Like a sudden eclipse the
lights went out.
Then was pandemonium. There was
the wild rush for the door. Then were
hustling, little shrieks, imploring voices.
No. one knew who had put the lights
out, but what a splendid ruse it was!
The door was pulled open, and a wedge
of people showed struggling in the
aperture, silhouetted against the light
beyond. The inspectors voice could be
heard issuing curt order or two, but
when a policeman at length groped to
the switches and there was light again,
two croupiers only remained in the
hands of the law, and the fashionable
crowd was fighting down the staircase.
Princess Radziwan was holding fast TO
a hand-any hand-the first she had
clutched at. Light showed that it was
the fat Ragtar's When he saw who
held him, he, too, chung to her like
lcech. Hope yeti Together they dived
for her carriage. 1t was only when in
it and driving away that she put her
hands to her neck and bosom and
screamed:
my pearls; Ny pearls! Ny pearls!
Oh! God! What shall l say to the
prince:'
Stopping the carriage, Ragtar sprang
out, and ran painting back. But the
house they had come from was empty.
But that the police had bungled the
affair badly was patent, since the crou-
piers, the only two arrests made, also
escaped, miraculously. on their way to
the station.
Ragtar went the next morning to
Anna Stuart.
As his story unfolded, in his thick
voice, tremulous with rage, she looked
up at him with big eyes black with
anger
DO understand you. my good Rag
tar, that our Baker street venture has
crashed"
Crashed, madam - crashed-bcen
spoilcd-dcstroyed by that arrogant fool
who does not deserve the trust you
place in him! What is his experience
against ours, madam: Who is he that
he should take any matter under his
own controlo What"
She beat her small fist on the table
and silenced him.
Charles Captain has done well once or
twice. Still, You say he obtained men
and uniforms from Bourbon-Bourbon,
according to our rule with trusted Off
GERS. not asking questiOns-and raided
the house established by me, which was
bringing huge sums to the war chestI'
You have the position madam. Ig-
norant of the fact that the house was
carried on by the Hundreds and Thou
sands. he raided il! He has taken the
bank! He has driven away all our
clients in terror! OH the whole thing
was carried out with the most dramatic
thoroughness. I assure you, madam.
You will understand l could say moth
ing. II 1 cried out to the clients: Do
not fear. This man is an imposer. l
know him.. what suspicious might they
not have formed? was obliged to
stand by in silence. II you could have
seen how the Princess Radziwan ran,
madam
''Confound the Princess RadziwanI" re-
piled Anna Stuart.
His face grew darker and darker.
Madam, as you perhaps know-I was
hoping to raise a loan on the Radziwan
pearls. In another few days probably |
THE pearls are still there, my good |!
friend"
mo. madam"
"What?'
They were taken. Some one turned out |
the princess was driving away in her car !