The Washington times., 1919-05-04

and persuaded him partake Of refreshments while
she went to look for the Jewels.
When she finally appeared with the rope and was
about hand to the gendarme the string broke and the
beautiful pearls fell to the hoor rolling every direction
Mme Humbert and the gendarme both dropped on their
knees and began search for the scattered treasures
They had rolled into all sorts of inaccessible places and
the search was prolonged While was in progress the
clock struck SIX
In an instant Nine Humbert was on her feet,
changed woman. She ordered the gendarme from the
house. and when he protested she reminded him that the
process which he held required by law to be served
before o'clock in the evening not at ALL The gen.
darRe had nothing to do but TO retire. and the next day
Nine. Humbert was beyond his reach.
Thus by one subterfuge another often involving the
most desperate chances Nine Humbert succeeded in keep
ing her old creditors deceived while all the time she
adding new ones to her long list of victims
But at last the inevitable crash cameand with little
warning. By an odd chance it was brought about
not by of the largest creditors but by obscure
tradesman who held note for only a small amount He
started proceedings in the criminal court and secured
within few days results which the civil had failed
to attain in twenty years of winding and unwndng end
less legal red tape
An order issued requiring the opening of the
famous safe in the presence of court officials. When
Nine Humbert heard of this action she and her family
promptly fed the country
Early afternoon NJ Cochefort the head of the
detective police of Paris the deserted House of
Mystery in the Avenue de la Grande Armee. He
accompanied by juge dinstructon two nOtares and
other court and police officials and many hysterica
creditors.
The safe which held the secret Of the Humbert famys
guilt or innocence securely locked thorough search
OF the house failed to reveal the combination and lock-
smiths had to be summoned
While these experts labored over the lock an excited
crowd that filled the streets for many blocks in all drec
tons gathered outside the house
In this crowd were men and women who had staked
their entire fortunes the integrity of the Humbers
There were merchants who had sold them on credit hun
dreds OF thousands of dollars worth of furniture cloth
ng Jewey and other things And there also hordes
OF curiosity seekers attracted to the by the wide
publicity that had long been given this celebrated case
In the newspapers.
1t Is significant of Nine. Humbert success in deceiv
ing the public that great majority of the thousands who
pushed and JOsted another for closer view of the
house were strong in their belief in her absolute nno
cenee Even of her largest creditors maintained to
the last that the opening of the safe would confirm all her
claims to vast wealth.
People Of the poorer classes who had shared the bounty
which Nine Humbert avShed on all sorts of charity were
particularly loud their claims that these insinuations
OF fraud were Tost unjust She was they said being
cruelty prosecuted by the grasping money lenders
In the meantime the lOcksmiths were patiently srug-
CLING with the SAFE At last they had the right combna-
tion-hve, eleven, two foryfour; then three to the
right SIX to the left and complete turn. In the