The Washington times., 1919-11-09
Continued from Last Sunday

Feature Service. Ine
IN HE most interesting character in imaginative stories
of crime always has been the thief who goes about
his nefarious business in the garb of fashion and
refnement-he may best be described the dress suit
burglar robber, hghwayman common trickster,
the may be- Writers of detective fiction always
have fallen back upon such character this the
way of holding the attention of their readers-to
whom the burglar dressed in the habments of the fash
ionable drawing is interesting contrast
But this character always has been looked upon
only creature fiction Few intelligent persons have
believed that the sort of thief gunman, shopifer
burglar the policeman the beat the detective in
plain clothes actually into contact with
such conventional hallmark of respectabity and
6dence well fitting correctly tailored evening clothes
and the grace pose and demeanor that such costume
sets upon
The capable young woman whose position that of
paror maid confidential house servant in the residence
of Mrs Joseph Paterno wife of of New York most
interesting millionaire business men, has, undoubtedly,
read great of ''Rales - "Arsene Lupin' and other
thieves of their but she could be
pected believe that evening clothes fashioned by
pensve Fifth avenue tailor silk hat with the
ease of CUSTOM monogrammed scarf and correctly
gloves might be the ordinary tools of cunning rogue
of that amazing organization of thieves which Amer
lea s master-criminal has built up.
So when she summoned, evening not long
ago, to the door which opens upon the private auto
driveway ankng the Summer residence of the Paterno
the midst of the exclusive henhurst colony, just out
side New York this maid thrown completely off her
guard when rather distinguished looking man, in
smarly fitting evening clothes who had just stepped out
of the luxurious limousine waiting in the driveway,
stepped past her into the reception hail. with brusque
Announce to Mrs. Palermo, please am Mr..
Davis"
Mrs Paterno was not at home. She had gone, half
an hour earlier to ball at the Country Club by.
Yet unconsciousy the maid held her hands for the
hat and scarf and which the visitor held out to her.
He was debonar and his thoroughly
that Of who is expected and completely at home in his
surroundings that the maid nonplused for the
1t strange she thought that Mrs Paterno had
forgotten to leave any instructions with her for this gent
eman who, quite evidently bad been invited for the
evening
The stranger who drawing off his gloves noticed
her hesitancy He spoke cury 81 said announce me,
please-I am Mr. Davis-you may add that am late un-
avoidably and very sorry if have kept her waiting
By the maid had recovered her wits She felt
that, in way, apology due this gentleman.
"I sorry, SIR she said "but Mrs Palermo must
have forgotten TO tell me-bu she is home sir She
left half hour and did not leave word for MIR
Davis
The visitor appeared to be much amazed for a mo-
ment, and then puzzled
''She is not at home' Why-that is hardly possible
ARE you sure9 was to call for her at 10
The maid too well hammered to say what was, to
her quite apparenttha her mistress had forgotten that
she had had appointment with this Mr. Davis And she
must have forgotten it, the maid certain it just
10 o'clock when she left for the Country Club baaone
in her limousine The visitor fumbled in his pockets
until he found goldtpped card He seemed about
10 hand her his card that might persuade her to
discover that she had been mistaken saying her mistress
was out
81 am really very sorry, sr'' the maid reiterated,
"but she must have thought you were not coming"
By this time the in the evening clothes seemed
20 accept his disappointment. Yet he was much
barrassed, and apparently sincerely that the maid
further than from suspectng that he might be
anything else than the acquaintance of Mrs Palermo that
he appeared to be
PERHAPS she gave me up when j was not here