Tombstone epitaph., 1915-09-26

SHay Tn a popular Parisian paper. proved good press work, though how the fact leaked out has never been learned:
 Miss Blondell Of New York, stopping at the Palais d'Orsay. will wear the Royal Ruby in her box at the Chatelet tomorrow at the opening night of the new spectacle.
 Tie celebrated gem was recently purchased for &00.eQo francs from the ''ey of Tunis. by her father. the Amer ican capitalist"
 Scores of curiosity-seekers. held in the meshes of glittering Paris. read the notice. and appeared at the per formance next night to witness the first public display Of the jewel. They craned their necks and stared at the empty righthand stage-box. for infor- nation had oozed out that this was the Biondell 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
  Surely the Royal Ruby would not be seen that night
 When this state of mind had been reached. the heavy plush curtains al the rear of the watched box suddenly parted. and her father ushered Miss Biondel into the box, removed her ioW-cut sable cloak. threw it over the -an tr, cirt, ~ an har sn the chair nearest the stage. Hundreds Of eyes behind opera glasses noted the smallest detail. and curiosity-seeking z Paris held its breath as Miss Blondell removed ;he pin tightly securing the 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 wundrou5 pendant slid. ing on a thin gold chain about her neck, Miss Bloudell leaned slightly to- ward her father 10 speak. At that second ore half of the breathless au. dience was startled 10 see the light chain clip from her right shoulder. A broken end danEled for a 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. low curious whis. tie of astonishmeut from a gentleman sitting alone at the far end of the box next 10 the Blondells. who had leaned forward to see with the rest; and a, that moment Mir Blondell noticed the dangling end of chain clirgia to g gardenia in his daughters bosom ana turned as waI-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.
 'It was on when l sat down" she said to her father in a low tone, which carried to the tense ears of those near by.
 Tt dropped to the foor," cried sey- eral of the awed audience in French. giving vent to their excitement in an effort at relieving the situation.
 MeanwhiIe BIonden and his daugh- ter had been searching the hardwood floor at her feet The head usher bur- ned 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 shock cut her skirts.
 It was no small article to lose. A pigeor-blood ruby of fifty eight and ihree-quarters carats. the size Of a so5in's egg. bigger than the ball Of an ordinary black bst-pin. and not quite 70 large as a cherry. with ring i'm teddec at the top. through which the chsin had slipped
 With hse back to the curtain. pfc renting assistance. BiOndeI. his face staI white, scanned the floor. which siaated down to the upholstered ea closure tgtting over the pi,.
 Several of the audience, in their eI ,itement. rusted to pcin.s Of ysntsge siong the aisies. and scfutiniZed ever, movement of the pair in the boa. One sgan in the main body of the theater qai.e near the BlondeIis. rose in his .rat, and gave z quick eisn which at ,racted the capitalists attention
 4 look cf recognition lighted up hii fsce. and he cried in a tense tone:
 Poe, Poe." A second later. Come here.-
 Christopher Poe tucked his hat un der lis arm, and ssuntered up tn' aisle, turned into the passsge-~AJ |; the box, and edged through thos' crowding for a look. with an air O ouiet authority.
 Mfr. BlondeIi neid the curtain bscl xor him, and Poe stepped into the bos His actors mouth twitched. and tn corners of his sensitiyely shaped nos drew down in two satiricai wrinkles ( his lips. as he put out long. iimb-iik srm to grasp Bionde,rs hand with stir frgers-
 T was wondering hcw they woui get 1t. ne said simply.