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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 1906)
the omaiia Sunday bee: deceer 30, im. rropyrtght, by Oeorge Barton.! lAKNES locked at the two cable- B grams again. The first one. from Pnrls, Informed him that the cel ebrated Versailles sapphire set In a splendid necklace, had been stolen; the second was a notification that Hill Snyder, smuggler, had sailed from Cherbourg on the Bylvanla. Natu rally the chief had put the two shreds together and expected to pull off the trick without a struggle. Rut the 8ylvanla had arrived and Sny der' was not on the pnsscnpcr list. No sapphires had been declared, and the ex am) n. 'it Inn of the baifcage, now almost completed, disclosed no gems. Barnes bit bis Hps vexatlously. The Versailles sap phires were numbered among the world's greatest gems. The thought of permitting .them to slip through his fingers was mad dening. At one time they had ranked with the state Jewels of France. Their distinction came not so much through their value although that was more than t2n,0fiftas from their perfection. The cut was the finest ever turned out by . a lap idary. They were known to pern experts as the blue cornflower. The cut of each stone made an opali-scent star of six rays, which, held In a certain light, glittered like pure diamonds. There were forty per fect stones In the necklace, none less than a carat and a half. Rames determined to make a second tour of the boat, and In the course of Ms wanderings came within the rays of a pair of piercing black eyes. The owner of the bright orbs raised a small white mnnicured hand, very much berlnged, and drew It across a narrow forehead. The next moment the same hand wearily Stroked a luxuriant black mustache, be traying by the movement two rows of even, white, glistening teeth. He was one of a little group which, besides himself, included a young man and a young woman and an elderly person who might hnre been as she was the aunt of the girl. Ilarnes q"ulckly learned through the cap tain of the boat that the stout, elderly person was Mrs. Hnrrlngton, a widow, with a eomfortnblo Income, whose consum ing ambition was to wed her niece, Ulste, to a title. The young man was John Hud son, a stronB-llinhed, clean-faced Ameri can lawyer. The man with the piercing black eyes was addressed as the Count da VontnJn. Sea voyages are conducive to quick In timacies. lle:ice the captain of tho Ey'. vanlu was able to tell many things to the chief of the customs. The most enter taining was the fact that the nobleman and the lawyer were keen rivals for the affections of Elsie Harrington. It did not require a second sight to discover that the girl loved the American, and that the count was the aunt's choice. Indeed she liad taken tho girl abroad a ear before In the hopo of breaking off the attach ment with Hanson, but fate or the per sistence nn-1 Ingenuity of a love smitten young man had decreed that the two should return to the United States on the same vessel. After learning these things, Barnes de voted his attention exclusively to the llttie party. The girl was unmistakably beauti ful. She was tail and slender, with greit brown eyes and a whimsical droop of the mouth, which looked us If It mltrht. In stantaneously, turn either to sadness or to laughter. Haswra gazed at her with a look, of adoration. The older woman and the count stepped aside for a moment. Im mediately the young man grasped the girl by the hand. "Elpie!" he exclaimed, with a significant squeeze. Her whlto face crimsoned; the drooping mouth suggested Joy. "Please don't, John; not hero!" she crle.1. Mrs. Harrington returned with the count, Elsie ard J hn discreetly gazed Into space. The count looked flurried. He wore the fashionably trimmed cloak and the high silk hat with flat brim popularly associated with Frenchmen of the higher class. He began to talk with the aunt In ' animated tones. In the meantime Barnes had been attending to routine business, keeping the group In sight, always. Pres ently he summoned Con Clancy, tits assist ant, to his side. "Have the count and the ladles made out their papers?" "Yes." "Did they