Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-30
Che
Socialntates
Story No. 8
The Master Swindlers
Plot by George Bronson Howard.
Novsliza%iOR by Hugh c. Weir.
Copyright Kslem Company.
(C9ntiausd from Ysstsrdsyl


"1 seer said Mary. well, anyway,
Mr.. Watson said no would take the
picture, and Melnotte was to send 1t to
a check, but Melnotte said ne would
like to have the cash. and Mr.. Watson
ttoid him an Eisnt-to come and get IT
Il told you Harry the Hun would
have a way of getting rid of the pic
That was enough for me--that was
yOT," said S sfsry. OHS Later. @ ft1f AFTER Watson @
had gone. they told me to get the pic
ture ready to send-to put 1t In box,
you know. So 1 did-and I changed
ma! They never thought to look at 1t
asain-that was the one big chance
took, of cOursel So-the copy YOU
made has gone to Mr.. watsons house
in about an hour!'
Mona began to laugh, helplessly
And all the time-we-we-have the
son will Immediately see what an
awful copy-my copy-has been sent
him"
"Of course he will! And I'm just
TTGn1ering tT1g hoy we had had better better work
giving him the original, and telling
them what we know, quite frankly-as
If we had learned about the theft by
being cheated. I think he'd be pretty
lberal--he could afford TO be-"
Il think that's the best plan myself"
said Mo%la Well have to trust to his
Exing us something worth while-but
Tdon't see that there's anything else
we caa~Ro Honesty isn't just the best
policy Tnis time-it's the only one,
toor
ture, the two girls set out for Mr.. wat
sons house.
And Melnotte and Harry the Hun,
at about the same time, were making
was absolutely confident OF success as
he had every reason to be-
"We've done ourselves proud this
timT starry, SO boy!' he said. 1--WE
never made n lFter strike than this is
going to be-"
1T looks good" said Harry. But
It's a good, idea not to crow before
you've won"
Outside the house they arranged
their plan. Melnotte was to go in, get
the money, and join Harry outside
Harry had their two bags, and, once
they had the money, they were to take
or later be sure to come out They
anticipated no hitch; 1t seemed that
all that now remained was TO collect
the money. And when Melnotte rang
him.
Wellington watson, too, was expect
ing Melnotte. He had brought the
president OF the Art Museum to his
future when he showed him tho origin
al Monna Wanna. But, when Mona's
copy was revealed, 1t was he who was
discounted. He turned furiously upon
Melnotte, denouncing him, and asking
him what he meant by such q bare
faced fraud. Melnotte, thunderstruck,
could only Rtammer that there must
have been a mistake.
hn N hn aHrN
the original picture!' he said.
But the president OF che museum waa
not SATISFIED.
Let him go back" he advised. '"bu;
to explain, even If no has the picture
for I can tell you, Watson, that the
museum had the original as late as
yesterday"
And, despite Melnotte's frantic pro
tests, the butler was sent to call a po-
and took to flight. But special po-
ltceman, engaged to guard the homes
of the block. seized him and drngge5
him to the watson house. And therc
Melnotte and Harry each began to ac-
cuse the other of double dealing. They
convicted themselves and one another
In their anger; both were placed under
arrest.
The two girls, meanwhile. had ar
rived. in time to, see what was going
on. They decided that they had chos-
en- bad time for their VISIT, and went
had read the stories in the papers,
they decided to go back to their orig
inal plan, watson received them
cordially; Mona told Gf the suspicious
Harry's conduct had reused in her.
BY a curious chance, she said, her
friend, Mary. was working for Mel
notte, and, learning OF the plot, had
decided to prevent him from being
victimized through the purchase OF a
stolen picture.
And here" said Mary, dramatically,
"is the real Monna Nanna"
There was no doubt this time wat
son and the president both recognized
1t.
you two ladies'" said the president,
were not only upright, but remark
ably clever feel that the museum
owes you great gratitude. A reward
of $1,000 would have been offered for
the return OF the picture-I take great
pleasure. now, in writing my check for
that sum"
TT isn't enough" said Watson. "And
I'm grateful, too! I shall give you n
certain percentage of the money that
would have given those scoundrels
had it not been for your interven-
tionv
That night Mona and Mary. their
wardrobes restored their Jewels re-
,,-in a1x In hn