THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 15 June 1907, Page 3

THE STORYTELLER.

I SfORY OP TJIE SMUGGLED SAPPHIRES. ■ Barnes looked at the two cablegrams •gun. The first one, from Paris, inform «d him that the celebrated Versailles sapphires, set in a splendid necklace, had been stolen; the second was a notification that Bill Snyder, smuggler, had •ailed from Cherbourg on the Sylvania. Naturally the chief had put the two shreds together and expected to pull oil the tiick without a struggle. But the Sylvania bad arrived, and Snyder was not on the passenger list. No sapphires had been declared, and the examination of the baggage, now almost completed, disclosed no gems. Barnes bit his lips vexatiously. The Versailles Sapphires were numbered among the trorid's greatest gems. The thought of pennitting them to slip through his Angola, was maddening. At one time they hal ranked with the State jewels of France. Their distinction came not so much through their value—although that wm more than £4ooo—as from their perfection. The out was the finest ever turned out by a lapidary. They were known to gem experts as,the Blue Cornflower. The cut of each stone made an opalescent star of six rays, which, held in a certain lightj glittered like pure diamonds. There were forty perfect stones in the necklace, none less than a carat and a half.

'Barnes determined to make a second tour of the boat, and in the course of his wanderings came within the rays of

a pair of piercing black eyes. The owner of the bright orbs raised a small white manicured hand, very much beringed, and drew it across a narrow forehead. Tlr> next moment the same hand wearily stroked a luxuriant black moustache, betraying, by Hw movement, two rows of even white, glistening teeth. He was one of & little group, which, besides himself. Included a young man and a young wo man and an elderly person who might have been—u she was—the aunt of the girl. Barnes quickly learned, through the captain of the boat, that the stout, el-

derly person was Mrs. Harrington, a

widow, with a comfortable incomefmhose consuming ambition was to wid her

niece, Elsie, to a title. The young map was Join Hasson, a strong-limbed, cleanfaced American lawyer. The man with the piercing' black eyes was addressed as the Count de Vontalne.

Sea voyages are conducive to quick intimacies. Hence the captain of the Sylvama was able to tell many things to t e chief of the Castoms. The most en t rtainihg was the fact that the noblcn in and the lawyer were keen rivals for t a affections of Elsie Harrington. It d I not require second sight to discover tiLat the girl loved the American, and that the Count was the aunt's empire. Indeed she had taken the girl abroad > year before m tie hope of breaking oil the attachment with Hasson, but fat» or the persistence and ingenuity of a 10/e-smitten young man had decreed that the two should return to the United Btates on the same vessel. ' After learning these things, Barnes devoted his attention exclusively to the little party. The girl was unmistakhly beautiful. She was tall and slender, tV'itii prrefttJjrown eyes and a whimsical

droop of the mouth, which looked as if it might, instantaneously, turn either to sadness or to laughter. Hasson gazed at her with f look of.adoration. Th# older woman and the Count itepped aside for a moment. Immediately the young man grasped the girl by the hand. "Elsie!" he exclaimed, with a significant squeeze. Her white face crimsoned; the drooplng mouth suggested joy.

"Please don't, John; not here!" she criid.

Kra. Harrington returned with the Gohnt. Elsie and John discreetly gazed into space. The Count looked flurried. He wore the fashionably trimmed cloak aid the high silk hat with flat brim, popularly associated with well-to-do Frenchmen. He began to talk with the aUßtin animated tones. In the meantime Barnes had been attending to routine business, keeping the group in sight, always. Presently he summoned Con Clancy, his assistant, to his side. "Have the Count and the ladieß made out their papers!" "Yes." "Did they declare any gems?" "No." "Make the Investigation of their baggage rigid. After that make a careful examination of the Count's stateroom." The buzz of expectation was every • where. The thought of home caused the travellers to bubble over with eager good humor. The ship's officers ran about hurriedly, performing the last civilities to those who had been their guests for inore than six days. The chief was standing oil a little platform directing the disposition of the luggage, when someone grasped the sleeve of his coat. He looked around. The Count was by his side, his small eyes exuding indignation. "You art the chief inspector!" he queried in marvellously good English. * "1 have that honor," was the bland ro piy-

"Well," continued the other hurriedly, "your men are flinging the things out of our trunks."

"Sot flinging, surely!" with a little laigh.

"Well, emptying 'em out." That's why they're here," was the g, 1 natured rejoinder. But," protestingly, "this sort of ?x----ni nation is most unusual; the baggage is hwavs examined without taking it out or the trunks."