declare any gems?" "No." Make the Investigation of their baggage rigid. After that make a careful examina tion of tho count's stateroom.'' ' The buzs of expectation wn everywhere. The thought of home caused the travelers to bubble over with eager good humor. The ship's officer ran about hurriedly, performing the last civilities to those who had been their guests for moro than six days. The chief was standing on a little platform directing the disposition of the luggage, when someone grasped the sleeve of his coat. He looked around. The count was by hi side, his small eyes exuding indignation. "You are the chief inspector?" he queried In marvellously good English. "I have that honor," was the bland reply. "Well." . continued (heother hurriedly, I 1 , . , . , - "your men are flinging the things out of . . , ..Mrit(n- .m .w n .,.!.n- -em t "Th. , : hev-,There." ... ,h. .... natured rejoinder. "But," protestlngly, "this ort of exam ination is most unusual; the baggage la al ways examined without taking it out of the trunks." "Not always." corrected the chief. "In this Instance we hope to expedite your landing ty finishing the work In a tematlo manner." y" "Oh," said the count, disappointedly. "Then the men have been ordered to do this?" es," said Barnes, with a queer look. Then very slowly, "Count, this isn't your first voyage over." "How do you know?" angrily asked the man, his file flushing. . "Because," ironically, "you're so well posted on American customs business." The count made no reply to this thrust. but Irritably stalked away. Th Sylvaula's dock was crowded with friends and relative of the returning tour- Uts. Waving handkerchiefs bruvhtened the scene; shouts of recognition floated acroas the roped off portion of the pier. Clancy approached th chief, who was absently listening to th complaint of a passenger who could not locat his trunk. Barnes Instantly stepped aside to hear from his assistant. Clanc-s- wasted no tim in pre- Umlnsrie. "It's no use," he exclaimed in a whis pered voice. "I can't find th sapphires. I've searched everywhere." "And th sUtaruom; you didn't forget GEORGE BARTOW nr. if? 5 - ft? THE: CHI&? that?" reminded the chief, spenklng to the inspector, but gazing Intently in the dlrec- . uc vomsine ana me laaies. -w, ..n..Cu wiam,. 1 aiun 1 lorgei anything." The chief did not appear to hear this re- ply. He was still watching the little group only a few yards away. Mrs. Harrington wn" "tanaln" lne. She held a fur lined coat over her left arm. He made a pro- found bow to the woman, and without an explanation whatever took the coat from her arm. She looked at him amazed, and was about to expostulate, when be said In his softest voice: "Permit me to assist you on with this coot-" Bhe had not requested his assistance, did not desire It, and was going to say so, but the masterful look in the man's eyes checked the protest on her lips. She he d out her arms obediently. He slipped the coat on easily until It reached the nape of her neck. At that point he paused and de- liberately raised the handsome, closely woven lace collar that covered her dress and hung around her neck and shouldVrs. His hand struck a hard, glittering aubstsnce. ThA IrW If n f t H U IT! nil Ihat eaaHnH nrrtma tils - - - . w.,- ,nlj lfm . ac to'" ' own story. Mr- Hrrln"fto, wa" wearing the Ver- al"P,, 'PPhlre: .'. bu.t . tho v"y InBlanl ne n,PCoverea me necKiace sue rem- izea wnat naa Happened. The natural pal lor of her countenance becsme Intensified. A half sob escaped her. The next Instant she looked Up, her gray eyes fl'.led with fright The chief was equal to the occa sion. You needn't be frightened; ther will be no publlo exposure." Elsie, happening to glace that way, noticed her aunt's agitation. She walked over. "What's the matter?" "Nothing, madam," replied th chief, with the easy manner which had won for him In the service the title of the Prince of Politeness. "Your aunt has f ergot ten to declare some gems. You will com with me to my office on the dock and the busl ness will be quietly adjusted." -This is outrageous." began the older woman, recovering herself. But th chief cut her short. ..It u .. he observed "and I'm sorry you ... La .. ' yj,, unt 'cam, up at this moment, and when he saw what had happened his giro-' let-like eyes appesred to be almost turning In their sockets. Instantly Barnes called Clancy to his side. There was a whispered conversation. As It was concluded the eount disappeared In the crowd. Clar.cy was at his very heels. "Come right this wsy, ladles." And th chief led the two women to the little office near the end of th wharf. After they had been seated th chief 1 v V ' jt,i. .0 -. 