The Washington herald., 1914-04-19

l
! Look She pointed down dramatical-
| ly. That man. Did he follow you? Did
you notice him as you came out of the
Ritz"
/ The collector was at the window in .
stride. and peering out beside her.
NO" he whispered. II didn't notice.
| ! don't think-whO is he?'
only one of the best Scotland Yard
men," said Anna with a little reckless
/ laugh. For heavens sake. go! And
| take a taxicab at the door. Charles, you
and I'll get away, too"
The collector turned. grasped his brown
! paper roll. jerked out ''Good-by" and
hurried downstairs. Behind him in the
room. Charles Captain picked up a brown
\ paper roll from beneath the table. but
! toned his coat over it. and seizing Annals
arm rushed her down. Hilbert was just
! climbing into a taNiCab at the door. A
: Second cab bore the partners away.
! Where now" ne asked.
TO Paris" replied Anna. Morally,
. one ought TO restore the national treas
+ ure. And there are 100 francs waiting
I for an honest person"
! Tonight" he asked
Decidedly We go tonight" Anna
mused. Drop me at my door. go and
get your bag. and come hack for me We
! catch the night boat
Returning in less than an hour. Cap
tian found Anna with dressing bag
packed. travelinE coat Of exclusive de-
sign over her white cloth frock. and q
| snug hat framing her face. reading an
evening paper.
Come here. Charles" said she.
Charles showed no reluctance in conn
ing. When he leaned over her shoulder.
with his head thrillingly close TO hers.
she pointed out a paragraph.
We need a fairly good story for the
Louvre officials said she Il had in
tended to use the cab incident. and here.
to our great assistance. it is related. We
shall take this copy with US"
Charles read this:
EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT IN
WEST END.
AS a gentleman was walking to-
ward Piccadilly Circus Tube station
about 2:3O this afternoon. carrying in
his hand something rolled up in brown
paper. a ragged man Of the loafer
type was observed to brush against
him. wrench away the parcel and
make his escape toward Coventry
street. One or two passers-by, who
instinctively turned to give chase,
state that the man dodged into the
middle OF the traffic. and. apparently
afraid to profit by the robbery, flung
the parcel into a taXicab containing
=
driving toward the Haymarket. No
complaint has reached the police
neither has any report been made by
the lady or gentleman, and the sequel,
II there IS a sequel, has yet to be dis
covered.
People are really very observant." said
Anna, admirinEIy. as she rose TO go.
Mr. Captain picked up her dressing bag
and the paper. and escorted her 10 the
waiting taNiCab.
Morning found them in Paris, and at
the Hotel du Terminus Nord over break
fast they discussed the returning Of the
masterpiece 10 the Louvre.
Anna said:
You will return II, Charles. please
You will give them a true account oi
the cab incident, show them yesterday.
Nightly News in Corroboration, and
draw the reward. I shall wait here for
you.
Will you not come. too" asked Mr..
CAPTAIN Would you not enjoy it,
No replied Anna. / shall not come
too and she began laughing. but would
not tell him why.
So he had 10 depart alone. in one of
the rafting Paris taxicabs with The
Jocund Damsel" in her roll cf brown
paper hanging by a frail loop from hi.
finger.
He returned some three hours later.
with a jUbiIant expression. and seats for
the Comedie Franchise: also with a large
box OF bonbons for Anna. They sat in
one OF the upstairs lounges.
Well said she.
Il have the 100 francs" replied
Charles.
''Difficulties?"
Very few. When their first suspicion
had worn through they thanked me pro
fusely for bringing the picture back with
such dispatch. You would have enjoyed
the little scene
The Louvre officials know me toe
we'll" said Anna. shaking her brown
head and eatisg bonbons.
They know you?"
Il was doing some copying there only
two weeks ago"
What did you copy"
What should I copy but The Jocunt
Damsel?'
Anna" said he seriously. DO yoI
really mean to tell me-
I do" Anna replied. Il was there al
ono night. 1t is not difficult to hide in tn.
Louvre when one is careful and quick,
and not afraid Of the big risk. and there
is a great deal Of statuary. When had
cut The JoCUnd Damscl' out. / put her
behind the canvas was working at. and
in the mornin5 / mingled with quite a
stream Of tourists who happened in. You
may llidE4llt IlS NlSlldN Nllen EOlnE lC
my usual corner. the picture had been
espyinG sssiduously had disappeared.
How poor Anna cried, showing them her
half-fniShcd canvas. under which lay
The Damsel,'"
Anna. said Charles after a stupefed
silence. Why did you sell so cheap 10
BrammeI?"
He bested me-" she said very shortly.
He was clever Well. perhaps I'm
clever too? I hou-- the picture back
with LonebOrough's money and sold it al
its true WORTH
Well said he. after another stupe-
fed silence. but how did van Kict know
so quickly that Brammel had the pic
ture?'
Il cabled him anonymously directly
came out of BramreTs with my poor lit
tie G20 and he naturally cabled an in
quiry to Brammel, I suppose. He lost nc
time in coming over. I was Obliged to &c
to little expense in engaging a detect
I've To report van Kiets movements
There we're naturally a few working ex-
pensCs." She regretted it. Still, we
have made a little profit on the whole.
Can YOU do mental addition. CharIcs?'
Il love doing mental addition" replied
Mr.. Captain.
Count said Anna. two hundred
pounds from Brammel ten thousand
pounds from van Kiet, fifteen Thousand
pounds from Hilbert. and twelve hundred
francs from the Louvre"