Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26

men, but manage without ever creating
scandal, which would hurt them as much as
their victim.
AS neat a piece of Matchmaking work
the history of this branch of crime knows
was accomplished in London during May last
year. I pick it because it shows how different
the real thing, as practiced by the astute pro-
fessionls of international crookdom. is from
the general run Of backmailing that comes
up in the courts and gets the criminal well
deserved 10 years.
An American banker came over to stay three
months in England and Europe. His wife had
preceded him and was staying in Paris IN
tending to come to London for June and part
OF July. Her husband, having business IN
London, left the boat at Southampton, intend
ing to stay few days in London and then
fly over to Paris.
Now on the boat he had met most at
tractive English woman. He first saw her in
the dining saloon the first night out, several
tables away, but Ia a direct line with his eye
and he recoNected that he had noticed her In
the Palm Beach hotel where he had been
staying two months before. 1t CHANGED then
that he found IL cir promenade deck chairs
were alongside one another. So causually, cas-
lily and quite nicely they met
She was travelled, sophisticated, not young
perhaps 35-a mans woman; very well Bred
but also most aluring; in short, the sort OF
woman a middle-aged banker would be at
tracted by. Her husband, she said had gone
up to Canada on a two-month hunting ex-
so she was coming home.
He thought there could be no harm in ask
ing her to dine with him and go to the opera
when they got to town. She smingly con-
rented Then she told him her car was meet
ing her at Southampton. Would he ike 10
motor up with her? He would.
The big car, the we'll trained chauffeur the
dsc:eet maid impressed the banker and con-
frmed his general impressions OF his new &C
Quaintance.
The first partv was perfect Another was
arranged She telephoned at the last moment
she would not have time to get over for DIN
ner, and would he give her supper?
Returning from the theater, she finched on
the threshold of the hotels luxury restaurant
She had a headache. Perhaps she ought to
have dned. Couldn't they find quieter place
without music and dancing? He made his
mistake then-they always do! He suggested
quiet little supper and bottle OF champagne
in the sitting room of his suite.
Late at night Cigarettes and hqueurs
knock on the door. The lady calmly Slid the
single orchid-adorned strap Of her frock on
her shoulder and deity diSarranged her Golf
fure. That" she said coolly, lis my husband
I expect
The banker looked at her for q minute
without speaking. He . strong man, used
to dealing with awkward situations. In that
minute he saw exactly how he stood. de
could fight probably in court tear this woman
to pieces. But-his wife in Paris, also his
considerable position in the banking world.
Supping alone with female in his suite late
at night. Hard to explain that away
He said it looked like being IN expensive
party for him. She agreed, smiling unrun1ed.
How much?" he asked. Five thousand
pounds" she said, "and we can part as we
met-Sweetly"
He gave her his check. He shook hands
with her. "You can get it back on the stock
market" she said, and lightly kissed him.
It was only when he came to talk the matter
over with his London lawyer next day that the
hy in the web understood that from the hrSt
moment In the Palm Beach hotel he had been
marked down for a killing. He had noticed
her because the lady and her distinguished
looking husband" lad intended that he should.
ONE may take it for granted that this was
~ not the sole catch brought into the net
of this pair Of decorative and astute rogues as
a result of their American trip. They would
have made many contacts and laid many lines
which they subsequently hoped to use.
Nor must 1t be supposed that every coup
they would pull OF would necessarily be OF
criminal nature. Only your crude crook can
not see the honest (welI, nearly honest) wood
for the dishonest trees. There would be quite
a number Of opportunities for legitimate little
business deals, almost always by way Of .
commission an introduction, whether for
social business of matrimonial reasons
International crime specialists will tell you
that as rule, women are easier game than
men for the wiles of the spider (male species).
But the male spiders do not often play for
very high stakes. They spin webs for many
little flies and seldom land big one.
Not a pleasant type, these men who spin
webs in which to catch gullible rich women,
or women who have something to hide or a
reputation to protect. One, an authentic
Baltic baron, was a member of the pages
corps at the Imperial Russian Court before he
became an officer in one of the guards regi-
ments of his imperial majesty.
After the revolution he got away with his
skin and his papers, graduated as ggolo IN
Paris and Riviera hauntS married q North
American heiress (whoSe parents subsequently