4 t ' t V 7 " t CPEf KEiD ' IT AKD DB-EfW gently released the sapphires from Mrs. Harrington's r.eck and laid them on his aesK. They answered perfectly the descrlp- tion or the Versailles sapphires. There were forty of tho stones, all cut with the ex- qulslte art of the skilled lapidary. Mrs. Harrington sat silent, with the look of In- Jured dignity common to those who violate the customs laws. The girl burled her face In her hands, weeping. The annralser. who had entered In the meantime, looked at the gems listlessly. Later he would be ca'led upon for his official opinion. Presently the older woman spoke harshly: "Now, If you are quite done, perhaps" The chief silenced her sternly but pol'tely. "Not now, Mrs. Harrington. Your oppor- - tunlty may come later. Now, If you will all teP aside for a moment, I should like to speak to Mrs. Harrington alone." "But I" "It's necessary." said the chief, with that compelling wave of the hand, "Now, Mrs. Harrington." said Barnes, when the other had obeyed, "all I will say that you should make a full, frank and explicit statement." It took her some time to get her courage s.vnm.A.I n U - ..!. , . m.uvvwu ui iu uie atrinina puiiii. r many, v.i . . half tearfully, she burst out: 'The dear count gave them to me." -The dear count, eh?" mimicked Barnes. u h value of these gems?" "I haven't the faintest Idea." .he mIiI "I will be frank and tell you that I know the count Is desperately In love with Elsie, and I have tried to help his suit. He is to be our guest In the city. Just before the customs officers came aboard. In a burst of gratitude, he bade me wear the sapphires, as a little souvenir of my klnd- ness to htm. I naturally felt flattered. I accepted and" "Didn't you know they wer dutiable?" Barnes asked sternly. "I wasn't sura. I thought a present thing you wore" "But you tried to conceal them under your lace collar." "The government hasn't any right" she began angrily, and then stopped short, her face as red as a ros. All the time they wer speaking the thlef ha(J bl" V on tne "PPhires, which lay on ln" aeB" oeror mm. Me now ex- mlned ,n,ra critically by means of a little magnifying glass he had pulled from a dra;r ' "is desk. As be took the ln- "lru",l;"1 "'" " """ " enigmatic manner. He was about to speak when the door burst open suddenly and John Hasson bolted Into the room. "Elsie!" he shouted at sight of th girl again. "John!" she cried, with unmistakable delight. .'"; -t$i fa I d' They would nav been in eacli omera arms had not Mr a Harrington arisen and Interposed. , ' '. :i 5 Jy -"Sf, A - V It-;" "V V.' v 'i " OUT A MA0N1EICEW "Stop!" she exclaimed, angrily The young lawyer retreated Lefore his natural enemy The girl looked at her aunt defiantly, "What would Count c! Vontain say?" she queried, turning to Elsie "I don't know, and I don t care," cried the rirl r-LSHinncitu -v. r f i France now; we re in the United Suites." "Bravo!" whispered the chief in her ear, 'Slri" said the aunt, turning to Barnes, "I trust you will not detain us any longer." "Where Is the count?" asked the chief. "Tho coutit." replied M.s. Harrington, .with some dignity, "has an engagement to din with us at I o'clock this evening." "Madam," said the chief, bowing Iron ically, "X can assure you that the govern ment would not think of Interfering with your social duties. You can call in the morning to dispose of this business." "Thank you," she said, gratified at his condescending manner. "Come, Elsie." "I go on one condtion," said Elsie stoutly, "and It Is that John that Mr. Kas son shall dine with us." The aunt was about to break out In a rage, but she relented, as if making the best of a