SHORT STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 3

SHORT STORY.

j THE STORY OF A ROBBERY. BY N. BLUNT. (Copyright.) I have frequently been asked to prat down in writing the story of a jewel rob- : bery 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 the ; shadow of suspicion, the story has for me a special interest. The victim was my mistress, the : Countess Mariford. For five years I had I been in her service, and was treated by \ her more as a friend than a servant. It was the recollection of sundry serI vices 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 the 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 tha grate of the countess* bedroom so that she should not shiver during the dressing for the fancy ball to be held at my Lord Fitzgerald's. I spread the brocaded empire gown on the bed, and ; the firelight made it shine with all manner ' of tints. I opened the various cases of jewellery ready for inspection. There were diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls, all glittering as if alive. At last the toilet was complete; the countess stood before her mirror with a smile of admiration at the reflection. She was very beautiful, and the satin and jewels glistened in a wonderful way. "I think I will do eh, Marie?" "My lady, you will be irresistible, altogether," I replied, and this was not mere flattery. When she had driven away I returned to the bedroom, and after putting things tidy I sank into the lounge chair near the fire, and gave myself up to a rev rie of socitey's world as I dreamed it must be in the inner circle of it. Suddenly I was seized with a wild impulse to dress up in one of the countess' 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 head for a crown, and a foot for a shoe," I cried gaily, as I arched my foot encased in its satin shoe. For half-an-hour or more I paraded the room, smiling and bowing to the vision in th* mirror like the bundle of vanity that I was. Then with a sigh I unrobed and donned my s'mple black frock again. Little could 1 guess then that my very vanitv would reap its strange result. I dozed and read until my mistress' return in the early hours of the morning. When I had finished my duties, and after seeing her safe in bed, I retired to an adjoining room and slept soundly. Later, when I entered the countess* apartment with the usual cup of tea, I was terrified to see her lying apparently , unconscious and with a cloth over her mouth. In haste I tore it away, and by the odour upon it I knew she had been drugged. But why, and by whom? I never once thought of the jewellery, stranire to sav. I rang the bell violently, calling loudly far help. Lord Mariford, alarmed at such unusual noise, rushed from his room near by, and soon there was a group of whispering, frightened servants on th© landing. The doctor was telephoned for, and in a short time my fears were confirmed by him. The countess had been heavily druggedher life was in danger. Restoratives were applied without delay, and alter two hours of anxious watching we saw signs of returning consciousness. Then did Lord Mariford allow himself to inquire into the reason of the strange outrage on his wife. Then turning to me, he inquired abruptly if her ladyship's jewels were intact. I darted to the safe, where, I had put them some he-** before. As the door sprang back I uuered a scream. Wildly I opened case upon case to find them all empty. "Thought so," muttered f Lord Mariford, grimly. Even at that terrible moment, and almost stunned as I was by the shock of the discovery— knew he suspected me 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 countess could relate nothing. She was 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 me, I quitted the countess service under a cloud— moreover was for some consid- ' erable time closely watched by the police. In spite of my annoyance I often smiled ever the sundry attempts of those worthy men to fix the theft on me. Fortunately for me, one of the detectives at Scotland Yard was a friend of mine, and although he agreed that circumstances were against me, he was able to prevent my being unduly irritated. Days passed into weeks and months and still no trace of the real thief. The police owned that they had completely failed in their search. Little did I imagine that through me the mystery would bo .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 looking about me I espied a group of men gossiping, together. Intending to ask for 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 as I drew nearer I saw they were mere or less ill-conditioned looking fellows. They stared at me somewhat impertinently as I passed, and one in particular kept his eyes fixed on me. A look of interest swept over his face, and before I liad gene oat of hearing he said aloud La English : i "There goes a head for a crown and foot for a shoe." His remark was greeted by a roar of laughter from his companions. But as for me, 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 th© night of the Mariford robbery. This man within a few yards of me was the thief Concealed in the countess' bedroom he watched my mad masquerade—and saw where I put the jewels. He recognised me, as his words proved not a moment ago. What was I to do? No policeman was in sight, and being in a side street the pedestrians were few and far between. The man and his companions were capable of violence I doubted not. I looked back at them. The man who had spoken was glaring in my direction, already doubtless regretting his foolish impulse. By my coming to a sudden standstill he must have known that I, too, remembered th© 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 the man's savage glare, out of th© unfrequented street. < ! • The next day we quitted Paris for London, After ascertaining that my mistress had all she required for the journey, I entered a second-class compartment of the Calais express. I was the only occupant, but just as the train was about to move out of th© station someone— a man—dashed hurriedly in. I could not see his face as he turned his back upon , me until the train was well. on its way. Then he swung round and faced me. , To my horror I recognised the man I had , seen in Paris the preceding day. He had i indeed followed —and for some definite ] purpose. As I glanced into his face I knew his purpose was an evil one. , "You know who I am," he said, i brusquely; that's why I followed you. I You needn't shriek or attempt to pull the cord; if you move another inch I'll kill i you." ■ • »

