Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-10-22

anna Stuart was StanulnB near tne
window Suddenly she sprang at 1t with
little startled cry.
Look! She pointed down Grammatical.
ly. That man! Did he follow your DID
you notice him as you caIne out Of tho
RITZ"
The collector was at the window IN
stride and peering out beside her.
NO" no whispered. II didn't notice
! don't think-who is hep
only one Of the best Scotland Yard
men, said Anna with little reckless,
| iaugh. For heavens sake, GO And
| lake taxicab at the door Charles. you
and I'll got away, too"
Tho collector turned, grasped his brown
paper roll, Jerked out Good -byl" and
! hurried downstairs. Behind him in the
room, Charles Captain picked up n brown
paper roll from beneath the table, but
toned his coat over 1t, and selling Annals
/ arm rushed her down. Hilbert was Just
/ climbing into n taxicab at the door. A
second cab bore the partners away.
! Where now? he asked.
] To Paris" replied Anna Morally,
ono ought to restore the national treas
ur"' And there are 1,2O0 francs waiting
. for an honest person"
Tonight" he asked.
! decidedly We go tonight" Anna
/ unused. Drop me at my door, 60 and
| &c; your bag and com. back for me. We
/ eaten tnt nlSht boat
Returning in less than an hour Can.
tian found Anna with a dressing bag
packed, travelling coat Of exclusive de-
sign over her white cloth frock. and a
snug hat framing her face, reading an
evening paper.
Come here Charles" said che
Charles showed no reluctance in COM
ing When he leaned over her shoulder.
freyfx
she pointed out a paragraph.
We need fairly good story for the
Louvre officials said she. II 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
LAS n gentleman was walking to-
ward Piccadilly Circus Tube station
about 2;3O this afternoon. carrying In
1 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-b'. who
instnctivey turned to give chase
state that the man lodged into the
middle OF the traffic, and, apparently
afraid to profit by the robbery, flung
! the parcel into taxicab containing
a lady and gentleman, which was
driving toward the Haymarket No
! complaint has reached the police
neither has any report been made by
the lady or gentleman. and the sequel.
| If there Is a sequel, has yet to be dis
covered"
People are really very observant." said
| Anna admiringly, as she rose to go.
Mr.. Captain picked up her dressing bag
and the paper, and escorted her to thu
waiting taxicab.
Morning found them in Paris, and at
the Hotel du Terminus Nord over break
fast they discussed the returning of tho
masterpiece to the Louvre.
Anna said
You will return II, Charles, please.
You will give them true account OF
the cab incident, show them yesterdays
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. 1 shall not come
too" and she began laughing, but would
not tell him why.
So he had to depart alone In one OF
the rafting Paris taxicabs with THE
Jocund Damsel' in her roll Of brown
paper hanging BY a frail loop from his
finger.
He returned some three hours later.
with a tubilant expression and seats for
the Coincide Franchise; also with a large
box Of bonhons for Anna. They sat in
} one Of the upstairs lounges
"Well?" said she
'T have the 200 francs" replied
Charles,
!, 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
tho little scene"
THE Louvre officials know me too
WELL" said Anna, shaking her brown
head and eating bonbons.
Il They know your"
II was doing some copying there only
two weeks ago"
What did you copy"
What should I copy but The Jocund
Damsel?
Anna" said he seriously. DO you
really mean to tell mo"
Il do" Anna replied. II was there all
one night 1t is not difficult to hide in the
Louvre when one is careful and quick.
and not afraid Of the big risk. and there
is a great deal of statuary. When I had
cut The Jocund pamsel out, I put her
behind the canvas I was working at. and
in the mornins 7 mingled with quite
stream OF tourists VINO happened In. You
may imagine my dsmay when going te
my usual corner, the picture I had beer
ospying so assiduousy had disa ppeared.
How poor Anna cried. showing them her
half-fnished canvas, under which lay
The Damsel""
Anna" said Charles after a stupefed
silence. "Why did you sell so cheap to
RrAmmel?"
He hested me-" she said very shortly.
lie was clever Well. perhaps I'm
with Longborough's money and sold 1t at
its true worth"
well" said he. after another stupe-
fed 1ilence, but how did van Kiet know
so quickly that Brammel had the pic
| ture?"
II cahled him anonymously directly |
came ont OF Bramre"s with my poor lit
tie 600 and he naturally cabled an in
| curry to Brammel suppose He lost ne
time in coming over l was obliged to 70
to little expense in engaging a detect
| I've to report van Kiets movements
| penses' She regretted it. still We
have made little profit on the whole
| Can you do mental addition. Charlee."
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"
>AS1