AN ADVENTURESS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 417, 28 January 1909, Page 5

AN ADVENTURESS.

"A DISTING 1 'ISiIED YISITOR." SOCIETY DELUDED. A GRAND TIME AT THE "GRAND." She was quite an attractive creature, wit! plenty of "snap" to conjure friends, and when she presented herself on Wednezdii of last nook to Mr Bevendgo, of tho Grand Hotel as the relative of a well-known British statesman, there was littlo <ho could not have v for tho asking. It was very distressing, sho lac driven to the station from Warner's 3.' Cl-nstehurcii, boarded tho train and ronw on by tho steamer, under the impression that her luggage was somewhere travelling with her. It wasn't so muoh for her own sake I that sho was distressing herself about tho luggage, but pa, who was fishing somewhere up the countrj—Pot-one was the place mentioned—would want his evening clothes and would bo in an awful wax if thej weren't forthcoming. What >\as sho to do?

'"Mr Beveridgo sympathised It was ccr-' tamly awkward. Best to wire the stationmaster at Chnstohurch The replj came back that thcio was no luggago ibout tho promises of tho Christ'hurch station for hoi or her father Tho latter did nqt turn up from his fishing excursion —\ou could neiei depend on tho movements of a fisher'of trout: Of course not!

She Mada Friends Rapidly. In tho mcantimo Miss malo fnonds rapidly. Sho wis such a jolly sort, don't you know! On Saturday —or li a ? it Friday ?—sho was extraordinarily agitated. Her friends had invited her to tho laces, and she did not have a frock to wear What could tho poor girl dol Ha, an ideal There was a lady staying at the hotel connected with a large and fashionable drapery establishment, perhaps she uonld help her out of her dilemma. < '

The lady was approached. Certainly, only too delighted ,to assist so distinguished a visitor. So- in purple and fine linen, or' something to tho same efect, sho wont to" tho races, and there she mot oven body wh« was anvbody—prominent sportsmen, leading politicians, and the grand dames semblod to do honour to 1 the Horse l

The Dawn of 'Suspicion; ■;r-v>:-\- V: v -j, ■■'.';'■'■■: '''But '- -'thWijeiiisiro.;. ,was' still: somewhere .inftlie: country,'arid thei: luggage' that was to have/been was 'liotV'and >V;slow-suspicion entered'';the'mjrid of-V'thV hotel' proprietor. t What: if shen6/:it was"; not possible, and yet!.-Meanwhile; the- lady' entertained her ■friends' lavishly at; jolly little dinners, 1 : and nice people called to : ipa'Vrtheitrespects to,the;Englisb lady,-',:^;';.;. ;:, ; Brooding .over each successive .movej- and putting this and that together, the suspicion at.first scouted grew on what it fed oil. Then a gentleman whom/mine:host knew passing well came.into the .hotel with the lady, and Mr.; Beveridge whispered bis doubts. ' No, it ;.bould not be; i The gentleman had bMn'iritroduced.hywhat's-his-name, and the lady.knew, so-and-so and so-and-so. But still—woll; ; he decided not; to go far.

Draper-Seeks;His Money.' v ■ Then suspicion reached the manager of the> drapery establishment.-..'At first he. poohpoohed the doubt.'; .That was on' Saturday last.''. But : :on''Monday ho.sent up a sternfae'ed'.man to collect' the"account for 'the .elaborate:toilet, which.had ;becn furnished, for 'the'raMs.'.'Howdare he ask'her for money! Hoity-toity, for I .a ..lady to be accosted foi * mere'-dross ..whilst 'staying at a first-class Jh,otell It ; was positively: inp(ilting! But the man: of stern demeanour ; Wpsji inexorable—rlie »#usfshaye'. thei money.'. -; : M' I i,-,7.Tboda(br f bb-Tj-QW thcf'filone7 ffiW- smheoho in the.^b'tel-^t-was .soOiDsurd of , ! her. to be so Shorff'arid so embarrassing ■ ft), :be', asked ip meet an,'account —ajady in i-hof. position,:; All ' ' -\ : ■ '!, Th'ijji' she'-hailed 'ajcab and whisked TjWnd :to<'sbmo'.~6f/her fashionable 'friends. The 'lady'h'adn'tVSoOfhandyj but she nas sure her husband wiouldcoblige,-: "Where was he? At the club. rDqwi] she hor man. »He*y : was]'.oMy''Hob vdelighted—a oheque for 5£50 ( .was :hfs'sed'over.v;. A ] telephone, ring. i'f-Wfifit's jliatf" , ,said'.he. : : . "Good lor!" •t"Qhi' , :sa;id.the.lady, suspecting the end, "I with tho deiitist 5 —musti'gb mnder;. gas—should havo , .;beenj3there' some ;time : ago!" And off she' iweritj.-leaving the gentleman to brood over I'the'frailty: of woman. ', -V •■ ■ Vanishes., ', : iThevdrapery:.establishment received some *of'the money represented ;in the cheque, but 'Miss'.. .'■■,.,' i >- ( did; not return to tho hotel. , Sfie' vanished into ./empty 'air, leaving ho? little bit; qf'luggage at-the hotel to relate' .that' she-iwas - anyone but , : ;tho person sho . 1 erself - to. bev.:, > ■ - ;.. It!appears that' the lady in ouestion arrived :from ; England some timeago, and resided for 'a jshort time in Wellington studying her "marks,',' then left for the south, to put the ipre'ttiest rlittle: scheme ! into ; operation that t braina and daring could devise.' , ;!.::The police vhaye the. affair in hand.