Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-21

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One morning went into a restau-
rant on Fifth avenue, New York. for
luncheon, and since there was no one
near to show me u seat took one I'M
bidden. | laid my hat and overcoat on
chair beside me. ii waiter presented
me with menu. and gave my order
While was waiting Il man came In
and took seat at Il table near by. He
was fashionably dressed. but there
was something in his physiognomy
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 floor SuppOsing some article had
fallen from one of the pockets Of the
coat ! stopped to see what it might be.
1t was a Russian leather box, some
thing like glove box. though much
smaller Taking it up, | pressed a
spring with my thumb. raised the GOV.
er and revealed gold cross set with
five diamonds, each us large as pea.
When raised my eyes from the box
they rested on the man have mention
ed sitting near me He WIS regarding
me with curious expression He had
seen me pick up the box, open it aud
the look of surprise on my face when.
I saw what it contained.
An explanation Of my find occurred
to me at once Some lady had been
lunching at the table ! had used and
on the chair beside her. She had gone
away. having forgotten that she had
placed it there. She may have laid it
down while eating or when she took
out her portemonnaie to pay the bill
While | was wondering and delib.
Grating what to do with my find the
man who was watching me arose from
his table and approached me.
I'll trouble you for that, sir" he
said, referring to the box.
rs it yours p | asked.
mo. but | have been employed by
the owner to find it, am a detective
A lady has been robbed of it. Her
maid left her at the same time. | have
been shadowing the maid and expected
to find 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
lady's maid would not likely be lunch
ing at a swell Fifth avenue reStau
rant with a valuable property she had
stolen and surely would not have for
gotten it. a woman who was used 10
such surroundings and possessions
might have done so. My opinion was
that the man who claimed TO be de-
tective was bent on getting the find
into his possession in order to get away
with it, However. this was only a
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
inal matter. concluded to temporize
with him.
II think" said, that | had better
turn it In to the proprietor Of the res
taurant"
You had better turn 1t in to me"
he replied. regarding me sternly.
Suppose l refuse?"
I'm that case shall consider it my
duty to run you in"
II can then tell how l happened 70
find the property"
"And prove If you can that you have
not stolen it."
WINGED. The fellow seemed TO be
bad one, and 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 as if something unusual had
occurred 1t struck me at once that
she was the owner of the property, and
was not mistaken.
Il left box on that chair" she said,
pointing. Have you seen it?"
L lOOhpu dl luG uGIGCllNe dS lluCu as
to say: us this your lady's maid? She
looks for all de 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 a detective and have been
employed TO tace 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 1t and no ques.
tions will be asked: If 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 back from meto the speaker
my friend | said to him, "there is
a 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 police court. Let us
find some way by which we can settle
The matter among ourselves"
what do you proposeT' he asked,
| knew by this reply that my sus.
picions of him were correct. He was
no detective, but one Of those well
dressed crooks who frequent places
where they hope to find well to do vic
Tins. AT the same time he might
make 1t very unpleasant for both the
lady and myself, From this time II
became a war OF wits between us,