The Washington times., 1919-09-21

Nearly always the pedestrian win see rare
bafgain.'' He will vision a burglar breaking
into some luxurious. residence where priceless
jewels ere left about in silver jeweltrays.- He
viii see the burglar escaping with this very
diamond n his pockets And will understand
why, Of course the burglar could not openly
60 and sell it. "Qf course he would be glad to
get even Quar1er Of its real value in ready
cash. And here is the burglar himself with the
very gem -and he wants to sell it for almost
nothing
The pedestrian buys and when he gets home or when
he shows his rare bargan to friend he discovers that
the diamond is paste and that he has been the victim OF
a rogue not half so bold or clever asa burglar.
IT is lust biz Of human nature-a variation OF the
common desire to get something for nothing The mas
ter criminal whose wisdom has amazed the ponce OF
every large city in the country knows this human short
coming. And in many ways he has played upon u IN
finding market for his stolen BE even has been
astoundngy brazen about It. 1t is estimated by the PO
lice authorities and the detective branches OF the great
department stores the East that there thousands Of
fashionable women IL the West who to-day are weaFing
beautiful gowns which, II they only knew IT. were stolen
in the first place by the agents Of the master criminal
New York IS aB every one knows, the meeting place
Of the word-there the most beautiful women Of Europe
as well as America congregate at all seasons Of the year.
and there come from every State in the Union Of
wealth in all degrees to do their shoppngto select their
gowns and furs and jewels eager for the distinction that
sBides in the label of Of the exclusive New York
houses attached to the wastband Of their dnneF and
evening frOc Let us Is an example, turn 70 the record
that has been made FOR the New York District Attorney
Of the arrival at an exclusive New York hotel Of one OF
these visitors from the Middle West and Of the events
which soon ranspiredwh the master criminal IN the
background Il record that thoroughly explains one
Of the clever systems Of this daring and versatile rogue
The hotel to which she was one Of those magnh
cent and paaa hOseres which open out into the famous
Fifth avenue It's known the world around as the
gathering place Of ell that is wealth and pomp and fash
ion To be guest there stamps as having not only the
most luxurious tastes but the fortune with which to pam,
per them. II is hotel where Presidents nave stopped
and where during the war; nearly all the representatives
Of foreign governments made their home during their
elaborate entertainment in the nations metropolis
The Western visitor came yearly to this hote-always
Oute frankly on shopping excursion Immediately after
her arrival boxes and bundles began to arrive at the
clerks desk to be delivered to her apartments In her
home city she known Of the most fashona0ly
dressed women Of her social circle She was not e1-
tremely wealthy so she shopped great deal and ex.
pended her allowances with a great deal Of care and
thought 80
During her very first evening at dinner che gorgeous
dining her attention well that OF her husband
attracted to stately, beautiful young woman who
the centre Of attraction at dinner party OF half
dozen guests table not far distant across the room
But the atractveness of this particular young woman to
the visitor from the West not much her beauty
although the husband was frankyan admrer Of thatbu
the splendOr and exclusive lines of her exquisite gown
Combined with the grace and personal charm OF the
wearer the gown stood cut one Of the most oeautl
fu in that asSembage of the world most devoted
devOtees of fashion and magnifcence
Later in the evening, on the roof garden where the
dancing IS, this same young wOman-lloW wearing an
elaborate evening gown cut in mode start
ingy new yet agreeaby mOdest-apPeared on the floor
to attract more admiring gances She seemed to be
known great many Of the habitues of this exclusive
meeting place-and for all Of them she had charming
winsome SMILE the smile of genial good fellowship An
attendant explained to the visitor from The West
''The young woman was a countess from some one OF
the allied countries he didn't remember just which, and
she seemed to have nothing to do in life but amuse her
self She quite well knoWn-abOut the hotel anyway.
She very demOcratic-she enjoyed making friends.
just why she IN this country one seemed to know
but she spoke English she had had long experience
with Il ny ,... III