Kelvin Knite III was born into a wealthy family. His father was the director of 'KniteWatch Industries' specialising in security solutions. Despite his privileged upbringing, Kelvin was a sickly child, suffering from the same hereditary disease that killed his grandfather before he reached the age of 50.

 

Excelling in his studies, Kelvin vowed to find a cure but despite his devoting himself to finding a cure, his own father Kelvin Knite II also died before his 50th birthday.

 

Developing a form of nano-technology, a nanite that would attack the disease at a cellular level, Kelvin experimented with these 'NanKnites' on himself and found that not only did they slow the progression of his disease, but also enhanced his strength, senses and reflexes.

 

Every 48 hours he must sleep in his 'Knite Chamber' to allow his NanKnites to recharge, keeping them at their optimum efficiency and his disease at bay.

 

Using his new found powers, and experimental technology from as CEO of his inherited company KniteWatch, Kelvin decides to wage war on the criminal underbelly of Brickhaven. It's time for crime to say "NightKnite".

 

Age - 35

Skills - NanKnite technology has increased his strength, reflexes and healing.

Weapons - KniteSticks and other technology from his company KniteWatch.

 

Built for the League of Lego Heroes flic.kr/g/kL22S

~ suit up, sign up.

 

This is also my first entry for the LoH Origins challenge

flic.kr/p/X5BEgX

Wealthy guests on the balcony...

 

Churlish Stories for Curious Children L

 

An American in Gladstone

“Innocence abroad “

 

Acte 1

 

I stopped in my tracks…not believing my ears as they picked up on a conversation a couple was having at a nearby table.

 

I asked myself…

“Americans, here, at Gladstone?”

 

^^^^^^^^^^

 

Gladstone's Library was having its annual New Year’s Eve affair at a nearby venue.

 

I made it a habit to attend, for the library is a most interesting place for a visit and the annual affair has proven to be a viable source for me to ply my trade as it attracts the wealthier patrons amongst its guestbook, priggish ones who don’t mind showing off the bling.

 

So at this year's affair, I was dressed in nearly my best(a tight dress of green silk ) with my only jewellery being a gold pin on one shoulder shaped like a fox’s head with diamonds for eyes. It’s my good luck piece.

 

I was busy prowling the venue when I overheard the American couple speaking while sitting at the table I was passing.

 

Now on this island I call home, we have many dialects of our language. So one would think that a foreign dialect would not be too noticeable.

 

Professor Higgins may agree with that, or not. He definitely would be game in having an argument one way or another.

 

But there is one dialect that I find terribly interesting, especially how it stands out when heard in passing. And that is a Yanks’ accent from across the pond.

 

Heard so infrequently by me that it always makes me stop in my tracks to listen.

 

Which is what was happening now.

 

For this couple at the table I was passing were decidedly Americans. Chattering happily amongst themselves, unawares probably of how their words sounded upon our ears. Or at least my Welsh-born ones.

 

The dark-haired male with a mustache was wearing a black suit, no vest, blue silk shirt, and tie. He wore a fancy silver watch with a black face on his left wrist.

 

If it were not for the accent I would say he looked German.

 

The fair-haired lady he was with, his wife, was dressed in a pretty dress, deep blue like her husband's shirt, with silver Jewelry, a necklace, earrings, and a shiny bracelet.

 

Neither appeared wealthy, their bling was of an ordinary type, nice, but not expensive or presumptuous.

 

I listened for a bit to their absorbing talk. Catching their first names, or his anyways (George), for she was just being called honey. Of course, her name could be Honey, like Ian Flemings's Honeychile Rider, right?

 

I liked that thought and felt happy that I had happened across them. But then left before I was noticed.

  

For I have bigger fish to fry this evening.

And those fish, once found, would be wearing presumptuous jewels, the expensively presumptuous type.

  

It did not take long to find one. At these events it never does.

 

So soon I was instinctively following behind a most interesting prospect(s)

  

A happy family it was, a rather happily rich family.

 

As they got in line at the snack tables I stood off to one side and took a careful study.

 

Muscular Father was in a tux that looked a half size too small. He appeared to be a dominating specimen. But one could see in his eyes he was a pussycat. I would imagine the wealth of family was on his side, all of it inherited, passed down by at least 4 generations in my opinion.

  

The mum was very elegant in a long flowy white silk dress with a red and green flowery print. She was wearing her gleaming set of expensive pearls. A gold ring with a vulgarly large diamond on her pinkie finger denoted wealth. As did her demeanor. I pictured myself wearing that ring, and mulled over if I could skillfully lift it from her finger this night.

  

Now the third member was a younger version of the ring lady, who was standing next to her in the snack line. Her daughter no doubt, and She was enticingly wearing a very sleek, slick brown satin fully off-shoulder number that nicely outlined her petite figure as it poured along it down to her silver high heels.

 

Her Jewels were a sparkling collection that consisted of a wide V-shaped necklace that looked like a falling river of diamonds, amazingly sparkling chandelier earnings, and a very pretty diamond bracelet, along with several enticing rings.

 

But the real showpiece was the eye-grabbing broach she had pinned to the gown just at her cleavage. It had a sparrow egg-sized diamond at its centre.

 

It was quite unusual to see a wealthy child wearing better sparklers than her mother, but I didn’t waste time on whys. Just concerned myself with what was.

 

I decided then and there that my next burglary would be the place mother and daughter kept those delicious jewels.

 

And I had several tried and true methods to find out just where those jewels would be spending the night. A couple of my favorites would involve me lifting a piece of one of the two ladies' jewels.

 

I flipped heads or tails in my mind. With the broach winning over the ring.

 

I then went into full stalk mode. Appearing to be enjoying the affair, but keeping an eye out of the corner on the daughter. For she was the now key to my whole plan.

 

During the next few hours, I did my due vigilance on the family. Looking for the telltale signs that either made them desirable marks or ones should I should leave alone

 

One of my first tests is to do a preliminary bump, with no lifting. That bit comes later.

 

I will actually brush up against my marks and gauge how they react as I please myself by coping with a feel.

 

I did this for both women as I caught them off alone. Not feeling up their pretty gowns but observing their reactions. Neither appeared guarded, purses not checked nervously, that sort of thing. Open and friendly to strangers they both were. Which meant they passed my first test.

 

Even the father was charming and accepted my apologies as gracious as his two ladies when I “tripped” up against him. (By the way. The bloke kept his wallet in his pants, just an observation)

 

Satisfied I had made the right choice I went into a deeper study, watching with interest how they were interacting with others and amongst themselves.

  

The band playing that evening was alternating between slow standards and a more lively fast pace that attracted the younger crowd. The lights were dimmed and a disco ball showered the floor with strobing light for the faster songs.

 

The parents were up for the slowest songs while the daughter watched the table with their drinks and purses.

 

The faster dances they switched places.

I also spied with my little eye that the daughter was dancing with her girlfriends. No males appeared on the scene. And her girlfriends after dancing always split up to be with their families.

 

I watched with increasing desire the daughter's jewels flickering on the dance floor. Especially the glimpses I caught of the enticing broach that was falling out with a sparkling voice, from its position just below her perky breasts. Which I noticed, the plumping, tight gown outlined, breasts that is, the rich girl just loved to press up against her dance partners.

 

I bided my time ( not easily) until very late in the evening. All three members of my targeted family were freely drinking. And becoming nicely inebriated as the evening wore on.

 

Soon the time was ripe for the plucking of a broach from a scintillatingly lovely brown satin gown.

 

The fast music started, the strobe light came on, and I went in and joined the swooningnly sweating throng.

 

I had started on the far side of the dance floor and began making my way toward my targeted female.

 

I had her in sight when I was pulled, literally, into a group of three, grabbed in passing by a young lady(Michelle) wearing yellow chiffon with ropes of real pearls. She held onto me as we danced to the fast beats of the bass-heavy music.

 

Then I was snatched away by a single male member of the group. The third is a young lady winningly wearing a black taffeta a-line gown with diamonds twinkling.

 

The male was a trashed, sweaty specimen with red hair wearing a tweed suit that was scratchy as he danced close to me. He was wearing a gold Rolex which caught my eye and then caught up in my fingers as I slipped it off his wrist.

 

I was also eying up the diamond-wearing blonde in black taffeta from over his shoulder as she danced with the girl who had snagged me into their group. I studied intensely her diamond jewellery dripping and swaying quite deliciously against her ultra-shiny black gown.

 

I maneuvered him over(Fred was his name) to the two girls and passed him off to yellow chiffon, while I embraced black satin, Cecelia was this wealthy pup's name.

 

She was very pretty, and like her companions, drunk as a skunk.

 

I told her how gorgeous she was while my hands held her close to me as my fingers caressed her sleek gown. My hands slipped up along her divine figure as we danced in motion to the fast tempo.

 

I ran my fingers up into her long silky blonde curls, lifting her hair, I had a clearer view of Cecelia’s lovely long diamond earrings that were just dangling there on sweaty earlobes, which made it child’s play to lift them and out as I raised her hair.

 

She smiled at my praise as I let her hair back down and I hugged her, wrapping my hands around her scintillating gowned waist, my clenched fists holding tightly onto her earrings as I pressed her hot fiery little figure against mine.

 

She hugged back and I turned her around and pushed her back in between her two companions.

 

Pocketing the shimmery earrings, I danced off, locating the daughter just as the song ended.

  

So I then waited until the second song was being played as the daughter was still up on the dance floor I maneuvered my way until I was directly behind her. She was dancing close to one of her friends, brushing against her then pulled back laughing. It was a routine I had been watching her do all evening and I was ready.

 

As she pulled back I bumped into her, my hands grasping onto her breasts, tightly outlined by the satin gown. Double pleasures there, for both of us I could tell.

 

I apologized in her ear, those earrings she wore dangling down delightfully, as my fingers also went down and swiftly located her broach. Then I lifted it, my fingers prying open the clasp and I pulled the flash jewel off as she was turning around.

 

“No worries luv…” she said as we danced together in rhythm to the music. I held my hands (still holding her broach) behind my back.

 

Then I’ll be damn if her girlfriend didn’t come up behind her and copy the same stunt as I had.

 

I left the happily groping group as soon as the daughter turned her back to me to face her friends.

  

Then I sat at my table, waited, and watched, with bated breath.

 

The daughter finally came back to the table and rejoined her parents. No one noticed anything was amiss.

 

Then after a long, very long, 15-minute break, the band started back up, playing slow dance music.

 

I watched the parents rise and head to the dance floor. Leaving the daughter quite alone, and susceptible.

 

“I’m on stage.”

I thought as I stood up and zoomed right up to the daughter like I had something important to say.

 

Which I did….

 

She looked up at me with doe-eyed wonder as I placed a hand on her softshoulder.

 

“Pardon me miss. Remember me. I bumped into you on the dance floor. Well, I had admired your broach earlier.

 

She looks down discovering it's gone, her eyes opening wide in shock. They looked up questioning into my face.

 

I love it when I can see a victim do that.

“It’s for that moment of dawning comprehension that is one of the little things in life I live for.”

 

I quickly explained:

 

“I saw one being turned into the security office upstairs by some Americans who found it. I thought it might be yours. That’s why I came over. “

 

Seeing her hesitation as she looked at her mother’s purse.

 

“I’ll watch over your table luv if you want to go see. I know I couldn’t wait if mine had been lost!”

 

I said this stroking the gold fox headpin I was wearing.

 

She fell for it, hook, line, and Broachless figure.

 

“Thank you .”

She worriedly lifted her gown and scurried off. I watched her leave… such a pretty dress she was wearing.

 

Now, The security room is actually located in the basement, so I bought myself some time.

  

I sit and casually begin to have a look through their purses.

 

From the daughter’s purse I pull out a card from her wallet that listed her address, along with a fancy key. Her wallet contained about £50, which I pulled out and pocketed.

 

Inside her mums' purse, I find a fatter wallet. £325 which I also pocketed. Also, a solid gold compact which I placed inside my purse. What I did not find was a hotel key. Which must mean they lived locally. Which could be either a good thing or a bad thing.

 

The father had his suit jacket on a chair. I went over and making sure no one was watching, riffled through his pockets. No wallet, which I knew, but I found something better.

 

Three hatcheck claim tickets. I quickly smelled them. One of them smelled very strongly of expensive perfume which I hoped meant they had been handled by one of the ladies as she turned in her wrap. I kept this one and stowed it away.

 

Then I rise and left, planning on beating them home to scout out the area. I didn’t need to count down the new year to know it was already starting out to be wickedly brilliant.

 

But on my way out, I see the American wife in the snack lime...

 

Decide to myself that I would like some American souvenirs from these “innocents Abroad.”

 

As I walk past her, I suddenly stop and go right up to her.

 

“E’llo you're an American, that’s lovely.”

As I say that I lift her hand, my other patting her bracelet-bearing wrist in greeting.

  

She stammers taken by surprise

“Yes, my name is Martha King. What is yours?”

  

Which is what I needed, surprise. I was wiping my hand along her wrist reaching her bracelet which I clasped my fingers around.

 

I gave her the made-up name I had been using this evening.

 

“ Cheers then, my name is Cadence, and it’s a pleasure meeting you. That’s quite a lovely dress your wearing. Did you buy it here?”

 

Rapid series of questions keeps the mark confused and distracted.

 

As she answered I thought Martha is it, not Honey. I eyeballed the rest of the jewellery she was wearing.

 

A silver-hinged locket with an M engraved upon it. Engraved around the ‘M’ was a floral vine, and below the ‘M’ was a flower made of ruby chips. The locket was oval-shaped on a link chain that hung just above her breasts. Her earrings were slightly smaller than the locket but had the same floral design and ruby flower, no letter M however.

  

I pried my eyes off her locket and looked into hers as she was answering my question.

 

“No, this dress is one I brought from home. I was worried it might not be fancy enough for here.

  

With my free hand, I stoked it along her dress as I sigh, my hands still holding her wrist up, covering her bracelet as my fingers snapped it open.

 

“I thought so, we don’t have dresses quite that lovely here.”

 

“But yours is…”

She started to say, then looked up

 

At that point, I see relief in her eyes as she stopped in mid-sentence, then said ..”

“Here comes my husband George. He is American also.”

 

As we both look behind me, I was busy taking advantage of the distraction, lifting off from her wrist the shiny silver bracelet. Pocketing it as the man came up to us.

 

I was introduced and saw he was an amiable sort of chap. As I like to imagine most Americans are, not that I’ve met more than a couple of others.

 

We talked for a few minutes as they told me where they were from, and about their kids. The usual.

 

But I needed to be on my way without appearing to be.

 

The band was still playing slow songs so I tried to break away by saying.

 

“I would imagine you two would like to get onto the dance floor? Please don’t let me hold you back…”

 

The wife apologized to me that she was a wee bit tired and wanted to sit.

 

Great I thought, then she added something that blindsided me.

As she looked at her husband standing there sheepishly…

“I know my husband would like to though, dance I mean. Maybe he would like to…honey ?”

 

I caught myself.

 

“You would not mind then if I steal him for a dance then luv?”

 

“Please do. My George is the dancer in the family. The poor dear wears me out.”

 

I heard a wholesome laugh from George.

“You two ladies do realize I’m right here listening? And yes I would consider it a privilege to have a dance with you, Cadence.”

 

He takes up my hand and we go to the crowded floor. The lights are still dim. But there is no strobe.

 

He takes me into his arms and I allow him to lead me to the music. We swirl around the other guests. I tell him a little about me, my twin brother, the small cottage we grew up in, and the nearby ancient university-owned cemetery we played in(though I did not go into the detail the games we played centered around pickpockets). He told me a bit about himself. Scouts, camping, decorating for Halloween. Also how Martha and he were here as an anniversary treat.

 

I find that George is a very pleasant dance partner So it was with a bit of guilt that as he was looking over towards Martha, I ran my hand caressing his wrist, then without remorse, I lifted off his fancy silver watch with the black face.

 

“Just couldn’t help myself, now could I?”

 

The song was ending and I was getting ready to release George back to his table when I spied the broachless Daughter walking along the outside of the dance floor.

 

Quickly I looked up into George’s face with a pleading look that he had no clue over why.”

 

“That was lovely. Can we do one more?”

 

George shook his head, yes and we held firm our position.

 

The music started again, and I pulled his arm around my waist making him hold me closer. Over his shoulder, I watched as the Daughter disappeared out of sight. She looked very perplexed, but not alarmed.

 

Sighing I placed my hands on his sides. I felt something hard in his side jacket pocket. Without thought, I reached inside and wrapped my fingers around a small, but heavy lighter. Without looking at it, I pulled it from his pocket and put it inside one of mine. I could feel George’s heart thumping, so I knew he was not finding it unpleasant to dance with me. My own was beating fast, over the daughter, and the recent lifts I had made off of George King.

 

As the last notes of the second song drifted away, we broke apart

 

I walk with George back to his waiting wife Martha at the table.

 

The wife smiles.

“Thought you were stealing him”

 

He chuckles.

“I convinced her not to.”

 

We all laugh.

 

They offered for me to sit and join them for a drink.

 

I lied.

“Love to, but I have to track down my errant niece.”

 

George pats me on the back saying lovely to have met you and thanks for the dance, then takes his leave to go get more drinks for his wife and himself.

 

Martha who had stood up as we came to the table, leans in and gives me a warm caring hug…

“I also think it was lovely meeting you tonight Cadence, you are a very nice young lady.”

 

Now I hadn't planned on taking her locket, but my thief instincts kick in and I found myself reaching up and undoing the clasp of the necklace and slipping it off her pretty neck before the end of the hug.

 

While slyly pocketing her pendant and chain, I replied:

“Why thank you, Martha, it was brilliant meeting you and George also, and luv, I hope you will enjoy the rest of your stay here.”

 

Then I take my leave.

“Indeed Charming to meet both of you.”

 

I leave her as she sits down to wait on George and their drinks.

 

I made a direct beeline to the coat check.

 

Quickly I thrust to the cloak check girl my slip. She comes back with a luxurious red sable jacket.

 

The cloak check girl complimented me:

“That’s pretty miss.”

 

“Indeed it is. “

 

I agree as I slip it on and leave Walking boldly past the lone guard at the security desk.

 

I make it to the exit without a backside glance. No one challenged me as I opened it and walked outside into the cool evening.

 

I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. My breath sends up vapors in the cool night air. I wanted so very badly to lite a victory cigarette but was too far into my game to take the time just yet.

 

So I scurried off into the night, along the nearly deserted blocks, formulating the next steps in my plan.

 

To be continued …

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

To view more of my images, in this series, please click "here" ! Click any image to view large!

 

Hanbury Hall was built by the wealthy chancery lawyer Thomas Vernon in the early 18th century. Thomas Vernon was the great grandson of the first Vernon to come to Hanbury, Worcestershire, Rev Richard Vernon (1549–1628). Rev Richard and his descendants slowly accumulated land in Hanbury, including the manor, bought by Edward Vernon in 1630, but it was Thomas through his successful legal practice who added most to estates, which amounted to nearly 8,000 acres (32 km2) in his successor Bowater Vernon’s day. The Hall is thought to stand on the site of the previous mansion, Spernall Hall, and Thomas Vernon first describes himself as ‘of Hanbury Hall’ in 1706, and this and other evidence leads to a likely completion date of about 1706. The date of 1701 above the front door is thought to be a Victorian embellishment, but no building accounts are known to exist. Although Hanbury Hall appears to be of a very uniform style, the rear wall is clearly of a different and rather earlier style, and may mark the first phase of a building campaign when Thomas Vernon and his wife Mary first came into possession of Spernall Hall in 1692 when his bachelor uncle John Vernon died. A notable feature of Hanbury Hall is the painting of the staircase, hall ceiling, and other rooms by the English painter Sir James Thornhill. They include a small representation of Rev Henry Sacheverell being cast to the furies – this relates to an incident in 1710 when Sacheverell, a Tory, was put on trial for sedition by the Whig government, and dates the paintings to that year. The focus of the paintings around the stairwell is the life of the Greek hero Achilles, as told by a range of classical sources. They are surmounted by a large representation of the Olympian gods on the ceiling. The original plan of the Hall had a large undivided central hall with the main staircase leading off it, with many rather small rooms in the corner pavilions and north range – the south range was given over mainly to service rooms. The 18th century Worcestershire historian Treadway Nash, in his Collections for the History of Worcestershire, wrote “Here is a large handsome house built by Counsellor Vernon about the year 1710 when a bad style of architecture prevailed; many windows and doors, rooms small, many closets, few arched cellars, large stables and offices in full view, are marks of that time”. When the heiress Emma Vernon (1754–1818) married Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter in 1776, Cecil clearly was of the same opinion, as he remodelled the interior (other than the great hall) creating larger rooms and enlarging the north east pavilion. On the south façade, having removed a doorway he repositioned all the windows to lie under their first floor equivalent. On the south side there had been large formal gardens, clearly shown in Dougharty’s perspective drawing contained in the estate maps of the 1730s, and Cecil swept all these away (including the farm buildings in front of the Hall) and landscaped the park in the fashion of the time – he would have had contact with Capability Brown when being brought up by his uncle 9th Earl of Exeter at Burghley House. Following Henry and Emma’s divorce in 1791 the contents were all sold, and the house remained empty until Henry’s death in 1804, when Emma and her third husband, John Phillips, were able to regain possession. As the house had lain unoccupied for so long, many repairs had to be carried out at that time. Emma died in 1818 and left her second cousin, Thomas Shrawley Vernon (1759-1825), as the heir to her estate after the death of her husband John Phillips. Phillips married again and had two daughters in Hanbury before finally moving out in 1829. From then, the eldest son of Emma's heir, Thomas Tayler Vernon (1792–1835), was able to occupy it. His grandson Harry Foley Vernon (1834–1920) MP, was created 1st Baronet of Hanbury in 1885, and was succeeded by his son Sir (Bowater) George Hamilton Vernon (1865–1940), 2nd Baronet. Sir George led an unhappy life, separating from his wife Doris, and spending his last 10 years living with his secretary and companion Ruth Horton, who later changed her name by deed poll to Vernon. During this time the agricultural depression led to a reduction in rental income, and Hanbury Hall suffered a lack of care. In poor health, Sir George Vernon took his own life in 1940. There were no further heirs to the Baronetcy which became extinct. Sir George's estranged wife was able to move back in after his death, dying there in 1962. In the meantime, negotiations had led to the National Trust having the reversion, and after making essential repairs on Lady Vernon’s death, the hall was let to tenants and opened to the public on a restricted basis. In recent years the hall has been managed more commercially and is now open daily.

 

"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia"

Goodness

A story based on several quotes made by the incomparable Mae West

 

“There are no good girls gone wrong - just bad girls found out”

 

Lucy and Cade, a pair of giggling, exceptionally well-dressed, wealthy parent young ladies, are taking a night stroll through some gardens located outside a large party venue.

 

They spy a long blonde-haired figure milling about up in the gardens ahead. Resplendently wearing a long ghostly white satin gown, real diamonds sparkling with amazing brilliance down along her full figure.

 

Feeling by the way she is dressed that she is one of their fellow party guests, the pair approached.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Mae, sultrily taking a puff from her long thin cigarette, greets the two girls.

“Hello ladies, out for a stroll also?”

 

Lucy

“Yes we are, lovely party isn’t it, and the grounds outside are very peaceful.”

 

Reaching out her hand.

“My name is Lucy and this is my friend Cade.”

 

Mae takes up the girl’s hands in turn

“Very nice to meet you both. My name is Mae.”

 

Mae adds, whilst looking both young ladies up and down.

“If I may say, my the pair of you look just sumptuous. Those dresses you both wearing are very lovely, satin aren’t they? Absolutely Adorable.“

 

Both girls twitter

 

Lucy

“Thank you, Mae, we had a devil of a time picking and deciding what to wear this evening. Yours is very beautiful too. Is it a Doir like ours?”

 

Mae, lifting her gowns white skirt

“This old thing? I’m afraid you never heard of this designer. Arsene, I believed he was French. But Thank you for your compliments. You two are just the sweetest dolls .”

 

Cade and Lucy both blush, then begin to tell Mae how much fun they were having that evening.

 

Mae, after a few minutes of listening to the chattering girls, cuts in.

“Cade, Did I overhear you say your boyfriends are here with you two? I would love to be introduced. “

 

Cade

“Sorry Mae, I said they are not with us, they both had other plans. Lucy and I had to come alone to the party.”

 

Lucy

“Our parents don’t know we came without chaperones, otherwise they would not have wanted us to come out here on our own.”

 

Mae reassuringly

“No chaperones? Well, your secret is safe with me, have no fear of that. But why wouldn’t your parents have allowed you two to come alone my dears ?”

 

Cade giggles as she makes her dress swish.

“You know what parents are like. Afraid to let me go out alone dressed like I am, weren’t they now? Claim it attracts the wrong sort. But I’m not alone, Lucy is with me. And who really would care that I’m dressed like this?”

 

Mae,

“Good point Cade, I would have no idea who the ‘wrong sort’ are, nor why they would care how you are dressed this evening.”

 

Lucy, also giggling

“My parents were the same way also. Then, my Auntie, she said I shouldn’t ever go out alone wearing my evening jewels.

 

Mae

“Really Lucy? I wounded why your nosey Auntie would ever say such an odd thing?”

 

Lucy shrugs

“I asked her what she meant by it, couldn’t give me a reason. Silly bird. “

 

Mae

“I agree, it’s silly, jewels are made to be worn out. And I think it’s smashing that you two were daring enough not to listen to such frivolous advice and come out wearing them this fine evening.”

 

Lucy

“Parents can be such killjoys. and I’m glad too that I didn’t give Auntie a listen this time about not dressing up. I feel so very pretty.”

 

Cade shakes her pretty head in agreement.

 

Mae

“And you both are delightfully pretty this evening.”

 

Mae continued on

“Rather Sounds like you two have been having a brilliant time. I could show you around, but I would imagine your parents have also warned you about meeting up with strangers at parties.”

 

Cade sweetly

“They did, but your not a stranger. Your very sweet.”

 

Lucy chimes in

“No Mae, your not what they meant atoll to be wary of. We’re sure.”

 

Mae,

“My goodness, such dears. I really must give you both hugs for being so sweet.

 

Both girls gladly enveloped Mae in tight, all-encompassing hugs.

 

Mae

“Thank you. Never really sure why strangers are given a bad rap. You two are also strangers to me, and I have no worries.”

 

Cade

“Well said. We’re friends then. That’s decided. “

 

Lucy smiles at Cade. Brushing a rose petal off from her friend’s dress.

 

Mae, watching them

“Cade, your adorable frock is smashing. May I?”

 

Cade blushes, nodding her head.

 

Mae, caressingly stroking down along the rich satiny material of Cade’s expensive dress

“I’ve just come from the swan pond. They have the most downy soft wee ones, probably as soft and adorable as your shiny frock Cade. Would you like to see it?”

 

Cade

“Really, little baby swans? I would love to go and see them. What you say, Lucy?”

 

Lucy shakes her head, yes, magnificent diamond earrings glittering up and down their long length.

 

Mae smiling turns her head towards the dark woods.

“It’s not far. Come along you two, this will be fun!”

 

With youthful innocence, they both fall in step alongside Mae, who leads them down a winding path through the woods.

 

In their heels, progress is slow for Cade and Lucy. Mae is having no problems with her flat slipper-like shoes. After ten minutes of walking pass by...

 

Mae

“Ah, here we are, just up and around this bend. “

 

Cade

“Ooh can’t wait. This will be so such a lark.”

 

Lucy nods,

“Being out here in the woods away from everyone, this is so exciting. I could just imagine a highwayman or something is lurking about within them.”

 

Mae looks at the pair of party girls

“Lucy, you have quite the imagination, but I doubt there’s been a highwayman in the area for several hundred years. But let’s hush now, must be quiet. And yes this is quite exciting for me also. Very pleased to be out here alone with you two as company.”

 

Cade, stopping and looking around, possibly now a bit worried...

“I feel very safe out here with you Mae.”

 

Mae, patting both girls and squeezing their shoulders.

“Let’s get on with it then, my pretty ones.”

 

They turn the corner, reaching a disappointingly sinister-looking small black water pond, surrounded by deep woods.

 

Lucy, fingering the diamonds glittering along her gown’s shiny top

“Where are the baby swans?”

 

Mae puts out her cigarette on a tree.

Give it time my dears. Lucy, your earrings are amazing, may I?”

 

Lucy, holding back her hair as Mae runs them through her fingers.

“Thank you, Mae. Can’t believe my Auntie really tried not to let me wear diamonds out this evening. They make me feel like a princess. “

 

Mae

“And so you do look like one. I’m so glad you didn’t fall for your Aunties foolishness. Your earrings are just too gorgeous.”

 

Mae, turning to Cade

And you also Cade, your jewels are just the most delicious things. May I have a closer peek at those absolutely adorable rings you have on?

 

Cade, turning away from her vigil over the dark waters of the pond, obediently holds out her hand with its ring-encrusted fingers.

 

Mae looks them carefully over, taking in Cade’s flashy diamond bracelet as well.

“Cade, these are just brilliant, thank you for allowing me to look at them up close. You’re a perfect dream wearing these.”

 

Cade, blushing, placing the same hand on her shimmery necklace dripping down from along her throat

“Your welcome Mae, I feel like I’m in a dream wearing them. But for goodness sakes, what beautiful diamonds you have on, simply the cat's pajamas.”

 

Mae, smiling like the cat who got the canaries.

“Actually Cade, goodness had nothing at all to do with it !”

 

Lucy giggles nervously as she feels a chill for some unknown reason.

“Mae, that’s funny, whatever do you mean by ‘goodness had nothing to do with it ?”

 

Mae

“That’s a good question, Lucy. Would you and Cade like to hear a story I have that may explain?

 

Both Cade and Lucy nod their heads, as their diamonds flicker with amazing brilliance in the small moonlit glen.

 

Mae begins her “Goodness” tale

“Well, there was once a snooty young mother who had come from a wealthy family. She loved to dress up in fancy clothes and jewels. She had her snotty young daughters dress up in the same manner. And unlike your parents Lucy and Cade, she saw no reason that they should not be allowed out exploring alone when dressed up, even when wearing good jewellery.”

 

Mae pauses as Cade and Lucy shake their heads in agreement. Their desirable jewels twinkling out.

 

Mae continued

“And the husband and father being a member of parliament, the 3 of them were out on their own, a lot.

On the evening of my story, all three girls were attending an evening wedding reception at a venue much like this. The young mother was wearing a silk white blouse with a long shiny black skirt, her daughters, much like you two, were clad in satin evening dresses. All three were wearing real pearl jewellery. The daughters were also wearing diamond hairpieces their mum had put in, taking them from her own jewel case.

Later that evening, Ruby, the sulky youngest daughter (15) jealous that her Mum and older sister (17) are dancing, decided to go out alone to explore the gardens.

Now image a 15-year-old, formally dressed up, wearing real pearls and diamonds, outside walking alone? What would your Auntie say to that Lucy?”

 

Lucy and Cade both giggle.

 

Lucy

“She would have her knickers up, that’s for sure. When I was 15, she once insisted I change out of a silk blouse and remove my pearl necklace and ear studs before allowing me to go out to the theatre with my chums.”

 

Mae, chuckling

“That’s bollocks.”

 

Cade giggling

“ I remember her doing that, it was after your birthday party. She even tried to get me not to wear my rings as I went with you. She would have handcuffed Ruby to keep her from leaving I bet.”

 

Mae

“Well, actually the odds are in one's favor that nothing would normally have happened to Ruby. Especially as she was exploring the gardens alone, or so Ruby thought.

But then, from behind the wooded side of a hedge, she hears an odd noise, like someone is whispering for her from behind the hedge. Ruby goes around to the other side. A lady is sitting on the workman’s wood bench, staring into the woods. She dressed like she would have attended the same party as Ruby. A black velvet dress and shimmery diamonds.

The lady jumps as Ruby approached.

“My you startled me, thought I was alone with my thoughts out here. Well now, you are a pretty one. That’s a lovely red gown you have on, it almost looks like real satin.

 

Ruby

“It is real mum, my mother had it specially made for me.”

 

Lady on bench

“Hmmm, she said. Aren’t you rather young to be dressed in a real gown? I don’t know if I believe you. I suppose you’ll be telling me next your lovely pearls are real?”

 

Ruby

“But they are mum, mother said they were ir..ir..irreplaceable !”

 

Lady on bench, chuckling

“Shouldn’t be fibbing child. Next, you’ll be telling me your hairpiece is made of real diamonds.

 

Ruby, under duress, kicks a stone.

“Of course they are, came from mother’s case now, didn’t it?”

 

Lady on bench

“Listen to your stories child, and be careful of ruining those glittering red shoes you are wearing. Now come closer so I can have a good look at your supposedly real satin gown .”

And Ruby defiantly approached the lady to show her how wrong she was.

 

Mae paused and looked over at Cade and Lucy.

 

Both girls asked in unison…”What happened?”

 

Mae smiled as if she had a secret.

“Well, two hours later a pair of kitchen workers were sneaking a smoke and a beer back behind the garden hedges came upon a rather odd scene on the workman’s wood bench. A young girl, wearing only her red silk slip, was hog-tied to the bench. Gagged with her silk stockings.

Poor Ruby had not been alone in the gardens. A thief had been watching her, had set a trap to lure Ruby off the beaten path.”

 

Mae continues on with her story

“When Ruby walked up to the lady, her dress was touched and examined.”

 

Lady

“That is real satin, so that would mean you're not lying about your pearls being real also ducks?”

 

Ruby, sticking out her tongue

“Told you so, didn’t I now you twit. Mother always gives me the best!”

 

Lady

“Ruby, I once met someone dressed like you. She went out alone for a stroll and was mugged!”

 

Ruby

“Who was she?”

 

Lady, producing a small silver pistol

“It was you. Now hold still while I remove your pearls.”

 

Ruby was then held up for her jewels, had her gown and shoes stripped off, was gagged and tied up to the bench. Then after one last too thorough search of Ruby’s figure, the lady thief lit a cigarette and calmly walked off through the woods.”

 

Cade and Lucy both shudder.

 

Mae sniffs and reached inside her purse fumbling for something.

 

Lucy

“I wouldn’t have fallen for that. I’m too cautious.”

 

Cade sniffing also

“That’s a very sad story Mae. Where you perchance that young teen’s mother?”

 

Mae

“What? God no Cade. I was not that little girl's mother. That only happened a few weeks ago.”

 

Mae pulls out of her purse a small silver double barrel derringer.

 

Both girls gasped, hands flew up to their gaping mouths.

 

Mae, looking at the pistol

“No my downy duckies. I was the thief. And that teenager's clothes, shoes, pearls, and diamond hairpiece paid for some of the jewels I’m now wearing.

So you see my sweets goodness had nothing to do with my diamonds, it was wickedness that paid for them.”

 

Mae points the derringer at Cade and Lucy

“Now let’s see how high you pretties can raise up those hands!”

 

Mae steps closer, the business end of the derringer is poked into Lucy’s midriff.

Now, the pair of you bloody chippy twits will please start removing your jewellery and hand them ALL over to me!”

 

Lucy and Cade, shaking with wide-eyed disbelief, look at each other speechless, hands still up.

 

Mae, sighing deeply, points the derringer at Cade, speaking matronly to her.

“Cade, you first sweets. Lower your hands and let’s start with those rings. That’s it, my girl, gently pull them off, just lovely… now for the rest.”

 

Cade obediently does as directed, then with fumbling fingers, managed to fairly quickly remove her bracelet, necklace, earrings, and lastly the long fern leaf-shaped diamond hairpiece. Her silken reddish hair falls over her face covering one eye as it is being removed.

 

Mae looked into Cades one visibly, puppy sad eye...

“Cade this hairpiece is gorgeous. I may just keep it.”

 

Mae points the derringer at Lucy.

“Okay Lucy luv, your next.”

 

Lucy bulks at first, but the end of Mae’s derringer poking into her chest soon convinced her otherwise.

 

Mae

“Now Lucy, begin by handing over those gorgeous dangly earrings. No thief could certainly pass those up.”

 

Lucy reluctantly does so, slipping them off one by one and handing them over.

 

Mae, looking down at the earrings now in hand…

“I wanted these the moment I saw them. You have no idea how hard it was to wait.”

 

Mae looks back at Lucy

Ok ducks, I’ll have the rest.

 

Lucy obediently removed her diamond necklace, rings, and bracelets. Then steps back

 

Mae sneers, waving the derringer with her free hand.

“Oui Lucy. Forgetting something are we?”

 

Puzzled Lucy checked herself over, even feeling down along her satin dress. Cade does the same also. Both look back at Mae questioningly.

 

Mae laughing

“Just checking luvs. Thanks for the show, and thank you both for your lovely jewels. Oh, and by the way, in case you are wondering why I’m not bothering to take your purses? It’s because as we were hugging earlier, I picked them clean.!”

 

Mae, admiring the forlorn pair of girl’s glittering jewels piled up in her hand...

“Lucy, I used to do my best early work at theatres. Pearls do look so lovely with a silk blouse. Shame your Auntie is such a prude, this may have been the second time I met and robbed you. And Cade, I wouldn’t have passed on having your rings back then either. Now the pair of you, turn around and face the pond. “

 

Moving back, Mae commands them

“Now off with those glittery s shoes your wearing and toss them in the pond.”

 

As the pair of girls obediently do, Mae stuffs jewels and pistol in her purse. Then casually lights another cigarette as plops are heard coming from the pond.

“Goodness, that was too easy.”

 

Mae approached Cade and Lucy from behind.

“Raise those hands again, and don’t drop them until I say!”

 

Both girls feel their satin-clad figures being thoroughly, expertly patted down one-handed by Mae, who asks.

“Tell me something my two pretty ones. Do both your mums, and Lucy’s Auntie have jewellery this nice?”

 

Cade and Lucy unhappily both nod yes.

 

Mae, finishing up her last tempting feel of a pair of scintillatingly soft gowns, under the guise of searching for the girls' possibly hidden valuables, asks before turning to leave…

“So why don’t you have them dress up in them to come over and see me sometime?”

 

The end

  

Play theme music

  

Roll credits

  

Credits rolling

  

Credits still rolling

  

Yawn

  

Credits slowing down

  

€€€€€ The obligatory scene at the end of the credits €€€€€

  

“There are no good girls gone wrong - just bad girls found out”

 

Mae West

  

“The score never interested me, only the game.”

 

Mae West

  

As Mae walked away she heard some rather intense murmuring going on between Lucy and Cade.

  

She had just started up the small hill leading to the bend when Lucy calmly called out.

  

“Oh Mae? Did you really mean that about having my Auntie come over?”

  

Mae, curious, stops and turns around

 

“What are the two of you on about?”

  

Lucy

 

“Well, it’s like this. You have quite a substantial haul with the jewels you’ve nicked from us. Plus almost £ 800 in our wallets. Now both Cade and I would have to report them as stolen. Worse yet, my Auntie would find out and be proven right. We would never hear the bloody end if it. So you’ve got what you wanted from us, but what if there is a better prize? Would you be willing to make a bargain?”

  

Lucy stops and looks at Mae. Mae nods her head and comes back a little closer.

 

“I’m all ears .”

  

Lucy

 

“Well, it’s like this. My Auntie has always been a thorn in my bum. And I would love to see her receive some comeuppance, as opposed to Cade and I being on the receiving end.

 

So say I don’t report the robbery, my Auntie will not be put on her guard. There are several upcoming autumn balls she attends, and she will be wearing her best jewels. Which are 5 times more valuable than what you have taken from us... combined!”

  

Mae, as Lucy pauses.

 

“Sounds promising. It really does. But sorry, a bird in the hand you know. Of course, I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it, and a score never interested me, only the game.”

  

Lucy pleading

 

“Just hear us out then Mae. I know it’s a leap of faith. But you could almost retire off what Auntie would be wearing. And it would be a delicious revenge for us after what she had put us through all these years. I can almost taste it. Haven’t you ever wanted to do that to someone also ?”

  

Mae, Sighing with a nod

 

“Ok, I’ll give you 5 minutes. But remember, I also used to be Snow White like you pair, then I drifted.”

  

Lucy, speaking quickly

 

“ Ok, so my Auntie has outdoor, secluded hiding spots at several venues where she has the chauffeur hide a bottle. She has vices she thinks are her secret. At these ultra posh events, she sneaks off alone for a cigar and a nip several times during the evening. It’s always the same spots. We know cause Cade and I found them out and have been sneaking out for nips ourselves for years, never being caught.”

  

Lucy paused for a precious second.

 

“Now what I propose is that you can keep my valuable earrings you were drooling over, and the £ 800 as payment for my getting some revenge.”

  

“And keep my lovely hairpiece.” Cade chimes in

  

Lucy

 

“But we would need the rest of our jewellery back to not arouse suspicion. You see, it has to work that way.

 

As you said, a bird in hand. But there is one in the bush whose a far easier, far more profitable catch to pluck.

 

For years I always daydreamed that it would serve her justice if a thief would come across her as she is out taking her drink. And it’s that secluded it can be done easily.

 

So please, neither of us can bear to think of her welding this robbery over us...”

  

Mae, with a wicked grin, shakes her purse.

 

“Lucy luv, you tell a good story, but…

  

Lucy cuts in with a final, desperate plea.

 

“Please Mae. I am not saying it will be easy, I’m only saying it should be worth it to you, in spades.

 

Just pretend that the only jewels Cade and I were wearing were my diamond earrings and Cade’s diamond hairpiece. That would still be a sweet little haul for you, far more than what you got from that snooty brat Ruby.

 

Don’t give us a final answer yet.

 

Here take my purse and think it over as you leave. We will wait here for 30 minutes.

 

Leave my purse underneath the water fountain where you first ran into us.

 

If it’s empty we’ll have our answer, swallow our pride, and be forced to make a full report to the police and insurance company. And face Aunties music.”

  

Lucy pauses

 

“But if our jewels are inside, less earrings and hairpiece. We say nothing to ANYone about what happened. You get away easy peasey. Then we’ll know your game for it.

 

There is a pub called the Poet and Peasant in Gl…. Go there several

 

Nights during the first week of September. I’ll find a way to get to you the time and detailed instructions of hiding places at each of the parties.”

  

Mae reached out and took Lucy’s shiny silk purse, saying to herself…

 

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

  

With that said, Mae turns and walks away, thinking…

 

“Those two dames did look gorgeous wearing all that sparkly ice over shiny satin. And, a dame that knows the ropes isn't likely to get tied up. That dame is likely to succeed.”

  

Mae walks up the hill, white satin gown swishing, then turns the corner as the scene fades to black.

  

Out of the darkness comes voices.

 

“Do you think she’ll buy into it?”

 

“I don’t know, but if she did we will not be wearing our diamonds all this fall”

 

Giggling

 

“No, only nice silk blouses and sensible pearls…”

  

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Please let me know in the comments below if the silk purse under the fountain will be full or empty

  

Thank you for reading

 

Affair of The Haunts of the Very Rich

 

St Valentines Day

 

I’ve often noticed that with the very wealthy, the majority of them that do bother to celebrate St Valentine's day, are primarily the youngest of couples that belong to this class.

 

Young wealthy and naive. My type of combination.

 

^^^^^^^^

 

I was staying at an upper-end hotel that Valentine’s Day weekend, treating myself after having a rather profitable New Year's weekend a few weeks prior.

 

I had been excited to learn there was a ballroom in the basement where a dance was being held later that week. But it was sold out. So I was left out of that opportunity.

 

But there were others.

 

Amongst which:

 

At a park, an older upper-class dressed lady was waking as she held a corgi in her arm. I stopped her and asked if I could pet the little darling. She said yes and as I stooped over to pet the pup with my right hand, my left was busy removing a diamond bracelet from around the cubby wrist holding the bratty animal.

 

While the next day, at the same park, my eyes caught the glitter of diamond studs, 4 Carets worth, being carelessly worn by a silk-clad mum watching her children play as she sat upon a park bench. I walked behind the bench and easily lifted the fat wallet from her designer leather bag. I then sat down on a bench ten meters away, watching her profile. Wondering how she ever was avoiding being mugged?