bad situation. "All right," she said doggedly. A they were leaving the ambitious woman sighed heavily. "The county will be disappointed at see ing me without the sapphires.' The chief was on his feet In an Instant "My dear madam," -.h . i,,. tones, "If It is any moment you can take th sapphires with you, and I will call for them later In the evening." "Thank you very much," she said Ith th first sign of graclousness sue had shown. "I will avail myself of your klni oflcr." "At you going mad?" cried the appraiser, turning to Barnes after the little party had left the room. "You'll never get tho sap phires again." "I don't care." "Don't care? Why?" "Because," said the chief, speaking delib erately, "those stones are tHus; they're a cheap imitation of the ers lilies sip- pi,res." The appraiser gasped for breath. "Are you surer he asked finally. "FosiUve. You don't suppose 1'vt earned ft reputation a a gem expert for nothing, do you? My suspicions were aroused at the ,,art My magnifying glass sonflrmed them. Oxide of cobalt has been used to color those Imitations." "But the sparkle?" "Has been produced by tb direct us blcromate of potassium." of "Then they're worthless?" "Well. I shouldn't say that. It probab y cost ltQ or (A) to make 'eta so perfect look- lng." : t. '. - . ft ( r1 ,t il 1 ,V ... 'I .jT" 1,1 ('t v -1 - SAPPHIRE? KElCKLAXU "OnTfe a difference from $30,000," grinned the appraiser, adding, after a pause: "But what about t.ie originals?" ' e.w . M-i ' flAs f t 4, " ' . ..-iv "SHf .!-. "Meet me at the New Amsterdam at 10 to- Without waiting for a reply he lifted the night," replied the chief significantly, "and receiver and called up the custom house, you may get the sequel of this seizure." "Is that you, Con?" he asked. It was about 9:S0 that night when the The reply muBt have been In the aflirma chief was ushered Into Mrs. Harrington's tlve, for he immediately followed it with exquisitely appointed apartments at the another question: New Amsterdam. The bogus gems reposed "Can you get into communication with on Mrs. Harrington's ample bosom. Elsie Count de Vontain?" was In splendid spirits. The presence of Those In the room heard a mumbling Hasson evidently helped to drive the pil'or sound come over the wire, from her cheeks. Hasson seemed half de- "Well," continued the chief, "tell him flant. Mrs. Harrington looked uncomfort- he's committed an unpardonable offence, able. He's kept two American ladles waiting. "Where's the count?" queried the chief That may be permissible In France, but after the first greetings were over. we'll not tolerate It here. Bring the count "The count failed to keep his appoint- to the New Amsterdam at once." ment," said Mrs. Harrington stiffly. During the next twenty minutes the chief No one appeared to share her disappoint- charmed the ladles with the extent . and ment over this catastrophe. Indeed. Elsie variety of Ills conversation. Anecdotes and John, by a species of wireless teles- flowed from his Hps like crystal water from raphy, were exchanging glances which were an everlasting spring. So Interested did Entertaining Little Stories for Coaxing Bird Guest.. rT IT IS well to begin to make prepar ations for bird guests at hast as early as the middle of November. In the first ulace It takes some time for the news of one s ho. ultahtv to suread amona: the feathered folk, nd the sooner It starts the better. Then, niost people prefei to work out doors In November rather than lji December. But January Is not too late. It Is very desira ble that some of the birds should be in duced to feed where they may be obarve3 by their hosts. Generally speaking, there are two kinds of birds to prepare lor those which eat seed or grain and those which prefer ani- i , uih n. i o.v..., of birds to prepare for those which eat mal food of some kind. Ther la another class, well represented by the bluejays, which will eat almost anything, but no spe cial preparations need be made for the birds belonging to It, since they will fare riotously on the food set out for the others. First of all we will consider the insectivor ous birds. Their natural fare is rarely at tainable ln winter, but beef suet will be found a very ood and convenient substl- tute for it. All things considered suet Is e oesi ming i nave inea .or mis pur- pose. If these happen to be trees near the house, the problem of the bird-feeder Is simple; all he has to do Is to tie the suet securely to the trunks and prominent branches and await the arrival of his guests.. If there are no trees, he should go out into tne wooas ana cui oown as large a dead one as h can handle, and set it la the ground exactly where h wauls It. APPfflffiS .r K v 1 1 v Jit - 5 M 41 fi v r.w - v V t 1 S ji.r.jusl I i.