Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-03-01
The
Diamond
Cross
A Case Requiring
Delicate Handling
By JOHN Y. LARNED
BY JOHN Y. LARNED

One morning / went into n restau.
rant on Fifth avenue. New York. for
luncheon, and since there was no one
near TO show me IL seat took one un-
hidden. laid my hat and overcoat on
chair beside me. II waiter presented
ne with a menu. and gave my order
While ] was waiting u man came in
and took seat at table near BY. He
was fashionably dressed. but there
was something In his physiognomy
that did not like. His clothes seem.
ed too good for his breeding pre-
sumo noticed him especially because
] had nothing else to look at. he being
the only person near me.
After being served and having eat
en- | arose to depart Taking up my
overcoat ] heard something drop on
the door Surprising some article had
fallen from one Of the pockets Of the
coat ] stopped to see what 1t might be
II was a Russian leather box. some
thing like glove box. though much
smaller. Taking 1t up. | pressed a
spring with my thumb. raised the Gov
er and revealed gold cross set with
five diamonds. each as large as a pea
When raised my eyes from the box
they rested on the man have mention
ed sitting near me. He was regarding
me with curious expression He had
seen me pick up the box. open 1t and
the look Of surprise on my face when
| saw what II contained.
An explanation OF my find occurred
to- me at once. Some lady had been
lunching at the table had used and
while doing SO had laid the jewel box
on the chair beside her. She had gone
away. having forgotten that she had
placed 1t there. She may have laid II
down while eating or when she took
out her portemonnaie 10 pay the bill
While I was wondering and delib
Grating what to do with my lind the
man who was watching me arose from
his table and approached me.
I'm trouble you for that, sir" he
said, referring to the box
lis 1t yoursT" | asked
No. but | have been employed by
the owner to find 1t. am detective.
A lady has been robbed OF it Her
maid left her at the same time. | have
been shudowing the maid and expected
10 lind her today and hoped to arrest
her She has doubtless been here and
left the box by mistake"
This story did not hang together. A
ludy's maid would not likely be lunch
Ing nj swell Fifth avenue restau-
rant with valuable property she had
stolen and surely would not have for
gotten IL woman who was used to
such surroundings and possessions
might have done so. My opinion was
that the man who claimed to be de
it.ciiye was bent on getting the end
into bis possession In order to get away
with IL. However. this was only
supposition OF mine. and since | was
found with property that he claimed
had been stolen | did not like the pros
pect of becoming involved In a Grim
inai matter concluded to temporize
with him
Il think" | said. that l had better
turn II In to the proprietor OF the res
tauranL"
You had better turn 1t in to me-"
he replied regai ding me sternly.
Suppose refuse?"
in that case shall consider 1t my
duty TO run yop In"
Il can then tell how | happened TO
find the property"
And prove ir you can that you have
not stolen IT,"
WINGED Tue fellow seemed to be
bad one. ami he might make me a
lot OF trouble. was wondering what
! had better do when lady. fashion
ably dressed. came hurrying up TO me.
looking az II something unusual had
occurred II struck me at once that
she was the ow ner Of the property. and
was hot mistaken.
Il left box on that chair" she said.
pointing Have you seen itT'
looked at the detective as much "a
10 say: lis this your lady's maid; She
looks for all the world like the lady
herself" Ignoring me In his reply. he
addressed himself TO the young lady.
This gentleman has found what you
left. | am II detective and have been
employed to trace this property which
has been stolen don't know who
you are or how you came into Its pos
session. The owner desires to get
back her Jewel. and II 1t Is placed In
my hands will return II and no ques-
lions viii be asked; II not shall be
obliged to arrest you and you will have
to prove your innocence.
The lady seemed very much trou-
bled. She looked from the speaker to
me and tacl. from me to the speaker.
MY friend said to him. there Is
question to be decided concerning
the ownership of this find. This young
woman is evidently lady. and | am
gentleman. We both shrink from
appearing In a police court Let US
find some way by which we can settie
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