Vot always," CO. recteil the chief, 'hi th.s instance we hope to expedite your landing by finishing the wuric iu a s\\sU> m manner."

pfi, said tile Count. <1 npiinh': 1 !V. Tiieit the men have been ordered I/) do tills t"

Yes," said Barnes, witli a queer look. Then very slowly. 'Connt, this isn't your Hr»t voyage over."

"How/do you know!" angrily asked the man, his face flushing.

"Because," bonfoiiiy. -you're so well posted on American ciMk.w business."' The Count made no i -ply to thi.» thrift t. hut irritably stalked away. The Sylvania's dock was crowded with friends uu relatives of the returning tourists. Waving handkerchiefs brightthe scene; shouts of recognition flatted across tte roped off portion of trailer. Ca&Hepr approached (be chief, w!i:> w.is »l*entlyli«tening to the complaint of a passenger whooould not locate his trunk. B«rjtes InstanOy stepped aside to hear from his assistants/ Clancy wasted no -tin* in preliminaries. - "Tt's no use," he eiekiined in a whisP® vofce. '-f can't fun] the sapphires. *' wsirebed everywhere." : ■

4nd the gfoteroom; yoa didn't for ,'ti .' the chief, speaking ~ 1 " lt 'intently in the dirsehon of Count r , . , the ladles. 6 Wame and

roomui--:; rasas

Th> chief did not appear to hear this «ply. IJf- w« still watching the litij.. tmip inly a w, vjirds away. Mr, rington was standing alone, she held a ranßieJ cost over her left arm. fte Waft* prrfoncd bw to the woman, », d »ny explanation whatever loofe - Mni fltf/?" 1 am * She ' l,>okw, «* W4g <l ® to espostupP7 fe «tfaifrgaftegtrotee; j

'"Permit me *r, assist you on with tliis coat."

She hail not requested his assistance, did not desire it. and was going to say i>, but the masterful look iu the man's eye* checked the protest on her lips, lie slipped the coat mi easily until it reached the nape of her neck. At that point iie paused and deliberately raised the handsome closely-woven lace collar that •-•overed her and hung around her neck and shoulders. His hand struck u hard, glittering substance. The look oi" triumph that Hashed across his face told iU own story." Mrs. wearing the V<r>rtille* snpphries' X.» words wer« spoken but at the vfcry lie discovered the neckluee .-h: realised what had happened. The natural pallor of lu'i' counten:in<*e became intensified. A half -ul» escaped her. Th« next instanf sh.• looked up, her grey eyes iillpu with Iriglit. "he chief was eqiuu to the o casion.

11 neela't be frightened; v.h.-re '■ ■ be no public exposure." Els'e, happening to glance that way, noticed her aunt's agitation. She walked ve'.

"What's 1 !h> matter?" "Nothing madam " replied tin chief with 11.-; easy manner which had won for him in the sen h e the litle of the Trine; of Politeness. 'Your aunt his forgotten to declare some gems. You will come v 'th me to my olliea on fl-c dock, and the business will be quitely adjusted " "This is- outrageous," began the older woman, recovering herself. But the chief cut her short.

It is, he observed, -'.'and I'm sorry you attempted it." The Count came up at this moment, and when he saw what had happened his gimlet-like eyes appeared to be almost turning in their sockets. Instantly Barnes called Clancy to his side Theit was a whispered conversation. As it was concluded the Count disappeared in the crowd. Clancy was at his very heels. "Come right this way ladies." And the chief led the two women to the little office near the end of the wharf.

After they had been seated the chief released the sapphires from Mrs. Harrington's neck and laid them on his desk. They answered perfectly the description of the Versailles sapphires. There were forty of the stones, all cut with the exquisite art of the skilled lapidary. Mrs. Harrington sat silent, with the look of injured dignity common to those who obviate the Customs laws. The girl buried her face in her hands, weeping. The appraiser, who had entered in the meantime, looked at the gems listlessly. Later he would be called upon for his official opinion. Presently the older woman spoke harshly:

"Xow, if you are quite done, perhaps—" The chief silenced her, sternlv hut politely, ' ' ■ "Xot now, Mrs. Harrington. Your opportunity may come later. Now, if you will step 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. "Xow, Mrs. Harrington," said Barnes, when the others liad obeyed, "all I will say is that you should make a full, frank and explicit statement." It took her some time to get her courage screwed up to the sticking point. Finally, half tearful, she burst out: "The dear Count gave tliem to me." "The dear Count, eh?" mimicked Barnes, •■j),, you know the valuo of I these gems ?" j I haven t the faintest idea," she said. I"I will lie frank and tell you I only [ know the Count is desperately in love with Klsle, and I have tried 'to help his suit. He is to be our guest in tile city, dust before the Customs olliceis came aboard, in a burst of gratitude, he bade me wear the sapphries. as a little souvenir of my kindness to him. I naturally felt flattered. I accepted, and—" Diiln t you know they were dutiable? ' ■Barnes asked, sternlv.

