Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1915-09-17

proved good press work, though how
the fact leaked out has never been
learned:
Miss Blondell of New York, stopping
at the Palais dOrsay. will wear the
Royal Ruby in her box at the Chatelet
tomorrow at the opening night of the
new spectacle
The celebrated gem was recently
purchased for 100000 francs from the
Bey of Tunis, by her father. the Amer
lean capitalist"
Scores of curiosity-seekers. held in
the meshes of glittering Paris, read
the notice, and appeared at the per-
Torrance next night to witness the
first public display of the jewel. They
empty right-hand stage-box, for infor-
nation had oozed out that this was the
Blondell box, and the knowledge had
spread rapidly through the anxious au-
dience.
Would she come? That was the
question on all sides. Would she wear
the jewel after this advertisement; or
come without 1t, or stay at home +?
Surely the Royal Ruby would not be
seen that night.
When this state of mind had been
reached. the heavy plush curtains at
the rear of the watched box suddenly
parted, and her father ushered Miss
Blondell into the box, removed her
low-cut sable cloak, threw 1t over the
rail in sight of all, and handed her to
the chair nearest the stage. Hundreds
of eyes behind opera glasses noted the
smallest detail, and curiosity-seeking
Paris held its breath as Miss Blondell
scarf over her bosom, and threw the
silk covering from her neck, revealing
the Royal Ruby, scintillating in the
striking setting OF a white satin bo-
dice.
While the multitude of eyes was
pinned on the wondrous pendant, slid
Ing on thin gold chain about her
neck. Miss Blondell leaned slightly to-
ward her father to speak. At that
second one.half of the breathless au-
dience was startled to see the light
chain slip from her right shoulder. A
broken end dangled for moment, and
then the Royal Ruby slid quickly down
the severed chain, and disappeared
from sight below the brass rail sur
mounting the upholstered enclosure to
the box.
A series Of surprised gasps came
from the audience, a low curious whis-
tie of establishment from a gentleman
sitting alone at the far end of the box
next to the Blondells, who had leaned
forward to see with the rest; and at
that moment Mr.. Blondell noticed the
dangling end Of chain clinging to a
gardenia in his daughters bosom and
turned as wax-white as the flower. All
of which was duly registered by hun
dreds Of eyes behind opera-glasses.
At that moment the girl missed the
gem, snatched up the chain, and
stopped quickly to the floor.
1T was on when l sat down." she
said to her father in low tone, which
carried to the tense ears of those near
by.
1T dropped to the fioor!" cried sew
eral of the awed audience in French,
giving vent to their excitement in an
effort at relieving the situation.
Meanwhile Blondell and his daugh-
ter had been searching the hardwood
floor at her feet The head usher hur-
ried down the passage-way to the box,
and the single gentleman in the re-
mote corner of the adjoining box rose
as if to help. But Blondell rushed to
the small door, and warned back the
usher. while his daughter upturned
chairs and shook out her skirts.
1t was no small article to lose. A
pigeon-blood ruby of fifty-eight and
three-quarters carats, the size of a
robins egg, bigger than the ball of an
ordinary black hat-pin, and not quite
SO large as cherry, with ring inn
bedded at the top, through which the
chain had slipped.
With his back to the curtain, pre-
venting assistance, Blondell, his face
still white, scanned the floor, which
slanted down to the upholstered en-
closure jutting over the pit.
Several of the audience, in their ex-
element, rushed to points of vantage
along the aisles, and scrutinized every
movement of the pair in the box. One
man in the main body of the theater,
quite near the Blondells, rose in his
seat, and gave a quick sign which at
tracted the capitalists attention.
A look of recognition lighted up his
face, and he cried in a tense tone:
Poe! Peel" A second later, Come
here!"
Christopher Poe tucked his hat ur-
der his arm, and sauntered up the
aisle, turned into the passage-way to
the box. and edged through those
crowding for a look. with an air of
quiet authority.
Mr. Blondell held the curtain back
ror him, and Poe stepped into the box.
His actors mouth twitched. and the
= l. IA II