 

Then…

 

Midweek found me at a 5 Star Restaurant eating dinner, conspicuously alone amongst the tables filled with romantically in-love couples. Many of them are from obviously a privileged upbringing, which is the game I was after.

 

Being alone, the tuxedo-wearing man at the desk had not wanted me in, until I slipped the upturned nosed Maître d £40

He put on a money clip with an already healthy wad of notes. Sticking it into a deep side pocket of his long tux coat.

 

Soon I was escorted to a small side table next to the swinging doors of the prep kitchen. The smells that wafted out when the doors opened certainly whetted my appetite, in more ways than one.

 

I was wearing my black satin jacket with its shiny rhinestone buttons. Underneath I was wearing my blue satin long-sleeved button-back blouse, paired with a long slick black leather skirt. My jewels were simple, consisting of diamond stud earrings and a diamond heart-shaped pendant.

 

I was hoping to make a score this evening, relieving some of the wealthy patrons eating here of a purse, wallet, watch jewellery, or a combination of these items.

  

For my meal, I ordered one of the more expensive items on the menu. The steak was very good, and the wine was even better. But my appetite was not quelled, for I was hungering after richer items, not on their menu.

 

I had my eye on a couple of tables. The love birds sitting at them had eyes only for each other, and not on purses or wallets, or other valuables they had on their very well-dressed persons.

 

A pair of violinists had been going around from table to table, collecting tips for their playing, or to stop them from playing, it was hard to tell.

 

They were now a pair at one of the tables I had been observing.

 

The couple that was sitting there was dressed in formal attire. He was wearing what I call a James Bond tux, his girl was poured in a short sequined dress with pearls. Her designer purse was hanging from the chair behind her, on top of a mink stole.

 

I placed my purse in a side pocket of my skirt, placed my satin jacket over an arm, and walked past the table, squeezing in between the violinists and the table behind. The violinists moved in, making the two at the table scrunch in closer.

 

As the couple at the table were moving their

chairs in, I circled behind, whisked by the lady’s chair, and easily lifted her small designer purse from the chair stowing it under my jacket.

 

I went to the loo and in a stall took out my purse and replaced it inside my pocket with the expensive one I had just lifted.

 

As I was washing up a pair of young ladies came in. One had a long velvet dress and wearing pearls. Her companion had on a short silk number that looked like it had been painted along her figure, it was that tight. Not tight was the flashy gemmed cocktail ring she wore on her left index finger. It was very loose.

 

The pair ignored me and began hugging and pawing each other with a lover’s passion. I sqoze by them, bumping silk into velvet. They giggled, I apologize, my fingers moved along the left hand that the bird wearing tight silk had wrapped behind velvet’s waist.

 

I pressed off against the pair, slipping off the loose gemstone ring from the wealthy bird’s left hand’s index finger as I did. Without the love-struck owner feeling so much as a prickle.

 

I went back to my table and downed the last of my Merlot.

 

Finishing my meal I left cash on the bill and stood up, looking around the room as I put on my black satin jacket with its shiny rhinestone buttons.

 

No other easy opportunities were apparent, so I decided to leave while I was ahead.

 

I then spied the velvet and tight silk-wearing birds at a side table. They were with two men in fitted suits. I was very curious over what the relationships were exactly between the four. I could almost smell an opportunity of some sort, but I was already on my way out.

 

As I left I spied the snooty Maître d'hôtel (master of the house), as he was eyeballing a far too young chick sitting at a table with long legs, and next to nothing covering them.

 

I snuck up behind him as he was watching her, and coming up alongside asked:

“Whatcha looking at Luv?”

 

Startled, He jumped a mile. And as he jumped, my hand slipped into his side pocket and easily lifted his real gold money clip. Weighted down with folded bills of money extorted from his restaurant’s patrons.

 

I giggled at his red face, tweaking his “Hercules Poirot” styled mustache as I said in parting:

“Cheers, thanks for letting me in…”

 

Happy with myself, I stood in front of the restaurant. Pondering if I should find a vantage point to see where that table of four was eventually heading when they left, or just amble off. I decided to go for a long stroll.

 

About 30 minutes later, I was sitting on a park bench, lighting a cigarette with my gold lighter, the one engraved with the king's head that I had lifted off a fine gentleman at a New Year’s Eve party.

 

I began rummaging through the purse I had lifted. A real silver compact, matching lipstick holder, and a wad of £200 were amongst my haul. I also discover a pair of tickets to a St. Valentine's evening ball that very evening. The very one being held in my hotel’s basement, the one that was sold out.

 

I quickly packed up and headed straight to my hotel, across the street from the park where I was sitting. It took me twenty minutes to reach it by taking a path that cut through the woods in the park’s centre.

 

I happily then cut through the lobby, casting an eye on the stuffed shirt manager at the desk. And the open door behind him that had security stenciled across the window.

 

Taking the elevator up 2 floors I got off and went to where my room was located, purposefully selected because it was facing across from a stairwell. I let myself in and began to quickly change into a more formal blue satin gown, keeping on the same jewelry.

 

Once I was prim and proper, I left. Eagerly headed downstairs to the basement where the ball was in full swing.

 

I happily showed my pair of tickets to the hotel security guard at the entrance, telling him:

 

“When my date shows up, I’ll come and give him his ticket.”

 

He nodded, not bothering to look like he ruddy well cared.

 

It was a packed affair. Live music, dancing, a table with raffle bins, and appetizers. A stocked bar off on one side with a buy your own drinks sign, thank you.

 

I had indeed bought myself a cocktail and began meandering around.

 

I soon latched onto a couple of young sisters, 14 and 16.

 

They were wonderfully attired in darling designer dresses of gleaming taffeta, complete with matching sashes tied from behind in bows. Their parents obviously have enough disposable income to spend an extravagant amount on dresses their progeny will outgrow in a few months.

 

The pair of lovelies were wearing rhinestones, but the 16-year-old was also sporting a flower-shaped gold pin, set with real gems. An emerald centre with real diamonds as petals.

 

I admired their pretty attire, gaining their confidence. Learning that their rooms were on the top fifth floor of this very hotel, in what I could tell was a penthouse suite.

 

Soon I had them pointing out their parents. As they did I let my hand slip onto the older girl's shoulder, my fingers curling around her pin.

 

The mum was wearing a sleek silk dress, with no jewellry, their papa in a vested suit. As both girls chatted about how lovely their mum looked, I easily lifted the older girl's expensively gemmed pin off from her soft gown. I did this as I had begun causally stroking down along her gown’s smooth material while she was busy looking away as she chatted on about her parents.

 

It was then the younger sister like she had been reading my mind, casually mentioning the fact that their mum was not wearing the pretty jewelry she had brought with her.

 

The older sister was still watching her parents on the dance floor and hadn’t noticed her sibling's comment. My senses began prickling something wicked. I daringly asked her why not, as I watched the older one out of the corner of my eye.

 

The sweet young thing answered truthfully:

“Because she wore them last night to the ball.”

 

Still keeping an eye on this girl's older sister who appeared to still not have noticed what her sibling was talking about. I knelt in front of the younger sister and lifted her heavy rhinestone necklace, watching it sparkle. I asked, carefully choosing my words:

“Pretty, now your mums cannot be as pretty as this?”

 

She smiled, her eyes opening with doe-eyed innocence:

“They are, ever so. And she has lots, doesn’t she.”

 

Then she pouted:

“We’re not allowed to wear them though.”

 

I had let go of her necklace. Though I will admit I had thought of lifting it from her since I was noticing she was starting to dance a little like she needed to use the loo, which would have made it an easy task

 

Instead, I whispered truthfully in her ear, with wicked intentions in my mind….

“Well, I certainly think both you and your sister should be allowed.”

 

I then asked if she could…

” Hold my drink for a sec?”

 

The little imp did do, as I rummaged through my purse. Knowing the cold ice in the glass she was holding should increase her need to use the potty.

 

The dance was ending. I took back my drink, watching as their parents went back to their table. I pulled aside the still-distracted older sister and asked if I could be introduced to their parents.

 

They gleefully took me over and introductions were made. I complimented the parents on what delightfully charming girls they were raising.

 

We had a conversation about that. Where the girls went to school, that sort of thing.

 

The younger daughter’s prancing was becoming more noticeable and soon the mum took her lead and went off with both daughters to take care of the issue.

 

So far I had played my cards correctly and as they left I decided to try a trump by asking the father if he would care to dance.

 

He did not appear affronted at all by my boldness and led me off to the floor. As he took me in his arms I stumbled against him, easily slipping his billfold from his suit jacket's front pocket. I stowed it away in a hidden pocket of my blue satin gown.

 

It was then as we danced that I spotted them.

 

A young wealthy couple dancing cheek to cheek. I studied them over my partner's shoulder.

 

She was beyond resplendent in a long blood-red satin gown that poured sleekly down along her figure. She was wearing a display of diamonds that looked like Tiffany’s display case, set against a red satin backdrop. Her husband was in full tux, wearing a gold signet ring engraved with his family’s crest. A crest I knew, a family that was one of England's wealthiest.

 

She was a giggler, he appeared to have issues keeping his wife focused.

 

There was a couple I would love to have learned more about. But by lifting the father's wallet, I was already committed to a plan.

 

Oh well. I turned my attention back to the father, who was a charismatic charmer of a man.

 

The dance ended and I took my leave. Literally. As I made my way to the nearest exit.

 

I took the stairs to the first floor, intending to pay my bill ahead for an early checkout. Since I may be leaving in a hurry.

 

Going up to the lobby desk. I saw it was deserted. Then looking out the front doors I saw the manager and the security man standing there holding apart two men who had pretty obviously been brawling.

 

I looked back to the empty desk, then to the opened door to the security room.

 

On a daring whim, I slipped inside. Not knowing what I would find.

 

In the corner was a large vault, opened exposing rows of metal boxes that required a passkey. No master pass keys were visible. And I probably did not have the time. But my lord, one could just imagine the delicious darling jewels that lay inside them.

 

I then spotted a bagged security uniform and cap. Not wishing to come away empty-handed from my daring sneaking into the room, I snatched it up and carried it past the still-empty desk. Coast was still perfectly clear.

 

I darted through the stairwell door and scurried up to my room.

 

In the room I quickly undressed and tried on the uniform, thinking it may serve as an effective ruse. Tucking my long hair up under the cap and putting on dark sunglasses I looked myself over in the mirror.

 

Surprised at how official I looked.

 

Taking off the glasses I went to my gown and took out the wallet. Finding £525 in cash and amongst his cards his room’s passkey. I had guessed right.

 

So now with the security uniform in my possession, I could freely go and burgle the room, without waiting till the little family returned, and were all fast asleep.

 

Putting the sunglasses back on, I picked up my leather pouch and headed out my door to the staircase directly across.

 

There were 3 suites on the top 5th floor. I knocked at the first door. No answer. I tried the key, but it didn’t turn.

 

Repeated the same procedure with the suite door directly across. The key clicked the tumblers and the door opened.

 

Licking my lips I slipped inside.

 

I had my torch and put on the red-lighted beam to look around. Beautiful room. A larger living area complete with a full bar and kitchenette. Double doors led out onto a balcony. I wondered if I could reach the other penthouse suite's balconies from it and decided to check it out after I went through the bedrooms.

 

Eagerly I then went into the first one.

 

Obviously the young sister's room. I let my beam work the room. Finding a dressing table I went over to it. Laying out was a pair of necklaces, one gold and the other with fine Pearls. A gold bangle bracelet lay next to them, surrounded by a couple of gold rings. I scooped them up. Next to them were twin velvet cases. I opened them. but found both were empty. For the rhinestones they were wearing I guessed. Without thought, I placed them inside my pouch.

 

Quickly checking the drawers I found sets of satin pjs But nothing else of value was hidden underneath. They were both too young to be using that trick.

 

I turned and went out to the living area. I caught my reflection in the mirror above the bar and startled, I jumped.

 

Twit, I had forgotten I was wearing a security uniform.

 

Snickering to myself I entered the master bedroom.

 

My beam of light located the dressing table and I went right over. A small jewel case lay there. I went over and opened the case, my eyes saw the welcoming sight of gold, silver, and pearl jewelry. All of it was expensive. I placed the whole case in my pouch.

 

No diamonds.

 

I soon located the closet and opening it saw it held a tux, several gowns, and dresses all of a designer's make. I bent down and located the small wall safe.

 

Now for the moment of truth. Were the wealthy mum’s diamonds here? Or had they been placed in the hotel vault I had spotted in the security office?

 

Using my stethoscope, I spun the tumblers and had it opened in no time.

 

Inside, much to my relief lay several velvet jewel cases. I pulled out the first. Opened it and my eyes were dazzled by the diamond set jewels it contained.

 

It was then I heard laughter from what seemed to becoming right outside the penthouse suite’s door. I quickly placed the case containing diamonds in my pouch, scooping up the other cases without looking inside. Closed the safe and quickly slipped out of the room.

I went straight to the main doors’ peephole, still hearing the twittering laughter going on outside it.

 

Heart thumping I looked through the hole. Then my heart rate exhilarated, leaping up into my throat as the saying goes.

 

For the commotion was coming from across the hall. It was the couple I had been salivating over as I had danced with the father. The giggling lass wearing a blood-red satin gown and decked out with diamonds, and her wealthy heir of a husband. Both were totally pissed drunk.

 

Tuxboy had dropped his keys and couldn’t pick them up. His pretty bride’s profile was bent over him giggling, diamonds flashing as they swung out away from her fine bosom.

  

He finally picked up the keys. The two of them embraced kissing.

 

“Get inside the room. You pair .”

I murmured as a plan of action suddenly popped into my mind. An epiphany if I have ever had one.

 

They finally managed to open the door and practically fell inside.

 

I turned and quickly scanned the room with my torch’s red beam. I located the suites phone on the bar top

 

Going over I made a direct call to the penthouse room the couple had just disappeared inside.

 

The phone was picked up, and after a bit of fumbling a male’s s chuckling voice answers with a puzzled yes.

 

I began speaking with the sharp clipped words portrayed in movies by authority figures. I added an Irish lilt to my words to heighten the effect.

 

“Sir, now this is the front desk. It’s imperative that you come down to speak with security. Do not bring your wife, we do not want to alarm her.”

 

The drunk twit fell for it. Hanging up abruptly. I raced to the peephole. A short minute later he comes stumbling out and heads for the elevators.

 

As he disappears inside I went over and pushed all the buttons so it would come back up stopping at every floor.

 

Putting on my sunglasses I went to his room and knocked at his door.

 

“Security!”

 

His darling wife, still sporting all her delicious diamond Jewelry, cautiously opened the door.

 

“My husband just went down to see you?”

 

“Must have missed him, ma’am. But it’s important that I speak to you.”

 

She obediently opens the door and lets me in.

I surveyed the room. She was vulnerably alone.”

 

I looked at her, seeing her worriedly looking at me through the dark lenses of my mirrored sunglasses.

 

I spoke quickly using the same tone of voice I had used on her wealthy husband.

 

“Ma’am, several rooms have been robbed this evening. Your husband was told to bring any of your valuables to keep in the hotel's vault. “

 

She put a worried hand on her shimmering necklace.

“He..he didn’t say anything. “

 

I continued, not giving her foggy mind time to clear up.

“You don’t want to be robbed of them now do you miss? Here, you should let me take them down for you.”

 

I wasn’t a question and she nodded compliantly.

 

I reached in and pulled out one of the empty cases I had lifted from the daughter's room.

 

I held it open in front of her trying to keep from drooling over the exquisitely delicious jewellery . Was this gullible lady going to be this easily manipulated into just handing them over to me?

 

And Blimey, was she, ever so obediently going to do just that…

Beginning by reaching up behind her neck, rings, and bracelets flashing from her red satin gloves, her breasts bulging out like shiny mounds from underneath her tight blood-red satin gown.

 

Undoing the necklace’s clasp she removed it and laid it upon the case. Then reaching up into her long red hair, undid each of her dangling earrings and placed them on top. Raising each wrist she unfastened her bracelets and added them to the gleaming pile. Then slipped off her four heavily gemmed rings.

 

She took a step back, worried face told me she was buying into my scam.

 

“What about your brooch miss, not wanting the thief to get that now are you.”

 

She nodded, looking down and reaching in between her voluptuous breasts, plucked off the heavily jeweled broach.

 

Dumbfounded that I was now holding at least a cool ¾ of a million pounds in diamonds…

 

Yet, I still fished in for for more….

“Aye, that’s the girl. Now, anything else you need me to take to the safe.”

 

Again, it wasn’t a question.

 

She scrunched her nose in thought.

“Your right, thanks for reminding me”

 

With that, she turned, her gown swishing provocatively along her seductive figure as she disappeared inside her bedroom

 

Closing the case I stowed it inside my pouch. I moved to a side table and scooped up her plump, red sequined designer clutch purse and stashed it inside my pouch

 

Then stood by the door pondering wistfully over how I could con her into slipping out of and handing over that delicious red satin gown.

 

No clever ideas presented themselves as she reappeared, holding an upper-end Smythson blue velvet jewelry bag.

 

She explained, almost apologetically:

“My husband usually puts this in the closet safe at night. But I’m sure it will be more secure where you are taking it.”

 

Smiling as I took it while saying, and not exactly telling a fib,

“Thank you, I will make sure they are safe in my hands and apologize to your husband for the mix-up.”

 

She smiled back with relief in her eyes, then came up and hugged me. Saying in my ear…

 

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

 

Damn her luscious gown felt wonderfully nice, her warm figure even nicer as she pressed up against me.

 

Breaking apart I began telling her truthfully, as I looked her pretty gown-clad figure up and down.

“It is my pleasure. Love your gown by the way. Now miss, lock the door behind me. Though I’m sure your now safe from robberies.”

 

She was grinning at me, her eyes still a bit clouded with the drink as she stroked the front of her gown, fingers rolling along her fine breasts.

“Unless less the thief wants my gown, it’s all I have now of value to hand over.”

 

I certainly hesitated at that, almost like she had read my thoughts. Then smiling at her joke, left.

 

Avoiding the elevator, I quickly headed to the stairs leading down to my room.

 

As I went through the door onto the top landing of the metal staircase I abruptly halted.

 

I smelled him before seeing him. A strong, sour smell of whiskey intermingled with musk, warned me I was not alone in here.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

I peeked over the stairs railing looking down.

 

On the second floor, landing staggered a man. So drunk that I could smell it two full floors above him.

 

The git was looking around behind him, trying hard to figure out what door he had heard opening.

 

He was dapper, dressed in a tux with tails and a formal top hat. A delectable gold watch chain shimmered around his waist.

 

I slowly went down the stairs, hoping he would move off. I didn’t want to get off at the 4th or 3rd floors, too many risks to take the elevator.

 

But, buggers if the man didn’t budge.

 

I reached the top of the stairs above where he stood, swaying, his gaze transfixed on the 2nd-floor door.

 

With a heavy sigh, I went down the stairs, coming up behind him, I tapped his shoulder.

 

He turned his head around. Then eyes opening wide he said…

 

Blimey. Wha..what’s this, your a female bobby. Didn’t know you came like that.”

 

He stood there, gobsmacked, trying to figure me out.

 

I just stayed in the character I had created for the damsel in distress upstairs. Using the same time of voice I told him…

“Sir you need to go to your room.”

 

The bugger shook his head, saying with a muttering tone…

“No officer lady, I’m drunk in “pubic”, ya need to be arresting me sorry ass. I think you should securely frisk me. Isn’t that what you lot do?”

 

I shook my head, then spied his leather billfold sticking up from his pocket. Fat with notes.

“Okay, face the wall and spread your legs and arms.

 

He turned and as he tried to do what I had told him, fell against the wall, emitting a low moan.

 

I then frisked him, patting him down. Easily lifting his wallet, gold watch, and room keycard as I did so. I saw it was number 22, around the corner from my room.

 

“Careful of the family jewels there. Missy. May need them later if you catch my drift…”

 

I think he was winking into the wall.

 

Turning He held up his hands.

“Cuff me, officer,”

 

I shook my head no.

“Sorry, sir I can’t do that I’m not an officer only security.”

I sighed

“But I will put you under house arrest In your room. Is this your floor?”

 

He tried to focus on the door

“Two. What a coincidence that’s where my room is.”

 

I opened the door and pulled him through.

 

“Room number 22 miss officer.”

 

I led him down the hallway, not an easy task as he kept slumping against the wall. Thankfully no one popped a head from any of the other rooms.

 

Finally, we reached room number 22

 

He chuckles.

“Thanks for the Lift. Care for a drinky?”

 

I handed him his key

 

He took it not questioning how I had it.

 

“You go in sir. Pour yourself one. I’m still on duty.”

 

This wanker wasn’t giving up

“When are you off Miss officer?”

 

“Just starting my shift, not off till morning. I’ll come and give you a wake-up call if you’d like.”

 

He smiled with a crooked smile only a true drunk can pull off, and saluted me, amazingly without putting out an eye.

 

“Toodles then!”

 

I was gone before he had closed his door.

 

I quickly went to my room back around the corner, thankfully meeting no one else in the hallway.

 

In my room, I changed out of my uniform into my leather skirt and satin blouse.

 

I took my pouch and suitcase, now holding the guards uniform, to my lotus sports car.

 

Then going back upstairs I grabbed my overnight case, and my dress bag and went downstairs.

 

A young girl wearing a heavy cream-coloured silk blouse and black skirt was at the front desk. The security guard's door was closed and I could see a pair of male shadows taking inside.

 

After telling the girl I wanted to check out I asked what all the excitement was about.

 

She excitedly explained that a couple of blokes had gotten into a fight out front. Police were called and hailed them away.

 

I smiled, happily thinking that my own shenanigans had not yet been discovered. The wealthy young twits upstairs had bought into my story, of that I was certain.

 

I was paying my bill when the phone rang. I listened in and heard her saying...

“What’s that? No sir, we don’t have female security?”

 

I kept a calm look on my face as my heart began thumping. I whispered under my breath.

“Come on luv, hand me my receipt..”

 

Still, on the phone the girl smiled at me and handed over my receipt, saying into the phone.

“What’s that sir, house arrest? Yes sir, well I’m sure you are no longer confined….”

 

Relieved, I took my receipt and headed straight out the front door without hearing the ending of the conversation.

Once outside I hailed a waiting cab.

 

I had him drop me off at the train station.

 

Arriving there, I locked up my belongings In one of the lobby pay-as-you-go lockers. Waiting inside for a good half hour I then left with a group just departing and caught a cab giving him the address of the hotel two blocks down from mine.

 

He dropped me off and I went through the lobby out the back way, then down a side alley till I reached the lot where my car was parked.

 

I got in and drove back to the train station, where I collected my things.

 

Once I was back in my car, I lit a cigarette, took a few relaxing puffs, then put my sports car in gear, purposefully driving off through the night, planning on putting as much distance as fast as I could risk it, between me and the city I was leaving.

 

Fini.

  

The Silken whisper of Flickering Desires

A Chronicle

Adapted from the Final Entry Entitled:

Their Regal Gambit

Subtitled:

While Sherlock Holmes vacationed

 

The first score had been made, now for the Coup de Grace! So far their little operation had gone as smooth as silk, or in this case, satin. Now just to make sure the husband of the silken gowned brunette displaying the jewels in question was still safely out of the picture! Then Mollie would let her husband know that with the coast clear, freeing him to stage his approach of the lady in the long swishing satin gown he had been keeping an eye on all evening. The one who was wearing the exquisite necklace of fiery flickering diamonds, just daring someone to expertly slip it away the throat of its unsuspecting owner.

 

And therein lay the rub, She happily thought….

 

As Mollie made her way down the quiet corridor to the gentlemen’s smoking lounge, she lovingly played through her mind the series of unfortunate ( or fortunate?) events that had led her and her husband to this place. It had all began with an innocent one named Tabitha…….

 

Mollies’ Flash back

 

They had first come across Tabitha at a resort casino deep in the Catskills. Mollie and her husband had been there about three days, scoping out the grounds, and its wealthy clientele. At the casino they both spotted Tabitha at the same time. She was seated at a baccarat table, really standing out in an elegant dress of gold and black striped silk and velvet Her well-toned body displayed numerous pieces of expensive jewelry. A fat little purse dangled, unheeded by her side. Tabitha had held Mollie’s attention mainly due to the strong resemblance she had to herself. Tabitha’s jewelry, a flashy diamond journey style necklace, matching earrings, wide diamond tennis bracelet, and multiple gem encrusted rings, had held Mollies pickpocket husbands’.

 

Mollie went on to the bar and watched as her husband waited for the seat next to Tabitha to become vacant. Then he sat, asking for chips, while unobtrusively eyeing Tabitha’s bracelet. He began striking up a conversation with Tabitha, finding her to be an easy mark. He soon learned from the chatty girl that she was a divorced, upper executive for a well-known digital arts company servicing the movie industry. It was during this conversation that Tabitha babbled about the upscale, invitation only(you know), black tie formal ball she would be attending in England the next month. Now, as her husband was keeping Tabitha occupied Mollie had walked by the pair, ‘tripping’ into her husband, who palmed off to her , the diamond bracelet which had been ever so subtly slipped from around the unwary Tabatha’s’ wrist. Walking away with the bracelet secured in her purse, Mollie made her way to their small bungalow. Her husband did not break in his conversation with Tabitha; a mark would seldom suspect a friendly person of stealing from her.

 

Later that evening, Mollie wore the pricy bracelet while mutually admiring it over a bottle of merlot with her husband. They discussed the high-class affair Tabitha had been bragging about. Wistfully, Mollie admitted it was a shame they had not received an invite. Her husband smiled, and pulled a thickly embossed and crested envelope from his pocket. Easily adopting a British accent, he said “The silly little twit was carrying this in her purse!” The envelope revealed a pair of invitations to the Princess’s Jubilee Royal Ball. As the pair continued to empty the bottle of fine merlot, what had started as speculation, turned towards reality, and soon plans had been laid.

 

As they lay in bed later that night, Mollie turned to her husband, just think about the jewels that will be worn at the English Ball, she shivered with the delightful thoughts. Do you remember the last time we were in England? Mollie looked at her husband slyly, you remember, the Wriggling Whelp Whispering Wisk! She stated teasingly. Mollie knew the quickest way to get her husband’s goat was coming up with silly phrases to describe his more outlandish endeavors. Such phrases like The Tingling Touch Ice Melt, The Slippery Slick Taffeta Pull, The Glossy Gowned Dangling Peel, or her personal favorite, The Ticklish Wedge Clam Dip, never failed to get a response. In this case the response was a brief pillow fight leading into a romantic interlude, ending up with them in bed as they reminisced about the last time they had “visited” England a few years back…..

It had proven a fairly profitable venture with the jewelry alone netting almost 100,000 pounds. It all had culminated quite nicely at one of the posh events they had crashed that final weekend. Their final score had come about from a rambunctious doe eyed Fourteen year old in a shiny dress who had been oblivious to the valuably delicious gold pendent studded with small rubies and emeralds that sparkled ever so invitingly as it swung from her throat. A pair of matching dangling earrings dripped from her ears as she has run around unminded by her elders. Mollie had indignantly stated to her husband that the antique trinkets were simply just too expensive for a child so squirminly young to be trusted with. Her husband then went about the task to prove his wife correct in her statement.

 

After talking a bit about the English Girls parents reaction to the unsolved disappearance of their daughters ultra-pricey pendent , Mollie came back to the present and asked if the lady in the maroon silk that her husband pointed out the previous evening would be wearing the same jewels to the dance tomorrow night? Or better her husband replied sleepily, good Mollie pronounced, I did like her emeralds.

 

In Merry Ole England

 

They had arrived in England several weeks before the Royal Ball and began the preparations.

 

In an irony of fate, the profit they had realized from poor Tabitha’s bracelet had paid for a large chunk of their little excursion. Keeping his accent, and adding a trim beard, Mollies husband looked radically different from the man Tabitha had encountered. During the weeks following their arrival, the pair had practiced like they always did before undertaking a new venture. But this time it was with a more daring edge, they quite simply could not afford being caught red handed in a foreign country. Mollie assumed her practice the role. That of the richly dressed, well jeweled quarry. Her husband would stalk and attempt to relieve her of a piece of her jewelry as she went about her business, shopping! The idea being that, If he was able to do so without being caught by an obviously aware Mollie, than he should have no problem at the Royal Ball. As it usually happened when they practiced in this manner, her husband did incredibly well. Mollie had had several pieces of jewelry vanish from her person during the week, without her noticing how or when.

 

The final night of practice Mollie decided to dress to kill. Looking quite devastating in a glossy gold halter and a long brown velvet skirt with gold stiletto heels clicking as she moved. A diamond heart pendant hung down from her neck, swaying provocatively out from between her breasts. A bracelet, similar to Tabitha’s purloined diamonds, was wrapped around her wrist.

 

She left their penthouse and made her way to the street outside. Some type of festival was going on as she waded through the crowded streets to the nightclub. Her rings sparkled as they kept rhythm with her swaying diamond waterfall earrings. Just daring her husband to make a move for any of them.

 

Mollie drank and danced the night away with no hide or hair of her husband until she returned late that evening to their apartment. She found him in the hot tub, smirking. She undressed and joined him. Okay, how did u do it she demanded? I felt nothing, no one bumped or brushed against me all evening that I was not aware of. He opened his fist, allowing her heart diamond pendant to dangle freely in front of her. A magician never reveals his tricks my little cat, he purred, as the pendant swayed in a sparkling arch.

 

Cat was short for “Cat Lady”, a moniker he had placed upon her when she had broken into a sleeping woman’s room and removed the jewels from her gold case, and even managed to slip off a ring she was wearing. The fact that she was passed out in a drunken stupor, still dressed in her long party gown, didn’t count , or so her husband teased.

 

You should have been a surgeon! , my dear, Mollie exclaimed with pride. Then she leaned towards him, her green eyes gleaming in earnest, time for a real practice run Mon Cherie, she said in dead seriousness. Then Her eyes opened wide, I got it she exclaimed, I’ll call it The Slinking Sneaky Shearing Snag she pronounced joyfully, getting a face full of water in reply to her effort. Okay Cat, let’s get down to business he retorted, I know just the affair. Mollie listened intensively as her Husband described their next plans, derived while eavesdropping on a couple of ladies shopping in a jewelers.

 

The next weekend (two weeks to the evening before the Royal Ball) Mollie found herself at a quaint upscale wedding reception held in the large gardens of a country church. She was attired in the same bewitching ensemble that she had been wearing on the final night of practice. Her only jewels were a recently acquired pair of sparkly cascading earrings set with emeralds and diamonds. The affair of the plump piqued peacock plucking she had mused while getting dressed. The only other exception was that the long fiery red hair she had inherited from her Irish namesake grandmother had been cut and dyed blond. Blue contacts had also been added to the disguise to hide her vivid green eyes.

 

They soon targeted an older jewel laden snob at the reception. An older lady , well jeweled, of the arrogant know it all, obey me totally type whom everyone tries to avoid. While Mollie engaged the mark in a mostly one sided conversation(the older ladies) the lady had become so deeply engrossed about talking about herself and her ties with royalty, that she never detected being relieved of a heirloom antique gold chain and jeweled pendent by Mollies husband who had approached her unnoticed from behind.

It was all Mollie could do no to bring attention to it by looking at the wickedly expensive piece as it was slipped up and away from the Dowager’s ruffled heavy satin blouse.

 

This time it was mollies turn to keep chatting as her husband headed to the door. He had almost made it when two youths ran into him as they scurried away from a rather sullen looking tween girl they had been teasing, and now were in possession of her purse. Mollie stole a look as she saw her husband topple onto the chasing girl. He managed to extracted himself from the girls long slinky gown that she had probably been forced into by an overly conceited mother. He apologized, and left the girl to go after her antagonizes. Later, when Mollie had caught up to him she teased him about his clumsiness. He just smiled, and pulled out from his vest pocket the most exquisitely matched pearls that the youth had been openly displaying from around her throat and wrist at the reception!

 

They were, most definitely, ready. The fated evening could not come soon enough. But it finally did.

 

They had had no problem with using the fancy invitations to gain entrance. Security was heavy, as expected, but with a very lax atmosphere. Mollie was wearing the salmon coloured gown she had had especially made for such occasions, her new blond hair style and the blue contacts. In a coup foray of sorts, Mollie wore the pearls that had been taken by her husband during his run in with the sullen girl at the wedding reception. Her husband was wearing his usual tux with a hand tied bowtie. His ruffled sleeves easily moved up and down along his wrists.

 

Mollie and her husband split up, each spending the first few hours mingling solo, and taking it all in as they thoroughly enjoyed the Ball and all its many stimulating attractions. It had gone smooth as silk. Spending the first few hours prowling while the guests liquored up Mollie scoping out exactly the right candidates. Dangling jewels with easy clasps were everywhere!, it was surprising how the best of jewel makers skimped on the clasps required to keep the expensive pieces in place. Clothing also made a difference. Silks and satins were quiet and slipped easily. Taffeta could be whispery, more of a challenge. Velvet could easily snag as a piece was being lifted. But these were the costliest of materials, and the wearers would logically be wearing the costlier of jewelry.

 

Mollie and her husband regrouped several hours later, unobtrusively under the pretense of dancing. Gently discussing their plans. They settled on three likely prospects amongst the almost three hundred present. The first was an older spinster type wearing a luxurious dress of embroidered navy silk and displaying jewelry studded with diamonds and sapphires. The second was a middle aged snotty blonde wearing a shamelessly low cut green silk taffeta gown (which Mollie secretly liked)wearing a thick gold bracelet studded with vulgarly large rubies surrounded by a sea of small sparkly diamonds. She was alone, and a heavy drinker. The third was a longshot. A lanky , flighty brunette wearing immensely valuable jewels of blindingly sparkling Diamonds. Her necklace alone was in the upper hundred thousand range, with a clasp that was one of the easiest to coax open. The only problem was that she came with an obviously newlywed husband who doted on her every move. Both were heavy drinkers, and if he would only leave his wife’s side for, say about fifteen minutes, the necklace would be theirs!

 

They had decided that any one of the three would produce results worth a king’s ransom, appropriately enough, all things considered. The plan was for her husband to take his time selecting the easiest jewel to acquire from amongst the ones the three marks were displaying , make his move, and pass it off to Mollie who would leave forthwith, while her husband stayed a little while longer to make sure everything remained calm before making his exit stage right via the hallway.

 

As Mollie went to her station, she saw the Blue silken lady, along with her sapphires and diamonds, leaving with a rather unsavory looking male, eyeing her with a look Mollie knew all too well. Mollie decided to follow them, thinking to herself that some women are just prone to being victimized. Good luck with that one Mollie thought unkindly, as she stole one last look at the ladies glistening sapphires, hope he leaves her with something she sarcastically wished wickedly to the couple’s backside as they went out the exit at the end of the hall. One down and out she thought. Then she spied the husband of the newlywed pair heading down the hall towards her with an older, grey bearded man. Getting close she heard them talking about the Gentlemen’s smoking lounge. Mollie decided to give her husband a signal, but when she found him he was already in the arms of the blond. Molly immediately noticed the absence of the jeweled bracelet from his partners’ wrist. She went back to her table. Immediately she was set upon by some drunken snob asking her to dance. She allowed herself to be taken up into his arms. Spending a few unenchanting minutes with Mr. two left feet, before her husband tapped him on the shoulder cutting in. They danced, Mollie placing a hand into his pocket and feeling something cold and metal wrapped her hand around it. Looking him in the eyes she told him about the now unguarded bride, as she palmed the willowy blonde’s bracelet. They decided to go for it, and as the music ended, Mollie made her way to the hall, where she secreted the blondes bracelet safely away

 

One down, one more to go! An exquisite necklace of flickering diamonds waiting to be nimbly slipped away from the throat of its unsuspecting wearer. Now just to make sure the husband of the silken gowned brunette displaying the jewels in question was still safely out of the picture! Then to let her husband know that with the coast clear, he was free to stage his approach of the lady in the long swishing satin gown he had been keeping a drooling eye on all evening. The one wearing the exquisite necklace of flickering diamonds waiting to be so expertly slipped away from the throat of its unsuspecting wearer.

 

She was able to see the groom in windowed room, the husband and his friend were smoking a pair of long cigars and drinking brandy in large glass snifters. Mollie passed unnoticed as she mad e her way to the ladies powder room. He was still there, only halfway through a long stogie as she passed again on her way back. Neither time was she observed. Mollie mad her way back to the Ballroom. She sat down at one side of the room, once again allowing the sights of so many bejeweled women to soak in. Her husband was dancing with a lady in a flowing red ball gown, jewels sparkling in abundance, not aware of the danger so close at hand, nor that even with her husband and his particular skill set so close to them, that at that moment nothing could be safer from his fingertips. Finally she caught her husband’s eye. Mollie innocently rubbed a finger along the side of her nose, a subtle signal that it was safe for him to precede.

 

Mollie was now uncharacteristically having butterflies in her stomach; it was a huge gamble, trying to get away with a pair of thefts in this inhospitable atmosphere. She kept second guessing herself, Bird in hand she kept thinking. But the lure was too great, and it was with a heavy sigh of relief when Mollie saw her husband finally kiss the hand of the young bride after their dance. Mollie could see that she was no longer sporting the thin silver necklace and its row of at least two caret diamonds that had been encircling her throat with their rippling flashy brilliance all evening. Molly stayed put, not daring to leave until her husband had brushed by her in passing and made his way out the hallway to the exit. She waited for a long fifteen minutes, then curling her hand around the necklace that had been dropped into her lap as he had passed; she gained the safety of the hallway. Just in time. For coming down the hallway was none other than the lady in the long luxurious gown and now bare throats groom and his distinguished looking friend. She passed by them, feeling the men eyeing her with roving wolfish gazes. Then she passed them, and proceeded unhindered to once again enter the ladies’ powder room where the necklace soon joined with the Blondes bracelet in its hiding spot.. Than calmly Mollie left, walking past two security Bobbies, virtually unnoticed. The Groom had been absolutely ignorant to the fact that his young Bride’s ridiculously valuable necklace had walked right past him out the door.

 

Mollie did not let herself really breathe until she had gained the safety of the street. She allowed herself to imagine the commotion as the news of the missing jewels were circulated around the cavernous Ballroom. There would be a flurry of activity, flashes and sparkles as the women checked themselves reassuringly that they were still in possession of their trinkets. Mollie would have loved to have stayed and watched, but obviously could not do so. She rejoined her husband at their meeting place and they drove off. They made their way to Ireland where they spent a cautious week touring before leaving for the states.

 

Once the profit was realized from their haul that eventful evening, including obnoxious Dowagers the jeweled antique pendent, and was added in to the modest amount they had already accumulated from previous adventures, Mollie and her husband were able to retire to Ireland and live quite an unpretentious life together in a small stone manor in the woods.

  

Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives

 

Nicking Fiona

 

Fiona’s POV

 

It was as I watched the reception line forming that I heard a baby crying softly behind me.

 

This was the day my cousin Angus was getting hitched to his university love, Mareid, the pretty daughter of a wealthy country manor’d Laird.

 

My parents and I had survived the hours-long ceremony at the cathedral and were ready to enjoy ourselves at the reception that followed.

 

I was wearing what was my favorite outfit at the time.

 

A very pretty, button-back shiny steel grey satin blouse with ruffles pouring down from the blouse's high neckline, from that spot a thrush egg-sized shimmery heirloom diamond brooch was clasped. The blouse had long flared sleeves that ended with wide cuffs on my wrists.

 

With that blouse, I wore a long black satin skirt that hung down from my still slender waistline in flowing tiers. A silver belt at my waist set with rhinestones with a rhinestone buckle encircled my waist, silver sparkly open-toed heels complete the look.

 

Unlike my gown-clad mum, I was not wearing gloves, but like her, I wore a cocktail ring, a glittery one set with sapphires and diamonds. I wore it on my right ring finger. I had just recently bought the ring using a nice yearly bonus received from work.

 

My other worn jewelry consisted of a pair of long diamond earrings, a long silver chain ending with a pendant set with a glittery sapphire surrounded by diamonds that swished down along the front of my sheer blouse, and lastly, I was wearing my mesmerizingly diamond cuff bracket tightly around my right wrist, peaking just below my ruffled satin sleeve.

 

I felt beautiful wearing it all together and had received my share of fetching compliments on various parts of my ensemble on previous occasions. It was brilliant to be able to wear them all together.

 

Mum agreed that I looked very fetching, but worried it was a bit too much.

 

“Said the lady wearing a £3000 satin gown and a necklace insured at triple that amount.!” I teased.

 

But inside truth be told, I wanted to look special, and be noticed.

 

Though as I looked around during the lengthy church service I observed that with the way many of the ladies there dressed, I would be given a run for my money in the ‘’ who was flaunting it the best race.

  

It was as we reached the reception room downstairs, called the great hall, to join in the reception line that I first heard the baby fussing.

 

Turning I saw it was Hamlish’s brother-in-law Callum trying to keep a hold of his squirmy crying young baby daughter Sarah.

 

The wee lass was dressed in a coral-pink silk dress, the same color as the bridesmaid's (hideous) gowns. One of the bridesmaids was Sarah’s mother, my cousin Aileen. Also, like the bridesmaids, Sarah wore real pearls; a dainty combination of necklace and pearl-studded earrings. I thought it all a bit much for a young’un to be wearing real jewellery.

 

Callum caught me looking and called out... “Oui, Fi, can you take her for a bit?”

 

“Fiona, not Fi!” I muttered, correcting Callum under my breath.

 

With reluctance, I went over and took young Sarah, and her baby bag, from him.

 

With a nod, Callum darted off to the line without looking back. And I had an inkling he wasn’t planning on coming back, the sod.

 

As I watched, I slipped my small black sequenced clutch into the baby bag, backed myself out of the way into a corner, cooing the whole time to Sarah who was having none of that and now was bawling up a storm.

 

It was a tough time of it, holding onto the squirming wee Lass, her silky long dress not an easy hold with the slippery front and long sleeves of my grey satin blouse!

 

I began to sing the lullaby Ally, Bally Bee, as I held onto the crying Sarah in one crotch of my arm while fumbling around in the baby bag for a bottle.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Another females’ viewpoint at the same reception.

 

^^^^^^^^

 

She had been walking in step with a pair of very attractively dressed sisters she had come upon, busily chatting them up, eyeing their jewels, when a woman’s soft voice singing a lullaby caught her attention.

 

She spied a young lady in a solitary recess trying to manage a bawling young female bairn.

 

Taking a double look in that direction to affirm what she had seen, the female took a regretful leave of the wealthy sisters.

 

Deeply curious, she casually approached the poor harried lassie, who was having a tough time of it.

 

The infant was clothed in a long pink coral silken gown, the lady trying her best to hold onto the squirming infant was inhibited by the richly slick satin blouse she was wearing. It was a very pretty blouse, made even prettier by the sparkling diamond broach at the blouse’s throat.

 

The infant's slippery silk gown and the lady's sleek satin blouse were like oil and water when it came to controlling the thrashings of the wee bairn.

 

The lady was bending over, swaying to and fro with the infant, struggling unsuccessfully to get her to take a bottle.

 

A dangling broach swung out, a glittering ball of expensive fire.

 

Globs of formula could be seen glistening along the harried girl’s sleeve and gloveless fingers, both also moistened by the squalling child’s tears.

 

Unconsciously the lady licked her red lipstick-colored lips as she ventured close enough to also be squirted upon from the baby bottle.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Back to Fiona’s point of view:

 

I was making a mess of things. Trying to give a thrashing Sarah a bottle she was refusing, apparently in favor of crying out her temper, causing me to squirt milk all over with each attempt.

 

Including a few drops that fell upon a lady who had the misfortune to come up and stand next to us.

 

She was a pretty, thirty-something-year-old, red-haired gal wearing a long fluttering gold/green sari-like dress. Long emerald earrings dangled playfully from her earlobes.