! "I wasn't sure. 1 thought a present—a thing you wore—"

"But you tried to conceal them under your lace collar."

"The Government hasn't any right " -be began angrily, and then stopped short, her face as red as a rose.

All the time they were speaking the chief had his eyes ou the sapphires, which lay on the desk before him. He now examined them critically by means of a little mngnifying-glass lie had pulled from a drawer of his desk. As he took the instrument from his eyes iie smiled in an enigmatic manner. He was about t# speak when the door burst open suddenly and John Ilasson bolted into the room.

"Elsie," he shouted at sight of the girl

again, •'John!" she cried with unmistakable delight. They would have lieen in each other's arms had not Mrs. Barrington arisen and interposed. "Stop!" she exclaimed, angrwy. The young lawyer retreated before his natural enemy. The girl looked at her aunt defiantly, "What would Count dc Vontainc say?" she queried, turning to Elsie. I don t know, and { don't care," cried the girl passionately. "We're not. in France now; we're in the United States." "Bravo! ' whispered the chief 111 his ear.

"Sir!" said the aunt, turning to Barnes. ''7 trust you will not detain us any longer."

"Where is the Count?" asked the chief.

"Tie- Count." replied Mrs. if,,,, with some dignity, "has a „ engagement to dine with us at eight o'clock this

I evening." I -Madam, said the Chiei, I lowing ironically, '■! assure you that file Covernment would not think of interfering with vour social duties. Vou can call j„ the ~10.11 in;,' to dispose of this business." "1 hank you," she said, gratified at his condescending manner, "Come. Elsie." "I go on one condition," said Elsie, stoutly, "and it is that John-thnt Mr! llasson- shall dine with us." 'I he aunt was about to break out in a rage, buf she relented, as if making the best of a. had situation. All right/ 5 she said, doggedh'. As they were leaving the 'ambitious woman heavily. "The C„„„t win i„, ,] is ., seeing III,; without the sapphires." Tie Chief «-, w „„ in ;I|| ]u stani.

"My dear madam," In- said i„ hisoftfst tones, -if it is of any moment vo. can take the sapphires with you, and I will call for them later in the evening." ••'thank you very much." she said with the first >ign ~f graciousness shr had shown. •■; will avail myself of yon-, kind offer."

•'Arc you going . iiiady" cried (lie :i|i praiser. turning !" linriii'.-. after H„. little party had left the room. "You'll never gel those sapphires again." "f don't care." "Don't care ? Why t" ■"Because," said the chief speaking dpliberately. "those stones are bofiis: they're a cheap iinitntion of the Versailles sapphires." Hie appraiser gasped for breath. "Are ymi sure!" he asked finally. "fV-i(lve. You don't suppose I'v.' earned a reputation as a gem expert for """""f-'' ''•> you? j\fv auspicious were arousnd from the start. My magnify ingf glass confirmed them. Oxida of I

cobalt has becu used to color these imitation*." "Then they're worthless?'' "Well, I shouldn't say that. U pro bably cust lc*s than .ClOl) to make 'eio so perfect looking." "Quite a dill'ercnce from .C-JOOO," grinned the appraiser, adding, after a pause: "But what about tile originals?" ••.Meet me at the Zsew Amsterdam at ten to-night," replied the chief significantly, "and you may get the seipiel of this seizure."

It wus about half past ten that night when tiie c-liie] was ushered into M Harrington's exquisitely-appointed apartment at the Now Amsterdam. likie was in splendid spirits. The presence ot llasson evidently helped to drive the pallor trout her t becks. lla>son seemed halt defiant. .Mrs Harrington looked uncomfortable.

"Where's the Count?" queried the chief, after the llrst greetings were

"The Count failed to keep his appointment," said Mrs Harrington stiffly. No one appeared to share her disappointment over this catastrophe. Indeed, Elsie and -lolm, by a species of wireless telegraphy, were exchanging glances which were distinctly charged with joy. "May I use your telephone?" asked Barnes.

Without waiting for a reply he lifted tlie receiver and called up the Custom House.

"is that you, Con?" he asked. 1 'lhe reply must have been in the affirmative, for he immediately followed it with another question: ' ''Can you get into communication with Count de Vontaine?'

