Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-07-22

Ject. II was pSil~i-'
| bent over and from the floor p'ck-
ed up a visiting card, torn alid
crushed. Dramatically | smoothed
it. and read the name, Prince
Meerkovst.'
"The thief's name," exclaimed.
prince Meerkovstw cried one Of
the clerks. The others echoed his
name. The second clerk assumed
an air of great shrewdness.
THAT is why, a thief himself, he
was so lenient to the Englishman."
ne said, "Ah, the canaille! We shall
go to him"
We did, opening up his door with
a pass-key. He sat up in bed.
amazed at the intrusion, and at first
disdainful of our charges. BrF
when / found underneath his pillow,
where | had planted it quarter Of
an hour earlier, my purse, his scorn-
full disdain gave way to sudden fear.
And when the clerk babe him look
in the mirror and note the gap in
his bristling whiskers, and also ask
ed him to observe the hirsute trophy
which / was supposed to have torn
from his face, fear began to give
way to panic. And the gold penci.
with the broken links which fitted to
his watch-chain, and his visiting
card, were final proofs calculated,
ne was well aware, to convince any
court in the world.
For a moment he must have be-
lieved that he had been walking mi
his sleep; but suddenly his hands
1elt at his waist, where, I had reason
70 know, he wore money-belt.
I am innocent" he cried q am
the victim of plot. 1t is I who
have been robbedP'
He was standing beside his bed,
pajama-clad. I shouldered my way
in front of the other, and stared nim
in the eye.
Monsieur states that it is he who
has been robbed" l said SOFTLY
May l ask Monsieur of WHAT"
His mouth opened; but words die
not come from it for moment. For
nearly half minute, wide-mouthed,
he stared at me. And if he had
looked venomously at BeresfordH
earlier tonight, his regard of lh3H
young Englishman had been frienls
y ly as compared with the glance he
gave me. Then he replied: "Of
nothing, monsieur"
eve shall take him at once to the
jail" cried the clerk. Two rob
berries in the same night in this no.
tel! But this thief shall not go free"
| wait" l told them, raising my
hand in protest. l turned to the
Prince.
cone forgives a repentant SIN
ner," | told him. l spoke in English
"You are a thief caught practically
in the act. Nothing can save your
name. But you can save your SKIN.
Ii you will state to these gentlemen
the truth about Monsieur Beres-
ford's entrance into your room, /,
who have recovered the property
which you stole from me, will for
get the matter"
| He stared at me. $50? Some day,
monsieur, we shall meet again."
But not at Monte Carlo" | told
him. | looked at my watch. 1T IS
now four O'Clock. At four-thirty the
de luxe from Rome stops here On
route to Paris. If you take that
fraln, after having confessed your
vie plot, the matter is ended"
Monsieur is a great detective"
ne sneered. " Set a thief to catch a
lthief-'
I am waiting for your answer"
interrupted him sternly.
AND there could only be one an
SWer' lie accepted. He withdrew his
charge against Beresford, packed
ms things, and took the train d.
luxe. W
left an order to be called at
seven. | wished to take no chances.
81 missing the Beresfords. True
the young man was cleared of the
charge Of crime, but in hIs bnmiIia
Hon at being unable to pay his bin
ne might slip quietly away. And a.
eig IN | knocked upon :oor,
The management al alr4ad,
apologized for last ngEr conhso,
temps, but it was lara, .6-Ionl'in
ment. ne apart
r t Il am !! an older man than YOU
of age" '' 'ie privilege
His wife laughed! you're not a
day over thirty" she said.
I frowned at her. Nevertheless,
that is old enough for my purpose,
which is I'd extract from you young |
sters promise that you will never
gamble again. In return for that |
lprop,isa I mako Won a oracan+ of +ay, 7