 

Laughing it off the stranger pulled out a lacy silk handkerchief and wiped herself off. Then she offered to hold Sarah as she handed me her handkerchief to wipe myself off, introducing herself as “Angie”.

 

As Angie cuddled and stroked Sarah, swaying the baby in her arms, the little imp actually settled down to a whimper.

 

As I wiped myself down, Angie had reached into the baby bag, and after fumbling around took out a small toy and began playing with the now giggling traitor Sarah.

 

I finished cleaning up and handed the soiled handkerchief back to Angie.

 

Still holding Sarah, Angie, talking a mile a minute about babies, cleaned off my sleeve a spot of formula I had missed, as she also caressed my fingers to calm my flusters. It worked like a charm.

 

Angie then said, “I’d better be off luv, nice to meet you and Sarah.” With that she handed the baby back to me, helping position Sarah over my shoulder as she started me swaying “the wee Baird” to sleep. Angie kindly straighten my blouse’s ruffles before her fingers stroked one last time along Sarah as I held her, then she was off.

 

What a nice lady I thought with a little pity as I watched her swish off into the crowd as I rocked back and forth with wee Sarah. A bit awkward and clumsy Lass perhaps, but she had lent a most welcomed helping if not

fumbling, hand.

 

Sarah did soon drift off to sleep, and of course, on cue, Callum came over to pick up his now manageable daughter.

 

I took leave and headed to the loo to finish cleaning up.

  

Inside, approaching the mirrored counter, I realized I had forgotten my expensive clutch purse in the baby bag.

 

I quickly glanced in the mirror before scurrying off for my purse.

 

As I left the loo something nagged at the back of my head, something in my reflection in the mirror did not appear right. But I shook my head free of that worry and went to fetch my purse.

  

Callum was gone from the hall recess and was standing off of the dance floor jealously watching his wife Aileen dance with the wedding party. I went up and bent down to the bag on the floor to retrieve my clutch.

 

I was not finding it when from above Callum asked if I had removed the pearls Sarah had been wearing.

 

It was when Sarah’s missing pearls were mentioned that I now knew what was wrong with my reflection in the mirror.

 

My hand flew to the throat of my steel grey satin blouse, and my expensively glittering diamond broach had fallen off.

 

Probably both broach and pearls had slipped off when Sarah had writhed and thrashed around in my arms.

 

“Bloody Bollocks” I swore as left without finding my still missing purse, and headed back to search around the recess for my broach and Sarah’s pearls.

  

I knelt on my knees and began searching around on the floor. As I did do I realized that my ring was also slipped off my finger.

  

“Double Bollocks, what the bloody hell!” I swore, garnering a look from a rather handsome passing gentleman, dapper in his formal tux.

 

I quickly checked my ears. The diamonds were still there, as was my flashy bracelet, and with relief, my necklace. So the rest had merely been pulled off as I held the flailing Sarah I told reasonably told myself to quell my anxieties.

  

Pissed at being overheard I went off on Callum under my breath, chastising him to myself as I searched.

  

“Damn that Callum and let’s pass the colicky baby off to Fiona games,” I muttered while looking around for the missing jewelry.

  

As I did I thought about Angie and how she had managed to strikingly calm Sarah right down with those long nimble fingers of hers.

  

“I should find that lady Angie and have her show him just how to handle his kid.” I snidely thought to myself as I fruitlessly checked for a second time behind a potted plant for the missing jewels.

  

Finally, I gave up, telling myself that I may just as well enjoy the party, the missing jewels and purse would be turned in by the clean-up crew I reasonably thought.

  

So I did, enjoy myself that is, having immense fun over the next few hours. Actually almost forgetting about my loss, and wee Sarah’s.

  

I even almost caught the bouquet as it was tossed over our squirming figures trying to catch it.

  

I caught sight of the redhead Angie in the swarm, the first I had seen of her since her helping me with Sarah.

  

She was in with the group talking to the lady who had caught the bouquet, a Very pretty blond name Shelly, encased in a long chocolate satin sheath gown. A diamond bracelet glittered with astonishing pinpricks of colour as she held up the flowers.

  

I went to the bar for a drink. It was as I stood there just overlooking the crown of guests and their smashing attire, that I saw Angie leaving, not really thinking anything of it.

 

Meanwhile, Shelly and her crew had come up to the bar and begun ordering drinks.

  

I took my eyes off the departing Angie and focused on being amused by them. I did not know any of them, and they appeared a bit too wonkish for my tastes, so I gave them room.

 

I did however, notice Shelly had for some reason taken off her fine diamond bracelet, and was contemplating that with curiosity when one of the flirty Lasses with her exclaimed…

 

Shells, your bracelet!”

 

They then began to look around, and I thought of how I had been looking around for mine earlier, but to no avail, and now Shelly wasn’t finding her Jewellery either.

 

Then a picture of Angie popped into my head. And I began to do a bit of wondering….?

 

I got up from my stool and headed to the exit door. I guess to see if I could catch up with Angie and ask her some questions…

 

I left the exit. The sidewalk and parking lot were deserted of anyone.

 

I walked to the corner and caught sight of Angie standing on the corner by a cab stand.

 

A cab had just pulled up.

 

I called out to her, and she jumped, then turned to face me as I approached.

 

She smiled when she saw me, turned opened the back door, placing inside her large purse, asking the cabbie to wait.

 

She then told me as I walked up to her, that she was sorry she had not said goodbye to anyone, but that she had felt a bit off, and had decided to head off.

 

I mentioned to her how little Sara, Shelly, and myself had lost a bit of jewellery.

 

She gasped, hand to her mouth. She checked herself over.

“All mine is here. You're such a luv for checking on me…..Ooo, I just love your blouse, you look adorable. It’s what I first noticed,…!”

 

With that said, she pulled me into a hug before I could say anything more. She stroked her fingers along my slickly soft blouse. Then reached down to my black satin skirt, rubbing along its lush length. It was all very feeling, ticklish, and I tingled a bit at her touch. It was not at all displeasing, rather nice actually.

 

She broke away and held my face in her hands, her fingers running through my hair.

 

“Your are such a sweetie, but I must be off luv, it was so much fun meeting you.”

 

With that, I was left alone standing there as she waved to me from the taxi pulling away from the curb.”

 

Angie has been so sweet, maybe a bit ditzy, but I was truly touched by meeting her. So I smiled broadly and…waved, surprised I had been suspicious of someone so sweet and loving.

 

I thought to myself as the cab moved off that I had better get back inside. Alone out here, one could get mugged.

 

Then, as I thought that, I quizzically looked at my bare wrist.

My jewelled bracelet was gone.

 

I looked down around my feet, pulling up my long skirt. Nothing was on the ground except a crumpled wedding invite.

 

Perplexed I put a hand to my mouth, then I noticed something strange. No longer was I feeling my dangling diamond earrings touching the side of my face. I reached up, finding the earlobes… quite bare?

 

My earrings had been nicked, but how had she been able to….?

 

I was freaking out. Then, oh my gosh. My fingers flew to feel down along the front of my lushly soft satin blouse. It was gone, my lovely silver chain and pendant. She had even taken that….

 

Seriously, she had even gotten away with my pretty necklace.

 

All of them? All my beautiful jewels were now….. gone!

 

I had, indeed, been thoroughly, if not noticeably, mugged.

 

I had generously gone right up to the thief flaunting my valuable jewellery.

 

How she must have been delighted to see them. How she had thought here was this pretty girl, just asking Angie to go right ahead and simply relieve her stupid self from the bother of wearing them?

 

I bet she thought just that!

 

“Cheers, I’m Fi, your easy-to-manipulate practice dummy. Oh, here, look at my shimmering bracelet, see how easy the clasp is. Yours for the taking. And, my earrings. Why yes, simple hinged, I don’t like wearing pierced. Here you go, just slip them off as I do at night. Oh don’t worry, I never feel them prick when coming off. What’s that? Do you fancy my necklace? Don’t blame you, so did I. Well if you must. Probably a good hug will do the trick. I’ll never feel it coming off, would I now? There you go, perfect. That’s the trouble with wearing such an expensive slick blouse, things just slide off from it like butter on a hot stove. Now thank me for being such a naively pliable victim.”

 

“I’ll be a bloody smash at the next truth or lie drinking game.”

 

All this popped almost simultaneously in my wretched miserable head, as my heart sank, my legs quivered and I looked back up the street.

 

I watched, astonished over how easily the cab, containing the slick-fingered Angie, my purse, my jewellery, Sarah’s pearls, Shelly’s bracelet, and who knows what else, had disappeared from the guests tonight?

 

The bloody end ?

 

Built by a wealthy merchant in the Middle Ages, The Chesil Rectory dates back to between 1425-1450, and is one of Winchester’s best preserved Medieval buildings. In fact it is now the oldest commercial property in Winchester.

 

The front of the building is almost all original apart from the windows which would have been simple wooden bars and shutters. The doorway is the original entrance where the livestock and animals would be led through the stone pathway from the front to the back.

 

The fireplaces were a later extension in the 16th Century. Originally simple vents in the roof would have let out the smoke and the walls and roof space would be blackened and the air quality very poor.

 

The building was owned by Henry VIII during the 1500’s when he disbanded many religious buildings in England and Wales, during the ‘dissolution of the monasteries’. He gave the Chesil Rectory to his daughter, Queen Mary, known as Mary Tudor.

 

Queen Mary’s lavish wedding to King Philip of Spain in 1554 at Winchester Cathedral almost bankrupted the city so she bequeathed the Chesil Rectory to the City of Winchester as part payment for the wedding.

 

In the late 1700’s the house was divided into two tenements, with a family living in each side. One family was a shoemaker who, in the large upstairs room, started Winchester’s first Sunday School.

 

In the 1800’s the house gradually deteriorated until it was very nearly demolished. Fortunately it was bought and saved by Thomas and Co stores in 1892 and was thoroughly restored.

 

A one-time merchants house, antique shop, tannery, Bishop’s residence, general store and tea rooms, the building has been a restaurant for the last 50 years.

Hanbury Hall was built by the wealthy chancery lawyer Thomas Vernon in the early 18th century. Thomas Vernon was the great-grandson of the first Vernon to come to Hanbury - Rev Richard Vernon (1549–1628). Rev Richard and his descendants slowly accumulated land in Hanbury, including the manor that Edward Vernon bought in 1630. However, it was Thomas, through his successful legal practice, who added most to the estates, which, by the time of his successor Bowater Vernon, amounted to nearly 8,000 acres.

 

Hanbury Hall is thought to stand on the site of the previous mansion, Spernall Hall, and Thomas Vernon first describes himself as ‘of Hanbury Hall’ in 1706, and this and other evidence leads to a likely completion date of about 1706. The date of 1701 above the front door is thought to be a Victorian embellishment, but no building accounts are known to exist.

 

The main house is in the Queen Anne style, and has two stories plus an attic. It has red Flemish bond ashlar brickwork, with a tiled hipped roof, and large brick chimney stacks. A notable feature of Hanbury Hall is the painting of the staircase, hall ceiling, and other rooms by the English painter Sir James Thornhill. They include a small representation of Rev Henry Sacheverell being cast to the furies – this relates to an incident in 1710 when Sacheverell, a Tory, was put on trial for sedition by the Whig government, and dates the paintings to that year. The focus of the paintings around the stairwell is the life of the Greek hero Achilles, as told by a range of classical sources. They are surmounted by a large representation of the Olympian gods on the ceiling.

Destiny was apparently born into a wealthy family in 19th Century Austria. After her mutant power first developed, it nearly overwhelmed her with visions of the future. She spent over a year transcribing these visions into books, after which she was left physically blind.

 

Seeking to understand what she’d written in her diaries, Destiny contacted the shape-shifting mutant detective Raven Darkhölme to aid in her quest, and the two eventually became longtime companions. After traveling for a time with a carnival as their fortuneteller, Destiny worked as an archivist at the Black Womb genetic project. The pair also worked together whilst Raven was raising her unofficial foster daughter, the young mutant named Rogue.

 

After Raven became Mystique, Destiny helped her form the team of super-powered terrorists the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. However, Mystique eventually tired of her team being hunted as outlaws, and offered their services to the U.S. Government in exchange for a pardon for their crimes, becoming the government-sanctioned Freedom Force team. On their first official mission, they were dispatched to capture the self-styled master of magnetism, Magneto.

 

Later, during a clash with the criminal cyborgs the Reavers on Muir Island, off the coast of Scotland, Mystique left Destiny in the care of the mutant technosmith Forge, however Destiny sent him to assist Freedom Force in repelling the Reavers. Then, as she had foreseen, Destiny was apparently killed by the telepathic mutant Legion, who was being controlled by the powerful psychic Shadow King.

 

Destiny’s body was later cremated and her ashes scattered out to sea by Mystique, however her consciousness apparently survived inside Legion’s mind, and he interpreted her words as a need to kill Magneto to preserve the dream of his father, X-Men founder Charles Xavier.

 

Instead, he almost killed Xavier himself, creating an alternate timeline. Legion was killed after reality was repaired, and his ghost co-existed with Destiny’s in Limbo where they worked with the sorceress Margali Szardos to secretly protect humanity.

 

Later, the X-Man Shadowcat discovered one of Destiny’s diaries, and, for a time, a splinter group of X-Men scoured the world for rest of the “Books of Truth” to prevent the revelations they contained from falling into the wrong hands.

 

Recently, Destiny was briefly revived with an alien techno organic virus.

 

⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽

_____________________________

A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.

 

Secret Identity: Irene Adler

 

Publisher: Marvel

 

First appearance: The Uncanny X-Men #141 (Jan. 1981)

 

Created by: Chris Claremont (writer)

John Byrne (artist)

  

Smile on Saturday Theme: "copyright by mankind"

 

"The earliest candle chandeliers were used by the wealthy in medieval times; this type of chandelier could be moved to different rooms. From the 15th century, more complex forms of chandeliers, based on ring or crown designs, became popular decorative features in palaces and homes of nobility, clergy and merchants. Their high cost made chandeliers symbols of luxury and status.

By the early 18th century, ornate cast ormolu forms with long, curved arms and many candles were in the homes of many in the growing merchant class. Neoclassical motifs became an increasingly common element, mostly in cast metals but also in carved and gilded wood. Chandeliers made in this style also drew heavily on the aesthetic of ancient Greece and Rome, incorporating clean lines, classical proportions and mythological creatures. Developments in glassmaking later allowed cheaper production of lead crystal, the light scattering properties of which quickly made it a popular addition to the form, leading to the crystal chandelier.

During the 18th century glass chandeliers were produced by Bohemians and Venetian glassmakers who were both masters in the art of making chandeliers. Bohemian style was largely successful across Europe and its biggest draw was the chance to obtain spectacular light refraction due to facets and bevels of crystal prisms. As a reaction to this new taste Italian glass factories in Murano created new kinds of artistic light sources. Since Murano glass was not suitable for faceting, typical work realized at the time in other countries where crystal was used, venetian glassmakers relied upon the unique qualities of their glass. Typical features of a Murano chandelier are the intricate arabesques of leaves, flowers and fruits that would be enriched by coloured glass, made possible by the specific type of glass used in Murano. This glass they worked with was so unique, as it was soda glass (famed for its extraordinary clarity) and was a complete contrast to all different types of glass produced in the world at that time. An incredible amount of skill and time was required to precisely twist and shape a chandelier. This new type of chandelier was called "ciocca" (literally "bouquet of flowers"), for the characteristic decorations of glazed polychrome flowers. The most sumptuous of them consisted of a metal frame covered with small elements in blown glass, transparent or colored, with decorations of flowers, fruits and leaves, while simpler models had arms made with unique pieces of glass. Their shape was inspired by an original architectural concept: the space on the inside is left almost empty since decorations are spread all around the central support, distanced from it by the length of the arms. One of the common uses of the huge Murano Chandeliers was the interior lighting of theatres and rooms in important palaces.

In the mid-19th century, as gas lighting caught on, branched ceiling fixtures called gasoliers (a portmanteau of gas and chandelier) were produced, and many candle chandeliers were converted. By the 1890s, with the appearance of electric light, some chandeliers used both gas and electricity. As distribution of electricity widened, and supplies became dependable, electric-only chandeliers became standard. Another portmanteau word, electrolier, was formed for these, but nowadays they are most commonly called chandeliers. Some are fitted with bulbs shaped to imitate candle flames, for example those shown below in Epsom and Chatsworth, or with bulbs containing a shimmering gas discharge.

The world's largest English Glass chandelier,(Hancock Rixon & Dunt and probably F. & C. Osler)[8] is located in the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. It has 750 lamps and weighs 4.5 tons. Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of British and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and one of the great staircases has balusters of Baccarat crystal.

More complex and elaborate chandeliers continued to be developed throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, but the widespread introduction of gas and electricity had devalued the chandelier's appeal as a status symbol.

Toward the end of the 20th century, chandeliers were often used as decorative focal points for rooms, and often did not illuminate." -Wikipedia

Title:

Society’s Shrew

******************************************************************************

The study below was uncovered through research for the following Doctorial dissertation:

Light to the shadows of their mind:

Criminal tactics and strategies

Criminology Department Dept.

Chatwick University

 

Case Study 14 :

Name: Seth circa 192…

Subject: A rather unprincipled & deviously unscrupulous scoundrel

 

From Seth’s Journal:

Headed as:

Societies Shrew

October 11, 192

It is truly amazing what people will talk about on a train. And I could not say the number of times I had collected a tidy sum by just keeping my ears open to such talk. The following remarkable account centered on a couple named Caboyt is my case in point.

  

I was traveling between cities, after finishing a weeks’ worth of “business”, successfully making a handsome “little” profit on the jewels I collected from several unsuspecting wealthy women.

  

I had spotted a young couple sitting alone at small table in the dining car. Taking a seat in the nearby bar I had taken the opportunity to observe them. They were newlyweds. I could tell by the way they had acted, and by the shiny new gold rings they sported. She was a very attractive long haired brunette, wearing a long flowing skirt and a high-necked satiny blouse with long sleeves. He was wearing a fitted suit, and by his expression, was ignorant of anything else but his bride’s existence. I too noticed her existence. Especially the existence of the solid gold necklace set with tiny rubies and diamonds she wearing, loosely hanging down from around her throat. When she talked, her hands made little motions, and it was a pleasure to watch her rings sparkle from fingers as she did so. When they left the dining car I stayed at the bar, quickly forgetting about the pair. I enjoyed a few drinks while anticipating the new opportunities that should be plentiful at my next stop.

  

Late that evening the newlyweds were abruptly placed back into my thoughts. As I made my way back to my car I saw them in their seats, sleeping soundly. Her head was on his shoulders, an arm curled around him. The head of her husband was back on the seat snoring. I noticed her necklace hanging provokingly down, flickering in the passing lights that lit up the car in ten second intervals. The back two rows of seats were vacant, so I slipped into the seat directly behind them. I slowly moved my fingers up behind her seat, dipping down I felt through her ultra-soft hair until my fingers felt the cold hardness of her necklace. I could feel the slippery sleekness of her blouse, and I will admit I did perk up in doing so. Ever so slowly I pulled it out, exposing its gold chain. Then I slipped it around, silently thanking her for the slickness of the high necked pretty blouse that made my attempt so easy. Finally I expose the clasp, and leaving it hanging sat back for a minute to let them settle. I watched it there, as the flicking lights lit it up, my hunger increasing in a prickling sensation I knew and loved so well, the thrill of the hunt. When I could contain myself no longer I reached up again and undid the clasp, then I began the delicate operation of slipping it from her throat. It took almost fifteen exhilarating minutes as I worked it free, exposing it’s; length over the seat ever longer. Then it came loose, and with a swish curled up into my palm. As the last of it slipped away my victim stirred a little, sighing in her sleep, she cuddled in even more. I waited a few more minutes, all was calm around me.

  

I eyed the sleeping couple. Following her arm that lay around her husband’s shoulder I could see her hand. A glittery ruby ring sparkled merrily in the passing lights. The ring was definitely not as valuable as the necklace in hand, but the allure of acquiring it overwhelmed me. Now slipping a ring from a ladies finger is of course, no great trick. If she happens to be sleeping soundly, like this one, its rather as easy as taking it from a baby.

******************

(Which for the record I have never done, preferring my victims to be of a mature age. A mantra from which I have only strayed from once, for every rule commands an exception!

 

The exception for this rule was a matching set of sparklers; dangling cascading earrings, wide “lace” style necklace, bracelet and a brace of rings, all of it small and dainty, all of it quality diamond ,and best of all, invitingly obtainable.

 

Because the young miss laden down with those petite diamonds was all of fourteen years of age. And, as for the glossy taffeta gown that clung charmingly to her girlish figure? It cried out to even the most novice of us pickpockets to use its sleekness to execute a nimble “slip up and flick” maneuver to relieve this little squirming princess of some piece of her jewelry.

 

It had definitely been worth the Crown I had expended to the well-dressed young lad with a solid gold pocket watch hanging from his vest, to spend at the penny arcade, located in the bazaar across the street…. It successfully lured him temporarily away from the richly attired kid sister wearing the diamonds in question. He had been keeping an eye over her, a job for which I could tell he had been grudgingly delegated with, and which he happily abandoned; leaving the diamond laden impish young sister vulnerably exposed to the harsher realities of life.

 

I used the procured opening to cross the young sister’s path and with a perfectly timed ploy caught her in mid stride, the fingers of my right hand grabbing her by the gown’s sleek midriff causing her to totter over my arm. The fingers of my left moved in at the same moment.

 

The gown had indeed tingled quite pleasantly underneath my left hands fingers as they glided up along her taffeta slick back to lift up and break open the clasp of the silver chain, from which hung the dangling diamonds dripping down along her gown’s full neckline; As I gently plucked and straighten her gown with my right hand, my Left hand delicately began to pull away the necklace. I asked the young miss her where she was off to in such a hurry. She told me, in quick nervous breaths, that she was looking for her brother. As I listened intently, my left hand tugged, then slipped free her necklace, spiriting it away from her heaving chest with a muted swish. I watched it disappear, flickering its protest, as I held its pretty mistress’s attention. I pocketed it as she followed my pointing finger to the bazaar across the street where I explained her brother had gone.

 

I watched as she happily scurried away from me, blissfully naive that her necklace no longer was merrily bouncing along her chest as she moved. It was just then a rather full bosomed lady passed me by, nose in the air, a ruby brooch precariously perched in the cleavage of her low cut rustling gown. I followed, my mind calculating the risk.

 

***************************

 

As the train gently rocked back and forth I kept my eyes focused on the sleeping woman’s ring, first I licked my lips, then my fingers. Reaching up I gently slipped my fingers along hers, moistening them. Then I felt for her ring, and slightly lifter her finger, carefully worked the jewel off by rocking it back and forth between my fingertips. Once I had it over her knuckle, I stopped to catch my breath and look around, all was still quiet. I easily pulled it off the rest of the way, than lay back and closed my eyes. Soon both of them were snoring regularly. I than arose, stowing away the necklace securely, and walked silently amongst the other sleeping passengers. Unnoticed by anyone, I regained my car, took my seat, and laying back I closed my eyes, and happy with myself, fell into a deep sleep.

   

October 12, 192

 

The next morning I awoke to a bright sunrise, refreshed and satisfied with the previous evening’s effort. I now settled back comfortably and watched the scenery. There appeared to be no noticeable commotion at my end of the train over my nighttime activities. But it is the reason I stayed glued to my seat for the rest of my journey, and the reason I would make a rather informal acquaintance with Sophia and Arthur Caboyt.

  

The seat in front of me was occupied by a priest traveling with his rather ancient mother. Nothing that they were discussing had captured my interest the day before. The priest was spending the morning reading his bible, his mother snoozing, so it appeared neither would be saying anything to peak my interest this morning. So I closed my eyes, placed a thought in my head, and started dozing…….

 

***********

She was a beauty, a ravishing brunette clad in a long purple satiny number. Her jewels were all sapphires, sparkling as she walked somewhat unsteadily up the path leading her away from the sanctity of the castle keep. I was following with curiosity, having seen her slip out the back way, looking for the entire world like a child sneaking out on her parents. She reached the top of the hill where it opened into a small glen. Off to the side lay a dark lake of calm water. As she stood by a cement bench on the bank of the lake the moon peeked out through the clouds, placing her in a pool of light. A pair of white swans swam over in curiosity. She bent down and lifted out her gloved hand to them, her rings and bracelet glistening radiantly.

She was not yet aware of being followed……

******************************

  

I must have fallen asleep, for next thing I knew I was rudely awakened as the train was ratcheting to a stop, whistle blowing. When the train finely halted, The priest and his mother departed. I still was going on for a distance so I kept my seat. I bid them a silent adieu; nothing about them had held my interest in any shape or form.

  

But the newcomers who took their seat turned out to be a whole other story.

  

A rather stern faced husband had escorted his chattering wife and basically maneuvered her into the seat. She was clad in a long silky, rather form fitting dress. She was wearing a nice display of glistening white pearls, and her fingers were home to several sparkly rings. By the way the pair carried themselves; I had no doubts the fair maidens jewels were the real McCoy. As I watched the diamond clasp of her pearl necklace from behind I again closed my eyes, once more reminiscing about the train ride on my first leg of the journey.

  

But this couple did not appear to be of the snatch and slip into the shadows type of prey to me. I opened my eyes, wide awake, my interest peaking as the wife’s shrill voice penetrated into me. No, I smelled real opportunity being handed to me by fate. Let me explain. In my line of business I had become a quick study of a person’s character. His was obviously that of an important ( in his mind) president( probably a bank) used to controlling all aspects of his life, including his wife. She was a quarrelsome chatterbox who was as opinionated as they come. My guess is that that he only had married her for her money, why else would he have put up with her? His name was Arthur, Hers was Sophia, and the last name was Caboyt, which perked my interest even more. Caboyt being a well-known name of a wealthy family from the large city where I had grew up as a child. The couple was attending a Charity Ball at some rather ritzy sounding establishment in a City four stops before mine. The more I heard, the more I smelled money to be made. So it was without a thought that I rose a minute after they did, and got off on the same stop, forgoing the rest of my travel plans. I quickly stashed my luggage in a locker and got out onto the street in time to see them getting into a hotel taxi.

  

I went in, collected my bags and hired a taxi to take me to an inexpensive hotel that he recommended. I checked in, prepaying for three nights to cover my tracks, threw my luggage on the bed. I looked in my stage case, and selected a reddish wig and matching moustache, trying them on for effect. Adding a pair of black, horn rimmed eye glasses completed the disguise

  

I grabbed another taxi had him drive me to the hotel they were staying at. Paying him off ,I crossed the street and positioned myself in a park. It was now early evening, the sun just dipping below the tall buildings.

  

I studied the situation from the park while sitting on a bench. It was older, with balconies extending outside each of the rooms. The balconies were cement rimmed, with low rails. If I could get a room above or below theirs, It would be a short, easy rope climb to their balcony. I went inside and inquired about available rooms for the next evening, the evening of the ball. As the clerk leafed through his book I studied the registry and soon located Sarah and Henry Caboyt’s listing. It was better than I had hoped. They couple were in room 311. 313, 413 and 213 were taken for the weekend but 315, right next door was available. Containing my excitement I took it, prepaying for two nights, giving the clerk a false ID . I explained that my luggage had been delayed, and that when it came I would just take it up myself.

  

I returned to the other hotel, and dressed and went out for dinner, forming my plans as I ate. Returning I packed a small valise, put on evening attire, and snuck out via a back stairway that led to a now shadowed alley.

  

Walking out I went up the street bus stop and hailed a taxi. He gave me a suspicious look as I gave him the name of a fancy hotel that was a couple of blocks away from where the Cabot’s, and I, were staying: but I put on my bigwig demeanor and ignored him. He let me off and as I made sure he drove off, went up the block and entered my new hotel, heading straight for the elevator, not even gaining a second glance from the well trained operator. I went into my room, whistling at the fancy digs, before setting up the groundwork for my little operation.

  

That evening I sleep soundly, almost falling deeply again into a dream.

***********************************************

I found myself in her room once again. There were two of them. Identical twin sisters who occupied adjoining rooms in the old keep of the ancient stronghold that had been turned into a posh resort for the ultra-rich.

 

They had both been attending the extravagant ball being held in the old main chamber of the castle. But one had been ill and left early, planning to take a strong sleeping draught to fight her ailment.

 

Making sure the remaining sister was still going strong at the ball, I melted away into the shadows, breaking into her room before the twelve strokes of midnight had sounded in the large grandfather clock at the end of the hall. It took no effort on my part; she had conveniently left her velvet jewel pouch on the nightstand. I quickly scooped out its contents in a couple of shimmering handfuls. It was going to be a good night I told myself happily.

 

I went to the door that joined the room where her twin was sleeping. I cautiously opened it, and then slipped inside.

 

She looked so beautifully innocent as she slept, her brown satin pajamas shimmering in the light of the full moon streaming through an open stone cased window. After a bit of searching I found her jewel case tucked under the pillow she was laying on. I had discovered it while sliding my hand underneath, and I now began to work the calfskin leather case free. As I did I saw something glimmer faintly in the moonlight? Looking closer I realized she had no removed the pendent she had been wearing around her neck. It was on a gold chain, a ruby surrounded by small diamonds. I freed her jewel case and quickly emptied its contents, only one brightly glistening handful, which joined her sister’s collection in my satchel. I then pulled back her hair and felt for the clasp of her necklace. Locating it I slid it into my view and unclasped it. Picking up one end I lifted it from her throat, and gently pulled the other end from beneath her. It went perfectly; she never stirred as I took it from her. One a whim I peeled back ever so gently the long sleeves of her pajamas, . One her left wrist she still wore a ruby and diamond bracelet. Lifting her wrist up enough so my fingers could reach I undid the clasp and pulled it free, hanging like a wide sparkling snake.

 

I listened at her door, all was quite. I stole away, sneaking down the old servants back stairway. It was as I was edging around the building to make a bolt for the woods and my escape, that I saw her. The twin, who had stayed at the ball while her sister slept, was now lurking outside. She had no idea she was being watched. I eyed her sapphire jewelry sparkling along her pretty satin gown. I could tell she was up to something, as she hesitated, then assuming no one was around, headed off onto the path leading to a small lake. I followed without a second’s hesitation……..

 

************************************************

 

October 13, 192

  

The next morning I arose late, refreshed and ready for whatever exploits the day would hold for me.

  

After checking out my surroundings, including the balcony, I took a long hot shower and stretched out, waiting like a lion in the brush. Late afternoon I made my way down to the lobby with a book and nestled in a shadowy corner to wait. My plan was to watch them leave, follow them to gauge how long it would take them to return, head back, enter their room via the balcony and pilfer the room of its valuables and exit stage right, before they returned. I was banking on a fat jewel case. The rooms had no safes.

  

I sat, I observing my fellow guests coming and going about their personal business. Soon I noticed more and more of them in evening dress, heading out for a night on the town, which was a treat in and of its self. I did perk up when a lady clad in a long black velvet dress, matching gloves and pearls, walked down the stairs. As a pearl hanger, she would have been a tempting target. Pearls were always easy to pawn, and hers were a rather nice set. She seemed to be the easily distractible type, and easily distractible types who wore expensive jewels had always been my specialty. But I already had my mind set on Sophia Caboyt’s jewels that evening, So I let her slip away, watching her long gown swish about her pleasant figure.. Bird in the hand I thought, wistfully hoping that would prove to be the case.

  

An hour later I was rewarded as Sophia and Arthur came down. The couple was dressed to the nines for the evening, he was in a tux, she was in a long flowing glossy gown and gloves. She was dripping in diamonds, a full set. My heart sank, I wanted those diamonds, Quickly as I watched them I revised my plan. She was wearing a small fortune. I was sure that whatever was left in their room was probably not worth nearly as much, even the pearls.

  

I than sat and pretended to read my book for about another two hours while my mind went over several new plans of action. Accepting one of them as feasible, I rose and headed back up to my room. Lost my disguise, packed my valise for a hasty exit, put on my mask and gloves, turned out the lights, carefully opened my balcony door, and from a vantage point where I could see their room, I waited for their return. Breaking into a room with sleeping occupants was something I would rather not do, but oh, well, I would have to creep a little more carefully. Hopefully they would return home tipsy and sleep deeply.

  

Three and one half hours later the lights went on in their room. The balcony door was opened and Sophia came sweeping out, her jewelry blazing in the street lamps light from below. I watched with growing anticipation as she leaned out and looked onto the view below, her necklace and long earrings swaying out over the void, careful I thought, don’t let the pretty things fall. Her husband voice came out of the room inside, calling to her in an angry tone. “Sophia, I don’t believe it, they gave me the wrong top coat.” She sighed, gathering air, Are you sure she snapped, yes he said, my gloves are not in the pocket. She turned and went to the door, Go back tomorrow she decreed. I am going back now, he rebelled, and giving them a piece of my mind, I tipped that idiot 5 shillings. I heard the door slam. As it did, she had continued telling him not to go.

 

He had left and my mind started buzzing. What is he up to? He had no real reason not to wait, unless he was really that much of a hot head. If that was the case, He would easily be gone for an hour, which would give me at least 45 minutes to work with. They didn’t appear to have been drinking, If I stuck with my original plan, when he returned, things would be a lot more sticky, especially if he was in a foul mood and couldn’t sleep.

  

My window of opportunity, small already, began to shrink even more. I could have just let it go, but no I scolded myself, I would forever be berating myself for letting the chance to make a major coup slip through my fingers. I decided to risk it. Sometimes you just have to roll the dice and see how things lay and hope, luck will travel with it. I quickly reformulated my plan.

  

I went back and pulled a small derringer and some rope from my valise. She had been wearing a satin sash encircling her waist, held with a brooch. Once she handed me the brooch, I would use the sash to gag her; and my rope to tie her securely to a chair freeing me to search her and her room for valuables. I smiled in wicked anticipation; I have always liked a good old fashioned hold-up. I looked at my watch, still a good 32 minutes to obtain her jewels.

  

Climbing between the two ledges I slipped onto their balcony, ducking below the side and waited. Nothing stirred. I slinked over to the window and peered inside. No movement. Waiting another eternal minute I decided to enter, Carefully opening the glass door so it let out only the slightest of clicks I entered. I saw a door on the opposite side of the room, slightly ajar I could hear the sound of water running. Sophia was drawing a bath. I couldn’t believe my luck. I wedged myself in a corner and waited. I could see her shadow in the crack of light emitting from the door, and then I heard her slide into the tub. Immediately I was on the move.

 

I had seen a glistening pile on top of a small table by the bathroom door. I went there first. On the table were spread out in a sparkling array the diamonds she had been wearing earlier. I carefully lifted each magnificent piece and secreted them into my small satchel, one eye on the outer door, and one ear on the occupant of the bath tub. As I made a complete sweep of the table I saw her silvery, shiny jeweled purse off to one side, lying on her satin gloves. I went through it and found a the wad of notes and a heavy gold compact and matching cigarette holder. Putting the items back inside, along with her gloves, I pocketed the shiny purse. Then I noticed her jewel case when I had come in laying on the vanity. I went over and opened it, my eyes rewarded by a satisfying collection of glittery jewels, gold and pearls. I and quickly emptied it of its valuable contents, a set of emerald with diamonds( necklace, earrings, ring and bracelets), several gold chains, two pairs of gold earrings, one set with small diamonds, a thick solid gold bracelet, and a rather nice 3 strand pearl choker, as well as the pearls she had been wearing on the train. I hadn’t seen this much ice lately outside a jewelry store. Closing the case, I slipped it into a drawer out of sight..

  

I did not see her gown with its sash and brooch. I snuck a peak into the bathroom; I saw a long flowing satin bathrobe, but no red gown visible. I hesitated, for I could see her outline in the tub, she was laying back with her eyes closed, a hand hung down, from which glittered a pair of rings. No, I thought, letting them go. I went to her closet; there was a gold gown, but not the gown she had been wearing. I looked at my watch, 9 minutes left; I was running out of time. I went back to the bed and circled it, keeping a close eye on the two doors. Looking over on the opposite side by the wall I saw something glossy on the floor.. There it was, the little darling had slid off and was hiding on the floor. Lifting it up, I let the smooth material run through my hands, feeling it through the thin gloves I was wearing. I felt nothing hard, laying it across the chair I looked under the bed, saw something silky and pulled at it. It came out like a shiny snake, with a large diamond studded head. There was the prize. I took the sash and the brooch and stuffed them in my pocket. 3 minutes left by my watch.. I went back to the closet and felt along a couple of her things hanging there, hoping to find a clip , or possibly another brooch, one a silky jacket I felt something hard, it turned out to be a gold pin of a humming bird with jeweled wings. I pulled it free. My time was up, and I had plenty,

  

Turning out the lights I Heading to the door of the balcony fortunately I heard them just as I opened the glass door. I peeked to the balcony next door, on the opposite side of mine. A couple was in the middle of an argument. A quite pretty lady was giving a tuxedo shirted male a piece of her mind. She was a long haired brunette clad in a long silk sheath, gold and black descending stripes. She was lecturing a harried thin gentleman in a white tux shirt, chewing him out in rapid Italian. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I stepped out in the shadows, closing the door behind me. I did not want to chance having the dejewelled princess or her husband walk into the bedroom and find me there. The minutes ticked by. I was mesmerized by the hand the Italian woman was shaking under his nose. The ladies’ Jeweled rings and bracelets flashing extravagantly in and out of the light. I will admit that after 6 excoriatingly long minutes I started to sweat a little. The show was quite fascinating, but I was expecting company at any time. And three would definitely be a crowd. She was not running out of steam, I felt sorry for the little guy.

  

Finally the Italian banshee ended her tirade. She ran into the room sobbing, he meekly followed. Just Than I about jumped out of my skin when I head Sophia calling out her husband’s name. Arthur she screeched, are you there yet, I have soap in my eyes. Do I dare, I thought to myself, those magnificent rings flashing back into my mind.

  

I moved swiftly back into the room, stealthily going to the bathroom door, looked around the door and stole a peak. She was holding her eyes closed, searching in vain for a towel, which had fallen just below her searching hand. The hand where the expensively jeweled rings she had worn into her bath resided. I moved swiftly, rapping on the door. About time she said as I handed her a towel. I took her hand, and kissed her soapy wet fingers. She smirked; don’t try to make up with me Arthur. I let go of her now ring less fingers. Turning I walked out swiftly, closing the door behind me before she had a chance to clear her eyes. Swiftly going back out the balcony door, I flew over the rail into my own balcony, and into the door. I waited for a minute without moving. The coast seemed clear.

  

I felt safe to turn the lights on. I hid her sash, brooch, jewels, and the silvery jeweled purse in the false bottom of my small valise. I put back on the red wig moustache and glasses and evening clothes. Then snatching up my case, I went to the door after a final inspection of the room. 65 minutes now had ticked by since the husband had left the apartment, leaving his wife and her jewels behind unprotected. It was time to make a hasty exit. As my white gloved hand touched the knob I heard voices in the hall. Damn I thought, she had taking the argument out of the room. Thankfully I heard the door slam. This was becoming a circus I thought, opening door a crack. The hall way was clear. I moved quickly down the corridor turning into another , down with lay my exit down a rear stairwell. I froze in my tracks. Now what I thought!

  

At the far end of the corridor, just passed my exit, was a wall where a full length painting of the battle of waterloo hung. The lady in velvet and pearls that I had been scrutinizing earlier in the evening sashaying through the lobby, was standing with her back to me mesmerized by the painting, her hands clasped behind her while she swayed to and fro studying it.. She was so enthralled by it that I probably could have walked right up to her and slipped the pearls from her throat and wrist without her even noticing me. Why not, I asked myself rhetorically. Setting the valise by the exit, I began removing my gloves as I walked up to her on the balls of my feet, silent as a cat. Pretty is it not I asked in her ear, she started, backing into me. I caught her as she twittered nervously. Sorry I said, steadying her. She blushed as she turned to me, giving me full view of the pearls around her throat. I kissed her hand, asking for her apologies as I turned and left her standing there. I heard the swish of her dress. I had been right about her being vulnerably captivated by the painting. The proof was in the pudding, or in this case the triple string pearl bracelet I had slipped away from her gloved wrist as she had bumped against me

  

I started down the stairs leading down to the lobby silently thanking whatever distraction it was that was holding Arthur up from returning home. Then, I saw him. I was coming down to the bottom of stairs I saw Arthur cutting through the lobby. I walked past him nodding as he passed raising my valise in salutation. He nodded back passing me without another look. He had a smile on his face, so he had received satisfaction from something. I too had a smirk on mine, garnering some satisfaction that he was totally unaware that a small fortune in his wife’s jewels was walking out the door right under his nose.

 

I left, holding my valise and headed down the street. I hailed a taxi, had him drop me off at the bus station, then went into my hotel and packed, before falling again into sound , pleasantly dream filled , sleep.

  

October 14, 192

  

I arose early the next day, leaving by the same back door to the alleyway.

Flagging a taxi I had him drive me to the shopping area by the train station.

I meandered around a bit and then, sure I was not being watched, made my way to the train station.

  

I than caught the next train heading to my original destination. After a long, leisurely meal, and a couple well-earned drinks at the bar I headed back to my seat. This time there were no brides with shiny necklaces, or Caboyt’s with their pompous arrogance and fancy jewels to entertain me. So I found one of my own making. As the train rumbled into the night I snuggled down and replayed the whole adventure, savoring every aspect until I fell into dream filled sleep.

****************************************

  

She must have imbibed more than I thought, for she walked to the bench, and taken a careful look around, began to undress. Watching the swans, she started by removing her jewelry, placing them in a pile that glistened in the moon’s light. She then stepped behind some bushes, and I observed her laying her gloves, gown and some silky nickers over a tree limb. I began to move back and cut along the woods to where she had undressed. A soft, subtle splash of water let me know she had entered the pool. Reaching her things hanging on the tree limb I looked out, she was in up to her chest, back to me, still watching the swans that had moved off a small distance when she had entered. I carefully pulled her clothes off the limb, then hid them behind a tree, , feeling the hardness of her broach, I unfastened from her gown. Then on all fours, keeping below the bench, I carefully crawled forward, inching ever closer to the glistening pile of rich jewels that beckoned me…..

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

DISCLAIMER

 

All rights and copyrights observed by Chatwick University, Its contributors, associates and Agents

 

The purpose of these chronological photos and accompanying stories, articles is to educate, teach, instruct, and generally increase the awareness level of the general public as to the nature and intent of the underlying criminal elements that have historically plagued humankind.

 

No Part of this can reprinted, duplicated, or copied be without the express written permission and approval of Chatwick University.

 

These photos and stories are works of fiction. Any resemblance to people, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

 

As with any work of fiction or fantasy the purpose is for entertainment and/or educational purposes only, and should never be attempted in real life.

 

We accept no responsibility for any events occurring outside this website.

 

*******************************************************************************************

 

************************

 

************************

 

Case Study 113 : Warning, these are the raw, bare unusual occurrences as originally chronicled. Some names, times, places and some facts have been, of course, altered.

Name: Angelica D circa 192__

Subject: an unscrupulous light-fingered body thief

Event: Posh Wedding Reception

Place: Upstate New York

Time: Warm early Autumn Saturday

 

Angie Being Receptive

Story line:

 

Angie had heard about the affair, a wedding, from a list of prospective functions provided by a discreetly paid contact. It was being given for the only daughter of a wealthy politician (as if there were any non-wealthy ones!) Angie had happily invited herself to the affair, carefully dressing up in her best for the special occasion!

 

**

Wedding receptions were by far Angie’s favorite hunting grounds. During the season there could be anywhere from upwards of 20 high end affaires every weekend in the bigger cities, and always 2 or 3 in even the smallest of towns.

Wedding s were usually easy pickings: free food, drink and entertainment, and seldom worn jewelry made for a ready-made mix for Angie to ply her trade. For Angelica D. was a uniquely skilled pickpocket, specializing in the removal for profit of the expensive jewelry worn by the (usually be -gowned) women and young ladies’ who hauntingly dwelt in societies upper crust!