-t.'jM-Ni-u'. 4 K distinctly charged with Joy. "May I use your telephone?' Barnes. A sapling will answer, but a larger tree Is more Interesting. For the seed-eating birds It Is well to have a variety of food. Mixed bird seed Is excellent for tho smaller birds, but to it shul'' be added such things ss oats, wheat. oucxwneat. corn and sunnower seeds. If th re are no cats in the neighborhood, the best place to Matter the seed U on ,he found, where seed-eating birds u.uaiiy eei meir looa. r irsi or. an, now ever, the snow should be cieured away; otherwise the food Is liable to sink in out of sight; and besides. It is very difficult for small birds to get about on foot In soft, deep snow. If there are cats about, th . . . ""-' f01 ma bf d " "btt1""' . P"8. which may be set on poet or fastened to the trunks and branches of trees.-8t. Nicholas Magizlne. II r a l.nnKunite. In Forest and Stream I,, n. Merphew thinks that the hen has no) lecelved dus consideration from those who are studying the language of the lower creatures. He declares that this despised fowl has a greater. variety of sounds conveying differ- ent meanings than any animal, which, of course, does not except even the monkey, Here is a portion cf what he uvi: .-j., UB f,,!! a mther hen wl h very young chicks, keeping back far enough to leave her to her own devices, but o iking constantly at the flock and listening to every tone. " Hold! Don't go so far away! Keen near me keep near me!' she frequently says, and soma heedless boy chirk shows too great an eiulnnlom It doesn't sound a bit Uk they become that they almost forge th existence of Count de Vontain. It was Mrs. Harrington who reverted to the painful topic of the sapphires. The chief was pro fuse In his protestations. No legal censure can attach to you, ladles," be concluded. But the dear count?" Inquired the elder woman. "The Gear count." said the chief, grimly, looking at his watch. "Is a very unpunc tunl man." At that moment a scuffling sound wns heard on tho stairway; the d.M.r opened and a innn entered In the custody of t'.vo cu toms officers. His clothing wns disar ranged nnd he showed to disadvantage. He scowled fiercely at lVirnes, but refused to notice the other occupants of the room. Cornelius Clancy, who brought up the rear f this strange group, saluted his chief. "The count!" gasped Mrs. Harrington at the prisoner. IMd you get the gems?" asked Barnes eagerly, not noticing this salutalon. "We Old," said the little man, with a broad grin. "Where were they?" "He bad "em sewed up In the lining of Ms cloak." "Where are they?" Clancy advanced and laid a long narrow box on the tiblo in front of Barnes. The chief opened It and drew out a magnificent sapphire necklace. The forty superbly cut stones scintillated beneath the bright rays of tho Incandescent lights. Mrs. Harring ton, Elsie and Hasson involuntarily closed in around the chief. The moment the older woman saw the sapphires her gaze re verted to the other set hanging about her ncc'.c and her emotions found vent In a piercing scream. Elsie wns too much as tonishel for words and Hasson looked on In amazement "Tell me your story." said the chief, ad dressing Clancy and Ignoring the Inquiring glances ubout him. "We followed your Instructions literally," replied the mun. "and didn't permit him to get out of our slKht for a second. The cilslH came when he entered the office of Crompton, tho gem broker. I posted an of ficer in the front and one In the rear of the place and hten entered In time to see him rip open his cloak and turn the sapphires over to Crompton." "Was there