Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-02-27
The Girl With
Titan Hair
And How Secured an
Introduction to
Her
By WILLIAM CHANDLER
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

Before settling down to my profess
sion l concluded to spend some time
abroad. 1 reached Naples In January
and stayed there long enough to visit
Pompeii, climb Vesuvius and pass a
great deal of time in the National mu-
scum, containing the exhumed treas
ures of the buried cities.
During my stay in Naples l met on
several occasions family consisting
Of father, mother, daughter about
nineteen and boy of twelve. l often
heard them talk together. They spoke
English, and knew by their accent
that they were Americans. l would
have liked to make their acquaintance.
Indeed, endeavored to do so one day
when was near the father in the
National museum by addressing him a
remark. But no did not respond very
cordially, and refrained from another
attempt.
My object In making this family's
acquaintance was that I wished for
companionship with my own country
men, especially the young lady, about
whom there was something to me very
attractive. While her complexion had
little color, the combination Of eyes,
hair and skin made up a peculiar style
of beauty, the eyes being dark
brown and the hair what is usually
called Titan from the fact that the
artist used It so often in his pictures.
Having seen the sights at Naples, l
took my departure for Rome, where !
occupied rooms on the Via Nazlonale,
opposite the Piazza Venetla. had
been there but few days when saw
at dinner the American family l have
mentioned. If l had been very near
them l think 1 should have made an
other attempt to form their acquaint-
ance, but as soon as dinner was over
next morning went sightseeing In one
direction, while went on like err
rand I'm another.
My bed at the hotel was uncomforta-
BILE, and after tossing on small hum
mocks one night on arising in the morn
lnB L WOulu lAhNC u iOOh "
the mattresses to SEQ what was the
matter Throwing back the top mat
tress, there ON the one beneath 1t was
n brooch set with valuable gems.
There were many supposable reasons
for the brooch to be where 1t was.
First, some guest Of the hotel might
have put 1t there temporarily for safe
keeping and forgotten it. But this
was not probable, for 1 had occupied
the room for n week, and the maid
who made the bed would surely have
discovered It. The most likely cause
for its being there was that some one
had stolen IL and placed 1t there tenn
porarily till he or she could remove 1t.
took IL up and, the morning being
dark, carried 1t to u window to have n
better look at 1t. Feeling something !
could not see tickle the back Of my
hand, / felt for 1t with the other hand
and clasped hair between my fingers.
engaging it, ! held 1t up between me
and the window. 1t seemed to be vel
low or golden, and, lighting gas Jet,
l saw that there was a tinge Of red
about It. Further examination showed
me that It was very like the hair OF
the young lady whose acquaintance I
was DESTROYS Of making.
Could the brooch have been stolen
from herr If 80 might come to know
her In either favorable or an unfavOr-
able light. If could restore her prop
erty / would have an advantage; if
should stand In the position Of the
thief | might be landed In jail. II
would seem that there was not the
slightest risk of my reporting my find
to the Office Of the hotel. But while
studying my pr0fessiOn-the law-I
had attended number Of criminal
trials whereby | had learned that II
might be n very easy matter for one
perfectly innocent TO be placed In the
position OF thief. I was In posses
sion OF valuable piece Of jewelry,
and was the only person, except the
thief, who knew that had not stolen IT,
Quite probably the chambermaid was
the thief She would make up the bed
during the morning and, If my suppO-
sltion was correct, would look for the
property she Ind placed between the
mattresses II she did not find It there
she would suppose I had taken II.
What would she do? What might she
do? One Of the things she might do
was TO direct the person who had lost
the brooch to me as the probable thief
| must keep her from making the bed
till had determined what course TO
pursue.
detached the hair from the brooch
and put IL In an envelope. Then put
the brooch back between the mattress
es where I had found IL and got into
bed again After an hour had passed
and had come 10 no decision what 10
do In the matter / rang for waiter
and told him to bring up my break
fast SO long MS the stolen property
was where II had been placed by the
thief he or she would not be likely 10
take any action involving me.
OF course there was but one thing
for me TO do-to ring for the landlord
and show him the brooch between the
mattresses But my judgment was
warped by finding the hair that made
me suspect the property belonged to
the American girl have referred TO.
/ wished TO return the brooch TO her
myself since this would give me the
acquaintance desired and put her
A. a.