So Weddings, by their nature, were the desirable choice for Angie. One only had to avoid the Bride, her Bridesmaids, and their court, which were usually the major focus of any security present. However, there were plenty of opportunities to be had by employing her special bag of tricks on the outlaying fringe.

Angie had arrived early at the mammoth facility, to scout out the establishment and to scope out who was wearing what. Used to these affairs either being feast or famine, she could quickly tell that in this one there was cooking up a devouring banquet.

**

After Angie had entered the mammoth reception room it did not take her long to spy her first plump prospect, nicely loaded with possibilities. It was a lady, bearing a haughty look, who had been making a b-line through the crowd as way was parted for her. She was wearing a luxuriously long rusty coloured sable fur coat that hid most of her long crimson -red satin gown. What Jewels were visible, ears, fingers and wrist, were all flashing with pricy fire. In tow she held the hand of a young girl, obviously her daughter, wearing actual makeup, which, along with her fetching gown and brite jewelry, made her appear far older than she was. A handsome man , looking like the actor William Powell in a tux, followed behind the pair, husband and father, Angie presumed. She shadowed the little family as they swished their way to a corner table, conveniently located by a rear exit, for a better look over. Her fingers had started with an all too familiar tingle as she took it all in.

**

The husband helped his wife out of the sable, laying it carefully along a bench against the wall. Angie was not disappointed. A silver necklace of large matched diamonds gracefully encircled her throat. A dazzling blood ruby and diamond brooch held up the center of her gown, positioned just below the bust line. Brooches, like this one, were worth a lot once fenced, but its placement required a little more dexterity and skill than she was willing to risk. In actuality, Angie had only attempted twice before to take a brooch pinned to a gown in this fashion. She had only been successful one of those times, only to find out it was a pretty piece of paste.( Years later, as Angie’s talents became more polished, relieving ladies of their dangling brooches, like this blood ruby, became her specialty.. the Eds.) Angie’s eyes moved on. The rest of the snooty lady’s jewels matched her necklace. Long earrings, free clipped, dangling brightly from her earlobe s. A pair of wide ruby bracelets clasped tightly home around elegant red elbow length satin gloves, sparkled devastatingly, matching her brooch. Her long fingers were home to a pair of ruby and diamond rings and a third ring set with a gold band and a vulgarly large solitaire diamond.

**

Angie’s attention turned to the daughter, whom had been helped by her Father , squirming, from the chocolate coloured satin cape that she had been wearing. The youngster, all of about 10, was wearing a cream coloured long puffy sleeved dress with a brown satin sash encircling her waist that matched her Cape. The young lady possessed impossible large bright eyes. The only thing that held more shine than those doe like eyes had been the antique rhinestone diamond necklace that fell dripping ever so invitingly down the front of the precious little imp’s rich glossy gown. The rest of her matching rhinestones (obviously belonging to the child’s mother) consisted of an engaging display of a bracelet, pair of dangling, screwed on clasp earrings, and matching rings encircling a chubby finger one on each hand. It all gleamed brightly, invitingly from her svelte girlish figure. A large round pin held her sash up in place; it sparkled with what looked like a ring consisting of one caret diamonds, as unlikely as it was they could be real.

**

The two females of the family presented a pretty package indeed. Not one to pass up an invite that alluring, Angie walked by , with the pretext of heading to a back exit behind the table the little family had staked, just so she could get a closer peek.

**

Angie’s practiced eye took in a wealth of information during the few seconds it took her to walk up and pass the group, so involved with themselves they never even looked her way. Her attention focused upon the young mother first scoping head to toe.

**

Angie scrutinized the brooch; it was definitely worth the effort. In her mind’s eye, Angie envisioned the mother as a stumbling drunk “bumping into” Angie. Fingers whisking along the slippery lustrously softness of the gown, as the lady was steadied. Angie would accept the women apologies and the pair would part their ways, Angie from the young mother, and the magnificent brooch from the rich satiny red gown. But then the mother raised her head, looking up past Angie, towards a commotion being made behind her. Typical Angie thought, she doesn’t recognize me, so I don’t exist, like some sort of servant. But it was as she caught the young mother in full profile that she realized this lady looked strikingly similar to another woman who had been wearing an expensive dress of teal charmeuse that Angie had had been having a long conversation with, while relieving the woman’s finger of a costly diamond sapphire ring. It had happened only just last weekend at a formal function, and Angie figured she may have not recognized her in passing, but may if Angie were to use one of her approaches again with the intent of taking some of her jewelry, he memory may be jarred, and she may remember her missing ring. This was why Angie only allowed herself to ply her trade for no more than a month in any given place per year. This was from a lesson she had learned early on in her career. And so, for that reason alone, Angie decided to, at least temporarily, abandon any designs she had on the young mother’s brooch, allowing her devious intentions to evaporate from her mind like smoke on the wind. There were plenty more fish in the sea she told herself.

**

Angie still allowed herself a quick appraisal of the squirming 10 year old. She admired the glossy dress of slippery satin that her mother had conveniently dressed her daughter up in, as it fell spilling down to her black open toed shoes. Angie’s fingers started to tingle; this was a perfect tickling gown. Angie liked to think of any long dress or gown that swept down to a females heels as a” tickling gown”. All it took was a strategically placed foot timed with a well place nudge to send the chosen victim tumbling. During the ensuing diversion, Angie would use her long subtle fingers to swiftly probe along the gowned figure, tickling she like to call it due to the tingling sensation of the usually rich material of the victim’s attire. In this fashion, a pre-targeted piece of valuable jewelry could then be easily acquired, no matter what its placement had been on the unfortunate female. If only the chatty youngster had something on better than rhinestones. It was a crying shame to have a child that young dolled up like an adult, but not wearing adult jewels.

**

Angie continued to walk past, unseen, and went out the door. She found herself in a large serenity garden of roses and shrubs, surrounded by a 10 foot high well-trimmed hedge. The sort of garden one usually found in those days around upscale Churches. The only exit was a gate leading onto the parking lot on the side of the church. Here was positioned a solitary, lonely guard in a neat little guard hut. In the opposite, far corner was a statue of Cupid, arrow drawn, standing above a display of blooming moss roses at the end opposite to the gate. There was always potential in places like these.

**

Angie had started to walk over to the Cupid statue when she heard the exit door open. Turning, she saw the young girl, whose mother’s brooch Angie had been scoping out, looking out the door. She snuck through, running out alone, silky tickling gown swishing out behind her. Her heart leapt to her throat as she watched the girls rhinestones sparkle radiantly. She actually turned to head towards the path the unsuspecting child was running up, flexing her fingers as she contemplating a little warm up practice. Angie watched as the dolled up imps necklace flashed with pinpricks of coloure as it bounced to and fro as she ran happily up the path .Angie turned her back to the girl, waiting to hear the telltale click of her heels come up just behind her. She would then move, bumping into the girl as she passed, tripping her to the ground. After which Angie would help her up, removing the girl’s fancy necklace in the process. Come to Mama Angie whispered under her breath, waiting to make her move as the skipping heels grew ever louder.

**

But then Angie froze, hearing the clicking of the exit door again opening behind her. She checked her stride letting the daughter slither past without a glance. She headed again towards the statue, watching her prize move on ahead. Then she heard the father in the background calling out to his little princess. The youngster turned, and ran back, beaming at Angie as she passed. Angie smiled back, her eyes again traveling to the girls neckline, and the sparkling jewelry the outlined her throat. It had been a silly thought she chided herself, as the girl passed from view. If only the necklace had been real, and the father about ten minutes later in discovering his daughter absence. It would have been an unbelievably easy pluck and she could be out the gate before anyone was the wiser. And the best part was that they would probably believe the scampering girl had just lost it in the garden. And, while the parents were looking about, Angie would have been free to renter to ply her trade again. As it was, it was silly of Angie, risking her opportunity on a child’s bauble worth a mere pittance compared to some of the other offerings so readily being flaunted this evening by her adult counterparts.

**

Angie continued her casual stroll through the Garden, happily playing over in her mind some of the jewels that she would like to see adorning the female guests inside, and the scenarios she may be using to acquire them

**

Finding herself approaching the guard hut, she allowed herself a glance back. Jealously she watched the father, who had caught and was carrying his slippery attired daughter, heading back inside. How Angie wished she had been the one carrying the squirming little imp, it would have been like a smorgasbord, with jewels instead of food. Pity her mother had not put the good stuff on the daughter, she sighed to herself. Tonight she would have to work for her butter. She walked past the bored guard, nodding at him, receiving a rather lecherous look in return. A smile was forming across her cunning face, for now it was time to get down to the real business at hand.

**

The affair turned out to be quite a showcase for the very rich. Who were indiscreetly flaunting their riches, trying to outdo one another, probably for the benefit of the politicians’ attention? Certainly not for the attention of the designer satin gowned and flashy diamonded daughter, whom most of the guests hardly knew, or had ever met.

**

Angie always felt like a little kid in a candy shoppe at these lavish affairs.

She spent the first part of the reception mingling and thoroughly enjoying the show her the reception’s guests were u wittingly putting on. Angie, wearing no jewels herself, was something of an anomaly compared to her fellow guests.

**

There were over a thousand luxuriously coloured, squawking female birds and their young chicks pompously displaying valuable finery, oblivious of the cat amongst them waiting to pounce. Angie patently mingled, watching as the adult guests had their fill of food and drink.

Once their guard began to relax, Angie raised hers’, her probingly skillful fingers now more than prepared to begin and ply her trade. For the more they imbibed, the less guarded they were, both about themselves and their female offspring. Angie would start with the adults, 2 or 3 of the right pieces of jewelry, once acquired, and would mean she could call it a night and have enough to support her for a solid month. If she came up empty in that department, her back up would then center on the female off-spring, daughters and nieces.

Most of said offspring would be by then scattered about, aware that their parents were no longer paying them any heed, exploring and playing, sporting their fancy satin gowns, silken dresses, and their dainty jewelry, ripe for the picking. Giving pickpockets like Angie endless opportunity to ply their trade on them, once they had finished working through the adults. Or if the thieves were beginners, plenty of easy practice while “learning the ropes!”

**

Now, when Angie herself was just starting out as a young pickpocket, she stumbled across a treatise written by a man using the pseudonym “Gaston Monescu”. Written around 1826, entitled the Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip, it covered the various tactics and moves used by master pickpockets.

 

Angie had studied it religiously, especially a ploy called the “Necklace Flimp.” This tactic was primarily used for body thieves working alone. Angie had been surprised to learn that a pickpocket could raise his/her skill level above just acquiring wallets. Having the ability to lift a woman’s necklace amazed her, not to mention the profit that could be realized. With practice, Angie had found that not only was it a good technique for acquiring necklaces, but it worked for other pieces of worn jewelry as well.

 

It was relatively simple process, but took a long time to master.

First part was to employ psychology and watch the potential victim for the unique movements and quirks in their personality and actions that could provide an opportunity for her skills. Then observe the selected piece the victim wore, for value, type of clasp, make, and accessibility. The second part was to employ a bump, slip, or grasp, and in one motion, flick open the studied clasp and send the piece away from the body by either pulling and palming, or dropping it to the floor or ground for retrieval later. If she was noticed, it was “sorry, miss, very clumsy of me” “here let me get if for you, no harm done?” Then walk away and let the waters settle before trying yet again (sometimes even on the same person!)

 

Angie had practiced the jewelry flimp until she had the technique totally mastered. Starting out first on specially dressed up mannequins in her apartment, than trying it on small pieces of cheap baubles worn by real women in crowded streets and stores. Then on younger, less guarded, better jewelry wearing young girls attending proms and social dances. Young looking for her age at the time, Angie had fit right in amongst them. Then, finally, she graduated to lifting the better jewels of the older, wealthy women attending society’s finer parties and receptions. And it was this path that led her here today, and would also lead several unlucky females to report missing jewelry to their respective insurance companies.

**

See Album “Angie having a Ball” for additional background on our master thief with the light fingers.

**

Angie now eagerly employed those useful talents learned from monsieur Monescu’s little pamphlet at the wedding reception. She mingled freely, carrying around a drink that never touched her lips. She watched and learned, her trained eyes missing very little. Soon, like that hypothetical kid in a candy shoppe, Angie’s head was spinning from so much to choose from that she really could not make any easy choice. So, she waited and watched patiently, knowing opportunity would knock.

 

**

 

Then, like it usually happened with Angie, the first genuine opportunity unexpectedly presented herself. Angie literally was run into a rather awkward, spindly lady in thick glasses clad in a fetchingly expensive costume consisting of a thick silver satin blouse with hanging ruffles down its front, combined with a long rustling tiered skirt that swept down to the top of her open toed silver high heels. Her diamond jewelry shone with exuberant flames as they caught the light from the many chandeliers that hung from the vaulted ceiling. The lady expressed frantically her apologies, placing a hand with well ringed fingers on Angie’s shoulder, where they sparkled merrily. No worries Angie said smiling, her eyes taking it all in without appearing to move. She let the frazzled lady leave, allowing her a head start, it was only sporting to do so.

**

Angie shadowed her quarry for a while, seemingly rewarded for her efforts when the lady managed to spill a bit of her drink down on her skirt. In a show of flashing silvery satin and diamonds ,she retreated and disappeared into a nearby powder room, with Angie following eagerly, opportunity knocking.

**

As Angie grabbed onto the closing powder room door, a mid- twenty something girl in a deep green velvet gown came out. Her only jewelry was a wide diamond bracelet wrapped around a wrist of the matching long green gloves she wore. Angie caught it out of the corner of her eye, realizing that it was as expensive as it was bright. But it was her friend, a willowy short haired pretty young thing in a glamorous Chocolate Satin gown that made Angie’s jaw drop. Her jewels, like her friends, were also sparse, but enormously pricy. The long white satin gloves that graced her hands and arms also held matching bracelets, thin, but each one worth the effort. But her real eye catcher was the row of authentic, one caret white diamonds that were rippling exquisite fire along her throat. Angie held the door for them, nodding to as they passed. Noses in the air, they did not appear to notice Angie. Then, with the ladies backs to her, Angie abandoned Miss silver satin and turned to follow. Angie got in behind the two with the intention of getting a closure examination of the clasp of the fiery diamond necklace Miss Chocolate satin was wearing.

**

However, Angie never got her closer look. For at that moment the tossing of the bride’s boutique was announced and Angie was overwhelmed by a mad dash of single ladies heading for the bride. On a lark she allowed herself to be swept along, losing sight of Miss Chocolate satin, but found herself right smack behind Miss Green velvet and her cheerfully sparkling diamond bracelet, a beautifully expensive piece that would have cost someone a king’s ransom. Angie’s fingers began their all too familiar tingling, eager for a chance to acquire jewelry that valuable, but not for any king, just for herself!

**

Though the night was still relatively early, and Angie still had visions of those exquisite rippling diamonds of the pretty Miss in chocolate satin on her mind, she simply could not pass up this opportunity. Angie wedged herself close behind her chosen victim as the multitude of hopeful young women pressed forward to try their luck. As the Bride teased her guests before getting ready to toss her bouquet of white and red roses, Angie expertly scrutinized the bracelet as it dangled from the green velvet glove. When the bride finally turned her back and raised her arms every one of the richly clad single women’s eyes was focused on the bride’s bouquet, Angie’s eyes were fixated on the bracelet. With the music playing loud, the crowd giggling and laughing, and all eyes focused on the gorgeously outfitted young long haired bride, Angie again felt opportunity knocking. Her pulse beating in rhythm with the music, she made ready to seize the chance when it presented itself. The roses flew through the air and all the women raised their hands high, looking all for the world like being involved in a stick-up. Angie timed it perfectly, snapping the clasp, and snatching the bracelet easily away from the gloved wrist of its owner as she raised her arms high to grab at the boutique. In her excitement, shared by everyone, Miss Green velvet ( who did not catch the bouget of roses) never felt a thing. Angie had smirked as she left the giggling group, stowing securely the purloined diamonds, as she imagined what it would have been like to watch that group robbed in a mass stick-up. The money that some enterprising soul could have made from that haul would have been astronomical.

**

She went to the open bar, lighting her first cigarette; she ordered her first real drink of the night. She could feel the coolness of the weighty bracelet in its hiding spot, and Angie, pleased with herself, calmly sipped her drink as she relished in the moment. The toss of the Brides Boutique was, in Angie’s experienced opinion, one of the three common events occurring during a wedding reception that were fertilely prime times for pickpocketing. (Editor’s note.. Miss D. mysteriously never divulged what she considered the other two prime events to be….)

**

She looked about without a worry in the world, coolly watching the antics of some of the younger women on the dance floor. She spied the young miss in the green velvet gown over in a corner talking in an animated fashion with several other women. Green velvet gown’s now bare velvet glove, apparently not noticed by anyone but Angie. One of her group was displaying some bright emeralds peeking through the long silver fur she was wearing, obviously she was leaving, and she was talking excitedly about something to the group formed around her! Nowhere in sight was Miss chocolate satin, too bad, Angie would have loved another peek before leaving.

Angie watched around the room causally, as the cold bracelet pressed expensively against her figure from its hiding spot. She eventually lost track of green velvet and her friends while finishing her drink. Setting down the empty glass, she decided it was time to call it a night. The bracelet now in her possession was easily worth as much as the 2 or 3 separate pieces she usually acquired at functions like these, added together! And, she needed her rest, Angie had a couple of plans the next day, one revolving around the female guests who would be attending an upscale afternoon prom fashion show a, the other, an evening opera performance (invited guests only, and her contact had managed to supply a ticket, at a hefty price!) No rest for the wicked, Angie told herself.

**

On her way out of the main lobby, she found herself leaving behind the very lady in green velvet whose bracelet was now in Angie’s possession. She was with the same gaggle of her similarly dressed friends, including the one exhibiting the emeralds. However, miss chocolate satin was still not visible. They were laughing and joking as they collected their assorted pretty wraps, obviously heading for a nightclub. If she had not already relieved one of them of a bauble, Angie might have invited herself along, if only to have a go at some emeralds. Angie hesitated about leaving withy them, then shrugged, followed the group out the door past the pair of bored rent a cops.

**

She remembered thinking, as she followed the elegant young princesses ,their fluid gowns peeking from under their various furs and wraps, how shallow the very rich could be. She wondered if Miss Green velvets friends had even noticed that she had had diamonds around the wrist of her glove, let alone that they were now missing. She wondered how long it would be before the bracelets loss was discovered. She figured it would be several hours, long enough for its owner not to be sure what place they had been lost. As young Miss Green velvet fancy gown and her friends turned right outside the exit, Angie turned left, heading towards the guard hut at the entrance to the garden.

She decided not to follow them but rather circle around the outside of the garden to give her victim time to leave.

**

That simple decision to make a left turn proved to be a major turning point in Angie’s fortunes that evening.

**

As Angie passed the hut guarding the entrance to the serenity garden, she noticed it was deserted.

It was as she was looking it over, that she heard the sounds of clicking heels moving fast, followed by the sounds of a young girl giggling. On the alert she stole to the backside of the hut, soon spying a splash of something blue and silky between the gaps of a couple of large bushes. Her senses on their highest peak, she began to move cautiously in, hoping the female making the noise would be in need of aid and comfort perhaps.

**

She soon spotted a young lady of about 14 bending over, hands on her knees as she panted heavily. Her back was to Angie, and what pretty back it was. She was nicely attired in a long gown of shiny material dyed deep blue like an afternoon, cloudless summer sky. The gown cascaded down along her petite figure, spilling out on the ground around her feet. Her hair was pulled back, easily displaying a pair of small diamond and sapphire earrings, not rhinestones for this one, but the real McCoy. Around one finger was a gold ring with sapphires, and from her left wrist dangled a thin silver bracelet with a row of diamond chips, both pretty, both valuably real. But it was her last piece of visible jewelry that stole the show. It hung, swinging to and from her neck on a thick braided chain of solid silver. On its end, like a hypnotists prism, was a silver pendent in the shape of a flower, with 1 inch long, pear shaped real diamonds as petals and a fully 2 inch in circumference center stone of deep sea blue. Angie watched it, her eyes following it for a full minute, its expensive fire sealing its own fate as Angie began flexing her fingers. Angie took her eyes off of it and looked around to see why the princess had been running. But all was still as the girl continued to peek through the branches towards the back door leading into the hall. Angie silently approached, and walking up to the pretty miss she bent down and in a friendly tone, asked who she was running from.

**

I played a joke on my sister, and now I’m hiding from her, piped the girl breathlessly, as Angie placed a hand upon the girls shoulder in a conspiratorial fashion, said shoulder made silky soft by the gowns half sleeve.

**

I know a better place where you can hide from her, Angie whispered in the girl’s ear, the dangling earring ever so close to her lips. The girl looked up, smiling, and Angie pointed towards the guard hut, and as the girl looked, Angie’s fingers glided up along the silky shoulder and lifted the thick silver chain up from the back of the gowns’ scooped collar. Come Angie said, and as the girl rose Angie’s fingers nimbly flicked open the chains’ lobster clasp, holding onto the clasp as the other end of the chain slipped down, allowing the pendent to slide free and fall onto the grass at the girls feet, where it lay shimmering. Angie moved her hand to the girls shoulder, squeezing it, while slipping off the braided silver chain with her other hand, whisking it back and away from the guileless young girl. Angie led her princess away from the spot and walked with her to the guard’s hut, still empty, where she had her hide neath the counter.

**

Angie turned and went back to claim the pendent, there still was no sign of any sister. She secured the pendent, joining it with the chain and bracelet, and headed deeper into garden. Her plan was to watch the hut and see which way the girl went after getting bored waiting. But as she skirted the perimeter her plans were changed when, upon rounding a corner of the path at the far end, she saw yet another back belonging to a solitary lady in her late thirties, clad in a long slinky yellow coloured gown of expensively shiny taffeta, bending over to smell the yellow roses on a bush. Instinctively Angie knew two things about her. One was that whatever jewels this lady would be wearing, they would be expensive, and the other was that with an expensive gown like that; the lady would undoubtedly be wearing her jewels. Angie suddenly became aware that her fingers were tingling, as an all too familiar whelming feeling again delightfully washed over her.

**

Angie found herself automatically turning back onto the garden path. She headed around the women and went down to the cupid’s statue, where now out of sight, she carefully hid the purloined bracelet, and still warm fiery pendent and its ‘fancy silvery braided chain..

**

She then headed towards the unsuspecting flower admirer. The ladies’ long brunette hair had fallen, flowing down the backside of her shiny taffeta gown. Angie could see rings and a bracelet gleaming as she was holding up the rose to her face. A long double rope of pearls hung swaying deliciously from her throat. Coming up behind her Angie stood watching; calculating until the lady rose and with a start realized she was not alone.

**

Pretty Angie said, her eyes on the pearls now draping down the front of her marks yellow gown. They are lovely, are they not? The damsel responded thinking Angie was referring to the roses. Just like the ones in the park, my husband and I walked through on our way to catch a cab today. Actually, I meant your dress Angie said complimentary. Thank you the lady practically squealed, I love the way it flows, and she swirled it about to show Angie, who got an eyeful of sparkly jewelry for her efforts. As she continued engaging the women in conversation, Angie decided upon attempting for the woman’s necklace of pearl. Seeing opportunity knocking when Yellow Taffeta pulled her long hair forward so it hang down the front of her gorgeous gown, laying silkily over one shoulder, nicely exposing the pricy necklaces clasp. Angie looked around, they were alone, out of site of the opposite end of the garden where the inside door was, and the guards hut with it’s pretty occupant.

**

Angie, using the marks interest in roses to her advantage, managed to steer the capricious damsel in shiny yellow over to the cupid’s statue. There, she placed a hand upon a silky taffeta covered shoulder, and pointed down to the shrub of moss roses growing at the foot of the statue . When she stooped down to get a closer look, Angie’s fingers whisked from her marks shoulder to the clasp, in a single effort with two fingers, lifted it by the clasp, and snapped it open. At that moment the mark cried “spider” and jumped up, backing into Angie, who watched helplessly as the pearls fell down from the damsel’s throat and slipped along the front of the yellow taffeta gown. They fell with a soft plop unto the ground at their mistress’s feet. Angie tried to lead her away, hoping to come back and reclaim the necklace. But as Angie pointed to another rose bush some distance away, the lady took a step forward, instead of back, planting her feet right onto the pearl necklace. Hey she exclaiming, what’s that, looking down to her high heeled foot? Oh, my pearls the lady squealed again, a glittering hand shooting to feel around her throat. Angie reached down, and reluctantly retrieved them from the base of the rose bush for the squealing lady in yellow . My husband would not have been pleased if I had lost these, she said as Angie held them, feeling their pricey smoothness.

**

She asked if Angie could help her put them on, my maid usually does this sort of thing, you know. Angie reluctantly complied, re- hanging the pearls as the pretty damsel held up her hair, and reluctantly redid the clasp. The Damsel thanked Angie by embracing her in a full hug, her diamond and pearl earring hitting Angie’s cheek. But Angie’s arms were being held by the hugging woman, so Angie was able to only watch the tantalizingly close earring sway free. Angie left yellow-gowned damsel in the garden, getting nothing for her efforts other than the feel of an expensive gown of the likes she could probably never afford to own.

**

With the pretty damsel hovering around the cupid statue, Angie decided to go back into the reception hall until the coast was clear. She carefully looked towards the Guards hut, and seeing that the guard had returned, figured the girl, so fetchingly clad in blue, had been rousted out, so that loose end was probably tied up. She just had to keep a careful eye out. The quite valuable bracelet and pricy necklace with its pendent were well hidden; there was absolutely no danger of someone stumbling over it.

**

Truth was, Angie had found her appetite wetted and once again visions of a lady in chocolate brown satin exhibiting a row of flashy diamonds, teased her thoughts. An accomplished pickpocket like herself had a couple of well-practiced ploys she could utilize to obtain a tight fitting necklace from its mistress. In addition, Angie was now determined to find her and to risk a try. She had really nothing to lose.

**

It took almost an hour of hunting amongst the now well liquored, gaily mingling crowd before Angie could admit to herself that there was absolutely no sign of the willowy lady in the stunning chocolate satin gown. Damn she thought to herself, those diamonds were something special. She shrugged it off, reciting in her mind a wicked little mantra of hers, “Another one who got away, a chance to lose her jewels to Angie on another day!” She strolled about pondering on what her next course of action could be. There had been no sign of the pretty girl in blue whose necklace Angie now had hidden away, and Miss Green Velvet was definitely out of the picture, so she felt that it was still safe to try to pluck one last bird or chick. In her hunt for the brown, Angie had seen several inviting prospects; one lady(purple satin, diamonds), two girls( ivory silk, pearled pin; red satin, gold necklace set with chips of precious stones), and now was weighing the risks.

 

It was at that point she once again espied the thickly bespectacled awkwardly introverted young lady invitingly wearing the thick silver satin ruffled blouse, which she had been tailing much earlier. And as Angie watched here, she again accepted the invitation. Her prey had appeared on the dance floor, being led around by a rather charming young man. That would make a dandy consolation prize Angie drooled to herself happily as she took in the sparkling show put on by the dancers jewels.

**

Angie looked her over, reacquainting herself with the jewels she so nicely was displaying. A pair of long earrings cascaded down from her earlobes where they precariously held on by antique silver claps. Angie relished the opportunity to “flimp” pairs of earrings like these. Heavily jeweled, each one was worth a tidy sum. Angie mulled this as she continued to study the jewels of her appealingly dressed new target.

**

The girl’s only ring was a solitaire diamond of at least 3 carets on a thick solid gold band worn vulnerably loose on her un-gloved, bare ring finger. A wide silver cuff bracelet with what appeared to be at least seven rows of matching, shimmering diamonds was dangling around her left wrist (she was right handed Angie observed) . The bracelet had a habit of lying over her sleeve, and Angie could see that it was a costly tiffany piece, whose clasp was exceptionally easy to flick open. A diamond pendent hung swinging from her satiny ruffles, held by an extravagantly thick silver chain with a simple , small eye in hook clasp. The Diamonds in the pendent were as shimmery as stars plucked from the night’s sky.

Angie remembered reading that in a poem from a book she had picked up years earlier in a library, while stalking a young mother in a satin dress, wearing an authentic Gruen Watch on one wrist, and a bracelet of diamonds on the other, that had gone into the library in pursuit of her young son running inside. Like that young mother, It was obvious that this lady in silver satin was not accustomed to wearing jewels, and that set probably spent most of their days lying in a safe. Angie licked her lips as she imagined what the other contents of that safe might look like

**

Angie moved in to allow herself a much closer appraisal of her potential victim’s jewels.

The young lady was totally oblivious to anything but the rather surprisingly strikingly handsome man who to all appearances was her Fiancée, who was holding her ever so close. But Angie was able to see enough of what she wanted to. The young Ladies’ thick satin blouse shone richly in the lights, moving like glistening wet liquid silver, while from her waist spilled the long black skirt with satiny tiers that swished and swayed nicely along her figure as she uneasily danced. Her jewels were bursting with colour as they played hide and seek with Angie’s watchful eyes. From all appearances, they were a mismatched couple. He seemed to know everyone and moved with a confident air, she was just the opposite. It made an enticingly intriguing package indeed for someone with Angie’s skills.

**

Silver Satin was the perfect “Gaston Monescu” type of mark, a perfect combination of classic mannerisms, clothing and Jewels worth anyone’s efforts to take. This was the only fly in the ointment that Angie observed. For by the bar she could see that two other sets of eyes were watching the same young lady in shiny satin and blazing diamonds. Angie intuitively knew they were drooling over acquiring jewels she was wearing.

**

She had noticed the pair of young men in loose fitting suits when they had entered a little earlier about the same time as Angie’s reappearance. They were obviously casing the jewels of any woman, young, or old, who walked past them. Angie knew their type, simple thieves, with no real skills outside of holding a knife in a dark alley to the throat of their victim while they unceremoniously searched and stripped them of their treasures. Angie saw that they were whispering amongst themselves and instinctively knew they were watching and waiting for the fetchingly clumsy silver clad lady clad loaded with diamonds, to leave the “establishment”.

**

She is mine Angie whispered, possessively snarling the words under her breath. She looked around as she thought about how best to handle the situation. Her eyes opened wide as she saw a familiar woman waiting by the coat checkroom. Perfect she purred, placing an unlit a cigarette in her mouth and heading over the bar.

**

She sauntered up next to them and ordered a drink, catching their eyes she asked for a light. As they obliged she took a pull and puffed out smoke, asking in a casual tone, “how about my jewels? Boys!” They could see perfectly well that she was not wearing any, and one snarled, “What’s your game, sister?” Angie snarled back in her best cop like manner, “We know what you boys are up to, and we suggest you both call it a night!” “Yer no cop sister”, they challenged, calling her bluff,” what’s your angle!” Angie calmly looked towards the entrance, perfect she mused as she saw their eyes follow hers, “Maybe not” she stated, “but see that lady being helped into the black mink?” “The shiny yellow dame?” one of em asked? “ “yes”, Angie replied taking a puff on her cigarette before going on, “ well that man’s she’s with used to be mine .” “ Now, I aint one to hold a grudge, but, those pearls she’s waltzing around with are worth plenty. And her rings, they are an easy two grand alone.”

**

Angie could tell she had captured their interest, and that they were now paying rapt attention to the lady in the thick yellow taffeta gown whose necklace Angie had almost acquired in the serenity garden. One of them looked at Angie, a suspicious look crossing his mug, “What’s innit for you sister?!” He demanded. Angie looked at him, dripping with sarcastic innocence. “Nothing brother, other than to make sure the jewels of the dame who stole my husband get home safely .” “I just worry,’ Angie went on, “there is a park in front of their residence and that dame in yellow likes to stroll through it to smell the roses after their cab drops them off.” They watched the couple leave, her expensive yellow gown sweeping provocatively at her gold high- heeled shoed feet. Angie looked them in the eyes and said smoothly, “ Gentlemen such as yourselves may want to do a good deed and follow them home to make sure some miscreant doesn’t spot her in those valuable jewels and mink. Not to mention her man’s gold watch and three hundred sawbucks in his wallet!” Angie winked at the pair, “If you catch my drift.” She added.

**

Still not totally convinced about what Angie was selling them, but equally unsure over who Angie was, both men got up and quickly headed towards the main exit as the last slip of an expensive yellow taffeta gown disappeared through the door. Smugly, Angie puffed on her cigarette as she watched them leave.

**

It was then that a hand was placed on Angie’s shoulder from behind.

**

She froze for a split second, before becoming aware of the soft mummer of satin, and of a slender finger was home to a sparkling sapphire ring. Angie smiled and turned around, facing the girl. Pardon me ma’am, she says politely, but do you remember me? Of course dear, Angie gushes while beaming at the forlorn looking miss in the fetching blue gown; I met you in the garden. Yes she confirms, but I lost my necklace somewhere and I was wondering if you remember if I had it on when we met? Angie’s heart leapt, bless this babe in the woods, thinking her necklace had merely been lost, never suspecting that someone like, say, Angie could have been the cause. She absolutely adored the trusting nature of rich girls this age. For that aspect of their purity had allowed Angie, far too easily sometimes, to lift many a jewel from well attired unsuspecting young princesses like this one. Who was now standing before her, miserable, her desirable diamond and sapphire earrings dangling ever so beckoningly, her sad puppy eyes pleading ever so sweetly, and her missing necklace closer than she could ever imagine.

**

No dear, I did not see you with a necklace, Angie lied coolly, as she reached out and stroked the girl tenderly alongside her face, her fingers touching one of the earrings. Angie was looking her fully in the eye, you didn’t lose anything else, and did you dear she asked with a concerned tone. The girl checked her earrings, bracelet and ring (Angie smiled to herself, silently thinking thanks for the info kid!) But when she spoke, it was with hopeful words laced with honey, If you want, I can help you look, my dear. The girl’s eyes lit up for a second, thank you ma’am, I wanted to, but papa said to wait until tomorrow when the light is better.

Angie smiled winningly, don’t worry dear, I’m sure its somewhere in the garden. Someone will find it, she promised, thinking to herself maliciously, and keep it for their own profit!

**

Thank you Ma’am she chirped, at the encouraging words that had been spoken, luckily she could not hear the ones Angie was thinking to herself, and turning moved off, her scrumptious gown swishing pleasantly around her silver heels. Angie watched, as the girl disappeared in the crowd Angie marked her direction.

**

Angie Imagined if the girl had accepted her offer, and she had left with the vulnerable, unguarded princess to search in the garden, and in the process help relieve her of her remaining jewels. There would be enough light with the gas lamps that lined the paths in the garden. Enough light, so that as Angie helped the princess look, her fingers could slip ever so delicately slip in and search along her shiny sky blue gown.

**

Angie licked her lips slowly as she fantasied about the search. The girl bending down to look under a bush, Angie placing her knee sharply in a certain spot below the girl’s armpit, temporarily numbing her upper body. Allowing Angie enough time to pull off both her earrings without feeling it,( this also worked well on working off broaches placed in upper parts of gowns and dresses, not to mention necklaces!) The bracelet would be no problem; it would be the easiest and probably the first, snatched off while the rich girl’s attention was easily diverted away. Since she was not wearing silky gloves, her ring would be the trickiest, but manageable, by either having her walk too close to a water fountain and hopefully having her get her fingers wet, or by simple holding onto her hand and tripping her by stepping on her gowns hem. And just like that, Angie would become that much richer, the rich girl that much poorer. And it all would be done without giving the girl any additional stress, like say she had run into the two muggers Angie had chased off. They may not have been content with just the jewels of a girl dressed as she was that they had found wandering alone in the gardens at night.

**

As Angie excitedly thought about these things, she had trained her focus back upon her original meal ticket, whom for the second time that evening had almost been allowed to slip through Angie’s light fingers. Watching with half lidded eyes, the still dancing couple not unlike a wolf watches lambs, waiting for one to make an ill-fated move away from the flock. The lamb’s fate was sealed, when a vivacious blonde in a long wispy silken dress cut in on the dancing couple. Asking miss silver satin’s fiancé for a dance. He obliged, leaving his shimmering fiancée unaccompanied, nakedly exposed to the wolf that was Angie.

**

More than one way to skin a cat Angie thought, tingling from the thrill of the hunt her prey, now in a reachable situation. She happily headed towards the spot where Miss silver satin had moved off to. A small table, located conveniently by a powder room. One the way she grabbed a half full glass of red wine off a table. Angie circled around young miss silver satin, taking a position up about two table lengths behind her. She casually scoured the area; most of the nearby tables were deserted.

Knowing the band would stop playing soon for the evening; most of the couples were out on the dance floor. All in all, the situation presented the perfect opportunity for some one of Angie’s persuasion.

**

Angie watched as the young lady picked up a glittery silver clutch and opening it, started to search inside. Angie moved swiftly, catching up behind her , tripping intentionally into her, splashing some wine onto the front of the silver satin blouse as the unfortunate lady dropped her purse in surprise. Oh my gosh, I did not see you, miss silver satin pleaded apologetically to Angie, more concerned over Angie’s feelings than her soiled satin blouse. Angie accepted her apology and, producing a lacey silk handkerchief, began to wipe themselves both down.

Angie’s practiced eyes swiftly took it all in. Miss silver satin’s pretty earrings swaying out vulnerably from her long straggly hair as it fell into her face. The clasp of her necklace was also exposed and within easy grasp. A s she reached out for the floor to steady herself, Angie’s eyes took in the sparkling ring on her now wetted finger and then watched the wide bracelet with its’ easily open able clasp slip up glitteringly over her sleeve.

The girl, now thoroughly flustered, started to rise, tripping over her slippery long skirt( with no help from Angie) Angie caught her, taking advantage of the split second opening she had been waiting for and Angie took it, making her selection as she steadied the poor thing with one hand, as the other caressed along a slick silver satin back. Angie’s long supple fingers darted in and deftly did their trick, this time with no spiders interfering. She quickly removed her chosen glittery prize from the distracted lady, who never noticed so much as a prick as Angie removed the expensive piece from her person in the confusion.

**

Angie secreted he shiny jewel as she helped miss silver satin collect herself. Than they rose, and Angie happily accepted miss silver satin profuse and obviously well used, apology. Then, as she fumbled nervously with her thick glasses, Angie laid a calming hand upon her shoulder, her fingers relishing in the richness of her victims sleek ruffled blouse. Miss silver satin was by now so distracted and embarrassed that Angie was all but assured of a clean get away.

However, as an extra measure of caution Angie intentionally jarred silver satin’s elbow of the hand steadying her eye glasses. Thus sending her glasses falling from her face to the floor with a small clatter, then Angie kicked them under a table before the startled lady could react. Angie offered to help, but the lady implored that she was okay, just needed to find her glasses. Angie left as Miss silver satin started to frantically grope around for her glasses, her silver blouse and remaining jewels shimmering brightly along their miserable mistress..

Angie took her leave, knowing that once she found her glasses, Miss silver satin would flee for sanctuary into the ladies powder room, buying her more than enough time for Angie to make her escape. Taking one last look over the dance floor, she blithely saw that miss silver satins fiancé was still in the clutches of the vivacious blonde-haired girl, still safely out of the picture. Angie made her way with purpose to the rear exit leading to the garden that she had used earlier, intending to head out into the serenity garden to collect the hidden bracelet and pendent, adding them to her purloined plunder.

**

As she walked amongst the mostly deserted tables, her mind went to the woman in yellow taffeta and imagined that right about now she would be standing with raised arms and a forlorn look. Ruefully wincing as the man who was holding her mink busily stripped those luscious pearls from the neckline of her tight gown, as the shiny yellow material gleamed in the moonlight! Serves her right for being afraid of spiders, Angie thought unforgivingly.

***

Angie’s mind also went to the poor young princess in blue with the missing necklace. She looked towards the area she had headed, opposite of the back exit to the garden. She reluctantly decided not to push her luck, there was a sister and parents to contend with, and she really had no time left. So she decided to call it a day, a rather successful day, and made her way to retrieve her loot.

**

Angie had now reached the now deserted table by the back exit where the lady in the crimson gown and blood red rubies had been earlier, along with her rhinestone encumbered 10 year old daughter and handsome husband.

**

She paused between the table and the bench, something was not quite right, She eyed the area around the dance floor for any signs of trouble that may be centered on the quite valuable jewels now in her possession. All was quiet, except for a little murmur behind her. Turning she looked at the bench and was shocked to discover the soundly asleep ten year old, using the long rusty sable fur as a blanket. What have we here, Angie thought, licking her lips wickedly?

**

Angie pursed her lips, checking the coast; spotting the young girl’s parents, still on the dance floor, a safe distance away the other side of the room. No sign of miss silver satin. No one else was nearby. Perfect. She went over, bending down so the table hid her. The child looked so vulnerably innocent, sound asleep as she lay on her side, facing Angie. She was clutching an arm of the sable like a warm fuzzy teddy bear, her ring sparkling. Angie gently tugged the mink from the girl’s clasp, and gradually pulled until the fur swished away from along the inert silken figure on the bench, where it fell into a pile on the floor. The child looked very innocent, very vulnerable, like a sleeping princess. An earring lay exposed over one shoulder, her necklace dangled down slightly askew from her slender throat, the pin holding her sash, all of which shone brightly now that it was exposed to the low lights of the ballroom, still called out. Too bad, Angie thought to herself, too bad the mother had not dressed her little doll in real diamonds.

**

 

Angie again looked to the dance floor; she could see the mother’s jewelry twinkling brightly as the child’s parents danced close, very unaware of anything else but themselves. She looked back over the girl, contemplating. But the song was winding down, Angie stooped to pick up the sable, bird in hand she thought, and placing the rich fur over her arm, stood just as the song ended. Looking at the exit door, so near and yet so far, she started to hasten to it, but checked herself as the band immediately started another, rather slow song that Angie knew quite well.

**

She hesitated, incredibly, everyone was staying on the floor for the final dance, she looked back at the bench, and the sleeping imps exposed jewels still shined, tempting her to come for them. Angie knew that she would only have about four minutes. Always open to new challenges, Angie chose to answer that sweet little invite that the necklace was extending out to her. Checking once again to make sure the parents was still obliviously dancing; she laid the mink down by the door and eased back to the bench. Kneeling down, Angie began to perform the delicate operation.

**

Lifting up the necklace she gently tugged it loose from around the sleeping child’s neck until the clasp appeared. She subtly flicked open the clasp, then shamelessly slipped the necklace from around its perch on the little whelp’s throat. It flickered like some slithering shiny snake, glittering as it came away. Like taking candy from a baby, Angie drooled happily, as she let the necklace run along her fingertips while watching the sleeping princess for a few seconds.

**

Her fitted cream coloured dress shimmered with expensive richness in the shadowy light. The poor thing was so soundly asleep after her long exhausting day that Angie figured she could have peeled the dress off her without causing a stir. This for a pickpocket would be the ultimate test, the pinnacle of her criminal class. But, Angie thought; if she ever had the opportunity to do so, it would have to be worth her while, like a shiny gown, an appealing sky blue gown with half sleeves and scooped collar. And the jewels would be sapphire drop earrings, bracelet and ring, not plain rhinestones. She licked her lips at the enticing thought of such a perfect “coup fera”, than told herself to get back to work, time was money.

**

She slipped her hand along the satin cape being used as a pillow and felt under the girls head until she felt the cold earring she was laying upon. Deftly undoing the screw she pulled it free, watching with delight as it came out from underneath.

**

Angie than, gently lifted, and nimbly stroked back the girl’s ultra-soft hair, exposing her long silvery earring. She pulled the jewel out and laid it out upon the child’s shoulder, where it lay, shimmering vibrantly. Then she reached in with her fingers and began unscrewed its clasp. Pulling it free she added it to her growing collection. She next lifted the hand that had held the warm sable, gently prying open her clenched fingers. The sleeping child never stirred. Angie gently slipped off the glittering ring. She then peeled back a silky sleeve, checking for the bracelet, finding her wrist was bare. The rest of the jewels were hiding securely on the side she was laying upon. Smiling wickedly to herself, an idea popped into Angie’s head.

