The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-01-04
The Project
OF Police
Stosy Of a Stolen Necklace
In Valparaiso.
By GEORGE cATHERwooD

q 2NtA-Es A~@ANW ~ ~ %AAAf "a rs " an
had just enough hlarney and brogus
in his talk to be true to his name
However, he was an expert in his
line and at the time was on his way
to Brazil to buy diamonds for a
New York firm.
Tom Hargrayes and / had plan
ned to spend the winter months in
the tropics. so when the steamer
reached Panama we said goodby to
our friend 0'Rorke and went ashore,
but the torrid heat Of the day and
the cold nights made the climate
disagreeable, so we soon went on
southwark, and the following month
we reached Chile.
Hargreaves and / put on cool
white suits, such as are worn in
South American countries, and
went down to the late evening meal,
the fashionable one Of the day at
Chilean hotels.
As waiter bowed us to a table
we Unexpectedly came on our old
friend O'Rorke, who was dining
with another American. When he
caught sight Of us his good natured
Irish face broadened into a smile.
Hello, fellowsp' he cried, shak-
ing hands cordially. .1'm certainly
glad to find you here"
Il thought you we're in the wilds
Of Brazil" / said, laughing.
Il was for awhile" he answered,
s'but I'm going home now. / came
over to Valparaiso to see my friend
here, the consul" And, turning to
BIS companion at the table, who had
risen, he introduced US.
ssMr. Cuthbert, two friends of
mine from the States, Mr.. Har-
graves and Mr.. Moore
The consul greeted us heartily
when a messenger appeared and
handed him a note.
Il have little time Of my own,
said the consul, and, excusing him
self. he left the room.
Through a nearby. window the
evening air came in with delightful
GOODNESS after the heat Of the day.
and in the gay surroundings the
meal passed happily. The majority
Of the tables we're surrounded by
wealthy natives, and the chatter Of
the Spanish language sounded in
cessantly.
Many Of the women wore jewels,
and as we passed out our attention
was attracted especially to a corner
table near the door, where a man
in uniform sat with one Of the most |
beautiful Spanish women had ever
seen. / think her beauty first at
tracted me, though all noted the |
elegant necklace that encircled her
throat and the large diamond that
formed its central ornament. In a
moment we had passed on, and
screen separated US from the couple
at the table
did you see that womans" ex-
claimed Hargraves-
EYES," / replied, @and her dia-
mond necklace"
II got only glimpse Of il" said
0'Rorke, "but it was a beauty.
We stopped in the doorway, and
as a waiter approached O'Rorke mo-
toned toward the screen and asked,
who is the lady at the first table p
The servant replied IN broken
"Senora Garcias, the own
r Of the Pasaie."
@And the gentleman ?" O'Rorke
pursued.
The waiter looked surprised at
he question. sThe project Of po-
ice,1 he said in an awed whisper.
We sat on the veranda smoking
Intil it was late Then Jim remem-
Dered a stiletto he had bought as q
and went up to his room to
,et it. II
A few minutes later a disturb
nee came from within. A woman {
creamed, and a mans voice called Z
MT in Spanish. Z
Hargraves and / rushed in with q
he other guests that bad heard the q
Ioise, and at the foot OF the stairs a I
TRANCE sight met our eyes. Lying
rostrate on the floor was the beau y
iful Sonora Garcias, with eyes clos /
and hair disheveled, while around Y
er neck was a red band, almost q
leeding, as though the necklace a
ad been snatched of with violence. 4
rp on the stairs the project Crap
led with 0'Rorke, and as they
vayed back and forth with uncer-
sin footing the light cleaned from n
stiletto in the latter's hand. e
It was the project that had call
for help. and before we could Il
ZACH them to assist O'Rorke a half
ozen Of the hotel servants appear b
] and Jim was oyerpowered. The d
reject disengaged himself with diff b
guilty from Jim's embrace and II
nftH s4as4ffpzag Nv