I remained motionless, chilled to itb*^,■ •< heart by his cruel tones. My eyes rivetted ; on a bit of shining steel in his hand. ffi *~ " Yes I'll kill you' as soon as ' steal % '.„ . the next lot of sparkles : that fools ' leave ;•■ ■ unguarded. "This"pointing to the ' steel implement— sharp and filled with poison. You would be dead in, a few seconds if I pricked you just once. So keep quiet. I want to „hink what to do > with you." £. •?•. ■;• V l -/'- "What do you -\ifant?" I managed to gasp,' endeavouring to conceal my rising . ( fear. Your silencel'll make up my mind presently." Then, to his great amazement, and indeed my own also, I burst into a peal of laughter. The iron bands of terror were loosened, and a strange recklessness took possession of me. '" '. "How amusiing!" I cried touching his arm with easy familiarity. "Really, it is quite funny. You don't know me, my. friend, otherwise you would know you had nothing to fear from me. I am as bad as youand as clever. True, I know you stole the Mariford jewels, but a.B I am wanted for similar offences, it isn't likely I shall give you away, is it?" . Lowering my voice, I gave him a recital! of many imagined crimes in which I had figured as actual doer or accomplice. Ho was evidently impressed by my tales of daring, and as I waxed more «loquent, his eyes gleamed with admiration of my . deeds. To my relief he presently hinted as partnership. Between us he reckoned we might do some big business. The next moment I saw suspicion creeping into his mind. " Why are 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 that he was wholly convinced of my unscrupulous character, I was glad to . see him put away the steel implement. • He questioned me closely concerning my situation, the wealth of my mistress, and the amount of jewels she possessed. Jewels was evidently his cheif craze. I replied freely to all his questions, andeven hinted at the ease with which a' certain diamond necklace could be substituted by a false one. Together we' entered upon a scheme whereby he and I could enrich ourselves at my mistress' expense. * ' And so the dreadful hours passed. I scarcely dared to 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 the second time I was thwarted in bringing about his arrest. He had 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 the Channel in j the same boat as —unseen by me. Whether he doubted my sincerity, or believed my Btory sufficiently to cause him to cherish« the idea of a partnership I cannot tell. *-. But two days later I met him in London. I brushed against him in Edgwaro Road, To my surprise he did not notice me, and • a new thought flashed across my brain. I was just opposite a post office. . Darting in, I sent a hurried wire to' my detective friend at Scotland Yard. ' *kr.C named a certain coffee house for a meeting, and put "urgent." '.; My plans were all unripe. I was acting on impulse, trusting to Fate to help me 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 jthe road. Overtaking him 1 touched him on the arm. '.: '•• ■:•■' >■. V-.;;.^:; ; -^ -v*-■ He started violently, then laughed. ; v ~; " Oh, it's you again. Well, what 'dor you want?" v he said. ■;;,;•--; "V. y " I want your assistance," I replied,| promptly. To-morrow night my mis- ; tress will be away. There is money in the house, also valuables. ; You under; jj stand?" '. V" ■■/:':'■'. ;., "We can't talk here," he said ; ■ t " No. Come -with me. I know a place where we shall-,; be undisturbed.," '?' i''..'/ ; ;i".;M; He glanced at; me suspiciously. .. " And roy share in the game?" '>| "Oh, halves of course. The visk is , equal for both of us. Detection .must Vol made impossible." , My'businesslike",tones; deceived him utterly. '•'•' Ho ; accompanied / me without further questioning. Seated in a quiet corner of the coffee-house ■■ 1.-; named in my telegram we; two?. plotted and planned how best to rob my mistress. ■ " I'll just write down; a few addresses,'^.; he said presently, " but we'll meet i again to-morrow night, when the old lady has cleared off. I have a pile to do between y now and then." ; :> ';'r^,'"; ~,* I watched him scribble the addresses on. a piece of paper. I felt the interview waa . at an end, and also that my powers -were-, ,;/ fading. I could think of no excuse where- . : ; by. 1 , could detain him for'; even v a few minutes. My brain -was a blank, and speech failed me. In a few moments he 5 ; . would be gone.;>Then'?l?: sprang to my-."■;•;/; feet with a cry of relief, forgetting all X prudence. In the entrance was my de- ; ' tective friend and two others. r My* com-' E>anion heard my sudden exclamation, ; • coked up, and ,„ saw,:;, my face -of relief. ■'.. :■; One quick, furtive glance'behind him,'-and'; he knew I had betrayed him. His hand ; ; ; moved towards- one of his inner pockets. Simultaneously the men in the ' doorway brought forth revolvers. But the antici-■&§, pated scene of violence did not take place. , I saw my companion's faceil change, then -J: he fell across . the little marble table." ,'y . ?' "Tho poisoned J steel!" I cried. - -■'".' It was so. Realising his position, I ;he- ? pressed the deadly point ( into f his hand, ',■-,,■ and so the thief of the Mariford robbery: , met his end, trapped by a : woman's wit. ; ' :i (The End.) '" : * "*.-.'