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.
'.
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r1
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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
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