THE STORY OF A ROBBERY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11782, 4 January 1904, Page 10

THE STORY OF A ROBBERY.

By K. Buntr. I have frequently been asked to put down in writing the story of a jewel robbery which set the fashionable world of London aflame with excitement some few years ago. For daring and cunning it held its own, and as I came under tbe shadow of suspicion, the story has for mo a special interest . The victim was my mistness, the Countess Mariford. For five years I had been in her service, and was treated by her more as a friend than servant. I was the confidant of many a secret; tbe silent helper in sundry intrigues. The countess was no saint, but she was a generous mistress. I learnt to keep my eyes open or shut as ■occasion required, and my tongue was a ruly member. It was the recollection of sundry services I had rendered the countess apart- from my ordinary duties that heightened my indignation when she gave vent to her suspicions, and hinted that I was an accomplice, if not the actual thief. True, I was tlie last person known to have handled her ladyship's jewels, so maybe there was some excuse for the injustice to which I was subjected. But now for the story itself. It was a cold winter's night, and I piled on the logs in the fmte of th* countess*

bedroom to that she should not shiver during th. dressing for the fancy ball to be held at my Lord Fitzgerald's. I spread tha brocaded empire gown on the bed, and tbe firelight made it shine, with all manner of tints. I opened the various j cost- of jewellery ready for inspection. There were diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearl*', giittering is if alive. It was a beautiful sight, and my mouth watered for a taete of the groat world outside my own. I imagined myself adorned in satin and diamonds, and wondered why some had so great possessions—others none. 1 must have spoken my thoughts aloud, for I was startled by my mistress's voice. "Do not envy, Marie; those baubles do not bring any real happiness. One grows '"weary of display and no result," she said lightly. "Except to be admired, my lady; that is much to women." I replied. "One tires of that too. But come - . Marie, it grows late, and I must look my best tonight," saying which she laughed and tasted her ten-guinea hat recklessly on to tha empire gown. . I laughed, too, for I knew why alio must look her be.t that night. You see I kept my eyes and tars open, and I knew my lady's little secrets well.

At la*t tho toilet was complete; the ccointess stood before her mirror with a smile of admiration at the reflection. She was very beautiful, and the satin and jewels gliateifed in a wonderful way. "I think I shall do, eh, Marie?"

••My lady, you will be irresibtible, altogether," I replied, and this was not mars flattery. Wlien she had driven away I ret_r..ed to the bedroom, and after putting things tidy 1 sank into the lounge chair near the fine, and gave myself up to a reverie of society's world as I dreamed itmust be in the inner circle of it. Suddenly I was seized with a wild impulse to diess up in on* of the countess's gowns. I chose a pale blue satin. Piling my hair high on my head, I encircled it with a diamond tiara. As I caught my reflection in the glass I uttered a little shriek of delight. "There's a. liead for a crown, and a foot for a shoe," 1 cried gaily, as I arched my foot encaml in its -at in shoe. For half-an-hour or more I paraded the room, smiling and bowing to the vision in the mirror like the bundle of vanity that I wan. Then with a. sigh I unrobed and donned my simple black frock again.