**

The music was now almost to the halfway point, and Angie thought for a brief second that she should leave . Another quick scan assured her the coast was still clear, and Angie decided to press her luck, eagerly going back to work, putting her idea into motion.

Angie fingers felt along the sleeping child’s waist until she located the brooch. Quickly unfastening the brooch from the chocolate satin sash, she pulled it out. Watching as the diamonds caught fire and burst into vibrant life, unusually vivid for plain rhinestones she thought contemplatively. Angie plopping it in with the growing pile of the sleeping girls purloined baubles. Again reaching in along the warm waist, Angie gradually tugged at the now undone sash. The sleeping girl, unconsciously obliged by turning over on her other side, as the sash was pulled away.

**

Her arm with the ring and bracelet was now exposed. Lifting the arm , and peeling back the puffy sleeve, Angie found and unclasped the bracelet, slipping it away, then allowing it to dangle in triumph before letting it join its purloined mates. Then lifting the child’s hand she pulled at the ring, it was a little tight. Angie licked her fingers, and moistened the girls finger, than began slipping the ring off ever so gently from the along her finger. Almost there, Angie thought, as the ring joined its abducted companions in her pocket.

 

**

As Angie finished pocketing the last of the girls jewels, her victim whimpers something discernible in her sleep, her small hand feeling to pull up the missing warm sable she had been using as a blanket. Angie quickly looked around, spying a cheap linen coat hanging on a nearby hook, she grasped it and laid it over the stirring girl, stroking her for a precious few seconds. Then rising, calmly Angie snatched a shiny purse from the table, and moved off, unbelieving of her luck. She reclaimed the sable fur, and strolled out the door without looking back.

**

As Angie closed the door she heard the last notes of the song waning from inside. She licked her lip, that was close, but her luck had held. Now all that remained was to visit the Cupid Statue In the garden to reclaim her other prizes. As she reached the statue, Angie realized that she still had the child’s satin sash in her hand.

She smiled as she tied it, blindfolding the cupid statues eyes. Retrieving and pocketing the now stone cold diamond bracelet, and the young Princess in blue’s necklace with its shimmering pendent, she slowly looked around, the cost was clear. Angie coolly made her way to the gate, the bored guard offering to help her with the mink she was carrying. , Angie stopped, and handed it to him. Then turning, allowed him to help her on with it. He puffed out his chest as Angie gave him a sweet smile; she thanked him, then turned and disappeared into the darkness of the night.

**

Angie disappeared from view into the foggy evening, relishing the warmth of the sensuous sable. Happily contemplating the small fortune in jewels it had been in contact with earlier that evening, and also the small fortune she had walked out of the reception with in her possession.

**

The guard watched the spot for some time where the pretty lady in the expensive fur had vanished in the mists. He fantasized for a good few minutes, wondered what had been behind the enchantingly secret smile she had given to him.

Excuse me, sir?, a female voice coming from the garden startles him, he had never heard anyone coming.

He turns, catching an eyeful of a long glamourous, brown satin gown, worn fetchingly by a willowy short haired pretty young thing. Diamonds blazed from around her throat, caught by the gas lights, and from around her white satin gloved wrists as she raised her hands in a pleading fashion.

She continues, pointing to a young girl in a smashing blue satin gown, bending over looking for something in the bushes. My sister lost her necklace and pendent while playing around here earlier, did you or anyone find it? She asked in a rather seductive tone of voice9 not a common, it was her regular voice)

No lady, no one turned in a necklace. Thank you sir, and she turns away, her gown flowing out behind her.

He watches for a minute as she and her sister both move elegantly down the path, continuing their search.

He sighed, and turns away, babysitting rich dames he mutters under his breath, what a dismal way to make a living. Why won’t this affair ever end he asked himself, as he reached for his silver pocket watch to check the time. Damnations he said, not finding it nor its chain and fob, must have dropped it in the alley earlier where I had gone for a nipper from his flask. He sauntered off quickly to the alley located in the direction Angie had disappeared, abandoning his post.

Soon after, a pair of dark figures who had been walking on the opposite side of the street, and had stopped to loiter when they spied the guard talking to some posh broad in a shiny brown dress, saw the guard leaving his post. They quickly stole with sinister intent across the road and entered into the gardens, disappearing into the darkness.

*********************************************************************************

This ended up being Angie’s first big score, She got more for the rhinestone set then she had imagined, the small brooch taken off the brown satin sash had proved to have real diamonds in its center! Also the princess in silky sky blue’s pendent and chain had fetched a nice tidy sum. The jewels lifted from the ladies in Green and Silver also realized quite a handsome profit, as did the sable and purse.

if one includes the real diamond ring slipped off the finger of a silky dressed debutante from the prom show and her rather nice haul of a slim pearl necklace and diamond pin from the Opera, the whole weekend was unimaginably successful.

**

From the profit realized, she had been able to spend a pleasant month away in Monte Carlo, even indulging in the purchase of a rich red wine coloured taffeta gown to wear.

Which she pleasantly found that, when paired with her deftly acquired collection of dripping rhinestone diamond jewelry, she attracted wealthy young males with expensive gold watches and fat wallets like honey bee drones to a bright moss rose.

**

She also enticed a long raven haired, Miss, richly clad in emerald silk, to enter into her snare.

But Angie did not make an entirely clean get away. For the last jewel to be taken was the girl’s brooch , and before Angie could hide it with the rest, the girl spotted its’ glitter in Angie’s hand, and with a gasp had looked down on her dress at the now vacant spot where it had been dangling ever so provocatively for Angie all evening.. Angie smiled at the girl as she had looked up in confusion. The girl had placed a hand to her throat, startled when feeling it bare of her necklace. She looked at Angie in hurt confusion, her eyes wide with fright. Angie placed a finger to the girl’s lips, hushing any fuss she may have been thinking of making over her missing jewelry, and turning her back to the forlorn miss, Angie left, not looking back….

**

But that was a story for another day, so we were promised by Angie, giving us an all too familiar look of devious satisfaction at making us wait.

.************************************************************************************

Editor’s Notes:

Our Thanks to Mr. J. Gardner for pointing out the existence of Mr. Monescu’s 1826 guide

If you enjoyed our little story, please like and leave a comment.

And if you wish, describe what intrigued you the most about it…

Thank You

 

Hanbury Hall was built by the wealthy chancery lawyer Thomas Vernon in the early 18th century. Thomas Vernon was the great-grandson of the first Vernon to come to Hanbury - Rev Richard Vernon (1549–1628). Rev Richard and his descendants slowly accumulated land in Hanbury, including the manor that Edward Vernon bought in 1630. However, it was Thomas, through his successful legal practice, who added most to the estates, which, by the time of his successor Bowater Vernon, amounted to nearly 8,000 acres.

 

Hanbury Hall is thought to stand on the site of the previous mansion, Spernall Hall, and Thomas Vernon first describes himself as ‘of Hanbury Hall’ in 1706, and this and other evidence leads to a likely completion date of about 1706. The date of 1701 above the front door is thought to be a Victorian embellishment, but no building accounts are known to exist.

 

The main house is in the Queen Anne style, and has two stories plus an attic. It has red Flemish bond ashlar brickwork, with a tiled hipped roof, and large brick chimney stacks. A notable feature of Hanbury Hall is the painting of the staircase, hall ceiling, and other rooms by the English painter Sir James Thornhill. They include a small representation of Rev Henry Sacheverell being cast to the furies – this relates to an incident in 1710 when Sacheverell, a Tory, was put on trial for sedition by the Whig government, and dates the paintings to that year. The focus of the paintings around the stairwell is the life of the Greek hero Achilles, as told by a range of classical sources. They are surmounted by a large representation of the Olympian gods on the ceiling.

The original yalis were weekend or holiday homes. One would have to be very wealthy today to maintain a house like this as a second residence.

I've added Flickr notes to this photo to identify some of the objects of daily life from this era.

Remember the movie Smokey and the Bandit? Wealthy Texan Big Enos Burdette (Pat McCormick) and his son Little Enos (Paul Williams) seek a truck driver willing to bootleg Coors beer to Georgia for their refreshment. At the time, Coors was regarded as one of the finest beers in the United States, but it could not be legally sold east of the Mississippi River. Truck drivers who had taken the bet previously had been caught and arrested by "Smokey" (CB radio slang for highway patrol officers, referring to the Smokey Bear–type hats worn in some states).

 

The Burdettes find legendary trucker Bo "Bandit" Darville (Burt Reynolds) competing in a truck rodeo at Lakewood Fairgrounds in Atlanta; they offer him $80,000 to haul 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas back to Atlanta in 28 hours; Big Enos has sponsored a racer running in the Southern Classic and wants to "celebrate in style when he wins". Bandit accepts the bet and recruits his best friend and partner Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed) to drive the truck, while Bandit drives the "blocker", a black Trans Am bought on an advance from the Burdettes, to divert attention away from the truck and its illegal cargo.

 

That movie dates me somewhat... it was a blockbuster way back in 1977, and I thought it was a hoot. After seeing this rig, however, I realized if Bandit had one of these, the movie would have been over in a few minutes. It's hard to get a lot of comedy in over so short a time... memories wouldn't go as deep either... or would they? Shockwave is a custom built race truck equipped with three J34-48 Pratt & Whitney jet engines used originally by the U.S. Navy T2 Buckeye jet trainer. The combined 21,000 lb thrust from those engines produces 36,000 horsepower! Shockwave is not only the most powerful truck in the world, it also holds the record speed for Semi Trucks at 376 mph! The weather was cool with a lot of moisture evident... it only hit 364 mph on this day with a high air density. That's still pretty impressive... but does it have a built-in cigarette lighter? You never know when one of those might come in handy.

 

Jerry Reed, who played the part of Snowman, was also an outstanding guitarist, songwriter, and performer... he wrote and performed the title song to the movie, East Bound and Down, that you can hear here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRwQjTYfGI I knew all the words back in the day, as it provided background for my own driving abilities... I've slowed a little of late, but only a little, mind you. Thinking about getting a jet engine myself... wonder what the neighbors would think? The fun I could have with tailgaters might make it well worth the effort.

NOW CLOSED

 

PLANS TO BUILD APARTMENTS

 

The Staincliffe Hotel was built in 1869 as a house for the wealthy Hartlepool merchant Thomas Walker. The large villa was sold following Walkers death and the new owner added a billiards room to the rear in 1903. In 1921 the building was sold to Cresswell Gray, for use as a convalescence home for the workers of his father's ship building firm. The building was sold again in 1929 and converted to a hotel, the original conservatory was demolished in the 1930s and replaced with a ballroom. This large villa, formerly situated within very extensive grounds, occupies a large plot on the cliff top facing east over the North Sea. The building is of brick construction, painted and rendered, under a mixture of pitched and hipped roofs of slate. Its eclectic styling consists of several sections, including a main central section to the front of two storeys with attics and cellars, which has a shaped gable and a crenelated tower of three storeys.

 

Originally a private house and converted into a hotel in 1929. Large and again recently refurbished, this hotel is situated on the seafront with great sea views, outside seating on both a paved area and the lawn, a bistro restaurant and a public bar. Opens early for breakfast.

A wealthy families home alone a cobbled street, in Pompeii, Italy, with a tiled entryway complete with a guard dog. My only regret from my visit to Pompeii was that I could not stay longer. A thousand photos would not be enough and I would happily spend weeks there exploring the ruins. Truth be told when I was a kid I would have told you I was fascinated by ancient history and ruins and wanted to be an archeologist. If I had been blessed with a Math gene I would likely have gone into the sciences in some capacity that involved ruins, artifacts, and nature. If I could assist on a dig, even my now, my now mature adult self would be filled with childlike excitement! My next adventure coming up in March is a trip to Cairo, Egypt to check off another bucket list item of seeing and entering a a pyramid, seeing the Sphinx and Valley of the Kings and seeing mummies! Maybe a boat ride down the Nile, and then watching my daughter work her magic on the shoot for her newest designs of gowns for her Bridal and Formalwear shop! Our return nets us a day at Istanbul Market to shop before flying home. I seriously do need a return of Pompeii tho! Italy has captivated me,,,SO much to love about that place,

Hatchlands Park was built in the 1750s for naval hero Admiral Edward Boscawen and his wife Fanny, since then it has housed wealthy families, a finishing school for girls and even a printing press

 

Soft focus Look

 

The Palazzo Galloni is a vast and complex building. It was the residence of a wealthy bourgeois family of the 17th century. The main building, set aside from the embankment, is preceded by a low building, previously used as a warehouse for activities related to navigation in Naviglio. This is a simple tiled roof, supported by five large arches, of which one in the center leads to the courtyard. The other four large gates through which the carts of vegetables passed were walled up today and fragmented by small doors, balconies and windows.

 

Палаццо Галлони - это обширное и сложное здание. Это была резиденция богатой буржуазной семьи 17-го века. Основному корпусу, отведенному от , набережной предшествует невысокое здание, ранее использовавшееся в качестве склада для деятельности, связанной с навигацией в Naviglio. Это простая черепичная крыша, опирающаяся на пять больших арок, из которых одна в центре ведет во двор. Остальные четыре большие ворота, через которые проезжали повозки с овощами, сегодня замурованы стенами и фрагментированы маленькими дверями, балконами и окнами.

Explore: 7-16-09 (Position #162)

 

Bonus Shot for My Flickr Friends

 

This is one of the flower gardens at Bratenahl Place along Lake Erie in Bratenahl, Ohio, which is a very wealthy and exclusive suburb of Cleveland. I caught these two little men in the garden drinking beer and singing. Do they look guilty to you? View in large size to see if you know either of these two fellows.

Bristol Cathedral was founded as St Augustine's Abbey in 1140 by Robert Fitzharding, a wealthy local landowner and royal official. As the name suggests, the monastic precinct housed Augustinian canons. The original abbey church, of which only fragments remain, was constructed between 1140 and 1148 in the Romanesque style, known in England as Norman. Further stone buildings were erected on the site between 1148 and 1164. Three fine examples of this phase survive, the chapterhouse and the abbey gatehouse, now the diocesan office, together with a second Romanesque gateway, which originally led into the abbot's quarters.[2] T.H.B. Burrough describes the former as the finest Norman chapter house still standing today.[3]

 

Under Abbot David (1216–1234) there was a new phase of building, notably the construction in around 1220 of a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, abutting the northern side of the choir. This building, which still stands, was to become known as the "Elder Lady Chapel". The architect, referred to in a letter as 'L', is thought to have been Adam Lock, master mason of Wells Cathedral. The stonework of the eastern window of this chapel is by William the Geometer, of about 1280.

 

Under Abbot Edward Knowle, a major rebuilding of the Abbey church began. Between 1298 and 1332 the eastern part of the abbey church was rebuilt in the English Decorated Gothic style.

 

Rebuilding appears to have ceased for about a hundred years, then, in the mid 15th century, the transept and central tower were constructed.

 

Abbot John Newland, (1481–1515), began the rebuilding of the nave, but it was incomplete at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. The partly built nave was demolished and the remaining eastern part of the church closed until it reopened as a cathedral under the secular clergy. In an edict dated June 1542, Henry VIII and Thomas Cranmer raised the building to rank of cathedral of a new Diocese of Bristol. The new diocese was carved out of the neighbouring dioceses and Paul Bush,[4] (d. 1558) a former royal household chaplain, was created the first Bishop of Bristol. The new cathedral was dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity,[1][5]

 

With the 19th century's Gothic Revival signalling renewed interest in Britain's ancient architectural heritage, a new nave, harmonious in style with the eastern end, was added between 1868 and 1877 by George Edmund Street. The opening ceremony was on 23 October 1877. However the west front with its twin towers, designed by John Loughborough Pearson, was only completed in 1888.[6]

 

The bells have a variety of dates and include two from 1726, one from 1740 and two from 1789 all made by the Bilbie family.[

Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Diacentra spectabilis) is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae, native to Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan.

 

This is one of the many flowers in bloom at the world-famous Arts and Crafts garden at Hidcote, near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.

 

The garden was created by the talented and wealthy American horticulturalist Major Lawrence Johnston. Many of the unusual plants found growing in the garden were collected from Johnston's plant-hunting expeditions to faraway places.

 

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to view and comment on my photographs – it is greatly appreciated and encouraging!

 

© Roger Wasley 2015 all rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction for any reason is prohibited.

Goodness

Grammarly 06/03/22

 

Goodness

A story based on several quotes made by the incomparable Mae West

 

“There are no good girls gone wrong - just bad girls found out”

 

Lucy and Cade, a pair of giggling, exceptionally well-dressed, wealthy parent young ladies, are taking a night stroll through some gardens located outside a large party venue.

 

They spy a long blonde-haired figure milling about up in the gardens ahead. Resplendently wearing a long ghostly white satin gown, real diamonds sparkling with amazing brilliance down along her full figure.

 

Feeling by the way she is dressed that she is one of their fellow party guests, the pair approached.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Mae, sultrily taking a puff from her long thin cigarette, greets the two girls.

“Hello ladies, out for a stroll also?”

 

Lucy

“Yes we are, lovely party isn’t it, and the grounds outside are very peaceful.”

 

Reaching out her hand.

“My name is Lucy and this is my friend Cade.”

 

Mae takes up the girl’s hands in turn

“Very nice to meet you both. My name is Mae.”

 

Mae adds, whilst looking both young ladies up and down.

“If I may say, my the pair of you look just sumptuous. Those dresses you both wearing are very lovely, satin aren’t they? Absolutely Adorable.“

 

Both girls twitter

 

Lucy

“Thank you, Mae, we had a devil of a time picking and deciding what to wear this evening. Yours is very beautiful too. Is it a Doir like ours?”

 

Mae, lifting her gowns white skirt

“This old thing? I’m afraid you never heard of this designer. Arsene, I believed he was French. But Thank you for your compliments. You two are just the sweetest dolls .”

 

Cade and Lucy both blush, then begin to tell Mae how much fun they were having that evening.

 

Mae, after a few minutes of listening to the chattering girls, cuts in.

“Cade, Did I overhear you say your boyfriends are here with you two? I would love to be introduced. “

 

Cade

“Sorry Mae, I said they are not with us, they both had other plans. Lucy and I had to come alone to the party.”

 

Lucy

“Our parents don’t know we came without chaperones, otherwise they would not have wanted us to come out here on our own.”

 

Mae reassuringly

“No chaperones? Well, your secret is safe with me, have no fear of that. But why wouldn’t your parents have allowed you two to come alone my dears ?”

 

Cade giggles as she makes her dress swish.

“You know what parents are like. Afraid to let me go out alone dressed like I am, weren’t they now? Claim it attracts the wrong sort. But I’m not alone, Lucy is with me. And who really would care that I’m dressed like this?”

 

Mae,

“Good point Cade, I would have no idea who the ‘wrong sort’ are, nor why they would care how you are dressed this evening.”

 

Lucy, also giggling

“My parents were the same way also. Then, my Auntie, she said I shouldn’t ever go out alone wearing my evening jewels.

 

Mae

“Really Lucy? I wounded why your nosey Auntie would ever say such an odd thing?”

 

Lucy shrugs

“I asked her what she meant by it, couldn’t give me a reason. Silly bird. “

 

Mae

“I agree, it’s silly, jewels are made to be worn out. And I think it’s smashing that you two were daring enough not to listen to such frivolous advice and come out wearing them this fine evening.”

 

Lucy

“Parents can be such killjoys. and I’m glad too that I didn’t give Auntie a listen this time about not dressing up. I feel so very pretty.”

 

Cade shakes her pretty head in agreement.

 

Mae

“And you both are delightfully pretty this evening.”

 

Mae continued on

“Rather Sounds like you two have been having a brilliant time. I could show you around, but I would imagine your parents have also warned you about meeting up with strangers at parties.”

 

Cade sweetly

“They did, but your not a stranger. Your very sweet.”

 

Lucy chimes in

“No Mae, your not what they meant atoll to be wary of. We’re sure.”

 

Mae,

“My goodness, such dears. I really must give you both hugs for being so sweet.

 

Both girls gladly enveloped Mae in tight, all-encompassing hugs.

 

Mae

“Thank you. Never really sure why strangers are given a bad rap. You two are also strangers to me, and I have no worries.”

 

Cade

“Well said. We’re friends then. That’s decided. “

 

Lucy smiles at Cade. Brushing a rose petal off from her friend’s dress.

 

Mae, watching them

“Cade, your adorable frock is smashing. May I?”

 

Cade blushes, nodding her head.

 

Mae, caressingly stroking down along the rich satiny material of Cade’s expensive dress

“I’ve just come from the swan pond. They have the most downy soft wee ones, probably as soft and adorable as your shiny frock Cade. Would you like to see it?”

 

Cade

“Really, little baby swans? I would love to go and see them. What you say, Lucy?”

 

Lucy shakes her head, yes, magnificent diamond earrings glittering up and down their long length.

 

Mae smiling turns her head towards the dark woods.

“It’s not far. Come along you two, this will be fun!”

 

With youthful innocence, they both fall in step alongside Mae, who leads them down a winding path through the woods.

 

In their heels, progress is slow for Cade and Lucy. Mae is having no problems with her flat slipper-like shoes. After ten minutes of walking pass by...

 

Mae

“Ah, here we are, just up and around this bend. “

 

Cade

“Ooh can’t wait. This will be so such a lark.”

 

Lucy nods,

“Being out here in the woods away from everyone, this is so exciting. I could just imagine a highwayman or something is lurking about within them.”

 

Mae looks at the pair of party girls

“Lucy, you have quite the imagination, but I doubt there’s been a highwayman in the area for several hundred years. But let’s hush now, must be quiet. And yes this is quite exciting for me also. Very pleased to be out here alone with you two as company.”

 

Cade, stopping and looking around, possibly now a bit worried...

“I feel very safe out here with you Mae.”

 

Mae, patting both girls and squeezing their shoulders.

“Let’s get on with it then, my pretty ones.”

 

They turn the corner, reaching a disappointingly sinister-looking small black water pond, surrounded by deep woods.

 

Lucy, fingering the diamonds glittering along her gown’s shiny top

“Where are the baby swans?”

 

Mae puts out her cigarette on a tree.

Give it time my dears. Lucy, your earrings are amazing, may I?”

 

Lucy, holding back her hair as Mae runs them through her fingers.

“Thank you, Mae. Can’t believe my Auntie really tried not to let me wear diamonds out this evening. They make me feel like a princess. “

 

Mae

“And so you do look like one. I’m so glad you didn’t fall for your Aunties foolishness. Your earrings are just too gorgeous.”

 

Mae, turning to Cade

And you also Cade, your jewels are just the most delicious things. May I have a closer peek at those absolutely adorable rings you have on?

 

Cade, turning away from her vigil over the dark waters of the pond, obediently holds out her hand with its ring-encrusted fingers.

 

Mae looks them carefully over, taking in Cade’s flashy diamond bracelet as well.

“Cade, these are just brilliant, thank you for allowing me to look at them up close. You’re a perfect dream wearing these.”

 

Cade, blushing, placing the same hand on her shimmery necklace dripping down from along her throat

“Your welcome Mae, I feel like I’m in a dream wearing them. But for goodness sakes, what beautiful diamonds you have on, simply the cat's pajamas.”

 

Mae, smiling like the cat who got the canaries.

“Actually Cade, goodness had nothing at all to do with it !”

 

Lucy giggles nervously as she feels a chill for some unknown reason.

“Mae, that’s funny, whatever do you mean by ‘goodness had nothing to do with it ?”

 

Mae

“That’s a good question, Lucy. Would you and Cade like to hear a story I have that may explain?

 

Both Cade and Lucy nod their heads, as their diamonds flicker with amazing brilliance in the small moonlit glen.

 

Mae begins her “Goodness” tale

“Well, there was once a snooty young mother who had come from a wealthy family. She loved to dress up in fancy clothes and jewels. She had her snotty young daughters dress up in the same manner. And unlike your parents Lucy and Cade, she saw no reason that they should not be allowed out exploring alone when dressed up, even when wearing good jewellery.”

 

Mae pauses as Cade and Lucy shake their heads in agreement. Their desirable jewels twinkling out.

 

Mae continued

“And the husband and father being a member of parliament, the 3 of them were out on their own, a lot.

On the evening of my story, all three girls were attending an evening wedding reception at a venue much like this. The young mother was wearing a silk white blouse with a long shiny black skirt, her daughters, much like you two, were clad in satin evening dresses. All three were wearing real pearl jewellery. The daughters were also wearing diamond hairpieces their mum had put in, taking them from her own jewel case.

Later that evening, Ruby, the sulky youngest daughter (15) jealous that her Mum and older sister (17) are dancing, decided to go out alone to explore the gardens.

Now image a 15-year-old, formally dressed up, wearing real pearls and diamonds, outside walking alone? What would your Auntie say to that Lucy?”

 

Lucy and Cade both giggle.

 

Lucy

“She would have her knickers up, that’s for sure. When I was 15, she once insisted I change out of a silk blouse and remove my pearl necklace and ear studs before allowing me to go out to the theatre with my chums.”

 

Mae, chuckling

“That’s bollocks.”

 

Cade giggling

“ I remember her doing that, it was after your birthday party. She even tried to get me not to wear my rings as I went with you. She would have handcuffed Ruby to keep her from leaving I bet.”

 

Mae

“Well, actually the odds are in one's favor that nothing would normally have happened to Ruby. Especially as she was exploring the gardens alone, or so Ruby thought.

But then, from behind the wooded side of a hedge, she hears an odd noise, like someone is whispering for her from behind the hedge. Ruby goes around to the other side. A lady is sitting on the workman’s wood bench, staring into the woods. She dressed like she would have attended the same party as Ruby. A black velvet dress and shimmery diamonds.

The lady jumps as Ruby approached.

“My you startled me, thought I was alone with my thoughts out here. Well now, you are a pretty one. That’s a lovely red gown you have on, it almost looks like real satin.

 

Ruby

“It is real mum, my mother had it specially made for me.”

 

Lady on bench

“Hmmm, she said. Aren’t you rather young to be dressed in a real gown? I don’t know if I believe you. I suppose you’ll be telling me next your lovely pearls are real?”

 

Ruby

“But they are mum, mother said they were ir..ir..irreplaceable !”

 

Lady on bench, chuckling

“Shouldn’t be fibbing child. Next, you’ll be telling me your hairpiece is made of real diamonds.

 

Ruby, under duress, kicks a stone.

“Of course they are, came from mother’s case now, didn’t it?”

 

Lady on bench

“Listen to your stories child, and be careful of ruining those glittering red shoes you are wearing. Now come closer so I can have a good look at your supposedly real satin gown .”

And Ruby defiantly approached the lady to show her how wrong she was.

 

Mae paused and looked over at Cade and Lucy.

 

Both girls asked in unison…”What happened?”

 

Mae smiled as if she had a secret.

“Well, two hours later a pair of kitchen workers were sneaking a smoke and a beer back behind the garden hedges came upon a rather odd scene on the workman’s wood bench. A young girl, wearing only her red silk slip, was hog-tied to the bench. Gagged with her silk stockings.

Poor Ruby had not been alone in the gardens. A thief had been watching her, had set a trap to lure Ruby off the beaten path.”

 

Mae continues on with her story

“When Ruby walked up to the lady, her dress was touched and examined.”

 

Lady

“That is real satin, so that would mean you're not lying about your pearls being real also ducks?”

 

Ruby, sticking out her tongue

“Told you so, didn’t I now you twit. Mother always gives me the best!”

 

Lady

“Ruby, I once met someone dressed like you. She went out alone for a stroll and was mugged!”

 

Ruby

“Who was she?”

 

Lady, producing a small silver pistol

“It was you. Now hold still while I remove your pearls.”

 

Ruby was then held up for her jewels, had her gown and shoes stripped off, was gagged and tied up to the bench. Then after one last too thorough search of Ruby’s figure, the lady thief lit a cigarette and calmly walked off through the woods.”

 

Cade and Lucy both shudder.

 

Mae sniffs and reached inside her purse fumbling for something.

 

Lucy

“I wouldn’t have fallen for that. I’m too cautious.”

 

Cade sniffing also

“That’s a very sad story Mae. Where you perchance that young teen’s mother?”

 

Mae

“What? God no Cade. I was not that little girl's mother. That only happened a few weeks ago.”

 

Mae pulls out of her purse a small silver double barrel derringer.

 

Both girls gasped, hands flew up to their gaping mouths.

 

Mae, looking at the pistol

“No my downy duckies. I was the thief. And that teenager's clothes, shoes, pearls, and diamond hairpiece paid for some of the jewels I’m now wearing.

So you see my sweets goodness had nothing to do with my diamonds, it was wickedness that paid for them.”

 

Mae points the derringer at Cade and Lucy

“Now let’s see how high you pretties can raise up those hands!”

 

Mae steps closer, the business end of the derringer is poked into Lucy’s midriff.

Now, the pair of you bloody chippy twits will please start removing your jewellery and hand them ALL over to me!”

 

Lucy and Cade, shaking with wide-eyed disbelief, look at each other speechless, hands still up.

 

Mae, sighing deeply, points the derringer at Cade, speaking matronly to her.

“Cade, you first sweets. Lower your hands and let’s start with those rings. That’s it, my girl, gently pull them off, just lovely… now for the rest.”

 

Cade obediently does as directed, then with fumbling fingers, managed to fairly quickly remove her bracelet, necklace, earrings, and lastly the long fern leaf-shaped diamond hairpiece. Her silken reddish hair falls over her face covering one eye as it is being removed.

 

Mae looked into Cades one visibly, puppy sad eye...

“Cade this hairpiece is gorgeous. I may just keep it.”

 

Mae points the derringer at Lucy.

“Okay Lucy luv, your next.”

 

Lucy bulks at first, but the end of Mae’s derringer poking into her chest soon convinced her otherwise.

 

Mae

“Now Lucy, begin by handing over those gorgeous dangly earrings. No thief could certainly pass those up.”

 

Lucy reluctantly does so, slipping them off one by one and handing them over.

 

Mae, looking down at the earrings now in hand…

“I wanted these the moment I saw them. You have no idea how hard it was to wait.”

 

Mae looks back at Lucy

Ok ducks, I’ll have the rest.

 

Lucy obediently removed her diamond necklace, rings, and bracelets. Then steps back

 

Mae sneers, waving the derringer with her free hand.

“Oui Lucy. Forgetting something are we?”

 

Puzzled Lucy checked herself over, even feeling down along her satin dress. Cade does the same also. Both look back at Mae questioningly.

 

Mae laughing

“Just checking luvs. Thanks for the show, and thank you both for your lovely jewels. Oh, and by the way, in case you are wondering why I’m not bothering to take your purses? It’s because as we were hugging earlier, I picked them clean.!”

 

Mae, admiring the forlorn pair of girl’s glittering jewels piled up in her hand...

“Lucy, I used to do my best early work at theatres. Pearls do look so lovely with a silk blouse. Shame your Auntie is such a prude, this may have been the second time I met and robbed you. And Cade, I wouldn’t have passed on having your rings back then either. Now the pair of you, turn around and face the pond. “

 

Moving back, Mae commands them

“Now off with those glittery s shoes your wearing and toss them in the pond.”

 

As the pair of girls obediently do, Mae stuffs jewels and pistol in her purse. Then casually lights another cigarette as plops are heard coming from the pond.

“Goodness, that was too easy.”

 

Mae approached Cade and Lucy from behind.

“Raise those hands again, and don’t drop them until I say!”

 

Both girls feel their satin-clad figures being thoroughly, expertly patted down one-handed by Mae, who asks.

“Tell me something my two pretty ones. Do both your mums, and Lucy’s Auntie have jewellery this nice?”

 

Cade and Lucy unhappily both nod yes.

 

Mae, finishing up her last tempting feel of a pair of scintillatingly soft gowns, under the guise of searching for the girls' possibly hidden valuables, asks before turning to leave…

“So why don’t you have them dress up in them to come over and see me sometime?”

 

The end

  

Play theme music

  

Roll credits

  

Credits rolling

  

Credits still rolling

  

Yawn

  

Credits slowing down

  

€€€€€ The obligatory scene at the end of the credits €€€€€

  

“There are no good girls gone wrong - just bad girls found out”

 

Mae West

  

“The score never interested me, only the game.”

 

Mae West

  

As Mae walked away she heard some rather intense murmuring going on between Lucy and Cade.

  

She had just started up the small hill leading to the bend when Lucy calmly called out.

  

“Oh Mae? Did you really mean that about having my Auntie come over?”

  

Mae, curious, stops and turns around

 

“What are the two of you on about?”

  

Lucy

 

“Well, it’s like this. You have quite a substantial haul with the jewels you’ve nicked from us. Plus almost £ 800 in our wallets. Now both Cade and I would have to report them as stolen. Worse yet, my Auntie would find out and be proven right. We would never hear the bloody end if it. So you’ve got what you wanted from us, but what if there is a better prize? Would you be willing to make a bargain?”

  

Lucy stops and looks at Mae. Mae nods her head and comes back a little closer.

 

“I’m all ears .”

  

Lucy

 

“Well, it’s like this. My Auntie has always been a thorn in my bum. And I would love to see her receive some comeuppance, as opposed to Cade and I being on the receiving end.

 

So say I don’t report the robbery, my Auntie will not be put on her guard. There are several upcoming autumn balls she attends, and she will be wearing her best jewels. Which are 5 times more valuable than what you have taken from us... combined!”

  

Mae, as Lucy pauses.

 

“Sounds promising. It really does. But sorry, a bird in the hand you know. Of course, I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it, and a score never interested me, only the game.”

  

Lucy pleading

 

“Just hear us out then Mae. I know it’s a leap of faith. But you could almost retire off what Auntie would be wearing. And it would be a delicious revenge for us after what she had put us through all these years. I can almost taste it. Haven’t you ever wanted to do that to someone also ?”

  

Mae, Sighing with a nod

 

“Ok, I’ll give you 5 minutes. But remember, I also used to be Snow White like you pair, then I drifted.”

  

Lucy, speaking quickly

 

“ Ok, so my Auntie has outdoor, secluded hiding spots at several venues where she has the chauffeur hide a bottle. She has vices she thinks are her secret. At these ultra posh events, she sneaks off alone for a cigar and a nip several times during the evening. It’s always the same spots. We know cause Cade and I found them out and have been sneaking out for nips ourselves for years, never being caught.”

  

Lucy paused for a precious second.

 

“Now what I propose is that you can keep my valuable earrings you were drooling over, and the £ 800 as payment for my getting some revenge.”

  

“And keep my lovely hairpiece.” Cade chimes in

  

Lucy

 

“But we would need the rest of our jewellery back to not arouse suspicion. You see, it has to work that way.

 

As you said, a bird in hand. But there is one in the bush whose a far easier, far more profitable catch to pluck.

 

For years I always daydreamed that it would serve her justice if a thief would come across her as she is out taking her drink. And it’s that secluded it can be done easily.

 

So please, neither of us can bear to think of her welding this robbery over us...”

  

Mae, with a wicked grin, shakes her purse.

 

“Lucy luv, you tell a good story, but…

  

Lucy cuts in with a final, desperate plea.

 

“Please Mae. I am not saying it will be easy, I’m only saying it should be worth it to you, in spades.

 

Just pretend that the only jewels Cade and I were wearing were my diamond earrings and Cade’s diamond hairpiece. That would still be a sweet little haul for you, far more than what you got from that snooty brat Ruby.

 

Don’t give us a final answer yet.

 

Here take my purse and think it over as you leave. We will wait here for 30 minutes.

 

Leave my purse underneath the water fountain where you first ran into us.

 

If it’s empty we’ll have our answer, swallow our pride, and be forced to make a full report to the police and insurance company. And face Aunties music.”

  

Lucy pauses

 

“But if our jewels are inside, less earrings and hairpiece. We say nothing to ANYone about what happened. You get away easy peasey. Then we’ll know your game for it.

 

There is a pub called the Poet and Peasant in Gl…. Go there several

 

Nights during the first week of September. I’ll find a way to get to you the time and detailed instructions of hiding places at each of the parties.”

  

Mae reached out and took Lucy’s shiny silk purse, saying to herself…

 

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

  

With that said, Mae turns and walks away, thinking…

 

“Those two dames did look gorgeous wearing all that sparkly ice over shiny satin. And, a dame that knows the ropes isn't likely to get tied up. That dame is likely to succeed.”

  

Mae walks up the hill, white satin gown swishing, then turns the corner as the scene fades to black.

  

Out of the darkness comes voices.

 

“Do you think she’ll buy into it?”

 

“I don’t know, but if she did we will not be wearing our diamonds all this fall”

 

Giggling

 

“No, only nice silk blouses and sensible pearls…”

  

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Please let me know in the comments below if the silk purse under the fountain will be full or empty

  

Thank you for reading

 

In 1843, the property was bought by businessman William Gibbs, who had made his fortune from his family business, Antony Gibbs & Sons. Antony Gibbs, William's father, from Clyst St Mary, Devon, had after a roller-coaster career become wealthy through the import and marketing of guano as a fertilizer from South America.

  

Cornwall Holiday 2013 04 0208 Bristol Tyntesfield House HDR

y Twmpath (welsh)

The Mound in English,

 

It was called, in the old tongue,”y Twmpath”

Welsh for The mound

 

The area known as ”y Twmpath” was not really a mound, actually more of a small bald mountain that overlooked a wide valley.

 

”y Twmpath” had always been as void of any type of vegetation as that valley below was lush and green with.

 

The ancient ones, Druid Wisemen, used it for their most important ceremonies but only during the daylight for ”y Twmpath” became " strong in voice" as twilight came with the rising moon. So at nightfall, those ceremonial rituals were performed at ”y Twmpath’s” feet.

 

Through those early times, the area saw many different invaders who took over the valley. Driving away the Druid elders, they ignored their warnings and attempted to conquer the hill.

 

Various outposts were built by these newcomers to have an overlook over the valley.

 

And one by one those outposts were destroyed in a chillingly similar manner.

 

Soon after one of these outposts was finished and occupied ….Always around the time Calan Gaeaf or Sauin (The roots of which Halloween is derived)…

 

Dark clouds would amass and swirl around the mountain, and in the night, unleash terrifying lightning storms that seemed to roll down from ”y Twmpath’s” and wrack carnage to the valley below.

 

With the light of day, as the valley occupants emerged to survey the damage, they would discover that whatever structure had been built upon” y Twmpath” was gone, along with any man who had been garrisoned there.

 

Then, In an attempt to consecrate and make holy the ”y Twmpath” a group of missionary priests built a brick chapel on a small ridge located halfway up the mountain. It lasted for two years before the discovery was made one morning by superstitious villagers that the chapel had been deserted. Further exploration of ”y Twmpath”, in full daylight, discovered the bodies of the missionary priests laid out in a circle at the top of the hill. A crucifix from the chapel plunged upside down in the Centre.

 

No one dared to build another structure upon it after that…

 

So these were the legends that made their way to more modern days when sayings like “beyond the pale” became meaningless with electricity and the Telegraph.

 

And though the legends were told, and scoffed at, the small village in the valley below grew into a large city, that surrounded ”y Twmpath” seemingly giving a wide berth around the small mountain.

 

Then in 1888 one of the city’s richest men, A heralded Lord, Eric Macmillan, who was a widower with two children, took a much younger lass as his new bride. A wealthy American lady with grand ideas and plans.

 

She would not settle for a mansion in the city. Her abode had to be above all the others.

 

Literally….

 

Without heeding the warnings, she had her lovestruck husband build a stone house upon ”y Twmpath” as to overlook the valley. As a Queen would overlook her peasants.

 

The great house was built within 3 years without issue. And many believed that the old tales about ”y Twmpath” were merely children’s Nursury tales to keep young ones from exploring the dark shadowy mountain.

 

It was early spring when the mansion was completed. A great stone structure with looming towers and arched windows and doorways. Upon ”y Twmpath’s” bald top it stood out with a quite ominous presence.

 

The small family soon were moved in. The wealthy Lord, his wife, and the two children. A boy of 12 and a girl of 10. Along with 2 servants.

 

The house actually needed more than 2 servants to keep it, but no locals would dare venture there, and the 2 that did take the job were the only ones from out of town that answered the advertisement.

 

Not much was seen of the family after they moved in. Just the pair of servants when they came to town to pick up supplies that no one else would deliver.

 

Spring turned to summer, summer turned to autumn and late autumn turned to conversations among the locals, starting in the pubs, that no one could remember the last time the servants from the manor on ”y Twmpath” had been seen.

 

They would stare up at the house as darkness fell, and noticed that no lights were lit.

 

“Should someone go up and check?” We’re the questions asked. But no one dared to go there at night. So it was decided the local constables would be told to go up in the light of day to see what was going on.

 

But later that very evening dark clouds the likes of which had never been seen in the local’s memory began forming and lightning began to streak and crash all around as a driving rain pelted down.

 

The villagers took cover until the dawn when the storm finally subsided. As the city's occupants emerged and accessed the damage, they looked up at ”y Twmpath”. The stone manor still stood, despite the legends. But nothing, absolutely nothing, appeared to be alive in or around it.

 

It was not until two days later the pair of local constables were able to leave and check up on the stone mansions' occupants.

 

They left after lunch, with a herd of locals leaving the pubs to follow in their wake

 

The gawkers were made to stay out at the foot of ”y Twmpath”. As the constables went up on foot along the winding road and path of stone stairs that stretched almost a full Kilometer up to the stone manor.

 

Two hours later the constables came back down, visibly shaken. They went to the nearest pub and ordered whisky. The waiting gawkers had followed and filled the pub, surrounding the pair of officials while demanding to know what was all found?

 

“Nothing….” They both answered as they then downed their drinks and looked around the room before continuing…

 

“No sign of anything living, or having lived there for some weeks. Though the whole time we were there, both of us felt were being watched and heard sounds behind us as if being followed.”

 

The other constable chimed in…

 

“But when we turned around, nothing was there, was it. And when we called out, only our echoes in the hallways answered us back. Job doesn’t pay enough for us to stay there. Let the Yard Detectives figure this one out.”

 

Detectives did come and scoured the house and property, including the remains of the old stone church.

 

Only 3 clues were found. None of them really afforded an explanation to what had taken place.

 

Clue 1: A child’s doll found in the church ruins. Dry as a bone-like it had very recently been set there.

 

Clue 2: in the nursery, on a drawing board a child’s picture lay upon it. Drawn in crayon the picture was remarkably a well-done likeness depicting the front of the manor house. Above the manor were dark clouds and lightening down with finger paint, from a small hand. The paint was still damp!?

 

Clue 3: Suitcases of clothing belonging to the occupants were piled in the foyer. The Constables both swore they had not seen anything of the sort when they were there.

  

As the months passed nothing more was learned of the fate of the Macmillan family and their two servants.

 

To keep curious from coming onto the property, a caretaker/watchman was hired by the propertys' solicitor.

 

Though the caretaker refused to stay anywhere near the house at night. He built a small cottage next to the ruined church, using it’s’ remaining stones.

 

And so it remained, empty and put out of mind.

 

For nearly 35 years no one dared to go to the Macmillan Manor on desolate y Twmpath after dark.

 

Then during October 1931…as the country was still embroiled in the “great slump”, one person, a young man, finally did.

 

This ends the first part of this story.

The second part is his to tell

 

© all rights reserved by B℮n

 

Please take your time... to View it large on black

 

For your information…the Vecht is a well-known picturesque river in the Rhine Delta and connects the Rhine via Utrecht to the IJsselmeer, an inland sea in Holland close to Amsterdam. The river Vecht meanders through a number of historical villages that are each of them worth a visit. These villages are situated in the Groene Hart Green Heart, a rural area that is highly popular with the urban population for its many hiking and biking trails through the most scenic landscapes. In the 17th century wealthy merchants from Amsterdam built stately homes along the river, which they used as occasional residence.Loenen aan de Vecht is located in the middle of Holland. In this way they created a peaceful getaway from their hectic city life. The estates are surrounded by lovely gardens and parks, some of which also contain a summer house or an orangery. Within the boundaries of Stichtse Vecht there are no less than 72 of these estates. This little village is situated 20 minutes from Amsterdam and is historically found in the Golden Age.The centerpiece of Loenen aan de Vecht is a conservation area, a 600 meter long main street that runs parallel to the river Vecht, with the historic buildings whose oldest part dates from before 1300.

