The Bismarck tribune., 1924-07-26
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@MateH Thief
Copyright 1914 NEA Service Inc
4NhRG GYullb eOAf 0AnNeewed MtafN
BEGIN. HERE TO-DAY !

John Ainsley, a man of education
and breeding, whose war wounds
left him unfit for manual" labor
pawns an ivory miniature Of his
mother in order to pay his landlady
and to buy food. A prosperous
looking bootlegger and ,all-round
crook takes Ainsley to his home
and attempts to enlist him as an
accomplice. Insulted, Ainsley leaves
the room.
Ainsley is disgusted at the sight
of pretty young girl in the COM
pany of gross-looking man in a
restaurant. Later he sees the pros
porous looking crook join the man
and the girl at their table. Ainsley
finally recognizes the gross man as
Daragon, famous jeweler and roue
Daragon draws out little card
hoard box and hands it to the girl.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
/ saw my acquaintance reach for
tie box; though | could not see his
face, l knew that his eyes were shin
ing with Unsurpassed desire. And
then, as l saw his right hand drop
into the pocket of his coat, l knew
what he planned to do even before
caught 4 glimpse Of the white
object that he drew from the pocket.
He planned to substitute one box
for the other.
l smiled with amusement. Also l
appreciated this cunning. Unques-
tionably he had made purchases from
Daragon. Probably he had let, the
jeweler understand that the pur-
chases were gifts for his sweetheart.
Then he had permitted Daragon to
meet his lady. The lady had smiled
upon the jeweler. Daragon had seen
an opportunity to combine business
with pleasure, the sort of pleasure
that appealed to him. And it was not
unusual that, in trying to close a
bargain, he should bring jewel
from his store. And the girl had
been waiting for him alone; hei
seductions were to lull Daragon's
suspicious, if any might be aroused.
l saw my friends head shake in
negation. Argument, presumably
over the price of the trinket, SEEM
ed to arise. The girl pleaded with
her lover. Oh, it was all we'll staged.
Then, decisively, my crook shook
his head. He pushed the box
across the table, as though the
incident were closed. Daragon ar
gued few minutes, seemed to make
concessions whick were not accept
ed, then slowly wrapped up the box
and tied the string around it. He
placed it in his waistcoat pocket. l
wondered how they planned to get it
away from him, to substitute the
box which, underneath the table,
the crook held in his right hand.
Then l saw. My friend the crook
turned in his seat and pointed
toward the door. Daragon looked in
that direction. The girls hand shot
out; deftly it flicked from his pocket
the box which he had just placed
there. No one but myself was. placed
SO that the action could have been
seen. waited for the next move.
which must be the substitution of
the other box.
But although the crook handed the
girl the other box, Daragon's atten-
ton was not held by the incident
near the door, which was nothing
more than an alteration between
two guests of the restaurant, an al
tercation arranged, l suspected, for
the sole purpose of affording time
and opportunity for the robbery Of
the jeweler.
He began to argue with the crook.
His hand REACHED for his waistcoat
pocket, to produce the jewel. But
the girl had not had time to effect
the substitution. She went dead
white as Daragon leaped to his feet
overturning his chair as he did so.
For his suspicious, never more than
slumbering, l imagined, awoke to
full activity.
|. Then, before he could attract the
attention of the head waiter and the
manager, rose from my chair and
walked swiftly to their table. had
no$particular sympathy for the girl
and her crook companion. But had
even less for Daragon. For while
watched him, l remembered some of
the unpleasant tales that had been
current about him in the years be-
fore the war. The girl was thief,
but Daragon was filthy beast.
gained their table in three
strides. "You dropped something on
the floer," said. spoke to Dara-
gon, but looked squarely at the girl.