Little could I guess then that ray very vanity would reap its strange result. I dozad and road until my mistress's return in the early hours of the morning. When I had finished .my duties, and after seeing her safe in bed, I retired to the adjoining room and slept soundly. Later, when I entered the countess's apartment, with the usval cup of tea, I wat Urrifkid to see her lying apparently unconscious, and with a cloth over her mouth. In haste I tore it away, end-by the odour upon it I knew she "had been drugged. But why, and by whom? I never once thought of the jewellery, strange to say. I rung tlie bell violently, calling loudly for help. Lord Mariford, alarmed at such unusual noise, rushed from his room near by. and soon tliere was a group of whispering, frightened servants on the landing. Tlie doctor was telephoned for, and in a short time :ny fears were confirmed by him. The countess had been heavily drugged—her life was in danger. Restoratives were applied -without delay, and after hour*, of anxious watching we saw signs of returning consciousness. Then did Lord Mariford allow himself to inquire into the r«-ason of the outrage on his wife. Turning to mc, he inquired abruptly if her ladyship's jewels were intact. I darted to the cafe, where I had put them son i hours before. Ab the' doer sprang ba 4c I uttered a scream. Wildly I opened case upon caeo to find them all empty. "Thought"so," muttered Lord Mariford, grimly. Even at that terrible moment, and almost stunned as I was by the shock of the discovery—l knew he suspected mo and believed I was merely going through a clever piece of acting. From that moment I knew no peace. What with questions and cross-questions, suspicions, and cold looks, I was nearly driven frantic. The Countees could relate nothing. She waa evidently drugged during sleep, and the thief silently and swiftly did his work—unseen and unheard by any in the house. In vain I pleaded ignorance, and-innocence, and although nothing, of course, was proved against, mc, I quitted the Countess's service under a cloud—and, moreover, was for same considerable time closely watched by the police. In apite of my annoyance, I often smiled over the sundry attempts of those worthy men to fix the theft on mc. Fortunately for mc, one of the detectives at Scotland Yard was a friend of mine, and although he agreed that circumstances were against mc, he waa able to prevent my being unduly irritated. Days paused into weeks, and months, and still no trace of tbe real thief. The police owned that they had completely failed in their search. Little did I imagine that through mc the mystery would be revealed. It was two years since the robbery. I was in Paris, acting as travelling maid to an elderly lady. One .day I happened to lose my way, and lcoking about mc I espied a group of men go__iping together. Intending to ask lor the information I needed, I approached, but seeing that they were more inclined to be familiar I resolved to trust to my own bump of locality and pass them by. There were five men in all, and aa I drew nearer-1 saw they were more or less ill-conditioned looking fellows. TWy stored at mc somewhat impertinently as I passed, and one in particular kept his eyes fixed on mc. A look of interest swept over his face, and before I had gone out of hearing he raid aloud in English : "There -joes a bend for a crown and a foot for a shoe."

Hi* remark was greeted by a roar of laughter from hie companions. But as for mc, I stood quite still, as if suddenly bereft of all use of my limbs. I heard my own words repeated by a stranger, the very words I used on the night of the Mariford robbery. This man within a f»w yards of mc was the thief. Concealed in the Countess's bedroom he watched my mad ma-quej-adep-nd saw where I put the jewels. He recognised mc, as his words proved not a moment ago. What was I to do ? No policeman was in sight, and being in a aide street the pedestrians were few and far between. The man'and his companions were capable of violence I donbted not. I looketT back at them. The man who had spoken was glaring in my direction, already doubtless regretting bis. foolish impulses. By my coming to «» sudden standstill he must have known that I, too, remembered the incidents of that memorable night two years before. How I chafed against my helplessness, and'regretted my sex. Feeling I was in truth quite powerless, I was only too anxious to get away from tbe man's savage glare, out of the unfrequented street. Turning quickly round a neighbouring corner, I soon*, entered one of the principal boulevards. Once, on looking back, I thought I saw a man following mc, but as tbe dusk deepened, and the street lights were lit, I could not be sure. The next day we quitted Paris for Loni don. After ascertaining that lay mistress had all she required for the journey, 1 entered a second-class comportment of the Calais express. I was the only occupant, but just as the train was about to move out of the stamen someone—a man—dashed hurriedly in. I could not see his face, as he turned his back upon mc until the train was well on its way. Then he swung round and faced mc. To my. horror I recognised the man I had seen in Paris the preceding day. He bad indeed followed me—and for some definite purpose. As I glanced into his face, I knew that his purpose was an evil one. I recalled the heartless way in which the Countess was drugged, and trembled for my safety. He laughed in a callous fashion as he noted my expression. "You know who _ am," he said brusquely; "that's why I followed you. You needn't shriek or attempt to pull tlie cord; if you move another inch I'll kill you." I remained motionless, chilled to the heart by his cruel tones. My eyes were rivetted on a hit of shining oteel in bis hand. "Yes; HI i-Ul ,T<m as soon a* steal ths