 

The Vecht River begins in the historic centre of Utrecht, where it receives much of its water from the Kromme Rijn, a minor branch of the Lower Rhine. It passes many scenic old towns like Loenen before it flows into the IJsselmeer at Muiden. The Vechtstreek is famous for its many vestiges of the Dutch Golden Age, including castles, homes, parks and tea houses. They bear witness to the greatness and wealth of that period, the important commercial role played by the Vecht River and the area's history as a residential area for the nobility and wealthy.

 

De Vecht kronkelt door een aantal beschermde historische dorpskernen die absoluut een bezoek waard zijn. Maar ook de dorpen die in het veen- en weidegebied liggen zijn prachtig om te zien. Zij liggen midden in het Groene Hart, een landelijk gebied dat voor wandelaars, fietsers, natuurliefhebbers en mensen uit de Randstad een oase van rust en ruimte is. Herleef de Gouden Eeuw In Stichtse Vecht zijn de meeste historische buitenplaatsen in heel Nederland te vinden. In de Gouden Eeuw lieten veel rijke Amsterdammers een buitenplaats langs de Vecht bouwen. Ze verruilden de stad voor een aangename, landelijke omgeving. Om de prachtige buitenhuizen heen lieten zij prachtige tuinen en parken aanleggen. Op de buitenplaatsen is vaak ook een koetshuis, oranjerie of theekoepel te vinden. Gemeente Stichtse Vecht telt maar liefst 72 van deze buitenplaatsen. Het merendeel is alleen van buitenaf te bezichtigen. Het middelpunt van Loenen aan de Vecht is een beschermd dorpsgezicht, een 600 meter lange dorpsstraat die parallel aan de rivier de Vecht loopt, met de daaraan gelegen monumentale panden en de dominerende kerk waarvan het oudste gedeelte van vóór 1300 dateert. Aan de oostoever van de rivier de Vecht ligt de buitenplaats Oud Over. Hoewel de dorpskern van Loenen zeer nabij op de andere rivieroever ligt, behoorde het buurtschap/de wijk Oud Over of Oud-Over ruwweg vanaf 1800 tot de voormalige gemeente Loosdrecht. De rijksmonumentale buitenplaats heeft onder meer een hoofdgebouw, historische tuin- en parkaanleg, tuinkoepel, tuinmanswoning annex paardenstal en koetshuis, en meerdere toegangshekken. Deze buitenplaats werd rond 1700 door Pieter van Beeck gebouwd.

   

Nicking Fiona

 

Fiona’s POV

 

It was as I watched the reception line forming that I heard a baby crying softly behind me.

 

This was the day my cousin Angus was getting hitched to his university love, Mareid, the pretty daughter of a wealthy country manor’d Laird.

 

My parents and I had survived the hours-long ceremony at the cathedral and were ready to enjoy ourselves at the reception that followed.

 

I was wearing what was my favorite outfit at the time.

 

A very pretty, button-back shiny steel grey satin blouse with ruffles pouring down from the blouse's high neckline, from that spot a thrush egg-sized shimmery heirloom diamond brooch was clasped. The blouse had long flared sleeves that ended with wide cuffs on my wrists.

 

With that blouse, I wore a long black satin skirt that hung down from my still slender waistline in flowing tiers. A silver belt at my waist set with rhinestones with a rhinestone buckle encircled my waist, silver sparkly open-toed heels complete the look.

 

Unlike my gown-clad mum, I was not wearing gloves, but like her, I wore a cocktail ring, a glittery one set with sapphires and diamonds. I wore it on my right ring finger. I had just recently bought the ring using a nice yearly bonus received from work.

 

My other worn jewelry consisted of a pair of long diamond earrings, a long silver chain ending with a pendant set with a glittery sapphire surrounded by diamonds that swished down along the front of my sheer blouse, and lastly, I was wearing my mesmerizingly diamond cuff bracket tightly around my right wrist, peaking just below my ruffled satin sleeve.

 

I felt beautiful wearing it all together and had received my share of fetching compliments on various parts of my ensemble on previous occasions. It was brilliant to be able to wear them all together.

 

Mum agreed that I looked very fetching, but worried it was a bit too much.

 

“Said the lady wearing a £3000 satin gown and a necklace insured at triple that amount.!” I teased.

 

But inside truth be told, I wanted to look special, and be noticed.

 

Though as I looked around during the lengthy church service I observed that with the way many of the ladies there dressed, I would be given a run for my money in the ‘’ who was flaunting it the best race.

  

It was as we reached the reception room downstairs, called the great hall, to join in the reception line that I first heard the baby fussing.

 

Turning I saw it was Hamlish’s brother-in-law Callum trying to keep a hold of his squirmy crying young baby daughter Sarah.

 

The wee lass was dressed in a coral-pink silk dress, the same color as the bridesmaid's (hideous) gowns. One of the bridesmaids was Sarah’s mother, my cousin Aileen. Also, like the bridesmaids, Sarah wore real pearls; a dainty combination of necklace and pearl-studded earrings. I thought it all a bit much for a young’un to be wearing real jewellery.

 

Callum caught me looking and called out... “Oui, Fi, can you take her for a bit?”

 

“Fiona, not Fi!” I muttered, correcting Callum under my breath.

 

With reluctance, I went over and took young Sarah, and her baby bag, from him.

 

With a nod, Callum darted off to the line without looking back. And I had an inkling he wasn’t planning on coming back, the sod.

 

As I watched, I slipped my small black sequenced clutch into the baby bag, backed myself out of the way into a corner, cooing the whole time to Sarah who was having none of that and now was bawling up a storm.

 

It was a tough time of it, holding onto the squirming wee Lass, her silky long dress not an easy hold with the slippery front and long sleeves of my grey satin blouse!

 

I began to sing the lullaby Ally, Bally Bee, as I held onto the crying Sarah in one crotch of my arm while fumbling around in the baby bag for a bottle.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Another females’ viewpoint at the same reception.

 

^^^^^^^^

 

She had been walking in step with a pair of very attractively dressed sisters she had come upon, busily chatting them up, eyeing their jewels, when a woman’s soft voice singing a lullaby caught her attention.

 

She spied a young lady in a solitary recess trying to manage a bawling young female bairn.

 

Taking a double look in that direction to affirm what she had seen, the female took a regretful leave of the wealthy sisters.

 

Deeply curious, she casually approached the poor harried lassie, who was having a tough time of it.

 

The infant was clothed in a long pink coral silken gown, the lady trying her best to hold onto the squirming infant was inhibited by the richly slick satin blouse she was wearing. It was a very pretty blouse, made even prettier by the sparkling diamond broach at the blouse’s throat.

 

The infant's slippery silk gown and the lady's sleek satin blouse were like oil and water when it came to controlling the thrashings of the wee bairn.

 

The lady was bending over, swaying to and fro with the infant, struggling unsuccessfully to get her to take a bottle.

 

A dangling broach swung out, a glittering ball of expensive fire.

 

Globs of formula could be seen glistening along the harried girl’s sleeve and gloveless fingers, both also moistened by the squalling child’s tears.

 

Unconsciously the lady licked her red lipstick-colored lips as she ventured close enough to also be squirted upon from the baby bottle.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Back to Fiona’s point of view:

 

I was making a mess of things. Trying to give a thrashing Sarah a bottle she was refusing, apparently in favor of crying out her temper, causing me to squirt milk all over with each attempt.

 

Including a few drops that fell upon a lady who had the misfortune to come up and stand next to us.

 

She was a pretty, thirty-something-year-old, red-haired gal wearing a long fluttering gold/green sari-like dress. Long emerald earrings dangled playfully from her earlobes.

 

Laughing it off the stranger pulled out a lacy silk handkerchief and wiped herself off. Then she offered to hold Sarah as she handed me her handkerchief to wipe myself off, introducing herself as “Angie”.

 

As Angie cuddled and stroked Sarah, swaying the baby in her arms, the little imp actually settled down to a whimper.

 

As I wiped myself down, Angie had reached into the baby bag, and after fumbling around took out a small toy and began playing with the now giggling traitor Sarah.

 

I finished cleaning up and handed the soiled handkerchief back to Angie.

 

Still holding Sarah, Angie, talking a mile a minute about babies, cleaned off my sleeve a spot of formula I had missed, as she also caressed my fingers to calm my flusters. It worked like a charm.

 

Angie then said, “I’d better be off luv, nice to meet you and Sarah.” With that she handed the baby back to me, helping position Sarah over my shoulder as she started me swaying “the wee Baird” to sleep. Angie kindly straighten my blouse’s ruffles before her fingers stroked one last time along Sarah as I held her, then she was off.

 

What a nice lady I thought with a little pity as I watched her swish off into the crowd as I rocked back and forth with wee Sarah. A bit awkward and clumsy Lass perhaps, but she had lent a most welcomed helping if not

fumbling, hand.

 

Sarah did soon drift off to sleep, and of course, on cue, Callum came over to pick up his now manageable daughter.

 

I took leave and headed to the loo to finish cleaning up.

  

Inside, approaching the mirrored counter, I realized I had forgotten my expensive clutch purse in the baby bag.

 

I quickly glanced in the mirror before scurrying off for my purse.

 

As I left the loo something nagged at the back of my head, something in my reflection in the mirror did not appear right. But I shook my head free of that worry and went to fetch my purse.

  

Callum was gone from the hall recess and was standing off of the dance floor jealously watching his wife Aileen dance with the wedding party. I went up and bent down to the bag on the floor to retrieve my clutch.

 

I was not finding it when from above Callum asked if I had removed the pearls Sarah had been wearing.

 

It was when Sarah’s missing pearls were mentioned that I now knew what was wrong with my reflection in the mirror.

 

My hand flew to the throat of my steel grey satin blouse, and my expensively glittering diamond broach had fallen off.

 

Probably both broach and pearls had slipped off when Sarah had writhed and thrashed around in my arms.

 

“Bloody Bollocks” I swore as left without finding my still missing purse, and headed back to search around the recess for my broach and Sarah’s pearls.

  

I knelt on my knees and began searching around on the floor. As I did do I realized that my ring was also slipped off my finger.

  

“Double Bollocks, what the bloody hell!” I swore, garnering a look from a rather handsome passing gentleman, dapper in his formal tux.

 

I quickly checked my ears. The diamonds were still there, as was my flashy bracelet, and with relief, my necklace. So the rest had merely been pulled off as I held the flailing Sarah I told reasonably told myself to quell my anxieties.

  

Pissed at being overheard I went off on Callum under my breath, chastising him to myself as I searched.

  

“Damn that Callum and let’s pass the colicky baby off to Fiona games,” I muttered while looking around for the missing jewelry.

  

As I did I thought about Angie and how she had managed to strikingly calm Sarah right down with those long nimble fingers of hers.

  

“I should find that lady Angie and have her show him just how to handle his kid.” I snidely thought to myself as I fruitlessly checked for a second time behind a potted plant for the missing jewels.

  

Finally, I gave up, telling myself that I may just as well enjoy the party, the missing jewels and purse would be turned in by the clean-up crew I reasonably thought.

  

So I did, enjoy myself that is, having immense fun over the next few hours. Actually almost forgetting about my loss, and wee Sarah’s.

  

I even almost caught the bouquet as it was tossed over our squirming figures trying to catch it.

  

I caught sight of the redhead Angie in the swarm, the first I had seen of her since her helping me with Sarah.

  

She was in with the group talking to the lady who had caught the bouquet, a Very pretty blond name Shelly, encased in a long chocolate satin sheath gown. A diamond bracelet glittered with astonishing pinpricks of colour as she held up the flowers.

  

I went to the bar for a drink. It was as I stood there just overlooking the crown of guests and their smashing attire, that I saw Angie leaving, not really thinking anything of it.

 

Meanwhile, Shelly and her crew had come up to the bar and begun ordering drinks.

  

I took my eyes off the departing Angie and focused on being amused by them. I did not know any of them, and they appeared a bit too wonkish for my tastes, so I gave them room.

 

I did however, notice Shelly had for some reason taken off her fine diamond bracelet, and was contemplating that with curiosity when one of the flirty Lasses with her exclaimed…

 

Shells, your bracelet!”

 

They then began to look around, and I thought of how I had been looking around for mine earlier, but to no avail, and now Shelly wasn’t finding her Jewellery either.

 

Then a picture of Angie popped into my head. And I began to do a bit of wondering….?

 

I got up from my stool and headed to the exit door. I guess to see if I could catch up with Angie and ask her some questions…

 

I left the exit. The sidewalk and parking lot were deserted of anyone.

 

I walked to the corner and caught sight of Angie standing on the corner by a cab stand.

 

A cab had just pulled up.

 

I called out to her, and she jumped, then turned to face me as I approached.

 

She smiled when she saw me, turned opened the back door, placing inside her large purse, asking the cabbie to wait.

 

She then told me as I walked up to her, that she was sorry she had not said goodbye to anyone, but that she had felt a bit off, and had decided to head off.

 

I mentioned to her how little Sara, Shelly, and myself had lost a bit of jewellery.

 

She gasped, hand to her mouth. She checked herself over.

“All mine is here. You're such a luv for checking on me…..Ooo, I just love your blouse, you look adorable. It’s what I first noticed,…!”

 

With that said, she pulled me into a hug before I could say anything more. She stroked her fingers along my slickly soft blouse. Then reached down to my black satin skirt, rubbing along its lush length. It was all very feeling, ticklish, and I tingled a bit at her touch. It was not at all displeasing, rather nice actually.

 

She broke away and held my face in her hands, her fingers running through my hair.

 

“Your are such a sweetie, but I must be off luv, it was so much fun meeting you.”

 

With that, I was left alone standing there as she waved to me from the taxi pulling away from the curb.”

 

Angie has been so sweet, maybe a bit ditzy, but I was truly touched by meeting her. So I smiled broadly and…waved, surprised I had been suspicious of someone so sweet and loving.

 

I thought to myself as the cab moved off that I had better get back inside. Alone out here, one could get mugged.

 

Then, as I thought that, I quizzically looked at my bare wrist.

My jewelled bracelet was gone.

 

I looked down around my feet, pulling up my long skirt. Nothing was on the ground except a crumpled wedding invite.

 

Perplexed I put a hand to my mouth, then I noticed something strange. No longer was I feeling my dangling diamond earrings touching the side of my face. I reached up, finding the earlobes… quite bare?

 

My earrings had been nicked, but how had she been able to….?

 

I was freaking out. Then, oh my gosh. My fingers flew to feel down along the front of my lushly soft satin blouse. It was gone, my lovely silver chain and pendant. She had even taken that….

 

Seriously, she had even gotten away with my pretty necklace.

 

All of them? All my beautiful jewels were now….. gone!

 

I had, indeed, been thoroughly, if not noticeably, mugged.

 

I had generously gone right up to the thief flaunting my valuable jewellery.

 

How she must have been delighted to see them. How she had thought here was this pretty girl, just asking Angie to go right ahead and simply relieve her stupid self from the bother of wearing them?

 

I bet she thought just that!

 

“Cheers, I’m Fi, your easy-to-manipulate practice dummy. Oh, here, look at my shimmering bracelet, see how easy the clasp is. Yours for the taking. And, my earrings. Why yes, simple hinged, I don’t like wearing pierced. Here you go, just slip them off as I do at night. Oh don’t worry, I never feel them prick when coming off. What’s that? Do you fancy my necklace? Don’t blame you, so did I. Well if you must. Probably a good hug will do the trick. I’ll never feel it coming off, would I now? There you go, perfect. That’s the trouble with wearing such an expensive slick blouse, things just slide off from it like butter on a hot stove. Now thank me for being such a naively pliable victim.”

 

“I’ll be a bloody smash at the next truth or lie drinking game.”

 

All this popped almost simultaneously in my wretched miserable head, as my heart sank, my legs quivered and I looked back up the street.

 

I watched, astonished over how easily the cab, containing the slick-fingered Angie, my purse, my jewellery, Sarah’s pearls, Shelly’s bracelet, and who knows what else, had disappeared from the guests tonight?

 

The bloody end ?

 

************************

This is a link to a You Tube Video of a thief not unlike our Angie.

youtu.be/HAZdjhNVjxk

 

************************

 

Case Study 113 : Warning, these are the raw, bare unusual occurrences as originally chronicled. Some names, times, places and some facts have been, of course, altered.

Name: Angelica D circa 192__

Subject: an unscrupulous light-fingered body thief

Event: Posh Wedding Reception

Place: Upstate New York

Time: Warm early Autumn Saturday

 

Angie Being Receptive

Story line:

 

Angie had heard about the affair, a wedding, from a list of prospective functions provided by a discreetly paid contact. It was being given for the only daughter of a wealthy politician (as if there were any non-wealthy ones!) Angie had happily invited herself to the affair, carefully dressing up in her best for the special occasion!

 

**

Wedding receptions were by far Angie’s favorite hunting grounds. During the season there could be anywhere from upwards of 20 high end affaires every weekend in the bigger cities, and always 2 or 3 in even the smallest of towns.

Wedding s were usually easy pickings: free food, drink and entertainment, and seldom worn jewelry made for a ready-made mix for Angie to ply her trade. For Angelica D. was a uniquely skilled pickpocket, specializing in the removal for profit of the expensive jewelry worn by the (usually be -gowned) women and young ladies’ who hauntingly dwelt in societies upper crust!

So Weddings, by their nature, were the desirable choice for Angie. One only had to avoid the Bride, her Bridesmaids, and their court, which were usually the major focus of any security present. However, there were plenty of opportunities to be had by employing her special bag of tricks on the outlaying fringe.

Angie had arrived early at the mammoth facility, to scout out the establishment and to scope out who was wearing what. Used to these affairs either being feast or famine, she could quickly tell that in this one there was cooking up a devouring banquet.

**

After Angie had entered the massive reception room it did not take her long to spy her first plump prospect, nicely loaded with possibilities. It was a lady, bearing a haughty look, who had been making a b-line through the crowd as way was parted for her. She was wearing a luxuriously long rusty coloured sable fur coat that hid most of her long crimson -red satin gown. What Jewels were visible, ears, fingers and wrist, were all flashing with pricy fire. In tow she held the hand of a young girl, obviously her daughter, wearing actual makeup, which, along with her fetching gown and brite jewelry, made her appear far older than she was. A handsome man , looking like the actor William Powell in a tux, followed behind the pair, husband and father, Angie presumed. She shadowed the little family as they swished their way to a corner table, conveniently located by a rear exit, for a better look over. Her fingers had started with an all too familiar tingle as she took it all in.

**

The husband helped his wife out of the sable, laying it carefully along a bench against the wall. Angie was not disappointed. A silver necklace of large matched diamonds gracefully encircled her throat. A dazzling blood ruby and diamond brooch held up the center of her gown, positioned just below the bust line. Brooches, like this one, were worth a lot once fenced, but its placement required a little more dexterity and skill than she was willing to risk. In actuality, Angie had only attempted twice before to take a brooch pinned to a gown in this fashion. She had only been successful one of those times, only to find out it was a pretty piece of paste.( Years later, as Angie’s talents became more polished, relieving ladies of their dangling brooches, like this blood ruby, became her specialty.. the Eds.) Angie’s eyes moved on. The rest of the snooty lady’s jewels matched her necklace. Long earrings, free clipped, dangling brightly from her earlobe s. A pair of wide ruby bracelets clasped tightly home around elegant red elbow length satin gloves, sparkled devastatingly, matching her brooch. Her long fingers were home to a pair of ruby and diamond rings and a third ring set with a gold band and a vulgarly large solitaire diamond.

**

Angie’s attention turned to the daughter, whom had been helped by her Father , squirming, from the chocolate coloured satin cape that she had been wearing. The youngster, all of about 10, was wearing a cream coloured long puffy sleeved dress with a brown satin sash encircling her waist that matched her Cape. The young lady possessed impossible large bright eyes. The only thing that held more shine than those doe like eyes had been the antique rhinestone diamond necklace that fell dripping ever so invitingly down the front of the precious little imp’s rich glossy gown. The rest of her matching rhinestones (obviously belonging to the child’s mother) consisted of an engaging display of a bracelet, pair of dangling, screwed on clasp earrings, and matching rings encircling a chubby finger one on each hand. It all gleamed brightly, invitingly from her svelte girlish figure. A large round pin held her sash up in place; it sparkled with what looked like a ring consisting of one caret diamonds, as unlikely as it was they could be real.

**

The two females of the family presented a pretty package indeed. Not one to pass up an invite that alluring, Angie walked by , with the pretext of heading to a back exit behind the table the little family had staked, just so she could get a closer peek.

**

Angie’s practiced eye took in a wealth of information during the few seconds it took her to walk up and pass the group, so involved with themselves they never even looked her way. Her attention focused upon the young mother first scoping head to toe.

**

Angie scrutinized the brooch; it was definitely worth the effort. In her mind’s eye, Angie envisioned the mother as a stumbling drunk “bumping into” Angie. Fingers whisking along the slippery lustrously softness of the gown, as the lady was steadied. Angie would accept the women apologies and the pair would part their ways, Angie from the young mother, and the magnificent brooch from the rich satiny red gown. But then the mother raised her head, looking up past Angie, towards a commotion being made behind her. Typical Angie thought, she doesn’t recognize me, so I don’t exist, like some sort of servant. But it was as she caught the young mother in full profile that she realized this lady looked strikingly similar to another woman who had been wearing an expensive dress of teal charmeuse that Angie had had been having a long conversation with, while relieving the woman’s finger of a costly diamond sapphire ring. It had happened only just last weekend at a formal function, and Angie figured she may have not recognized her in passing, but may if Angie were to use one of her approaches again with the intent of taking some of her jewelry, he memory may be jarred, and she may remember her missing ring. This was why Angie only allowed herself to ply her trade for no more than a month in any given place per year. This was from a lesson she had learned early on in her career. And so, for that reason alone, Angie decided to, at least temporarily, abandon any designs she had on the young mother’s brooch, allowing her devious intentions to evaporate from her mind like smoke on the wind. There were plenty more fish in the sea she told herself.

**

Angie still allowed herself a quick appraisal of the squirming 10 year old. She admired the glossy dress of slippery satin that her mother had conveniently dressed her daughter up in, as it fell spilling down to her black open toed shoes. Angie’s fingers started to tingle; this was a perfect tickling gown. Angie liked to think of any long dress or gown that swept down to a females heels as a” tickling gown”. All it took was a strategically placed foot timed with a well place nudge to send the chosen victim tumbling. During the ensuing diversion, Angie would use her long subtle fingers to swiftly probe along the gowned figure, tickling she like to call it due to the tingling sensation of the usually rich material of the victim’s attire. In this fashion, a pre-targeted piece of valuable jewelry could then be easily acquired, no matter what its placement had been on the unfortunate female. If only the chatty youngster had something on better than rhinestones. It was a crying shame to have a child that young dolled up like an adult, but not wearing adult jewels.

**

Angie continued to walk past, unseen, and went out the door. She found herself in a large serenity garden of roses and shrubs, surrounded by a 10 foot high well-trimmed hedge. The sort of garden one usually found in those days around upscale Churches. The only exit was a gate leading onto the parking lot on the side of the church. Here was positioned a solitary, lonely guard in a neat little guard hut. In the opposite, far corner was a statue of Cupid, arrow drawn, standing above a display of blooming moss roses at the end opposite to the gate. There was always potential in places like these.

**

Angie had started to walk over to the Cupid statue when she heard the exit door open. Turning, she saw the young girl, whose mother’s brooch Angie had been scoping out, looking out the door. She snuck through, running out alone, silky tickling gown swishing out behind her. Her heart leapt to her throat as she watched the girls rhinestones sparkle radiantly. She actually turned to head towards the path the unsuspecting child was running up, flexing her fingers as she contemplating a little warm up practice. Angie watched as the dolled up imps necklace flashed with pinpricks of coloure as it bounced to and fro as she ran happily up the path .Angie turned her back to the girl, waiting to hear the telltale click of her heels come up just behind her. She would then move, bumping into the girl as she passed, tripping her to the ground. After which Angie would help her up, removing the girl’s fancy necklace in the process. Come to Mama Angie whispered under her breath, waiting to make her move as the skipping heels grew ever louder.

**

But then Angie froze, hearing the clicking of the exit door again opening behind her. She checked her stride letting the daughter slither past without a glance. She headed again towards the statue, watching her prize move on ahead. Then she heard the father in the background calling out to his little princess. The youngster turned, and ran back, beaming at Angie as she passed. Angie smiled back, her eyes again traveling to the girls neckline, and the sparkling jewelry the outlined her throat. It had been a silly thought she chided herself, as the girl passed from view. If only the necklace had been real, and the father about ten minutes later in discovering his daughter absence. It would have been an unbelievably easy pluck and she could be out the gate before anyone was the wiser. And the best part was that they would probably believe the scampering girl had just lost it in the garden. And, while the parents were looking about, Angie would have been free to renter to ply her trade again. As it was, it was silly of Angie, risking her opportunity on a child’s bauble worth a mere pittance compared to some of the other offerings so readily being flaunted this evening by her adult counterparts.

**

Angie continued her casual stroll through the Garden, happily playing over in her mind some of the jewels that she would like to see adorning the female guests inside, and the scenarios she may be using to acquire them

**

Finding herself approaching the guard hut, she allowed herself a glance back. Jealously she watched the father, who had caught and was carrying his slippery attired daughter, heading back inside. How Angie wished she had been the one carrying the squirming little imp, it would have been like a smorgasbord, with jewels instead of food. Pity her mother had not put the good stuff on the daughter, she sighed to herself. Tonight she would have to work for her butter. She walked past the bored guard, nodding at him, receiving a rather lecherous look in return. A smile was forming across her cunning face, for now it was time to get down to the real business at hand.

**

The affair turned out to be quite a showcase for the very rich. Who were indiscreetly flaunting their riches, trying to outdo one another, probably for the benefit of the politicians’ attention? Certainly not for the attention of the designer satin gowned and flashy diamonded daughter, whom most of the guests hardly knew, or had ever met.

**

Angie always felt like a little kid in a candy shoppe at these lavish affairs.

She spent the first part of the reception mingling and thoroughly enjoying the show her the reception’s guests were u wittingly putting on. Angie, wearing no jewels herself, was something of an anomaly compared to her fellow guests.

**

There were over a thousand luxuriously coloured, squawking female birds and their young chicks pompously displaying valuable finery, oblivious of the cat amongst them waiting to pounce. Angie patently mingled, watching as the adult guests had their fill of food and drink.

Once their guard began to relax, Angie raised hers’, her probingly skillful fingers now more than prepared to begin and ply her trade. For the more they imbibed, the less guarded they were, both about themselves and their female offspring. Angie would start with the adults, 2 or 3 of the right pieces of jewelry, once acquired, and would mean she could call it a night and have enough to support her for a solid month. If she came up empty in that department, her back up would then center on the female off-spring, daughters and nieces.

Most of said offspring would be by then scattered about, aware that their parents were no longer paying them any heed, exploring and playing, sporting their fancy satin gowns, silken dresses, and their dainty jewelry, ripe for the picking. Giving pickpockets like Angie endless opportunity to ply their trade on them, once they had finished working through the adults. Or if the thieves were beginners, plenty of easy practice while “learning the ropes!”

**

Now, when Angie herself was just starting out as a young pickpocket, she stumbled across a treatise written by a man using the pseudonym “Gaston Monescu”. Written around 1826, entitled the Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip, it covered the various tactics and moves used by master pickpockets.

 

Angie had studied it religiously, especially a ploy called the “Necklace Flimp.” This tactic was primarily used for body thieves working alone. Angie had been surprised to learn that a pickpocket could raise his/her skill level above just acquiring wallets. Having the ability to lift a woman’s necklace amazed her, not to mention the profit that could be realized. With practice, Angie had found that not only was it a good technique for acquiring necklaces, but it worked for other pieces of worn jewelry as well.

 

It was relatively simple process, but took a long time to master.

First part was to employ psychology and watch the potential victim for the unique movements and quirks in their personality and actions that could provide an opportunity for her skills. Then observe the selected piece the victim wore, for value, type of clasp, make, and accessibility. The second part was to employ a bump, slip, or grasp, and in one motion, flick open the studied clasp and send the piece away from the body by either pulling and palming, or dropping it to the floor or ground for retrieval later. If she was noticed, it was “sorry, miss, very clumsy of me” “here let me get if for you, no harm done?” Then walk away and let the waters settle before trying yet again (sometimes even on the same person!)

 

Angie had practiced the jewelry flimp until she had the technique totally mastered. Starting out first on specially dressed up mannequins in her apartment, than trying it on small pieces of cheap baubles worn by real women in crowded streets and stores. Then on younger, less guarded, better jewelry wearing young girls attending proms and social dances. Young looking for her age at the time, Angie had fit right in amongst them. Then, finally, she graduated to lifting the better jewels of the older, wealthy women attending society’s finer parties and receptions. And it was this path that led her here today, and would also lead several unlucky females to report missing jewelry to their respective insurance companies.

**

See Album “Angie having a Ball” for additional background on our master thief with the light fingers.

**

Angie now eagerly employed those useful talents learned from monsieur Monescu’s little pamphlet at the wedding reception. She mingled freely, carrying around a drink that never touched her lips. She watched and learned, her trained eyes missing very little. Soon, like that hypothetical kid in a candy shoppe, Angie’s head was spinning from so much to choose from that she really could not make any easy choice. So, she waited and watched patiently, knowing opportunity would knock.

 

**

 

Then, like it usually happened with Angie, the first genuine opportunity unexpectedly presented herself. Angie literally was run into a rather awkward, spindly lady in thick glasses clad in a fetchingly expensive costume consisting of a thick silver satin blouse with hanging ruffles down its front, combined with a long rustling tiered skirt that swept down to the top of her open toed silver high heels. Her diamond jewelry shone with exuberant flames as they caught the light from the many chandeliers that hung from the vaulted ceiling. The lady expressed frantically her apologies, placing a hand with well ringed fingers on Angie’s shoulder, where they sparkled merrily. No worries Angie said smiling, her eyes taking it all in without appearing to move. She let the frazzled lady leave, allowing her a head start, it was only sporting to do so.

**

Angie shadowed her quarry for a while, seemingly rewarded for her efforts when the lady managed to spill a bit of her drink down on her skirt. In a show of flashing silvery satin and diamonds ,she retreated and disappeared into a nearby powder room, with Angie following eagerly, opportunity knocking.

**

As Angie grabbed onto the closing powder room door, a mid- twenty something girl in a deep green velvet gown came out. Her only jewelry was a wide diamond bracelet wrapped around a wrist of the matching long green gloves she wore. Angie caught it out of the corner of her eye, realizing that it was as expensive as it was bright. But it was her friend, a willowy short haired pretty young thing in a glamorous Chocolate Satin gown that made Angie’s jaw drop. Her jewels, like her friends, were also sparse, but enormously pricy. The long white satin gloves that graced her hands and arms also held matching bracelets, thin, but each one worth the effort. But her real eye catcher was the row of authentic, one caret white diamonds that were rippling exquisite fire along her throat. Angie held the door for them, nodding to as they passed. Noses in the air, they did not appear to notice Angie. Then, with the ladies backs to her, Angie abandoned Miss silver satin and turned to follow. Angie got in behind the two with the intention of getting a closure examination of the clasp of the fiery diamond necklace Miss Chocolate satin was wearing.

**

However, Angie never got her closer look. For at that moment the tossing of the bride’s boutique was announced and Angie was overwhelmed by a mad dash of single ladies heading for the bride. On a lark she allowed herself to be swept along, losing sight of Miss Chocolate satin, but found herself right smack behind Miss Green velvet and her cheerfully sparkling diamond bracelet, a beautifully expensive piece that would have cost someone a king’s ransom. Angie’s fingers began their all too familiar tingling, eager for a chance to acquire jewelry that valuable, but not for any king, just for herself!

**

Though the night was still relatively early, and Angie still had visions of those exquisite rippling diamonds of the pretty Miss in chocolate satin on her mind, she simply could not pass up this opportunity. Angie wedged herself close behind her chosen victim as the multitude of hopeful young women pressed forward to try their luck. As the Bride teased her guests before getting ready to toss her bouquet of white and red roses, Angie expertly scrutinized the bracelet as it dangled from the green velvet glove. When the bride finally turned her back and raised her arms every one of the richly clad single women’s eyes was focused on the bride’s bouquet, Angie’s eyes were fixated on the bracelet. With the music playing loud, the crowd giggling and laughing, and all eyes focused on the gorgeously outfitted young long haired bride, Angie again felt opportunity knocking. Her pulse beating in rhythm with the music, she made ready to seize the chance when it presented itself. The roses flew through the air and all the women raised their hands high, looking all for the world like being involved in a stick-up. Angie timed it perfectly, snapping the clasp, and snatching the bracelet easily away from the gloved wrist of its owner as she raised her arms high to grab at the boutique. In her excitement, shared by everyone, Miss Green velvet ( who did not catch the bouget of roses) never felt a thing. Angie had smirked as she left the giggling group, stowing securely the purloined diamonds, as she imagined what it would have been like to watch that group robbed in a mass stick-up. The money that some enterprising soul could have made from that haul would have been astronomical.

**

She went to the open bar, lighting her first cigarette; she ordered her first real drink of the night. She could feel the coolness of the weighty bracelet in its hiding spot, and Angie, pleased with herself, calmly sipped her drink as she relished in the moment. The toss of the Brides Boutique was, in Angie’s experienced opinion, one of the three common events occurring during a wedding reception that were fertilely prime times for pickpocketing. (Editor’s note.. Miss D. mysteriously never divulged what she considered the other two prime events to be….)

**

She looked about without a worry in the world, coolly watching the antics of some of the younger women on the dance floor. She spied the young miss in the green velvet gown over in a corner talking in an animated fashion with several other women. Green velvet gown’s now bare velvet glove, apparently not noticed by anyone but Angie. One of her group was displaying some bright emeralds peeking through the long silver fur she was wearing, obviously she was leaving, and she was talking excitedly about something to the group formed around her! Nowhere in sight was Miss chocolate satin, too bad, Angie would have loved another peek before leaving.

Angie watched around the room causally, as the cold bracelet pressed expensively against her figure from its hiding spot. She eventually lost track of green velvet and her friends while finishing her drink. Setting down the empty glass, she decided it was time to call it a night. The bracelet now in her possession was easily worth as much as the 2 or 3 separate pieces she usually acquired at functions like these, added together! And, she needed her rest, Angie had a couple of plans the next day, one revolving around the female guests who would be attending an upscale afternoon prom fashion show a, the other, an evening opera performance (invited guests only, and her contact had managed to supply a ticket, at a hefty price!) No rest for the wicked, Angie told herself.

**

On her way out of the main lobby, she found herself leaving behind the very lady in green velvet whose bracelet was now in Angie’s possession. She was with the same gaggle of her similarly dressed friends, including the one exhibiting the emeralds. However, miss chocolate satin was still not visible. They were laughing and joking as they collected their assorted pretty wraps, obviously heading for a nightclub. If she had not already relieved one of them of a bauble, Angie might have invited herself along, if only to have a go at some emeralds. Angie hesitated about leaving withy them, then shrugged, followed the group out the door past the pair of bored rent a cops.

**

She remembered thinking, as she followed the elegant young princesses ,their fluid gowns peeking from under their various furs and wraps, how shallow the very rich could be. She wondered if Miss Green velvets friends had even noticed that she had had diamonds around the wrist of her glove, let alone that they were now missing. She wondered how long it would be before the bracelets loss was discovered. She figured it would be several hours, long enough for its owner not to be sure what place they had been lost. As young Miss Green velvet fancy gown and her friends turned right outside the exit, Angie turned left, heading towards the guard hut at the entrance to the garden.

She decided not to follow them but rather circle around the outside of the garden to give her victim time to leave.

**

That simple decision to make a left turn proved to be a major turning point in Angie’s fortunes that evening.

**

As Angie passed the hut guarding the entrance to the serenity garden, she noticed it was deserted.

It was as she was looking it over, that she heard the sounds of clicking heels moving fast, followed by the sounds of a young girl giggling. On the alert she stole to the backside of the hut, soon spying a splash of something blue and silky between the gaps of a couple of large bushes. Her senses on their highest peak, she began to move cautiously in, hoping the female making the noise would be in need of aid and comfort perhaps.

**

She soon spotted a young lady of about 14 bending over, hands on her knees as she panted heavily. Her back was to Angie, and what pretty back it was. She was nicely attired in a long gown of shiny material dyed deep blue like an afternoon, cloudless summer sky. The gown cascaded down along her petite figure, spilling out on the ground around her feet. Her hair was pulled back, easily displaying a pair of small diamond and sapphire earrings, not rhinestones for this one, but the real McCoy. Around one finger was a gold ring with sapphires, and from her left wrist dangled a thin silver bracelet with a row of diamond chips, both pretty, both valuably real. But it was her last piece of visible jewelry that stole the show. It hung, swinging to and from her neck on a thick braided chain of solid silver. On its end, like a hypnotists prism, was a silver pendent in the shape of a flower, with 1 inch long, pear shaped real diamonds as petals and a fully 2 inch in circumference center stone of deep sea blue. Angie watched it, her eyes following it for a full minute, its expensive fire sealing its own fate as Angie began flexing her fingers. Angie took her eyes off of it and looked around to see why the princess had been running. But all was still as the girl continued to peek through the branches towards the back door leading into the hall. Angie silently approached, and walking up to the pretty miss she bent down and in a friendly tone, asked who she was running from.

**

I played a joke on my sister, and now I’m hiding from her, piped the girl breathlessly, as Angie placed a hand upon the girls shoulder in a conspiratorial fashion, said shoulder made silky soft by the gowns half sleeve.

**

I know a better place where you can hide from her, Angie whispered in the girl’s ear, the dangling earring ever so close to her lips. The girl looked up, smiling, and Angie pointed towards the guard hut, and as the girl looked, Angie’s fingers glided up along the silky shoulder and lifted the thick silver chain up from the back of the gowns’ scooped collar. Come Angie said, and as the girl rose Angie’s fingers nimbly flicked open the chains’ lobster clasp, holding onto the clasp as the other end of the chain slipped down, allowing the pendent to slide free and fall onto the grass at the girls feet, where it lay shimmering. Angie moved her hand to the girls shoulder, squeezing it, while slipping off the braided silver chain with her other hand, whisking it back and away from the guileless young girl. Angie led her princess away from the spot and walked with her to the guard’s hut, still empty, where she had her hide neath the counter.

**

Angie turned and went back to claim the pendent, there still was no sign of any sister. She secured the pendent, joining it with the chain and bracelet, and headed deeper into garden. Her plan was to watch the hut and see which way the girl went after getting bored waiting. But as she skirted the perimeter her plans were changed when, upon rounding a corner of the path at the far end, she saw yet another back belonging to a solitary lady in her late thirties, clad in a long slinky yellow coloured gown of expensively shiny taffeta, bending over to smell the yellow roses on a bush. Instinctively Angie knew two things about her. One was that whatever jewels this lady would be wearing, they would be expensive, and the other was that with an expensive gown like that; the lady would undoubtedly be wearing her jewels. Angie suddenly became aware that her fingers were tingling, as an all too familiar whelming feeling again delightfully washed over her.

**

Angie found herself automatically turning back onto the garden path. She headed around the women and went down to the cupid’s statue, where now out of sight, she carefully hid the purloined bracelet, and still warm fiery pendent and its ‘fancy silvery braided chain..

**

She then headed towards the unsuspecting flower admirer. The ladies’ long brunette hair had fallen, flowing down the backside of her shiny taffeta gown. Angie could see rings and a bracelet gleaming as she was holding up the rose to her face. A long double rope of pearls hung swaying deliciously from her throat. Coming up behind her Angie stood watching; calculating until the lady rose and with a start realized she was not alone.

**

Pretty Angie said, her eyes on the pearls now draping down the front of her marks yellow gown. They are lovely, are they not? The damsel responded thinking Angie was referring to the roses. Just like the ones in the park, my husband and I walked through on our way to catch a cab today. Actually, I meant your dress Angie said complimentary. Thank you the lady practically squealed, I love the way it flows, and she swirled it about to show Angie, who got an eyeful of sparkly jewelry for her efforts. As she continued engaging the women in conversation, Angie decided upon attempting for the woman’s necklace of pearl. Seeing opportunity knocking when Yellow Taffeta pulled her long hair forward so it hang down the front of her gorgeous gown, laying silkily over one shoulder, nicely exposing the pricy necklaces clasp. Angie looked around, they were alone, out of site of the opposite end of the garden where the inside door was, and the guards hut with it’s pretty occupant.

**

Angie, using the marks interest in roses to her advantage, managed to steer the capricious damsel in shiny yellow over to the cupid’s statue. There, she placed a hand upon a silky taffeta covered shoulder, and pointed down to the shrub of moss roses growing at the foot of the statue . When she stooped down to get a closer look, Angie’s fingers whisked from her marks shoulder to the clasp, in a single effort with two fingers, lifted it by the clasp, and snapped it open. At that moment the mark cried “spider” and jumped up, backing into Angie, who watched helplessly as the pearls fell down from the damsel’s throat and slipped along the front of the yellow taffeta gown. They fell with a soft plop unto the ground at their mistress’s feet. Angie tried to lead her away, hoping to come back and reclaim the necklace. But as Angie pointed to another rose bush some distance away, the lady took a step forward, instead of back, planting her feet right onto the pearl necklace. Hey she exclaiming, what’s that, looking down to her high heeled foot? Oh, my pearls the lady squealed again, a glittering hand shooting to feel around her throat. Angie reached down, and reluctantly retrieved them from the base of the rose bush for the squealing lady in yellow . My husband would not have been pleased if I had lost these, she said as Angie held them, feeling their pricey smoothness.

**

She asked if Angie could help her put them on, my maid usually does this sort of thing, you know. Angie reluctantly complied, re- hanging the pearls as the pretty damsel held up her hair, and reluctantly redid the clasp. The Damsel thanked Angie by embracing her in a full hug, her diamond and pearl earring hitting Angie’s cheek. But Angie’s arms were being held by the hugging woman, so Angie was able to only watch the tantalizingly close earring sway free. Angie left yellow-gowned damsel in the garden, getting nothing for her efforts other than the feel of an expensive gown of the likes she could probably never afford to own.

**

With the pretty damsel hovering around the cupid statue, Angie decided to go back into the reception hall until the coast was clear. She carefully looked towards the Guards hut, and seeing that the guard had returned, figured the girl, so fetchingly clad in blue, had been rousted out, so that loose end was probably tied up. She just had to keep a careful eye out. The quite valuable bracelet and pricy necklace with its pendent were well hidden; there was absolutely no danger of someone stumbling over it.

**

Truth was, Angie had found her appetite wetted and once again visions of a lady in chocolate brown satin exhibiting a row of flashy diamonds, teased her thoughts. An accomplished pickpocket like herself had a couple of well-practiced ploys she could utilize to obtain a tight fitting necklace from its mistress. In addition, Angie was now determined to find her and to risk a try. She had really nothing to lose.

**

It took almost an hour of hunting amongst the now well liquored, gaily mingling crowd before Angie could admit to herself that there was absolutely no sign of the willowy lady in the stunning chocolate satin gown. Damn she thought to herself, those diamonds were something special. She shrugged it off, reciting in her mind a wicked little mantra of hers, “Another one who got away, a chance to lose her jewels to Angie on another day!” She strolled about pondering on what her next course of action could be. There had been no sign of the pretty girl in blue whose necklace Angie now had hidden away, and Miss Green Velvet was definitely out of the picture, so she felt that it was still safe to try to pluck one last bird or chick. In her hunt for the brown, Angie had seen several inviting prospects; one lady(purple satin, diamonds), two girls( ivory silk, pearled pin; red satin, gold necklace set with chips of precious stones), and now was weighing the risks.