a struggle?" "Yes," replied Clancy, modestly; "but It was one sided. Crompton has already been turned over to the United States dis trict attorney." "What dors this mean?" cried Mrs. Har rington, unablo to suppress herself any longer. "It means," said Barnes sternly, "that your social ambition has mado you the credulous victim of a scoundrel. This man has been using you and your niece for his own base purposes. Ho has forced those, counterfeit gems on you to deflect sus picion from himself and to enable him, to escape with the real sapphires." "Counterfeit!" gasped the woman. She gazed fixedly at the count, but tie d(id rot return her glance. He seemed bored. A small, white, manicured hand, very much rc-rlnged, was raised languidly and drawn across a narrow forehead. The next mo ment the same hand wearily stroked a luxuriant black mustache, betraying by th movement two rows of even, white, glisten ing teeth. "Counterfeit!" gasped the woman for the second time. "Yes, counterfeit!" cried the chief, his voice rising with Indignation. "The man himself Is a counterfeit. He's no Frenchman. He has no chateau; he's no count. The cables have been working and I find the title he claims Is extinct. Stripped of his Parisian top hat, his Pari sian cloak and his Parisian manner, you'll find him to be, as I have found him to be after piecing my bits of Information to gether plain 'Bill' Snyder, the best dressed, the best groomed and the most ingenious professional smuggler of the present gen eration." "What'd you bring me here for?" asked the erstwhile count, yawning. "To humiliate you beforo these ladles !f such a thing's possible ns you've al ready humiliated them," thundered the chief. "As for the rest, the law will give you all that's coming to you." Five minutes later tho prisoner, still lan guidly stroking his mustache, was In a carriage with the officers on his way to prison. The appraiser entered at t!iis Juncture and was invited to Join Clancy and the chief in taking tho Versailles sap asked shires to a place of safety. Mrs. Harrington was In a state of coN lapse. Every vestige of her normally ag gressive manner disappeared. She looked at the chief Imploringly. "We will be dlsgruced!" she cried. "The story of how I was duped by this im postor will make us the laughing stock of society." The chief walked over and placed bin hand gently on her shoulder. He looked In the direction of John Hasson, who held his arms protectlngly about Elsie, and his face softened. "Are you reconciled to that?" he asked, pointing to the happy couple. She nodded her head. "Then," he said stoutly, "I'll never give the newspapers the real story of the at tempt to smuggle the Versailles sapphires." And later on, when the reporters visited him, he lied like a gentleman. Little People that, but we know Instantly that that Is what she means, by her manner and the behavlur of her family although the prod gal may hestltate to obey; fur he looks back, seems to say, 'I'm not going out of sight, don't get anxious,' and the others gather nearer, peeping self-coinplsuently, 'We obey our mother, don't we?' " Tb liabjr Uorro Cousin Horace bad a little baby burro all his very own. Where he lives, out in Den ver, they call burrcs Kocky mountain ca naries. They are very clever and quite gentle and docile, learn any number of cun ning llttie tricks and are so Ktrong that ff cirrv a. n.anv -hiiHr,n t,Air 'Ini hold n.om' . . "ear lime pa Dy at out or Horace's hltn1 ui ioU( wed Mm about Juat a a do would. In the morning ho would wait pa- tli-ntly at the door until Horace came out 'rom Breakfast with a roll or lump of sugar. If he did not see It in bis hand Jerry would snuff at his pockets to find it there, and was so dlsirp"Ited if he dl I not 1 ny that Horace seldom forgot to bring It to blm Jessie, the mother burro, at first followd 'hem all about for fear some barm might come to her baby, hut when she found how kind Horace was to blm she left them play ,n together, while she was busy about her Work. t Little Elsie-Why doesn't the baby speak, mamma? Mamma-He's too young, dear, Utile Elsie Oh, ain't he got any speaJs lug tube yet? 1 ,.L- . jw V - . - 'i