next lot of sparkles tliat fools leave unguarded. This"—pointing to the -teel implement—'"is sharp and tilled with poison. You would be dead in a few seconds if I pricked you once. So keep quiet. I want to think what to do with you." He seated himself opposite m* and leaned forward. Hjs knees almost touched mine, and his evil face was within a few inches of mc. "What do you want?' I managed to gasp, endeavouring to conceal my rising fear. "Your silence—l'll moke up toy mind presently." Then/to his great a_aa_ement, and indeed my own also, I burst into a peal of laughter. The iron bands of terror were loosened, and a otrcnge recklessness took possession of mc. "How amusing'" I cried, touching his arm with easy familiarity. "Really, it is quite funny. You don't know mc, my friend, otherwise you would know you had nothing to fear from mc. lamas bad as yoa—and as clever. True, I know you stole the Mariford jewels, but as I am wanted for similar offences, it isn't likely I shall give you away, is it?" "This*is only bluff. You're trying to save your skin," he said roughly. "Perhaps I am not over-anxious to die just yet," I said coolly; "but I'm telling you the truth. Listen." Lowering my voice, I gave him a recital of many imagined crimes in which I had figured as actual doer or accomplice. He waa evidently impressed by my tales of daring and as I waxed more eloquent, his eyes gleamed with admiration of my deeds. To my relief be presentiy hinted at a partnership. Between us he reckoned we might do some big business. The next moment I saw suspicion creeping into his mind. "Why eire you going to London if you left because of " "The Marie Burton who is wanted is not young, moreover she has red hair," I said quickly, doing my best, to look as cunning as possible. Although I was not certain tliat he was wholly convinced of my unscrupulous character, I waa glad to see him put away the steel implement. He questioned mo dowdy concerning my situation, .-o wealth of my mistress, and the amount of jewels she possessed. Jewels were evidently his chief craze. I replied freely to all his question.'*, and even hinted at the ease with which the place of a certain diamond necklace could be filled by a false one. Together we entered upon a scheme whereby ho and I could enrich ourselves at my mistress's expense. And so tho dreadful hours passed I scarcely dared believe, in my good fortune when I found myself on board the steamer bound for Dover. The man disappeared mysteriously when the train stopped, and for tho second time I was thwarted in bringing about his arrest. He liad said we should meet again, but when or

how I could not tell. The meeting came sooner than I anticipated, and I doubt not that he crossed tlie Channel in the same ] boat as I—unseen by mc. Whether he J doubted-my sincerity, or believed my j story sufficiently to cause him to clieri_h the idea of a partnership I cannot tell. But two days later I met him in London. I brushed against him in Edgware road. To my surprise he did not notice mc, and a new thought flashed across my brain. I was just opposite a post office. Dartug in, I sient a hurried wire to my detective friend at Scotland Yard. I named a certain coffee house for a meeting, and put "urgent." Sly plans were all unripe. I was acting on impulse, trusting to Fate to help mc in my desire to secure the notorious thief. Having despatched the wire I hurried in the direction the man had gone. After some quick walking I espied him across the road. Overtaking him I touched him on the arm. He started violently, then laughed. "Oh, it's you again. Well, what do you want?" he said. "I want your assistance," I replied, : promptly. To-morrow night my mistress j will be away. There is money in the house, also valuables. You understand?" "We can't talk here," he said. "No. Come with mc. I know of a place where we shall be undisturbed." He glanced at mc suspiciously. "And my share in the game?" , "Oh, halves, of course. Tlie risk is equal for both of as. Detection must be made impossible." My businesslike tones deceived him utterly. Hf> accompanied mc without further questioning. Seated in a quiet corner of the coffee house I named in my telegram we two plotted and planned how best to rob my mistuees. "God, you're one in a thousand!" he exclaimed. "You'll make a first-class criminal before long. You don't look like one, and tliat's in your favour."

"It's exciting work," I replied, sipping the coffee I had oraered.

To my amazement ho suddenly proposed marriage as a solid seal to our premeditated partnership. I had a great desire to laugh, but controlled myself. "It don't seem to strike you. as sensible, eh, pal?" "A marriage? Well, you must give mc time to think it over," I murmured, glancing anxiously towards the entrance. Would the detectives never come? Must all my scheming end in failure? "I'll just write down a few addresses," he said presently, ''but we'll meet again to-morrow night, when the old lady, has cleared off. I have a pile to do between now and then." I watched him scribble the addresses on a piece of paper. I felt the interview was at on end, and also that my powers were fading. I could think of no excuse whereby I could detain him for even a few minutes. My brain was a blank, and speech failed mc. In a few moments he 'would be gone. Then I sprang to my feet with a cry of relief, forgetting all prudence. In the entrance waa my detective friend and two others. (My companion heard my sudden exclamation, looked up, and saw my expression of relief. One quick, furtive glance behind him, and he knew I had betrayed him. His hand moved towards one of his inrrer pockets. Simultaneously the men in the doorway brought forth revolvers. But the anticipated scene of violence did not take place. I saw my companion's face change, then he fell across the little marble table. "The poiaohea steel!" I cried. It was so. Realising his position, he pressed the deadly point into his hand, and so the thief of the Mariford robbery met his end, trapped by a woman's wit.