San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-29
JANET'S VERSION

JANEI - NEnStO-N =
1t was about four months after l
had been in the service OF Mrs
Trumperton-Smith, that l decided TO
cob her. / first went 10 her because
day by day. l felt the need OF money
Tor those Injuries TO which l had
become accustomed. After my disas-
trous visit to Paris, no news what
ever had come to me from my hus'
band. A slack period had set IN
Mt the dressmaking establishment
where / had been employed, and l
was informed that my services were
no longer necessary. l spent n month
at a manicurists's and few weeks at
a Photographic studio. ,
Mrs. Trumperton-Smith advertised
In the Morning Post for companion
and lady's maid. / won the post on
account of my manners and appear
ance. NJ mistress was lady or
Pc ample person and ample means. She
lived in excellent style and apparent
~ had plenty of money. She was
widow about 45 years old, still good
looking in a florid sort of way, and
well enough educated from the mid
dle-class point of view. Men were
her one and everlasting hobby.
We were staying at the Magnifi-
rent Hotel at Brighton when the
idea which / have mentioned, of rob-
bling my mistress, first took definite
shape in my mind. l should have
bided my time, l think, but for two
reasons. One was that the salary
which she paid me was absurdly
small and / saw no chance OF saving
anything, and the other was the
very imminent fear of being antici-
pated. Mrs. Trumperton-Smith was
not always so discreet as she should
have been in her acquaintance.
At the present time she was on ex-
ceedingly friendly terms with a Mr..
Sidney Bloor, whom / put down,
from the moment | first saw him, as
an undoubted adventurer. He was
always dressed in the height of
fashion. and he had acquired
the shibboleth of the up-to-date
young man of the moment. He
made languid attempts to kiss me
whenever he found me alone.
He found me one evening. some
four months after our arrival in
brighton. alone in the sitting-room
at about the hour when Madam was
sometimes pleased to dispense cock
tails. A spasmodic attempt at gal
lantry having been met and re-
pulsed, he fingered TO watch me busy
repairing a hair-ornament which my
mistress desired TO wear that eve.
ming.
Where is the old bird?' he asked
confidentially.
Madam is out playing bridge with
some friends" | told him.
What little gewgaws are you
sending her down in tonight"
Whatever she chooses to wear"
j replied.
Only last night" he remarked,
"she told me that it was generally
you who made the selection"
"She usually does wear what l put
out" / assented. (which do you
admire her in most, Mr.. Bloor?"
The young man scratched his chin
thoughtfelly.
1T doesn't matter TO me what she
wears" he sighed. II know little
girl, though, who would look the
real thing decked out in those dia-
monds, eh?"
Il expect you have a large &C.
quaintance amongst my SEX" / re.
piled demurely.
you're a cold young woman, ia
net" he complained. MY last eve
ming, too"
-. Are you going away"
Back to the city tomorrow. I'm
y my own master and all that, of
course-take week or two Just
when i want it-but one has to pick
... up a bit OF the rhino now and then"
30, "If it is really your last night" /
said. "tell me what jewelry you
would like the mistress to wear this
evening, and 1 will put it out for
her."
What about the diamond neck
lace, them" he suggested.
My mistress came busting in
moment or two later and busted her.
self in making the cocktails. l went
through into her bedroom to lay out
her gown. 1t was perfectly clear to
me now that il l were going to rob
Mrs. Trumperton-Smth at all, it
had better be done quickly.
The drinking Of cocktails was con.
Guided little more quickly than
usual. and Mrs. Trumperton-Smith
Joined me in the bedroom, full of
what passed with her as genialiy.
1t was a quality. however. which
was entirely superficial. and in a
general way ! found her disagree
able. selfish and jealous TO degree.
She withdrew the key of her jewel
case from a bracelet and passed it to
me.
q" I selected the diamond necklace,
earrings and bracelet, locked up tho
case ond returned the key. Ny mis-
tress' expression softened as she
looked at herself in the glass.
She picked up her gold bag. looked
handkerchief there, and turned
uwav.
ni See that the fire is kept up in the
'a sitting room, Janet" she ordered.
"Mr. Bloor and | will take our coffee
there
went into the stewards room
and had my suppcr as usual. and I
also paid visit to Mr.. Bloor's bed
room and borrowed certain trlfles
which ! proposed to use later on. I
. happened 10 know that both he and
- Mrs. Trumperton-Smith were en-.
gagged TO play bridge after dinner al
q neighboring hotel.
contrived IN leave omen the con.
Meeting door between the bedroom
and the sittinR-room. and to he in ihe
pbrmer when they returned for their
coffee. Madam had come in for her
cloak. and they were on the point nj
starting out again, when her escort