Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-01-16
Princess Necklace
Was Recovered
BY r. T. M. SCOTT


WAN SELTz was one of the SUI
preme Jewel merchants OF New
York city. Famed jewels passed
through his hands and often he made
the sales himself far from his city
place Of business. Therefore he was
not surprised when Long Island po-
tentate asked lin to bring certain
famed lecklace of diamonds to his
country house. The necklace belonged
to an impoverished princess in Eu-
rope and was worth more than hun
dred thousand dollars.
Van Seltz was asked to exhibit the
necklace before some guests in the
Long Island house in the evening
after dinner. The whims of such
clients had to be obeyed but he knew
that the trip might be dangerous. He
telephOned to Aurellus Smith, the
criminal investigator, and asked him
to accompany him.
Smith met Van Seltz at his home
after dinner. He was wearing a din
ner coat but found hat his employer
was In full evening dress.
I'VE are both tall-just about the
same size" remarked old Van Seltz
81 am little particular about some
things and there is no time for you
to return home. Would you mind--er
slipping on spare talcoat of mine?
| think 1t would fit you"
Smith agreed readily. II did fit,
with astonishing precision.
The trip was to be made by motor
and travelling bags were taken as the
return journey was not to be made
until the next morning
At the great house on Long Island
Smith and Van Seltz entered as late
guests might do. They mingled with
a dozen men and women and, in APP
pearance, belonged to the group. The
necklace was exhibited in large
drawing room. Smith stood little
to one side and noticed that the only
entrance was through sliding doors ut
one side of the room.
Then the lights went out.
With bound, Smith reached the
sliding doors and pulled them to.
gether. AS lie did so, man ran into
him from behind as II trying to es-
cape from the room. This man, find.
Ing his egress barred, ran back into
the darkened room. Smith played a
flashlight upon the closed windows
while he stood with his back to the
sliding doors. Some candles were
lighted and then the electric lights
came on again.
On center table lay the velvet
jewel case--empty! The necklace
was gone!
There was excited discussion and
Smith was introduced in his profes-
sional capacity. He looked around At
the assembled guests and butler
who had happened to be In the room.
Undoubtedly the necklace Is stlil
In the room" he remarked.
After pause the owner OF the
house took off his coat, tossed II to
Smith and raised his hands to be
searched. The other men did the same
and Smith, searching found nothing.
Van Seltz handed his coat to the own.
er OF the house who found moi hing In
II nor UPON the jewelers. person. In
the excitement the coats were placed
upon sofa and not worn again I'M
medlately. Smith handed his coal TO
the owner of the house who took IL
as he tossed the jewelers. coat to the
butler who placed II upon the sofa
with the other coats. Then Smith
searched the butler who had been left
until the last because OF nice sense
Of fair play. lie found nothing
what about us?' u lady asked.
Rather than think of such thing"
exclaimed Van Seltz, II present the
necklace as free glfl to the person
who has IT,"
Amid q murmur of admiration for
the gallant offer the owner Of the
house stated that he could moi be out
done by Mr.. Van Seltz and that he
would send the jeweler check Tor
the value OF the lost necklace.
Smith searched the room infinitely
and the party retired with uncomfort.
able feelings.
In his bedroom Van Seltz threw Ills
clothes upon chair and tossed sleep
lessly upon bed. Several hours
later his door opened slowly and
man, wearing a mask entered with a
revolver In his hand. Van Seltz sat
up In bed, covered by the gun The
marauder entered swiftly and took
Van Seltz' evening coat from where
1t lay upon the chair.
Van Setz watched, somewhat stnpe.
fed, as the man began to back to the
door, coat In one hand and revolver
In the other. AS he took the first back
ward step the door opened little
more behind him. At the second step
Smith lounged in the doorway, fully
dressed and with an automatic in one
hand and II cigarette In the other.
With the third step the man renched
back with his revolver hand 10 feel
for the door. His wrist touched
Smiths burning cigarette and the re.
volver fell to the floor.
After that It was easy. smith re.
moved the mask and exposed the
butler
at was this why" explained Smith
as he tied up his man with curtain
cord. "rhe butler placed your coat
on The sofa before he was searched
He was the only man who could have
had the necklace and who had M op.
portunlty Of getting rid Of t. lie
slipped II into your tail pocket after
your host had searched II. put on
the coat you had been wearing aud
you did not notice the change n the
necklace had been found IN your
pocket some sI"H reelection might
have been Gust UPON you"