Those in the room heard a mumbling sound come over the wire.

"Well," continued the chief, "tell him he's committed nil unpardonable offeiiee He's kept two American ladies waiting. That may be pennissable in France, but we'll not tolerate it here. Bring the Count to the New Amsterdam at once." During the next twenty minutes the chief charmed the ladies with the extent and variety of his conversation. Anecdotes flowed from his lips like crystal water from an everlasting spring. So interested did they become that they almost forgot the cxistHice of Count d» Vontaine. It was Mrs Harrington who reverted to the painful topic of the sapphires. Ihe chief was profuse in his protestations:

"Xo legal censure can attach to you, ladies," lie concluded.

"But tiie dear Count," said (lie chief, grimly, looking at his watch, "is a very uupunetuul num."

At that moment a scuffling sound was heard 011 the stairway; the door opened and a man entered in the custody of two Customs oflic.ra. llis eloi h ing was dis-

arranged. and lie showed to dlsadvant il"'. lie .'cowled fiercely at H-intes. but ypfus. Ed to unfile tli e other occupants of the room. Cornelius Clancy, who brought up the rear of this strange group, saluted his chief.

■The Count!" gasped Mi's Harrington :ii. the prisoner.

"Uid you get the gems?" asked linrnc eagerly, not noticing the salutation.

"We did," said the little man, with a broad grin. "V\*h«»re wero tliey?"

Clancy advanced and laid a long narrow box on the table 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 the incandescent liyht. Mrs Harrington, Elsie and Hasson involuntarily dosed in around the chief. The moment the older woman saw the sapphires her gaze reverted to the other set hanging about her neck, and her emolions found vent to u piercing scream. Elsie was too much astonished for words, and Hasson looked on in amazement. "Tell me y„ur story;' said the chief, addressing Clancy, and ignoring the enquiring glances about him.

followed your instructions literally," ,I'eplied the man, "mid didn't permit him to get out of sight for a second. I The crisis came when ho entered the office of Crompton. the gem broker. 1 posted an officer in front and one in the rear's of the place, and then entered in time to see liini rip open his cloak and turn the sapphires over to Compton." ' "Was there a struggle!" Ves.' replied Clancy, modestly; "hut it was one-sided. Compton lias already been turned over to the United States district attorney."

"What does this mean?'' cried Mrs Flarriigton, unable to suppress herself any longer.

"It means," said Barnes sternly, "that your social ambition has made you the ciedulous viffin of scoundrel. This i"" m lu,s you and your niece for his own base He has forced these counterlrß gems on you to deflect suspicion from himself and to enable him to escape with the real sapphires."

"Counterfeit?" gasped the woman, for the second time.

"Ves, counterfeit!" cried the chief, hi; voice ringing with his indignation. "Tho man himself is a counterfeit. He's 110 Frenchman. He has 110 chateau; he's no Count. The cables have been workin).', and I find (he title he claims is extinct, Striped of his Parisian top hat, his Parisian r-loak. and his Parisian man' ner. you'll find him to he, as I have him (0 be—after piecing my l,j( s of information together— plain 'Dill' Snyder. the bcM dress,.,|. Ihe best groomed, and the most ingenious professional "Muggier of the present generation."

"WliatM you bring , nc f, ;ls e.| the er-.twlnle Count, vawnin". buie.il'!;,t e v.,11 before these ladle-; i f MKh a thing is possible-as you've il.cady humiliated them," thundered the ">"<'l'. "As for the rest, the law will give you all that's coming (~ you." ' '' 11 '"ales later tho prisoner slilj 'anguidly stroking liis moustache, was 111 a carnage with the ollicers 011 his wav lo prison. The appraiser entered at Ibis juncture, and was invited to join < 'alley and the chief in taking the Versailles sapphires to a place of safety. Mrs Harrington was in a state of collapse. Evc.v veslage of her normally aggressive manner disappeared. She looked at the chief imploringly, "We will he disgraced!" she cried. "The story of how I was duped by this imposter will make us the laughing stock of -oeirty." i he ehiel walked over and placed his b'li.l gently on h»r shoulder. He look"l i " n 'e diieetion of John llasson, who |'is arm protectingly about Elsie. and hi- ).!■.(■ softened. .'Oll ro-onriled to that';" he askf"'"" !M ; «be happy e, M ,p1,.. Mie no,],|od her head. Iheil. he -aid stoutly -p| ' INI the real'story of t|, •™'p! Jo s„„iggle the Versailles i'hii-c-. - i;,,,,rg,. ilarlon.