The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-04-23
The Baroness
Richter
She Was a Very Slippery
Criminal
By F. A. mitchell


have been a detective for many
years and have learned one thing per-
fectly-that is. that l would rather
take the risk Of placing man under
arrest, even If he be armed to the
teeth, than a woman. Women are
stronger In their weakness than men
are in their strength, and they are
much more cunning. A woman will
be granted certain favors that a man
would not even ask, and, though the
person who has her within his grasp
fears that his request is ruse to give
him the slip. he has not the power Of
resistance to refuse her.
One Of my first duties as plain
clothes man was to arrest q woman
whose name was supposed to be Vr0n-
sky. Pole. She claimed to be a coun-
tess in her own country and was a
very high stopper. She had robbed a
man Of several thousand dollars and
had disappeared, but after an interval
information came to our Office that the
same woman was living in apartments
in another city in high feather as Bar
oness Richter, the widow Of a German
nobleman.
was then young and full Of gallant
~ toward the softer sex. but had no
idea when started out to run in a
woman swindler that l would have
any conjunction at doing my duty. Go
ing to the apartment house where the
lady lived. l went up in the elevator
to her suit Of rooms and pushed the
button Of the electric bell.
A woman answered the summons
who, had she not been in the uniform
Of a maid. should certainly have TAX
en- for the baroness. She was come
ly of face. and her figure was superb
I had been chosen for the Job be-
cause | was considered capable of
playing the part of Il gentleman, AMI
this faculty was expected to give me
an advantage in gaining admission to
the lady's presence without exciting
suspicion that | was an officer Of the
law. l was dressed in the height of
mond scarfpin. | had with me card
with the name engraved on it Of DR..
Henry Mortimer, 794 Harley street.
London. England. | was born in Eng
land and have something OF the Eng
lish accent left in my speech. l also
knew that Harley street was the resi-
dence Of the high toned London doc
tors. ...
as the baroness at homer | asked
the maid.
81 wilFSee." she replied with slight
foreign accent. Twill monsieur please
to come in?"
! was shown into luxurious living
room. Twill monsieur tell me who
am to say calls?' added the maid.
Taking out a gold mounted morocco
cardcase. l drew Il card and handed 1t
to her. All this while l assumed the
bearing of one to the manner born and.
throwing myself into an easy chair. be-
gan to tap my boot with my cane.
After brief absence the maid return
ed with message that the baroness
did not remember DR.. Mortimer as
among her acquaintance. Would
kindly state where had met her?
TO this sent reply that had new
er met the baroness. but had heard her
spoken Of with enthusiasm by n friend
Of mine in the Castleton club, London.
whose report of her attractions had
made me especially DESTROYS to make
her acquaintance. While l was giving
the maid the message | noticed that
her eyes were fixed In admiration upon
my diamond scarfpin. and. II her mis-
tress was the swindler she was sup
posed to be. the report of it's value
would likely be given her and would
have the effect of securing me this
somewhat irregular introduction.
The maid withdrew again and was
left alone endeavoring to repress my
anxiety as to the success Of my ruse.
Presently heard a rustic of skirts.
and lady tastefully dressed in morn
ing costume. Of high bred appearance,
though not SO beautiful as had ex-
pected to find the baroness. stepped
across the threshold and. with a slight
inclination. waited for me to speak.
"The Baroness Richter?" asked, ris-
ing.
"At your service" Her eyes were
bent upon mine suspiciously. and she
did not divert her glance for an in
slant Had we been facing each other
with foils in mortal combat she could
not have watched me more closely.
II am sorry to announce to you, bar
oness, that you are my prisoner"
Your prisoner!" she said in q tone
and with an expression denoting that
she did not understand my meaning.
"Yes, 1t is my duty to take you in
custody"
She laughed. "You are playing some
game. Either you are an old friend |
whom I do not at once recognize or |
you have been recommended by an old |
friend to-
81 am neither. am an officer Of the |
law"
Still the baroness looked incredulous.
BE seated" she said after an inquir. |
-. "a