 

It was at that point she once again espied the thickly bespectacled awkwardly introverted young lady invitingly wearing the thick silver satin ruffled blouse, which she had been tailing much earlier. And as Angie watched here, she again accepted the invitation. Her prey had appeared on the dance floor, being led around by a rather charming young man. That would make a dandy consolation prize Angie drooled to herself happily as she took in the sparkling show put on by the dancers jewels.

**

Angie looked her over, reacquainting herself with the jewels she so nicely was displaying. A pair of long earrings cascaded down from her earlobes where they precariously held on by antique silver claps. Angie relished the opportunity to “flimp” pairs of earrings like these. Heavily jeweled, each one was worth a tidy sum. Angie mulled this as she continued to study the jewels of her appealingly dressed new target.

**

The girl’s only ring was a solitaire diamond of at least 3 carets on a thick solid gold band worn vulnerably loose on her un-gloved, bare ring finger. A wide silver cuff bracelet with what appeared to be at least seven rows of matching, shimmering diamonds was dangling around her left wrist (she was right handed Angie observed) . The bracelet had a habit of lying over her sleeve, and Angie could see that it was a costly tiffany piece, whose clasp was exceptionally easy to flick open. A diamond pendent hung swinging from her satiny ruffles, held by an extravagantly thick silver chain with a simple , small eye in hook clasp. The Diamonds in the pendent were as shimmery as stars plucked from the night’s sky.

Angie remembered reading that in a poem from a book she had picked up years earlier in a library, while stalking a young mother in a satin dress, wearing an authentic Gruen Watch on one wrist, and a bracelet of diamonds on the other, that had gone into the library in pursuit of her young son running inside. Like that young mother, It was obvious that this lady in silver satin was not accustomed to wearing jewels, and that set probably spent most of their days lying in a safe. Angie licked her lips as she imagined what the other contents of that safe might look like

**

Angie moved in to allow herself a much closer appraisal of her potential victim’s jewels.

The young lady was totally oblivious to anything but the rather surprisingly strikingly handsome man who to all appearances was her Fiancée, who was holding her ever so close. But Angie was able to see enough of what she wanted to. The young Ladies’ thick satin blouse shone richly in the lights, moving like glistening wet liquid silver, while from her waist spilled the long black skirt with satiny tiers that swished and swayed nicely along her figure as she uneasily danced. Her jewels were bursting with colour as they played hide and seek with Angie’s watchful eyes. From all appearances, they were a mismatched couple. He seemed to know everyone and moved with a confident air, she was just the opposite. It made an enticingly intriguing package indeed for someone with Angie’s skills.

**

Silver Satin was the perfect “Gaston Monescu” type of mark, a perfect combination of classic mannerisms, clothing and Jewels worth anyone’s efforts to take. This was the only fly in the ointment that Angie observed. For by the bar she could see that two other sets of eyes were watching the same young lady in shiny satin and blazing diamonds. Angie intuitively knew they were drooling over acquiring jewels she was wearing.

**

She had noticed the pair of young men in loose fitting suits when they had entered a little earlier about the same time as Angie’s reappearance. They were obviously casing the jewels of any woman, young, or old, who walked past them. Angie knew their type, simple thieves, with no real skills outside of holding a knife in a dark alley to the throat of their victim while they unceremoniously searched and stripped them of their treasures. Angie saw that they were whispering amongst themselves and instinctively knew they were watching and waiting for the fetchingly clumsy silver clad lady clad loaded with diamonds, to leave the “establishment”.

**

She is mine Angie whispered, possessively snarling the words under her breath. She looked around as she thought about how best to handle the situation. Her eyes opened wide as she saw a familiar woman waiting by the coat checkroom. Perfect she purred, placing an unlit a cigarette in her mouth and heading over the bar.

**

She sauntered up next to them and ordered a drink, catching their eyes she asked for a light. As they obliged she took a pull and puffed out smoke, asking in a casual tone, “how about my jewels? Boys!” They could see perfectly well that she was not wearing any, and one snarled, “What’s your game, sister?” Angie snarled back in her best cop like manner, “We know what you boys are up to, and we suggest you both call it a night!” “Yer no cop sister”, they challenged, calling her bluff,” what’s your angle!” Angie calmly looked towards the entrance, perfect she mused as she saw their eyes follow hers, “Maybe not” she stated, “but see that lady being helped into the black mink?” “The shiny yellow dame?” one of em asked? “ “yes”, Angie replied taking a puff on her cigarette before going on, “ well that man’s she’s with used to be mine .” “ Now, I aint one to hold a grudge, but, those pearls she’s waltzing around with are worth plenty. And her rings, they are an easy two grand alone.”

**

Angie could tell she had captured their interest, and that they were now paying rapt attention to the lady in the thick yellow taffeta gown whose necklace Angie had almost acquired in the serenity garden. One of them looked at Angie, a suspicious look crossing his mug, “What’s innit for you sister?!” He demanded. Angie looked at him, dripping with sarcastic innocence. “Nothing brother, other than to make sure the jewels of the dame who stole my husband get home safely .” “I just worry,’ Angie went on, “there is a park in front of their residence and that dame in yellow likes to stroll through it to smell the roses after their cab drops them off.” They watched the couple leave, her expensive yellow gown sweeping provocatively at her gold high- heeled shoed feet. Angie looked them in the eyes and said smoothly, “ Gentlemen such as yourselves may want to do a good deed and follow them home to make sure some miscreant doesn’t spot her in those valuable jewels and mink. Not to mention her man’s gold watch and three hundred sawbucks in his wallet!” Angie winked at the pair, “If you catch my drift.” She added.

**

Still not totally convinced about what Angie was selling them, but equally unsure over who Angie was, both men got up and quickly headed towards the main exit as the last slip of an expensive yellow taffeta gown disappeared through the door. Smugly, Angie puffed on her cigarette as she watched them leave.

**

It was then that a hand was placed on Angie’s shoulder from behind.

**

She froze for a split second, before becoming aware of the soft mummer of satin, and of a slender finger was home to a sparkling sapphire ring. Angie smiled and turned around, facing the girl. Pardon me ma’am, she says politely, but do you remember me? Of course dear, Angie gushes while beaming at the forlorn looking miss in the fetching blue gown; I met you in the garden. Yes she confirms, but I lost my necklace somewhere and I was wondering if you remember if I had it on when we met? Angie’s heart leapt, bless this babe in the woods, thinking her necklace had merely been lost, never suspecting that someone like, say, Angie could have been the cause. She absolutely adored the trusting nature of rich girls this age. For that aspect of their purity had allowed Angie, far too easily sometimes, to lift many a jewel from well attired unsuspecting young princesses like this one. Who was now standing before her, miserable, her desirable diamond and sapphire earrings dangling ever so beckoningly, her sad puppy eyes pleading ever so sweetly, and her missing necklace closer than she could ever imagine.

**

No dear, I did not see you with a necklace, Angie lied coolly, as she reached out and stroked the girl tenderly alongside her face, her fingers touching one of the earrings. Angie was looking her fully in the eye, you didn’t lose anything else, and did you dear she asked with a concerned tone. The girl checked her earrings, bracelet and ring (Angie smiled to herself, silently thinking thanks for the info kid!) But when she spoke, it was with hopeful words laced with honey, If you want, I can help you look, my dear. The girl’s eyes lit up for a second, thank you ma’am, I wanted to, but papa said to wait until tomorrow when the light is better.

Angie smiled winningly, don’t worry dear, I’m sure its somewhere in the garden. Someone will find it, she promised, thinking to herself maliciously, and keep it for their own profit!

**

Thank you Ma’am she chirped, at the encouraging words that had been spoken, luckily she could not hear the ones Angie was thinking to herself, and turning moved off, her scrumptious gown swishing pleasantly around her silver heels. Angie watched, as the girl disappeared in the crowd Angie marked her direction.

**

Angie Imagined if the girl had accepted her offer, and she had left with the vulnerable, unguarded princess to search in the garden, and in the process help relieve her of her remaining jewels. There would be enough light with the gas lamps that lined the paths in the garden. Enough light, so that as Angie helped the princess look, her fingers could slip ever so delicately slip in and search along her shiny sky blue gown.

**

Angie licked her lips slowly as she fantasied about the search. The girl bending down to look under a bush, Angie placing her knee sharply in a certain spot below the girl’s armpit, temporarily numbing her upper body. Allowing Angie enough time to pull off both her earrings without feeling it,( this also worked well on working off broaches placed in upper parts of gowns and dresses, not to mention necklaces!) The bracelet would be no problem; it would be the easiest and probably the first, snatched off while the rich girl’s attention was easily diverted away. Since she was not wearing silky gloves, her ring would be the trickiest, but manageable, by either having her walk too close to a water fountain and hopefully having her get her fingers wet, or by simple holding onto her hand and tripping her by stepping on her gowns hem. And just like that, Angie would become that much richer, the rich girl that much poorer. And it all would be done without giving the girl any additional stress, like say she had run into the two muggers Angie had chased off. They may not have been content with just the jewels of a girl dressed as she was that they had found wandering alone in the gardens at night.

**

As Angie excitedly thought about these things, she had trained her focus back upon her original meal ticket, whom for the second time that evening had almost been allowed to slip through Angie’s light fingers. Watching with half lidded eyes, the still dancing couple not unlike a wolf watches lambs, waiting for one to make an ill-fated move away from the flock. The lamb’s fate was sealed, when a vivacious blonde in a long wispy silken dress cut in on the dancing couple. Asking miss silver satin’s fiancé for a dance. He obliged, leaving his shimmering fiancée unaccompanied, nakedly exposed to the wolf that was Angie.

**

More than one way to skin a cat Angie thought, tingling from the thrill of the hunt her prey, now in a reachable situation. She happily headed towards the spot where Miss silver satin had moved off to. A small table, located conveniently by a powder room. One the way she grabbed a half full glass of red wine off a table. Angie circled around young miss silver satin, taking a position up about two table lengths behind her. She casually scoured the area; most of the nearby tables were deserted.

Knowing the band would stop playing soon for the evening; most of the couples were out on the dance floor. All in all, the situation presented the perfect opportunity for some one of Angie’s persuasion.

**

Angie watched as the young lady picked up a glittery silver clutch and opening it, started to search inside. Angie moved swiftly, catching up behind her , tripping intentionally into her, splashing some wine onto the front of the silver satin blouse as the unfortunate lady dropped her purse in surprise. Oh my gosh, I did not see you, miss silver satin pleaded apologetically to Angie, more concerned over Angie’s feelings than her soiled satin blouse. Angie accepted her apology and, producing a lacey silk handkerchief, began to wipe themselves both down.

Angie’s practiced eyes swiftly took it all in. Miss silver satin’s pretty earrings swaying out vulnerably from her long straggly hair as it fell into her face. The clasp of her necklace was also exposed and within easy grasp. A s she reached out for the floor to steady herself, Angie’s eyes took in the sparkling ring on her now wetted finger and then watched the wide bracelet with its’ easily open able clasp slip up glitteringly over her sleeve.

The girl, now thoroughly flustered, started to rise, tripping over her slippery long skirt( with no help from Angie) Angie caught her, taking advantage of the split second opening she had been waiting for and Angie took it, making her selection as she steadied the poor thing with one hand, as the other caressed along a slick silver satin back. Angie’s long supple fingers darted in and deftly did their trick, this time with no spiders interfering. She quickly removed her chosen glittery prize from the distracted lady, who never noticed so much as a prick as Angie removed the expensive piece from her person in the confusion.

**

Angie secreted he shiny jewel as she helped miss silver satin collect herself. Than they rose, and Angie happily accepted miss silver satin profuse and obviously well used, apology. Then, as she fumbled nervously with her thick glasses, Angie laid a calming hand upon her shoulder, her fingers relishing in the richness of her victims sleek ruffled blouse. Miss silver satin was by now so distracted and embarrassed that Angie was all but assured of a clean get away.

However, as an extra measure of caution Angie intentionally jarred silver satin’s elbow of the hand steadying her eye glasses. Thus sending her glasses falling from her face to the floor with a small clatter, then Angie kicked them under a table before the startled lady could react. Angie offered to help, but the lady implored that she was okay, just needed to find her glasses. Angie left as Miss silver satin started to frantically grope around for her glasses, her silver blouse and remaining jewels shimmering brightly along their miserable mistress..

Angie took her leave, knowing that once she found her glasses, Miss silver satin would flee for sanctuary into the ladies powder room, buying her more than enough time for Angie to make her escape. Taking one last look over the dance floor, she blithely saw that miss silver satins fiancé was still in the clutches of the vivacious blonde-haired girl, still safely out of the picture. Angie made her way with purpose to the rear exit leading to the garden that she had used earlier, intending to head out into the serenity garden to collect the hidden bracelet and pendent, adding them to her purloined plunder.

**

As she walked amongst the mostly deserted tables, her mind went to the woman in yellow taffeta and imagined that right about now she would be standing with raised arms and a forlorn look. Ruefully wincing as the man who was holding her mink busily stripped those luscious pearls from the neckline of her tight gown, as the shiny yellow material gleamed in the moonlight! Serves her right for being afraid of spiders, Angie thought unforgivingly.

***

Angie’s mind also went to the poor young princess in blue with the missing necklace. She looked towards the area she had headed, opposite of the back exit to the garden. She reluctantly decided not to push her luck, there was a sister and parents to contend with, and she really had no time left. So she decided to call it a day, a rather successful day, and made her way to retrieve her loot.

**

Angie had now reached the now deserted table by the back exit where the lady in the crimson gown and blood red rubies had been earlier, along with her rhinestone encumbered 10 year old daughter and handsome husband.

**

She paused between the table and the bench, something was not quite right, She eyed the area around the dance floor for any signs of trouble that may be centered on the quite valuable jewels now in her possession. All was quiet, except for a little murmur behind her. Turning she looked at the bench and was shocked to discover the soundly asleep ten year old, using the long rusty sable fur as a blanket. What have we here, Angie thought, licking her lips wickedly?

**

Angie pursed her lips, checking the coast; spotting the young girl’s parents, still on the dance floor, a safe distance away the other side of the room. No sign of miss silver satin. No one else was nearby. Perfect. She went over, bending down so the table hid her. The child looked so vulnerably innocent, sound asleep as she lay on her side, facing Angie. She was clutching an arm of the sable like a warm fuzzy teddy bear, her ring sparkling. Angie gently tugged the mink from the girl’s clasp, and gradually pulled until the fur swished away from along the inert silken figure on the bench, where it fell into a pile on the floor. The child looked very innocent, very vulnerable, like a sleeping princess. An earring lay exposed over one shoulder, her necklace dangled down slightly askew from her slender throat, the pin holding her sash, all of which shone brightly now that it was exposed to the low lights of the ballroom, still called out. Too bad, Angie thought to herself, too bad the mother had not dressed her little doll in real diamonds.

**

 

Angie again looked to the dance floor; she could see the mother’s jewelry twinkling brightly as the child’s parents danced close, very unaware of anything else but themselves. She looked back over the girl, contemplating. But the song was winding down, Angie stooped to pick up the sable, bird in hand she thought, and placing the rich fur over her arm, stood just as the song ended. Looking at the exit door, so near and yet so far, she started to hasten to it, but checked herself as the band immediately started another, rather slow song that Angie knew quite well.

**

She hesitated, incredibly, everyone was staying on the floor for the final dance, she looked back at the bench, and the sleeping imps exposed jewels still shined, tempting her to come for them. Angie knew that she would only have about four minutes. Always open to new challenges, Angie chose to answer that sweet little invite that the necklace was extending out to her. Checking once again to make sure the parents was still obliviously dancing; she laid the mink down by the door and eased back to the bench. Kneeling down, Angie began to perform the delicate operation.

**

Lifting up the necklace she gently tugged it loose from around the sleeping child’s neck until the clasp appeared. She subtly flicked open the clasp, then shamelessly slipped the necklace from around its perch on the little whelp’s throat. It flickered like some slithering shiny snake, glittering as it came away. Like taking candy from a baby, Angie drooled happily, as she let the necklace run along her fingertips while watching the sleeping princess for a few seconds.

**

Her fitted cream coloured dress shimmered with expensive richness in the shadowy light. The poor thing was so soundly asleep after her long exhausting day that Angie figured she could have peeled the dress off her without causing a stir. This for a pickpocket would be the ultimate test, the pinnacle of her criminal class. But, Angie thought; if she ever had the opportunity to do so, it would have to be worth her while, like a shiny gown, an appealing sky blue gown with half sleeves and scooped collar. And the jewels would be sapphire drop earrings, bracelet and ring, not plain rhinestones. She licked her lips at the enticing thought of such a perfect “coup fera”, than told herself to get back to work, time was money.

**

She slipped her hand along the satin cape being used as a pillow and felt under the girls head until she felt the cold earring she was laying upon. Deftly undoing the screw she pulled it free, watching with delight as it came out from underneath.

**

Angie than, gently lifted, and nimbly stroked back the girl’s ultra-soft hair, exposing her long silvery earring. She pulled the jewel out and laid it out upon the child’s shoulder, where it lay, shimmering vibrantly. Then she reached in with her fingers and began unscrewed its clasp. Pulling it free she added it to her growing collection. She next lifted the hand that had held the warm sable, gently prying open her clenched fingers. The sleeping child never stirred. Angie gently slipped off the glittering ring. She then peeled back a silky sleeve, checking for the bracelet, finding her wrist was bare. The rest of the jewels were hiding securely on the side she was laying upon. Smiling wickedly to herself, an idea popped into Angie’s head.

**

The music was now almost to the halfway point, and Angie thought for a brief second that she should leave . Another quick scan assured her the coast was still clear, and Angie decided to press her luck, eagerly going back to work, putting her idea into motion.

Angie fingers felt along the sleeping child’s waist until she located the brooch. Quickly unfastening the brooch from the chocolate satin sash, she pulled it out. Watching as the diamonds caught fire and burst into vibrant life, unusually vivid for plain rhinestones she thought contemplatively. Angie plopping it in with the growing pile of the sleeping girls purloined baubles. Again reaching in along the warm waist, Angie gradually tugged at the now undone sash. The sleeping girl, unconsciously obliged by turning over on her other side, as the sash was pulled away.

**

Her arm with the ring and bracelet was now exposed. Lifting the arm , and peeling back the puffy sleeve, Angie found and unclasped the bracelet, slipping it away, then allowing it to dangle in triumph before letting it join its purloined mates. Then lifting the child’s hand she pulled at the ring, it was a little tight. Angie licked her fingers, and moistened the girls finger, than began slipping the ring off ever so gently from the along her finger. Almost there, Angie thought, as the ring joined its abducted companions in her pocket.

 

**

As Angie finished pocketing the last of the girls jewels, her victim whimpers something discernible in her sleep, her small hand feeling to pull up the missing warm sable she had been using as a blanket. Angie quickly looked around, spying a cheap linen coat hanging on a nearby hook, she grasped it and laid it over the stirring girl, stroking her for a precious few seconds. Then rising, calmly Angie snatched a shiny purse from the table, and moved off, unbelieving of her luck. She reclaimed the sable fur, and strolled out the door without looking back.

**

As Angie closed the door she heard the last notes of the song waning from inside. She licked her lip, that was close, but her luck had held. Now all that remained was to visit the Cupid Statue In the garden to reclaim her other prizes. As she reached the statue, Angie realized that she still had the child’s satin sash in her hand.

She smiled as she tied it, blindfolding the cupid statues eyes. Retrieving and pocketing the now stone cold diamond bracelet, and the young Princess in blue’s necklace with its shimmering pendent, she slowly looked around, the cost was clear. Angie coolly made her way to the gate, the bored guard offering to help her with the mink she was carrying. , Angie stopped, and handed it to him. Then turning, allowed him to help her on with it. He puffed out his chest as Angie gave him a sweet smile; she thanked him, then turned and disappeared into the darkness of the night.

**

Angie disappeared from view into the foggy evening, relishing the warmth of the sensuous sable. Happily contemplating the small fortune in jewels it had been in contact with earlier that evening, and also the small fortune she had walked out of the reception with in her possession.

**

The guard watched the spot for some time where the pretty lady in the expensive fur had vanished in the mists. He fantasized for a good few minutes, wondered what had been behind the enchantingly secret smile she had given to him.

Excuse me, sir?, a female voice coming from the garden startles him, he had never heard anyone coming.

He turns, catching an eyeful of a long glamourous, brown satin gown, worn fetchingly by a willowy short haired pretty young thing. Diamonds blazed from around her throat, caught by the gas lights, and from around her white satin gloved wrists as she raised her hands in a pleading fashion.

She continues, pointing to a young girl in a smashing blue satin gown, bending over looking for something in the bushes. My sister lost her necklace and pendent while playing around here earlier, did you or anyone find it? She asked in a rather seductive tone of voice9 not a common, it was her regular voice)

No lady, no one turned in a necklace. Thank you sir, and she turns away, her gown flowing out behind her.

He watches for a minute as she and her sister both move elegantly down the path, continuing their search.

He sighed, and turns away, babysitting rich dames he mutters under his breath, what a dismal way to make a living. Why won’t this affair ever end he asked himself, as he reached for his silver pocket watch to check the time. Damnations he said, not finding it nor its chain and fob, must have dropped it in the alley earlier where I had gone for a nipper from his flask. He sauntered off quickly to the alley located in the direction Angie had disappeared, abandoning his post.

Soon after, a pair of dark figures who had been walking on the opposite side of the street, and had stopped to loiter when they spied the guard talking to some posh broad in a shiny brown dress, saw the guard leaving his post. They quickly stole with sinister intent across the road and entered into the gardens, disappearing into the darkness.

*********************************************************************************

This ended up being Angie’s first big score, She got more for the rhinestone set then she had imagined, the small brooch taken off the brown satin sash had proved to have real diamonds in its center! Also the princess in silky sky blue’s pendent and chain had fetched a nice tidy sum. The jewels lifted from the ladies in Green and Silver also realized quite a handsome profit, as did the sable and purse.

if one includes the real diamond ring slipped off the finger of a silky dressed debutante from the prom show and her rather nice haul of a slim pearl necklace and diamond pin from the Opera, the whole weekend was unimaginably successful.

**

From the profit realized, she had been able to spend a pleasant month away in Monte Carlo, even indulging in the purchase of a rich red wine coloured taffeta gown to wear.

Which she pleasantly found that, when paired with her deftly acquired collection of dripping rhinestone diamond jewelry, she attracted wealthy young males with expensive gold watches and fat wallets like honey bee drones to a bright moss rose.

**

She also enticed a long raven haired, Miss, richly clad in emerald silk, to enter into her snare.

But Angie did not make an entirely clean get away. For the last jewel to be taken was the girl’s brooch , and before Angie could hide it with the rest, the girl spotted its’ glitter in Angie’s hand, and with a gasp had looked down on her dress at the now vacant spot where it had been dangling ever so provocatively for Angie all evening.. Angie smiled at the girl as she had looked up in confusion. The girl had placed a hand to her throat, startled when feeling it bare of her necklace. She looked at Angie in hurt confusion, her eyes wide with fright. Angie placed a finger to the girl’s lips, hushing any fuss she may have been thinking of making over her missing jewelry, and turning her back to the forlorn miss, Angie left, not looking back….

**

But that was a story for another day, so we were promised by Angie, giving us an all too familiar look of devious satisfaction at making us wait.

.************************************************************************************

Editor’s Notes:

Our Thanks to Mr. J. Gardner for pointing out the existence of Mr. Monescu’s 1826 guide

If you enjoyed our little story, please like and leave a comment.

And if you wish, describe what intrigued you the most about it…

Thank You

 

Norfolk was a very wealthy county in medieval times, and a number of churches still survive to prove it. All Saints in Necton is one, built on an earlier church in the 14th century and then made grander only a hundred years later, when the hammer beam roof was raised 18 feet and large carved angels and saints added.

It suffered renovation in the 19th century (not altering the wonderful roof, fortunately), but other internal changes involved a new gallery and a mausoleum designed by Pugin (which we had no time to see). The tower was also rebuilt in 1864 replacing what had been mostly knapped flints with cut stone. This was partly to accommodate a new set of six bells dedicated in 1833, and the renovation also saw a pretty lead cupola installed at the top with a decorative parapet.

The Silken whisper of Flickering Desires

A Chronicle

Adapted from the Final Entry Entitled:

Their Regal Gambit

Subtitled:

While Sherlock Holmes vacationed

 

The first score had been made, now for the Coup de Grace! So far their little operation had gone as smooth as silk, or in this case, satin. Now just to make sure the husband of the silken gowned brunette displaying the jewels in question was still safely out of the picture! Then Mollie would let her husband know that with the coast clear, freeing him to stage his approach of the lady in the long swishing satin gown he had been keeping an eye on all evening. The one who was wearing the exquisite necklace of fiery flickering diamonds, just daring someone to expertly slip it away the throat of its unsuspecting owner.

 

And therein lay the rub, She happily thought….

 

As Mollie made her way down the quiet corridor to the gentlemen’s smoking lounge, she lovingly played through her mind the series of unfortunate ( or fortunate?) events that had led her and her husband to this place. It had all began with an innocent one named Tabitha…….

 

Mollies’ Flash back

 

They had first come across Tabitha at a resort casino deep in the Catskills. Mollie and her husband had been there about three days, scoping out the grounds, and its wealthy clientele. At the casino they both spotted Tabitha at the same time. She was seated at a baccarat table, really standing out in an elegant dress of gold and black striped silk and velvet Her well-toned body displayed numerous pieces of expensive jewelry. A fat little purse dangled, unheeded by her side. Tabitha had held Mollie’s attention mainly due to the strong resemblance she had to herself. Tabitha’s jewelry, a flashy diamond journey style necklace, matching earrings, wide diamond tennis bracelet, and multiple gem encrusted rings, had held Mollies pickpocket husbands’.

 

Mollie went on to the bar and watched as her husband waited for the seat next to Tabitha to become vacant. Then he sat, asking for chips, while unobtrusively eyeing Tabitha’s bracelet. He began striking up a conversation with Tabitha, finding her to be an easy mark. He soon learned from the chatty girl that she was a divorced, upper executive for a well-known digital arts company servicing the movie industry. It was during this conversation that Tabitha babbled about the upscale, invitation only(you know), black tie formal ball she would be attending in England the next month. Now, as her husband was keeping Tabitha occupied Mollie had walked by the pair, ‘tripping’ into her husband, who palmed off to her , the diamond bracelet which had been ever so subtly slipped from around the unwary Tabatha’s’ wrist. Walking away with the bracelet secured in her purse, Mollie made her way to their small bungalow. Her husband did not break in his conversation with Tabitha; a mark would seldom suspect a friendly person of stealing from her.

 

Later that evening, Mollie wore the pricy bracelet while mutually admiring it over a bottle of merlot with her husband. They discussed the high-class affair Tabitha had been bragging about. Wistfully, Mollie admitted it was a shame they had not received an invite. Her husband smiled, and pulled a thickly embossed and crested envelope from his pocket. Easily adopting a British accent, he said “The silly little twit was carrying this in her purse!” The envelope revealed a pair of invitations to the Princess’s Jubilee Royal Ball. As the pair continued to empty the bottle of fine merlot, what had started as speculation, turned towards reality, and soon plans had been laid.

 

As they lay in bed later that night, Mollie turned to her husband, just think about the jewels that will be worn at the English Ball, she shivered with the delightful thoughts. Do you remember the last time we were in England? Mollie looked at her husband slyly, you remember, the Wriggling Whelp Whispering Wisk! She stated teasingly. Mollie knew the quickest way to get her husband’s goat was coming up with silly phrases to describe his more outlandish endeavors. Such phrases like The Tingling Touch Ice Melt, The Slippery Slick Taffeta Pull, The Glossy Gowned Dangling Peel, or her personal favorite, The Ticklish Wedge Clam Dip, never failed to get a response. In this case the response was a brief pillow fight leading into a romantic interlude, ending up with them in bed as they reminisced about the last time they had “visited” England a few years back…..

It had proven a fairly profitable venture with the jewelry alone netting almost 100,000 pounds. It all had culminated quite nicely at one of the posh events they had crashed that final weekend. Their final score had come about from a rambunctious doe eyed Fourteen year old in a shiny dress who had been oblivious to the valuably delicious gold pendent studded with small rubies and emeralds that sparkled ever so invitingly as it swung from her throat. A pair of matching dangling earrings dripped from her ears as she has run around unminded by her elders. Mollie had indignantly stated to her husband that the antique trinkets were simply just too expensive for a child so squirminly young to be trusted with. Her husband then went about the task to prove his wife correct in her statement.

 

After talking a bit about the English Girls parents reaction to the unsolved disappearance of their daughters ultra-pricey pendent , Mollie came back to the present and asked if the lady in the maroon silk that her husband pointed out the previous evening would be wearing the same jewels to the dance tomorrow night? Or better her husband replied sleepily, good Mollie pronounced, I did like her emeralds.

 

In Merry Ole England

 

They had arrived in England several weeks before the Royal Ball and began the preparations.

 

In an irony of fate, the profit they had realized from poor Tabitha’s bracelet had paid for a large chunk of their little excursion. Keeping his accent, and adding a trim beard, Mollies husband looked radically different from the man Tabitha had encountered. During the weeks following their arrival, the pair had practiced like they always did before undertaking a new venture. But this time it was with a more daring edge, they quite simply could not afford being caught red handed in a foreign country. Mollie assumed her practice the role. That of the richly dressed, well jeweled quarry. Her husband would stalk and attempt to relieve her of a piece of her jewelry as she went about her business, shopping! The idea being that, If he was able to do so without being caught by an obviously aware Mollie, than he should have no problem at the Royal Ball. As it usually happened when they practiced in this manner, her husband did incredibly well. Mollie had had several pieces of jewelry vanish from her person during the week, without her noticing how or when.

 

The final night of practice Mollie decided to dress to kill. Looking quite devastating in a glossy gold halter and a long brown velvet skirt with gold stiletto heels clicking as she moved. A diamond heart pendant hung down from her neck, swaying provocatively out from between her breasts. A bracelet, similar to Tabitha’s purloined diamonds, was wrapped around her wrist.

 

She left their penthouse and made her way to the street outside. Some type of festival was going on as she waded through the crowded streets to the nightclub. Her rings sparkled as they kept rhythm with her swaying diamond waterfall earrings. Just daring her husband to make a move for any of them.

 

Mollie drank and danced the night away with no hide or hair of her husband until she returned late that evening to their apartment. She found him in the hot tub, smirking. She undressed and joined him. Okay, how did u do it she demanded? I felt nothing, no one bumped or brushed against me all evening that I was not aware of. He opened his fist, allowing her heart diamond pendant to dangle freely in front of her. A magician never reveals his tricks my little cat, he purred, as the pendant swayed in a sparkling arch.

 

Cat was short for “Cat Lady”, a moniker he had placed upon her when she had broken into a sleeping woman’s room and removed the jewels from her gold case, and even managed to slip off a ring she was wearing. The fact that she was passed out in a drunken stupor, still dressed in her long party gown, didn’t count , or so her husband teased.

 

You should have been a surgeon! , my dear, Mollie exclaimed with pride. Then she leaned towards him, her green eyes gleaming in earnest, time for a real practice run Mon Cherie, she said in dead seriousness. Then Her eyes opened wide, I got it she exclaimed, I’ll call it The Slinking Sneaky Shearing Snag she pronounced joyfully, getting a face full of water in reply to her effort. Okay Cat, let’s get down to business he retorted, I know just the affair. Mollie listened intensively as her Husband described their next plans, derived while eavesdropping on a couple of ladies shopping in a jewelers.

 

The next weekend (two weeks to the evening before the Royal Ball) Mollie found herself at a quaint upscale wedding reception held in the large gardens of a country church. She was attired in the same bewitching ensemble that she had been wearing on the final night of practice. Her only jewels were a recently acquired pair of sparkly cascading earrings set with emeralds and diamonds. The affair of the plump piqued peacock plucking she had mused while getting dressed. The only other exception was that the long fiery red hair she had inherited from her Irish namesake grandmother had been cut and dyed blond. Blue contacts had also been added to the disguise to hide her vivid green eyes.

 

They soon targeted an older jewel laden snob at the reception. An older lady , well jeweled, of the arrogant know it all, obey me totally type whom everyone tries to avoid. While Mollie engaged the mark in a mostly one sided conversation(the older ladies) the lady had become so deeply engrossed about talking about herself and her ties with royalty, that she never detected being relieved of a heirloom antique gold chain and jeweled pendent by Mollies husband who had approached her unnoticed from behind.

It was all Mollie could do no to bring attention to it by looking at the wickedly expensive piece as it was slipped up and away from the Dowager’s ruffled heavy satin blouse.

 

This time it was mollies turn to keep chatting as her husband headed to the door. He had almost made it when two youths ran into him as they scurried away from a rather sullen looking tween girl they had been teasing, and now were in possession of her purse. Mollie stole a look as she saw her husband topple onto the chasing girl. He managed to extracted himself from the girls long slinky gown that she had probably been forced into by an overly conceited mother. He apologized, and left the girl to go after her antagonizes. Later, when Mollie had caught up to him she teased him about his clumsiness. He just smiled, and pulled out from his vest pocket the most exquisitely matched pearls that the youth had been openly displaying from around her throat and wrist at the reception!

 

They were, most definitely, ready. The fated evening could not come soon enough. But it finally did.

 

They had had no problem with using the fancy invitations to gain entrance. Security was heavy, as expected, but with a very lax atmosphere. Mollie was wearing the salmon coloured gown she had had especially made for such occasions, her new blond hair style and the blue contacts. In a coup foray of sorts, Mollie wore the pearls that had been taken by her husband during his run in with the sullen girl at the wedding reception. Her husband was wearing his usual tux with a hand tied bowtie. His ruffled sleeves easily moved up and down along his wrists.

 

Mollie and her husband split up, each spending the first few hours mingling solo, and taking it all in as they thoroughly enjoyed the Ball and all its many stimulating attractions. It had gone smooth as silk. Spending the first few hours prowling while the guests liquored up Mollie scoping out exactly the right candidates. Dangling jewels with easy clasps were everywhere!, it was surprising how the best of jewel makers skimped on the clasps required to keep the expensive pieces in place. Clothing also made a difference. Silks and satins were quiet and slipped easily. Taffeta could be whispery, more of a challenge. Velvet could easily snag as a piece was being lifted. But these were the costliest of materials, and the wearers would logically be wearing the costlier of jewelry.

 

Mollie and her husband regrouped several hours later, unobtrusively under the pretense of dancing. Gently discussing their plans. They settled on three likely prospects amongst the almost three hundred present. The first was an older spinster type wearing a luxurious dress of embroidered navy silk and displaying jewelry studded with diamonds and sapphires. The second was a middle aged snotty blonde wearing a shamelessly low cut green silk taffeta gown (which Mollie secretly liked)wearing a thick gold bracelet studded with vulgarly large rubies surrounded by a sea of small sparkly diamonds. She was alone, and a heavy drinker. The third was a longshot. A lanky , flighty brunette wearing immensely valuable jewels of blindingly sparkling Diamonds. Her necklace alone was in the upper hundred thousand range, with a clasp that was one of the easiest to coax open. The only problem was that she came with an obviously newlywed husband who doted on her every move. Both were heavy drinkers, and if he would only leave his wife’s side for, say about fifteen minutes, the necklace would be theirs!

 

They had decided that any one of the three would produce results worth a king’s ransom, appropriately enough, all things considered. The plan was for her husband to take his time selecting the easiest jewel to acquire from amongst the ones the three marks were displaying , make his move, and pass it off to Mollie who would leave forthwith, while her husband stayed a little while longer to make sure everything remained calm before making his exit stage right via the hallway.

 

As Mollie went to her station, she saw the Blue silken lady, along with her sapphires and diamonds, leaving with a rather unsavory looking male, eyeing her with a look Mollie knew all too well. Mollie decided to follow them, thinking to herself that some women are just prone to being victimized. Good luck with that one Mollie thought unkindly, as she stole one last look at the ladies glistening sapphires, hope he leaves her with something she sarcastically wished wickedly to the couple’s backside as they went out the exit at the end of the hall. One down and out she thought. Then she spied the husband of the newlywed pair heading down the hall towards her with an older, grey bearded man. Getting close she heard them talking about the Gentlemen’s smoking lounge. Mollie decided to give her husband a signal, but when she found him he was already in the arms of the blond. Molly immediately noticed the absence of the jeweled bracelet from his partners’ wrist. She went back to her table. Immediately she was set upon by some drunken snob asking her to dance. She allowed herself to be taken up into his arms. Spending a few unenchanting minutes with Mr. two left feet, before her husband tapped him on the shoulder cutting in. They danced, Mollie placing a hand into his pocket and feeling something cold and metal wrapped her hand around it. Looking him in the eyes she told him about the now unguarded bride, as she palmed the willowy blonde’s bracelet. They decided to go for it, and as the music ended, Mollie made her way to the hall, where she secreted the blondes bracelet safely away

 

One down, one more to go! An exquisite necklace of flickering diamonds waiting to be nimbly slipped away from the throat of its unsuspecting wearer. Now just to make sure the husband of the silken gowned brunette displaying the jewels in question was still safely out of the picture! Then to let her husband know that with the coast clear, he was free to stage his approach of the lady in the long swishing satin gown he had been keeping a drooling eye on all evening. The one wearing the exquisite necklace of flickering diamonds waiting to be so expertly slipped away from the throat of its unsuspecting wearer.

 

She was able to see the groom in windowed room, the husband and his friend were smoking a pair of long cigars and drinking brandy in large glass snifters. Mollie passed unnoticed as she mad e her way to the ladies powder room. He was still there, only halfway through a long stogie as she passed again on her way back. Neither time was she observed. Mollie mad her way back to the Ballroom. She sat down at one side of the room, once again allowing the sights of so many bejeweled women to soak in. Her husband was dancing with a lady in a flowing red ball gown, jewels sparkling in abundance, not aware of the danger so close at hand, nor that even with her husband and his particular skill set so close to them, that at that moment nothing could be safer from his fingertips. Finally she caught her husband’s eye. Mollie innocently rubbed a finger along the side of her nose, a subtle signal that it was safe for him to precede.

 

Mollie was now uncharacteristically having butterflies in her stomach; it was a huge gamble, trying to get away with a pair of thefts in this inhospitable atmosphere. She kept second guessing herself, Bird in hand she kept thinking. But the lure was too great, and it was with a heavy sigh of relief when Mollie saw her husband finally kiss the hand of the young bride after their dance. Mollie could see that she was no longer sporting the thin silver necklace and its row of at least two caret diamonds that had been encircling her throat with their rippling flashy brilliance all evening. Molly stayed put, not daring to leave until her husband had brushed by her in passing and made his way out the hallway to the exit. She waited for a long fifteen minutes, then curling her hand around the necklace that had been dropped into her lap as he had passed; she gained the safety of the hallway. Just in time. For coming down the hallway was none other than the lady in the long luxurious gown and now bare throats groom and his distinguished looking friend. She passed by them, feeling the men eyeing her with roving wolfish gazes. Then she passed them, and proceeded unhindered to once again enter the ladies’ powder room where the necklace soon joined with the Blondes bracelet in its hiding spot.. Than calmly Mollie left, walking past two security Bobbies, virtually unnoticed. The Groom had been absolutely ignorant to the fact that his young Bride’s ridiculously valuable necklace had walked right past him out the door.

 

Mollie did not let herself really breathe until she had gained the safety of the street. She allowed herself to imagine the commotion as the news of the missing jewels were circulated around the cavernous Ballroom. There would be a flurry of activity, flashes and sparkles as the women checked themselves reassuringly that they were still in possession of their trinkets. Mollie would have loved to have stayed and watched, but obviously could not do so. She rejoined her husband at their meeting place and they drove off. They made their way to Ireland where they spent a cautious week touring before leaving for the states.

 

Once the profit was realized from their haul that eventful evening, including obnoxious Dowagers the jeweled antique pendent, and was added in to the modest amount they had already accumulated from previous adventures, Mollie and her husband were able to retire to Ireland and live quite an unpretentious life together in a small stone manor in the woods.

  

Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives

 

The Tughlaqs (AD 1321-1414) were a dynasty of Turkish origin who ruled over much of India and built at a fast and furious pace various fortifications and cities. Tughlaqabad was the first fort and city built in a short span of 4 years. It runs for almost 6.5 kms and was built with heavy walls to prevent the onslaught of the Mongol invaders who laid siege ever so often to the wealthy kingdoms of the river plains of India.

 

If you travel on the Mehrauli Badarpur Road which was incidentally built by Ghiasuddin Tughlaq himself, you can not miss the massive structure that runs alongside. The thick stone walls standing atop the raised hillside stand impregnable and imposing and almost awe inspiring as they were 800 years ago albeit with a few crumbling portions. The circular bastions punctuate the walls ever so often and there is only 1 main gate that is now visible from the almost 27 that existed earlier.

 

Ghiasuddin Tughlaq who founded this dynasty had a long standing feud with a Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya. While the Tughlaqabad fort was being made, all laborers, masons, carpenters and others were by a royal mandate forced to work on the fort alone and nowhere else. Some of the workers devoted to the Sufi saint would work the nights to build a step well for the sufi congregation. This irked the Sultan of Delhi no end and he decreed that no oil would be sold to light the lamps to work on the well. This did not stop the work at the saint's well.

To compound the feud, the Sultan while returning to Delhi from his conquests decreed that the Sufi saint should pack up and leave Delhi before he came back to Tughlaqabad.

The Sufis were mostly mystic who believed in attaining goodness in this life rather than the Moslem next. Nizammuddin Auliya had a great following and was supposed to have legendary gift of uttering pithy tracts of Truth that would generally come to pass and thus become miracles.

It is in this backdrop that the Sufi saint uttered two famous sayings.

 

1) "ya rahe usar, ya base gujar’ "

Nizammuddin condemned the whole city and fort of Tughlaqabad to be a "hissar or " ussar" or "Ujjar" meaning that the place would be abandoned or else it would be the resting places for "Gujars" or "Gujjars" who were herdsmen tending to sheep and cattle.

 

2) "Hunooz, Dilli dur Ast"

This was the prophetic saying that for Ghiasuddin Tughlaq Delhi would always be too far away.

 

It transpired exactly the way the Sufi saint said it. The Tughlaq monarch never did reach Delhi. He was disposed off in a convenient accident cum murder by his son much before he entered Delhi. The city and fort of Tughlaqabad was abandoned by the new Sultan and till date you only see Gujjars with their buffaloes amongst the ruins of the city.

 

This red monument is the mausoleum of Ghiasuddin Tughlaq, a great visionary with a flawed indulgence and belief of omnipotence.

  

Dates

Taken on March 1, 2013 at 6.13PM IST (edit)

Posted to Flickr May 3, 2013 at 4.26PM IST (edit)

Exif data

Camera Nikon D300

Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)

Aperture f/4.0

Focal Length 12 mm

ISO Speed 400

Exposure Bias -2/3 EV

Flash No Flash

_DSC2758 nef 2exp

Wilson Castle

Proctor, VT

October 9, 2021

 

"The castle’s construction began in 1885, as instructed by Doctor & Lady Johnson. Doctor Johnson was a Vermonter who went to England to study medicine. While there he met & married a wealthy lady of the aristocracy. After 7 and a half years of planning and construction the castle was completed at the sum of $1,300,000. The Johnson’s remained in the castle for only a brief time.

 

From the 1880’s until 1939, the castle was bought & sold numerous times. In 1939, a radio engineer named Herbert Lee Wilson, came to Vermont. He was a pioneer in the AM radio field and built radio stations all over the world. He was looking for a new location to build another station and a summer home for his family. He purchased the estate and the history of Wilson’s Castle officially starts. In the early 1940’s, Col. Wilson was noted for his engineering and radio work in Vermont. He designed radio station WHWB, owned by the Wilson’s and Charles Bates through the Central Vermont Broadcasting Corporation. Other radio work included WSYB in Rutland, Vermont which had the first directional antenna in the state of Vermont. Col. Wilson also provided engineering on WCAX channel 3 television station in Burlington, Vermont.

