The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-29

I llSCu al AtSA AN oASS
side landlady. She smiled beam
Iingly, but regretted she was full.
All Llandudno was full, she told
me. 1t was a record season.
We were alone in the room,
]whereupon I produced a FIVE
pound note and handed it to her.
looking straight into her eyes.
What's that for sir?" she
asked in surprise.
Because / want you to tell me-
something. Take It,"
What do you want to know"
One or two little things con-
corning your visitors-the men
Dane and Matheson. Dane Is no
invalid, is he? He's only sham
ming?"
She looked at me suspiciously.
What do you want to know
for?"
Il have reasons. Take that and
answer my questions l urged,
pushing the note over the table
towards her. Il see you agree
with me-" / laughed. Now, a stop
farther. Does Mr.. Dane ever have
any letters?'
He does sometimes"
Are any Of them re-sddress-
edo"
One or two have been"
I.L,l ,o,,'-a ,,ntiN1d tho add T0CA
to which they've been before, OF
course. 1t that address Charlotte
Street. Tottenham Court oRad?"
Yes: but how do you know
Never mind, Mrs. Evans" l
laughed.
and Mr.. Dane has a lady friend
who lives at the Imperial, hasn't
he?"
Yes. I've heard them talking
about her. She's a very rich young
lady. ] hear. The other night they
were discussing her as l went To
bed. and l stopped and listened"
And what did you hear?"
only that they thought they
were on a good thing. That's Ill
could make out
And Dane poses as an invalid
whenc, Ell he meets herr
Yes. She came here yesterday
afternoon and he wrapped himself
up on a couch and pretended TO
be ILL.,"
thanked her, and while she
screwed the five-pound note into
her pocket took my leave.
Mine was A difficult position. !
could not explain to Leopoldine
what I knew, or she would at once
accuse me OF spying upon her. But
I felt that some desperate game
was in progress. and that. in add
ton 10 the invalid girl at Charlotte
Street. there had been an Invalid
man-Henry Dane, whose wan fig-
ure was now such a pathetic sight
on the Promenade at Llandudno.
Events proved that | was right
in my surmise. for a month later
the Princess's loye-romance had .
rather sensational denonement.
In consequence Of the undesir-
able acquaintance she had made l
contriyed to have her recalled TO
Vienna by the Emperor. She, OF
course. was in ignorance OF my
private letter TO him asking that !
might be relieved Of my duties. but
as his confidential agent | could 10
no other. :
One Saturday. when We were
back in London. she showed me
His Majesty's letter-a kindly one.
asking her TO come to Vienna as
he wished to see her upon family
matters. She said she would 60,
but she added:
Il can't bear Vienna. / shall
be back here in a months time.
But ! must spend this weekend
with the Hopes now / promised.
There is Il big dance there. shall
motor 10 Ipswich this afternoon.
| told Harris to bring the car At
half-past two"
The car was brought. and in 1t
placed the Princess's dressing
bag and heS j~ewel-case.
Harris, the chauffeur. was
speaking with me as he awaited
his mistress. when suddenly, in 4
flash, two men sprang to the other
side Of the car and. opening the
door, seized the jewel-case. which
contained over ten thousand
pounds worth Of ornaments. in
a wonderful collar OF
In that instant | recognised the
invalid's face and that Of his
Harris. in a second. dashed after
he men, raising a hue-and-cry,
with the result that while he stop
ped the pretended invalid. Dane,
A constable stopped Matheson
sbout two hundred yards from the
hotel.
They proved to be a pair OF we'll
Known and expert jewel-thieyes,
With several previous convictions
o their discredit.
| had some difficulty in avoid
ng a scandal. but where an I'm
,erial Princess Is concerned there
ire always ways and means" to
lush up the truth. AS a matter
IF fact, the two men appeared be-
ore Il London magistrate ON q
.utally different charge Of which
hey were guilty-a robbery at
Station three months be.
ore-and were afterwards con.
.icted and sent to two years hard
abor.
But the incident cured Her I'M
,eriaI Highness the Archduchess
.eopoldine Of Austria OF the habit
Il making odd friendships.
1t was not until two years after.
Yards that she confessed to me,
IS We were sitting together in the
OUNCE of the Savoy after supper
'nne night, that she had first met