 

When America joined WWII in 1941, Herbert Wilson joined the Army Signal Corps, from which he retired in the 1950’s as rank of Colonel. He retired to the castle, and in 1962, opened it for tours. He passed away in 1981 at the age of 82 and left the estate to his daughter, Blossom Wilson Davine Ladabouche. Blossom passed away in 2010 and currently her daughter Denise Davine is the owner/operator."

Building started on Hall Place in 1537 for wealthy merchant Sir John Champneys, Lord Mayor of the City of London. Building materials included stone recycled from a nearby former monastery, Lesnes Abbey. Sir John's house consisted of a splendid central Great Hall crossed at one end by a service wing and at the other by high status family accommodation including a parlour and great chamber. The outer walls are a distinctive checkerboard pattern made of flint and rubble, a beautiful example of the masonry style popular in the late 15th and 16th century.

 

In 1649, the house was sold to another wealthy City merchant, Sir Robert Austen (1587–1666), who added a second wing built of red brick, doubling the size of the house. Little attempt was made to harmonise the two halves, which were built in highly contrasting architectural styles. Austen was created 1st Baronet, of Hall Place in Bexley, on 10 July 1660 and briefly held the office of High Sheriff of Kent.

 

The Hall Place estate includes 65 hectares of landscaped gardens and grounds, a topiary lawn, herb garden, tropical garden and long herbaceous cottage garden-styled borders. The gardens were first opened to the public in 1952 by the Duchess of Kent. The famous topiary at Hall Place, the Queen's Beasts, were planted in 1953 in celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

 

Chronicles of lifting Light :

Tales from The Poet and the Peasant

 

There is a certain daring “edge” in acting out a role playing game on a partner(s) in public, especially if (in our case) one favors pickpocketing.

It’s a certain adrenaline thrill, both addictive and desirable, that increases up until the “mark” is relived of one or more of her dangling valuables. Whether its carried out with a simple bump, a lift conveyed while, say dancing, or a squeeze play maneuvered with a second player, it all creates and holds a level of excitement most thrilling in its nature, quite erotic within its scope.

 

This Chronicle contains short essays on pickpocketing games played solely within our group over the past few years.

 

These were games only, done with full knowledge and consent of all the players ( with a couple of exceptions where the parties involved were not informed of the actual happenings until sometime after the fact.)

Any articles of jewelry lifted were returned to their original owners, albeit sometimes those owners at first thought the jewelry being returned had just simply fallen away.

The actual facts have been stretched, padded and enhanced, due primarily to the significant detail that I rather like those in my immediate circle, and in order to keep them liking me, have agreed to “put meat on the bone” so to speak, when putting pen to paper.

This journal is far from complete, and additional stories will be added as they are played out.

  

The “Poet and the Peasant” Is a little backwater pub owned and run by Brian’s Aunt and Uncle. It’s a laid back place, music (Mostly live, some dead, as our saying goes) .Beyond its ornate doorway one finds the usual caste of regulars ,Including us, consuming a generous selection of ales and other “demon” drink.

The pub is housed in an ancient old building with all sorts of old Victorian era objects, found and given a home in the pub’s numerous nooks and crannies. Including the yellowed skull of poor Erik.

Erik was a 14th century welsh poet and balladeer who supposedly was beheaded for making several torrid lyrics about a certain Saxon king. The lyrics are long forgotten, but Erik’s remains still reign. His grinning skull sits high up in a shelf along a balustrade, usually with a cigar clamped in his jaws. Couldn’t tell how many times some bloke with more’in his fill of drink has tried to light it for the poor blighter.

The pub is a regular howl around Halloween, thanks to Erik, who has obtained quite a degree of notability, despite being dead and silent for all these long years. Costume and poetry contests abound around this time of the year.

Basically, Erik aside, the “Poet and the Peasant” is a great place to hang out and make plans with a pint in hand.

  

***********************************************************************************

 

Opening Act

Atonement

We were heading to a small resort that we once had stayed at for a wedding and reception. It was Just “Ginny” and I on a 4 day escape from reality. We were passing through one of the small towns on the way, when Ginny spotted a dress shoppe, with several mannequins wearing evening frocks. She had to stop, we had a function the next month and she had “nothing to wear”( Liar I thought grinning).

 

We went inside and on a “gently worn” rack she pulled out this long string sleeved satin number and tried it on. The young clerk said it was patterned after the one in the movie atonement ( which neither of us had seen) but its rich deep green( Irish green the clerk called it, which I really had no idea was a colour) really set off Ginny’s long copper hair, and I liked the way her hair laid down her bare backside.

 

We arrived at the resort in early afternoon and claimed our suite( paid for by an anniversary gift) and set out to explore the place. The resort was packed, and we found out that there were 2 evening wedding receptions taking place on Saturday. An Idea began to take seed and as we walked I found a way to bring it into conversation.

 

Ginny had brought her rhinestones ( see Album Chronicles of lifting Light, B) for a bit of date roleplay in our suite some chosen evening of our stay. I suggested that she should give her gown and the rhinestones a try in public. Where she asked? I than laid out my game plan and a smile crept across her face, lit up by the sun poking through the trees on the wooded path we had been walking. Ginny liked to dress up, and I used that trump card to my advantage.

 

At around 5pm I slipped into the larger of the two receptions (crashed if you like) and wondering over to the bar I got a drink and waited, nursing it. I was reasonably presentable in a suit jacket, slacks, silk shirt and satin tie. As I waited I found myself pretty much unnoticed, which was a far cry from what Ginny encountered when she cautiously entered about fifteen minutes later, green gown swirling, rhinestones all a glitter. It didn’t take long for the sharks to start circling. One lad started a conversation, and I watched her squirm a little, before putting my drink down and coming to my damsel’s rescue. I had to literally peel the bloke away from her. We went onto the dance floor, pretending like we had never met. As we danced through several songs I could tell by the look in Ginny’s eyes that she was feeling the same fire within that I was. Ready for part 2 ? I asked, she got a surprised look in her eyes, and began to check herself, uh uh I said, not till we leave. We went out together; I spied the bloke watching us from a table, and smirked to meself over his look of frustration.

 

Outside we started to walk along the promenade, joining along with several other ladies, charming in their in gowns and frills, with their tuxedoed escorts, escapees all of us from the receptions. Ginny felt exceptionally good as, with my arm around her, she cuddled into my side while we walked some distance. But our bliss was not long, when Ginny , looking back, said there was a hotel security cop heading our way. Damn I thought, pinched for crashing the reception.

 

The rent-a-cop came up to us, and placing a firm grip upon my shoulder(or tried, I was a good foot taller, where do they find these blokes?) talked directly to Ginny. Everything alright then Miss, he questioned Ginny, trying to sound professional, and he almost pulled it off, except he squeaked on the word Miss.

 

Why yes, officer Ginny said, pouring on the charm( which is a quite frightful weapon in her capable hands), thank you for your lovely concern, but why do you ask? I received a report that this man may have been bothering you, Ma’am he said , no squeaks this time. He looked at me, I just grinned back at him, waiting for Ginny to belt it out of the park. She smiled, her green eyes brite, and laying a hand on the “officers” chin, told him how adorable his concern was for her safety, but her husband and she made sure he saw her ring, is really not that much of a bother most of the time. Husband he started, than stopped, caught his embarrassment nicely, then tried to save it, but Miss, I heard you had lost a necklace.

Whatever reaction he had hoped by saying this, it was not the one he got. Oh that, she said, the clasp broke, so my husband took it for safe keeping, really, where would I have put it, and she stepped back and let him look her over for evidence of supporting her statement. Game, Set and Match, I smirked to myself!

With the way she looked in that satin gown, and her charm at full output, no mere mortal male would have been able to stand a chance. Well, he choked out, all’s good then isit, and releasing my shoulder; he turned heel, and walked off hurriedly, like a scolded puppy with its tail between its legs. Ginny giggled, well played I told her, well played. And, again with my arm around her and Ginny cuddling in, we continued our stroll, with Ginny letting out the occasional chortal of laughter over the whole incident.

  

We reached an overlook over the lake, where a pair of swans was meandering about. A young lady in a long white dress with a glittering bracelet around one wrist, was walking along the path that edged along the lake. The swans were near her, reminding me of a tele commercial I had seen long ago ( If anyone else remembers it please leave a comment).

 

Ginny caught me looking, wanna do the path luv, she whispered with in a most beguiling manner. We did so, and eventually found a rather isolated little nook behind a hedge grow. Here I will have to leave to the readers imagination what transpired there, for the only witnesses were the two of us, and a rather surprised chippy who crawled out of his hole for a gander…

 

On our way back we once again stopped at the overlook. Time to tally up I said. Ginny smiled and opening her purse pulled out a scrap of paper. She showed it to me, on it was written the word necklace. Lucky guess, did you feel me take it I asked. Of course she lied; I could have done it better. Wanna bet I teased. Maybe someday we’ll see she responded. Now the way the game worked was that I pretended to be a light fingered jewel thief, with my eyes on the lady in green’s jewels. It was my objective to lift a piece of Ginny’s jewellery some point in the evening..

 

Ginny agreed to it on the condition that beforehand she would write down a piece of jewellery on a piece of paper, if it matched the piece I had lifted, than I could decide what we would do the next evening, if not, she would decide. So later, as we had a few drinks in a nearby pub ( still dressed in “costume”) I (the winner) outlined the plans for the next evening.

 

So the following evening, after a rather nice feast by the fireplace in the resorts great room, we found ourselves once again in a bar ( this time the resorts lounge). I was wearing the same suit, and had Ginny’s purloined necklace in my jacket pocket. Ginny was wearing a black satin blouse, ¾ sleeved, with long white and blacked stripped skirt. She wore her gold jewellery, and her long hair was up, held by rhinestone clips. At one point she excused herself to the loo, and when she returned took the chair next to me, and started to come on to me. I played along and after a few drinks, and dances, she led me out to the lobby.

 

Making way outside to the long wooden walkaway of the promenade, we began our way along it. Finding an isolated bench, we began to make out, as if we were strangers who had just met. After a long (glorious) while, we stood( wobbly) and made our way down to the lake, and continued our light petting.

 

At one point Ginny stopped, and looking me in the eye, said, well sir, its been fun, but id better go. Immediately I patted my pocket, the necklace was gone. Naughty I said, distracting me on the bench hussy, I teased. Her eyes got a gleam, follow me she said. We retraced our steps, hand in hand, and she led me to the the bench, and then surprisingly passed it. We regained the lobby, and she stopped by a corner, where a larger fern like plant sat in a rather big ceramic pot. Reaching in, she pulled out the necklace. Very good I said, never felt you take it.

 

So, I win then, she smirked. Yes I agreed, I had guessed wrong by thinking she had picked my pocket on the bench. So let’s go an collect me winnings then, sir, she ordered me, her eyes large and hungry. As we made our way I tried to get her to tell me when she had lifted the necklace, but she just placed a secret little smile on her lips, and remained silent on the subject….

**********************************************************************************

*******************************************************************************

 

Act 2

Squeeze Play

 

Anyone who has taken the bother to riffle through my earlier Chronicles of Lifting Light, knows I have a twin sister who at times past has been my foil to practice upon. Well, I will leave it up to you to decide who the foil was in this tale.

  

We were all hanging out at the pub (“Poet and the Peasant” of course) one evening, the four of us, being the silly selves that mid- twenties youth are prone to being, especially when alcohol is involved.

 

We were trying to drink away the memories of what our previous week of work had given us, and were well on our way to meeting that objective, when a song from the band Cold Play come on. Ginny had asked my sister who it was, and instead of answering right away, she gave something a bit of thought, then my sister started smirking. Cold Play, like squeeze Play , remember “Ginny?”

 

Both Girls just started giggling, “Brian” just got a sullen look at the memory, and I, I just reflected…..

 

In our University years, my sister worked part time for a company that raised funds for charities, like OXFAM, etc. Among the various types of events were a couple of “Black Tie” affairs that I enjoyed because it gave Brian and I the chance to escort my Sister and Ginny ( the girls ever beautiful in fancy dress) to attend them.

 

Now, my sister had this co-worker,”Shiela”, who was absolute vinegar to my sister’s honey, hell, she was vinegar to any pretty female’s honey! She was a squawker, a squealer, and a backstabbing slag, in other words, not a very nice girl atoll. She was also was twice divorced from wealthy young scions who could not spot a gold digger for the life of them until they had been broadsided along the head with her gilded shovel.

 

During one warm late Autumn we were attending one of the Charity Dances being held in the big city proper. They had a pair of bands lined up, one kind of a Disco’ish throwback, and for later, a proper one that played a more romantic beat, one that called for slow dancing. The Girls were more into the Disco then we males were( a feeling that affected most of us in attendance) and the floor was flooded with a gaggle of swishing dresses and gowns dancing and swirling around to the frantic beat of the music, all performed with swirling lights in the darkened, smog filled dance floor, while the guys just sat around enjoying the show being put on.

 

As Brian and I watched the provocative females on the floor dancing, we noticed that our girls were slowly moving out amongst the throng of pretty dancers, rather than maintaining one area. Soon they had moved next to “Shiela”, who was dancing with this cousin of hers. Now I found this surprising, because Sis and Ginny had been throwing daggers with their eyes at “Shiela” all evening. She had been sitting with her wealthy new boyfriend, who was always bending to her demands, as evidenced by the expensive new finery she was sporting, which really had gotten a certain Twins goat. So it was with some puzzlement that when her cousin took a breather, Ginny and my twin slipped in to take her place, moving in rhythm with the now quite intoxicated “Shiela”.

 

Sis was facing “Shiela” and Ginny was behind her, all three of them gyrating their arms, hands and most of their other body parts in motion, up down and all around each other , so close at times that you would have had an effort at squeezing a hand between them.

 

What’s that pair up to now? Brain questioned me, as if I had a hand in it, I just shook my head, knowing only that I wanted to be in the middle of that sandwich instead of “Shiela”, but as it turned out, good thing I wasn’t.

 

We watched as the long song went on, with its deep bass beat that almost sounded like it had been lifted from some horror flick. Ginny and Sis continued to revolve, twist and swirl around the guileless “Shiela” as their colourfully brite (slinky) dresses shimmered in a most provocative fashion, bathed as they were caught by the dimly lit, smoke filled, dance floors blue strobes. A few times “Shiela” seemed to lose her footing, and fell against my Sister, who I thought took it surprisingly well as she gently steadied her foe.

 

Then the song ended, and all three girls laughed and giggled, actually hugged one another. I heard Brian letting out an chiding snort, I , well I was still just mesmerized by the whole act. Ginny and My Sister than walked the slightly dizzy “Shiela” back to her table, even going so far as to help her set down, before turning and heading back to our table. Both of them wearing chuff grins like the kittens that had eaten the canary.

 

Wotcher?, said Brian questioning their look. Oh God I thought, knowing the answer, for I had been watching “Shiela” as the girls had left and approached. My sister, looking around, held out her hand and opened her fist. There, all balled up and glittering, was the expensive diamond pendent of the set of matching diamonds that “Shiela” had been flaunting about to everyone all evening.

 

Brian Jumped all over the two, giving them quite the bollocking, “games we played on each other was one thing, but what you pair had done was wade into some very dangerous waters indeed”! So what’s next I chimed in, and by the looks on their heavily made-up faces realized the silly twits hadn’t thought of that end. We hastily discussed the matter, knowing that time was anything but on our sides. Finally Brian took it from my admonished(seemingly) twin, and marching it up to the disc jockey, had him make an announcement describing what his “sister” had found in the loo.

 

“Shiela”, whom we all had been watching, let out a shriek as her hands flew groping to her chest in fruitless examination, jumped up and immediately claimed it, or tried to as the Jocky had a little bit of fun with it first. “Shiela” and her haplessly star struck Beau, were so hopping mad at the Jocky, they pretty much gave no thought as to how the pretty thing actually had been lost in the first place. This was a lucky break for a couple of girls, who still sat their smugly smiling, as Brian tried in vain to continue scolding them. Me, I just looked at the twittering pair, wondering, pondering thoughts of me own.

 

Now it wasn’t until a couple of years later on the night my sister made the remark about the cold play song that the girls felt comfortable talking a bit more about the incident .And before Brian could listen without tabooing the subject. And it was then that I learnt how the pair of them had managed to take the diamonds from “Shiela”

 

It turned out the two had had no real plan, just that they had been discussing “Shiela” between themselves and had been debating over how fun it would be to knock her down a peg or so. One of the scenarios presented was to have her be given the shock of losing a piece of her expensive jewelry, and they even discussed bringing me into the fold, but thought better of it.

 

Although I am not sure if I would have taken them up on it, but since then I have thought out different ways I would have approached the problem, both by myself, and with the girls help. Although I wouldn’t have tried for the necklace, I figured her ring or bracelet would not have been beyond my scope of achievement. Although, with the girls help…….

 

Anyway they finally decided to try it themselves, after all how hard could it be to take, say a cocktail ring from “Shiela’s” sweaty finger as she was dancing away on the crowded floor?

 

They decided to join in the dance and get close to “Shiela” and if an opportunity arose, my sister was to signal Ginny by rubbing a finger alongside her nose to bump against “Shiela”, pushing the hapless B… into me devious twin. It was Ginny who came up with the name “squeeze play”, because I once had grasped and squeezed her from behind, removing her ring in the process.

 

Now “Shiela” was wearing what I guess is called an A-line gown, where her front was totally covered by the gowns shiny material, no gloves, just sweat glistened skin. As they moved in on “Shiela” Ginny took position behind, while Sis took the front, and at one point laid a hand upon “Shiela’s” shoulder, “Shiela” did likewise as they swayed to the deep rhythmic beats. Sis tried to grasp “Shiela’s” free hand, the one where she was wearing a diamond cocktail ring, but she kept missing. In the process she realized that the hand she had placed on her victims shoulder was almost touching the thick gold chain of her nemesis’s necklace, which held the diamond pendent that was bouncing about.

 

Looking “Shiela” directly in the eyes she began to work the necklace along as they danced, until her fingers felt the clasp. It was lobster clasp, similar to one my sister had on the emerald necklace Brian had given her. Sis gave it an exploratory push, and it surprisingly opened under her fingers. Startled at what had happened, she forgot the signal, and nodded to Ginny, who plowed into the hapless “Shiela’s” backside, as my sister felt “Shiela” fall against her. She whisked off the necklace with one hand, while steading the giggling “Shiela” with her other. Backing away she placed both hands behind her back as “Shiela” turned to receive Ginny’s apologies. Sis balled up the chain in one hand, holding it tightly closed for the remainder of the dance. They helped “Shiela” back to her table, my Sister placing the fist holding the necklace alongside her victims back as they helped guide the still giggling “Shiela” to a seat.

 

Walking away, my Sister thought that it had been almost scary how easily it had been to open the clasp and pluck off the necklace. It shouldn’t have been, she kept telling herself, but she knew it was, for she had the evidence in her hand, and she was not even close to ever being a professional about such things. My twin has said that afterwards that it had given her a lot of perturbed thoughts when wearing any good jewelry of hers in public, (particularly her emeralds with the Lobster clasp) and finds herself on occasion still doing spot checks whenever she has been brushed by someone. But then, I think we all do on occasion, knowing the kind of games we like to play.

 

So as one can see, overall ,this is a rather touchy subject to tackle. But there was no denying that Sis (and Ginny I suspect) were proud of their accomplishment at the time. It was almost like my twin was trying to impress upon me that I was not the only one with light fingers. A subject that, trust me, has been, and will continue to be explored down a sometimes crooked “garden” path.

  

*************************************************************************************

**********************************************************************************

**********************************************************************************

 

Anyone who has read Chronicles B knows that Ginny and Brian both received the upcommence for the manner in which they had gotten my sisters jewelry at the wedding reception. But as for me, she waited a bit, biding her time, for like the proverbial elephant( which she has a bit of a collection) my twin does not forget.

Upcoming :

 

And revenge is a dish best served cold.

She had pleaded with me to lend her £80! Her beguiling eyes were opened wide as she begged; “It’s perfect” she had said, “I will pay you back, with interest” she coyly added, looking into my eyes with that certain look that has served her purposes so very well.

^^^^^^

 

A bit of background:

We had all had been invited to my sister’s boyfriend “ Brian’s” parents renewal of their wedding vows the following month and , I knew she wanted to make an impression at the fancy dress. Sis and my better half, “Ginny” had gone dress shopping, and apparently Sis had found a gown that they both liked quite a bit, but it cost a bit more than she could afford the moment and Ginny, having just bought a new dress herself that day, was temporarily out of lending cash. So Sis had had them hold it, then tracked me down to ask a favor( nothing new there), and was now begging me to lend her £80, to help pay it off.

^^^^^^

 

She knew I was a sucker for a good plead, especially when I received the puppy eye look that my sister, and Ginny , had down pat ( not to mention my golden retriever Sam).

  

As it happened, I owed her a small favor, so I gave her the needed notes without making her bargain her life away, and she skipped off happily. I figured that would be the last of it until her payday, but being a mere man in a lady’s world, I was yet once more wrong on that account.

  

Later that week sis rang me up. She had a formal reunion she just received the invitation to. It was at a large, multipurpose hall about an hour away, and was going on the weekend before Brian’s parents do. It was being put on for her old coworkers at the Barristers office she had interned at while at Oxford. Brian was busy that weekend getting ready for his parents party, and would not be able to be her escort. So she called to see if I would be his backup. As incentive, said she would wear the gown I had lent her the money for if I agreed to be her chaperone. Seeing how smashing my sister looks when she dresses up (like my Ginny also), It was impossible to say no to her pleads. Unfortunately Ginny had switched weekends with a co-worker so she could make Brian’s do the next weekend, so she was out of the picture also. Which was a shame, escorting a pair of well-dressed young ladies is always something I always looked forward to doing. But one is also quite nice.

  

I arrived at my twin’s apartment that appointed evening and waited while she put on the finishing touches. Ready? she had called out sweetly, yes I said, and out she came strolling, a wide big smile on her dolled up face. I figured my eyes did a bugger, for she started to giggle in the way she does when overly pleased with herself (which actually happens quite a bit frequently).

  

She was totally stunning, a living “Galatea”, and I told her as much. Her long silvery gown was hanging from her figure like someone had poured it over her. And that is just what it looked like someone had done! I have heard the term liquid satin, but this was just incredible the way it delightfully flowed and swished as she moved about. Brian was going to go nuts when her saw her, and she definitely would be turning some heads as she strolled in with him. She twirled around in a circle for full effect, and I just stood there mesmerized by the women before me that was my kid sister( by all of 4 minutes), the same sister that had only days before been wearing stained shirt and jean jumper, tramping through the barn in the horses stalls, while hauling shovelfuls of …… well I’m sure you get the gist of it..

  

As I said it was a long thin gown, of a colour that seemed to change between silver and cream as it moved slinking along her youthful figure, with wide straps that went over her shoulders ending in four thin spaghetti straps along her back. The bodice was all decorated with swirls of rhinestones, going down and around her gowns waistline. She was also wearing her sliver open toed heels, the ones with the rhinestone straps (with pointed toes that rightfully hurt when kicked….. another day, another story). She had also put on her rhinestone jewelry, a set consisting of earrings, necklace and wide dangling bracelet. The total package presented was quite a vision to behold, and I told her as much.

  

That, my girl, I said with enthusiasm, is one rightful picture of eye-catching loveliness you have gone and managed to make of yourself! She gushed, your sweet, and gave me an all-enveloping hug. As she broke away, sis looked up at me smiling and curtsied, why thank you kind sir, and once you have picked your jaw off the floor, can we please be going. Certainly I said, and opened the door for her. As she rustled past, sis asked if I thought Brian would like it? Lass, I said with all due modesty, He would be a daft bugger if he didn’t. I added, It was certainly money well lent, and she looked at me teasingly, okay mood breaker, for that you won’t get the first dance. Likely I will be the only one wishing to dance with you anyway I retorted, what will you be doing then? She just squished her eyes at me, turned and closed and locked her apartment door.

  

Suddenly I stopped, Oi! , wait a minute, I felt my suit coat pocket, okay luv, give it back I said as she grinned back at me, producing my thin, special occasion only, wallet. Getting better, aren’t I? She stated happily, it wasn’t a question. A bit I admitted, you’ve been practicing then? Only on you and Ginny she stated, but you two are getting too easy she smirked. I playfully tapped her on the back, what’s all this about easy I asked, producing her bracelet from me pocket, dangling it shimmering in front of her mascara lined eyes, you may want to put this back on I said.

  

Turd, she exclaimed taking it back, no more hugs for you mister, she stated, taking my arm and pulling me out to my car. All tricks out of the way now?, Good we can enjoy the evening with no more worries. I just nodded as I led her to me car, a bullet grey 1954 Circa Mercedes that Brien’s Uncle had helped me restore. As I opened the door, my sister slipped herself in, while under her breath she said playfully ( and not for the first time) “how I ever survived those first nine months I spent with you in such close proximity without going bonkers, I will never know!”

  

It took us almost 90 minutes to find the joint, arriving with the do in full swing. I was amazed at the number of vehicles in the over filled lot. When we got inside the poshly decorated “palace” We discovered that there were a total of 3 formal functions going on, ours, and a wedding reception on the second floor, and a formal dance for some private girls only academy occupying the entire first floor.

  

We went upstairs and found the chamber where the Barrister’s office reunion was being held. Now I will admit that I had harbored some thoughts that Sis may have been quite a bit overdressed for the event, but my fears were unfounded. What greeted my eyes was quite a “snob fest” of overdressed and fairly pompous looking guests. I had only ever met a couple of my sister’s former coworkers, and they had been interns her own age. But the majority here were the snooty , older husband and wives, of , of course, a group of stuck up Barristers. We were unable to spy any of Sis’s old friends, but while looking we were immediately scooped up by one of her old bosses co-workers ( whom sis had found insufferable) and led around like some prize colts, being introduced to a bunch of older coots who forgot our names as fast as they were given( we were nobodies) , although I satisfactorily noticed more than a few leering and jealous eyes looking over me sister. But, alas, nothing from the female end found me even remotely interesting (ouch in the ego department there)

  

We finally found an empty table, and I went off for drinks. As I watched over my sister while waiting for the barkeep to mix the drinks, I saw a rather posh looking tux boy zero in on our table and swoop in for the kill.

  

He was a rather tall chap with devilish good looks, thin moustache, small ponytail, monkey suit, the works! Looking like he was a model Fortunes mag rag, he loomed over me sister, and I knew what the cheeky devil was asking. Sure enough, sis cutely offered him her hand and he helped her up and led her to the dance floor. The barkeep handed me our drinks, and as I turned , Sis shot a look back at me as they were passing, a rather chiding look that I took meant “ told you, no first dance, mate” my suspicions were confirmed when added insult to injury as she stuck her tongue out at me over his shoulder.. I raised my glass in cheers, and headed back to our table.

  

I watched the two swirling around, feelin a bit jealous, but then this was me sister, not Ginny. I knew Brian would be seething, so I felt jealous for him I told meself. Then my mind went on to fantasize “what if he was after something, like say her jewels, and my mind went into a jewel thief mode, with him as the main character. ” I almost wish he had been, than he would be just no realizing that this little charmer had nothing to offer, and would soon be leaving her for greener pastures ( of which there was acres of at that place) and so dump his pretty partner after the one dance.

  

I tried to lose my envious nature, but at one point he held her close, too close I reckoned. I felt like shouting out to them “Aye mate, make room for Jesus”! This bit came from couple of elderly nuns who had been chaperoning one of my old seminarian academy dances, would walk up to couples dancing a wee bit too close in their eyes, and place their hands between them, separating them a bit, while spouting off, “make room for Jesus children”- Ginny and I had been amongst the chastised ourselves!

  

When sis got back I rose and greeted the pair, shaking his hand as sis introduced us. She did not say I was her brother, so I knew that she wasn’t eager for any repeat performances. The Git had hands that didn’t know where to stop, in my opinion anyhows. But all that didn’t change the fact that my sister was still a bit smitten with the gigoloish bloke. All in all though, he was quit the polite bugger, shooting me a self-confident look like, ‘no worries old chap’, as I shook a firm hand, I nodded, and off he went to those greener pastures.

  

I turned to my now still fawning sister, Remember Brian I said, and she just gave me a simpering smile. I held out my hand, care to, Mademoiselle? Sorry luv, She apologized, I need to freshen up a bit first and she darted off like a swallow taking wing. She started to head off to the exit stairs, whoa I called out after her, powder room is the opposite way luv! No doing, she said as she coyly looked back at me over her shoulder, whispering her words, not sharing with any of those old crows, I will be using the one downstairs in the main lobby! And she scurried away on her mission, long gown fluttering merrily about her high heels.

  

I waited, bored, not one pretty female came up to my side and asked me to have a go on the dance floor, like “fingers” romeo had done with me sister. I looked around carefully, but I just did not see any female of the same ilk sitting alone and bored as I was at her own table, waiting for someone to rescue her pretty self. So I waited, and waited as the minutes went by, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 26,27,28,29..I had just decided to take a meander down to make sure there was nothing serious going on the first floor that might have been keeping her, like say, a sudden breakout of kittens, when I finally saw her smirking face popping up from the stairwell.

  

As she sat down I tried to playfully admonish her behavior, failing miserably. About time I said, since when does it take 30 minutes to have a P.. she cut me off by placing a finger to my lips, Sorry luv, You wouldn’t believe the twit I just ran into she said and leaned closer to me, for my ears only it seemed.

  

She started talking in a low voice, though no one else was in ear shot. Apparently that private girls Academy dance that is going on downstairs,.. well I , I just ran into one of em, a snobbish princess, a real talker and spinner of tales her about her pretty own self, a young girl named Rose. Sounds like Micke, I said, and sis suddenly exploded into giggles. She finally controlled herself, placing her hand on my shoulder, yes, exactly like our cousin Michele, they almost even look alike, though Micke’s hair is longer, and blonder

  

Our cousin Micke was one who could never tell the truth about anything, even when she was tattling on some poor soul. Apparently born with an overactive imagination ( Kinda runs in the family I suppose) her stories were always overly embellished with tall tales, stretched out wild examples, and added characterizations, all centered around herself being the Heroine. Someone like that would have made a great children’s story book writer, or gossip columnist, but not our Micke, she turned around and became, of all things, involved in politics….God save the Queen!

  

The upshot is that we all started to treat anything coming out of Micke’s mouth ( horrid pun that, I do apologize) as mostly fabrication, which would rile her to now end, especially if she was tellin the God’s honest truth! So I knew exactly what this cheeky creature named Rose was all about, as I looked at my giggling sister.

  

One she caught her breath, Sis started in on Rose. Just as she did, a song started up from the band and rising, I took her hand, lifted her up from her seat, her gown falling swishing down to her feet. But through all that she never stopped talking about the annoyance she had encountered downstairs whom had obviously stricken a nerve! I led my twin to the dance floor, taking the talkative imp into my arms as she continued to fill me in on the quite over imaginative young lady named Rose.

  

“My Lord” sis exclaimed, as we danced, “within the first ten minutes I learned more about this girl than even her own parents probably know. Talk about stuck up on herself. And did you know there is a rose garden by the entrance, just like her name!”, My sister did an imitation of a twittering nasally voice at the end of her statement, rolling her eyes in disbelief of it all. Of course we had noticed the rose garden, bit difficult not too since it was lining both sides of the concourse into the main way into the building. It had short paths branching off along the way with benches and fountains. But This Rose apparently had acted like she was the only one who had noticed, the rest of us apparently being blind as a colony of bats, Sis spitted out the words.

  

Sis went on, building up steam, her figure becoming rigid… “She first noticed me dress and come up to compliment me on it, but before I could thank her, she went off on a tirade about her own gown.” OOH, I hate people who ask you a question only because they want to tell cut in about their lives rather than give a listen to anything you may actually have to say… “he thought I was one of the chaperones at her party, apparently because I looked too old to be one of the guests! That stuck a nerve I tell you. I wasn’t able to get word in too let the little tripe know I didn’t belong with her elitist crew atoll!”

  

She took a breath, and now it was my turn to shush her with a finger placed to her lips. She actually bit it( well more of a playful nip, actually)! Better now I asked. She sighed, and I felt her figure go from tense to a bit more lithe. She leaned against me, yes she said, than pulled away and went off again! One more thing, she asked if my jewels were real, than before I could set the girl straight, Rose cut me off and spouted off about how she had won the pearls she was wearing at the Arthurian Carnival, and had decided to wear them rather than her own better diamonds. I mean, come’on, talk about rude, her pearls weren’t any more real than this, and she flipped her necklace in my face, then sis caught the look in me eyes, and went quiet, concentrating on her dancing, with a wicked little grin creeping across her face. Finally we were able to enjoy the music as we danced to the rest of the song.

  

Now after the song ended, sis spied, and dragged me over, to introduce me to her old chief, a pretty lady called Sarah. A lady not much older than ourselves. She had her long hair down, wearing a sequined red gown with long red satin gloves. Her green emeralds were real, a dainty set that set off her figure rather nicely. She was a rather pleasant lady, with a mischievous gleam to her green eyes. It had been a pleasant conversation, which ended abruptly as her husband called her away. As Sarah moved off, Sis explained that Sarah had been the “class clown” always telling jokes and playing tricks. But being the boss, no one who fell victim to her pranks ever dared to try and repay her back in kind!

  

The rest of the evening (shortened because the band was stopped at 9:30 – Barristers are such Scrooges!) followed pretty much to same formula; light mingling with people who only seemed able to talk a few minutes before being called away, snacking on a rather fancy display of hors d'oeuvres , and drinking ( the bar was the best attraction in my humble opinion).

  

I spotted Romeo a few times, but he never did a second approach on Sis, and I couldn’t really tell if she was relived, or not. As for myself, I was starting to feel fairly pleased that I had resisted the temptation to play any of my tricks on my Twin’s jewelry, so I had been a man of my word, so far. So, it was with mixed feelings from both of us, when the last dance was announced. The whole “congregation” seemed to flock swishing out on the floor, crowding it. It was a slow dance ( Mr. Rod Stewart, as I recall) and quite a pleasant way to end the evening.

  

Well, it was after the last dance, as we had collected our things to leave, when Sarah caught sight of us and called us over to the bar ( located off the main chambre, it was a small 3 sided room open to the dance floor with no seating) , where she was now holding a lonely court, apparently all alone! Sara was by now also pretty well toshed…..

  

We ordered a round of drinks ( bar was open till eleven, but the music had ended, a total ballyhoo on someone’s part in the planning) Taking mine, I left the chatting ladies and wondered over ( not for the first time) to a rather fine set of J.M Cameron prints on display. Soon I was joined by the 2 ladies, and I started to explain to Sarah about the photographer’s history.

  

As we talked, my sister maneuvered herself around behind Sarah. By the look on my sister’s face, I knew she was up to something. She got close behind, and Sarah backed into her, Sarah turned, there you are she said, and smiled, then looked back at me. She appeared to be deeply interested I what I was telling her about the life and times of Julia Margaret, a shirttail cousin of ours! As I continued, I saw that sis had her fingers on the red silk clutch purse that Sarah was holding to her side in her left hand. Sis said, “oh Sara, show my brother your ring”! Sarah held it up and I looked at it, Sis reached put her free hand on Sarah’s left arm, jostling it a bit, as she made like she wanted to look also, ,but I could see the red clutch out of the corner of my eye, and as sis was doing her little performance, she was gently pulling the small purse form Sarah’s gloved fingers. Slippery Satin gloves holding an even slipperier silk clutch purse, made the maneuver much easier than it probably should have. I started feeling a bit uncomfortable as I watched my amused sister manage to slip away with it, and holding the purse behind her come to my side, her back to a wall. We chatted for about another couple of long minutes, before Sarah was called away, and she left us, never realizing her clutch purse was gone. We walked steadfastly away, I imitated Bogart, and how much do you think the dame has in her purse. Oh, my twin answered, a few pence, and a soiled lace handkerchief she joked, without opening the purse.

  

Fine I said, you get the handkerchief, Rather not she said, giggling, and we headed over to The now deserted table Sarah had been sitting at, and Sis unflappably placed the purse on Sarah’s’ chair, alongside her satin wrap.

So have I created a monster no? I asked her as I led her away, she looked up at me with those big eyes of hers wide open with satisfaction, no worries luv, Sarah was always playing tricks on someone another, I just never dared to pay her back when we worked together. Just how much work did you girls actually accomplish? I chided She just sqoze my arm, and hurried me our way, as we tried not to look like we were bolting for the exit stairway.

  

We gained the stairs without any further ado, and made it through the lobby, and had gained the outside concourse, when I saw something up ahead, and taking my sister’s arm , I held her up from going any further.

  

Ahead of us was a petite lady in a shimmering blue satin dress, chatting away to a bored looking young man in an ill-fitting tux. If the lass’s hair had been a bit more blonde, and longer she would have passed as Micke’s double. Is that your Rose then I asked, nodding in the couple’s direction?

  

Sis looked over, and then answered me by pulling me forcibly the rest of the way off the path and out of sight of the main concourse, into a small alcove surrounded by some hedges. What do we do she said , That is her! That’s that twit of a creature named Rose I was tellin you about! She looked back towards the building, I don’t want to go back in she said, Sara my see us. What do we do?

  

The pair were some distance off in the rose garden. But there was no way out other than walking past them. I thought about it for a minute. Looking at my sister, in her quite fetching gown, with its sparkling bodice, as well as the sparkling rhinestone she was wearing, made me recall the fantasizing I had been doing as she had danced with that posh bloke. Thinking of him being a Jewel thief, and watching the other female guests in their finery, had been putting beguiling visions in my head all the evening long. Let’s play a game I said, one that will give yonder Rose a story no one will believe ever happened.. My sister looked at me wryly,( I could see it in her eyes,’ no time for games now lad, this is serious’’ but she just stated inquisitively, what sort of game sir?

  

One where we get yonder Rose girl to believe you have met a jewel thief I said, I could feel myself warming up to the idea now that I had said it. If we pull it off, that will be a story she will try telling that everyone will believe she totally made up in her head.

  

My sister balked, no, she said, one bit of fun this evening has been enough for this girl.

  

Okay I said, but how would this girl feel about having a bit of fun if she wasn’t owing her brother £80?

  

I saw her mascaraed eye’s light up, and she again gave me that wicked grin. Let’s have it than you scoundrel, I will give into your chicanery for the debt you hold over my head sir , she said giggling, stealing a line from a play she had been involved with. Knowing I had her hooked, I could tell she was warming up to the idea rather nicely, and not just because she owed me a healthy bit of the realms’ currency.

  

First off, I said, you don’t know me from Adam.

But your name’s not Adam she said in all seriousness.

Attend pleas, I told her smiling.

You go up and fall into Roses clutches, I follow once the lad leaves after being freed from his bondage.

Hey, how did bondage get into this she said, giggling, I don’t owe you that much mister. I just looked at her, we have to do this seriously to pull it off.

Okay she said, placing a hand across her mouth, like she was zipping it shut.

I follow after the lad leaves ( and he soon will ). I come up on the two of you, and make your acquaintances. Your act will be to find me charming… that’s not going to be easy, sis said, then quickly went back to listening

Then you, I said ignoring her, and continuing on …..

  

Once Rose has me in her hooks, you Meander off, bend down to look at some flowers, remove your earrings, and place them into your purse. I will listen on for a bit, take my leave, let Rose come find you, and let her discover your earrings are gone. Then let her think they were stolen by you? She asked. Right, and she should, as bobs your uncle, fall right into your story, I said. Then added, just play along like they were real diamonds and astonished at how I had managed to get them. Send Rose off back inside to go upstairs find your mother Sarah,( sis like that bit of it), and say in the meanwhile you are going off to see if you can get me license number. I will be waitin by the car to make our getaway….

  

I finished mapping it out, and she told me she had the gist of it. I had her hand pull her sunglasses from her purse and I put them on. Then she asked before walking off, “ not bad for on the fly, or had you already been putting thought into this play earlier?” I just patted her on her derriere, get going lass, times a wastin.

  

Turning she headed out, and from a hole in the hedgerow I watched as she moved off, her gown definitely swished in a most pleasing fashion I admitted to myself again. I’ll have to have Ginny buy one like it, I thought to meself, wincing over how pretty the thing was with sis wearing it , imagining my Ginny wearing it, her long red hair flowing free. I would willing give Ginny the money also, I promised to meself, no lending, and hang the cost….

  

Sis rustled her way up to the couple, Rose spotted her immediately and pulled her over. The 3 of them started to chit chat together.

  

I now thought of myself as the smarmy bloke who had cheated me out of a dance earlier, making him a thief in my mind. And like said thief, looking over the situation before me. I remembered an old show where this bloke in a white suit was pointing out his female guests jewels to a male who fancied himself a pickpocket and had just minutes earlier relieved the white suited host of his gold watch. As the camera (representing the blokes eyes) moved around the room, focusing on various well-dressed ladies and their jewels( hanging around necks, dangling from ears, attached to well-shaped bosoms ,bracelets wrapped around gloved wrists and ,rings glittering on fingers) the viewer was led to imagine the wheels turning in his head as to how he was to acquire them, ala Arsène Lupin. I had to leave, so I never finished watching it, nor could I ever find it listed again. But it was this type of character that I now fancied meself portraying.

  

(In Character) I had ducked into the hedge, the pair near the bend had not seen me, so it gave me time to plan how best to approach them. One was wearing a pretty dress of blue, long black hair up in a bun. She was the younger, definitely not a relation, I could tell by the way her companion was listening. The girl was wearing a cheap set of pearls, paste, not worth more in a few farthings. It was her companion that had caught me eye, and not just the pretty gown she had quite nicely wrapped herself in. But it was her diamonds, a pretty glittering set, that with a minimal bit of effort, would be coming home with me. I had actually danced with her earlier, so I had been able to appraise em, and now providence had put her in me way. I remembered how that shimmery little necklace had been taunting me while we had danced, my fingers had ached for a go at them. Now, all I needed was for a brief diversion, to get both the girl’s attention focused elsewhere, by, say smelling a rose, and with a nimble flick of me fingers, the necklace would be off from around her sweet throat and in me pocket. Possibly those dangling earrings of hers instead, if it was a long time she was paying attention to her roses.

  

My brief fantasy ended abruptly, it was time. Sis said something to the lad, who had been growing more and more uncomfortable, he answered, and then, managing to interject into Roses story long enough to pay his leave, He walked off. He was now coming up the path towards me, but not seeing me as I had moved further into the hedgerow. He walked on past, staring straight ahead…

  

Mentally prepared, I waited till he was well past my hiding hole. I adjusted the sunglasses and left my shadowy corner. Between the electric lamps that run along the gardens path, and the waning moon, I was able to see quite clearly with them. I also saw happily that the sparkles from sis dress and jewelry were not at all too muted.

  

I silently approached, came up upon the two without notice. They both jumped( In a quite charming manner, actually) as I started to speak.

  

Excuse me, this is that way out I asked, sounding confused. Certainly both girls chirped, and Rose pointed to the way out. Sis asked me if I had been at the dance. What dance I answered.? Is that why the two of you are so beautifully dressed. . Rose ate it up. And showing off her gown to me( and unknowingly ,her pearls) happily took the lead, telling me of the academies dance. As Rose started to tell me about all her academy, I walked over to a bush of white roses just off one of the branching paths, at the end of this particular path was as a fountain from which merrily gurgling falling water could be faintly heard. I bent down to smell a white rose. I offered it up to my sister, who bent over to sniff, her necklace and earrings swaying to and fro in a quite nice exhibition of colorfully brite sparkles. Rose just stood behind us, kept on chatting with her story, as I winked at my sister and she winked back. We both stood back up.

  

Sis turned to Rose, and suggested she take a smell also. As Rose ( still chattering )bent down to smell, sis, who had had her hand on Rose shoulder let go and of it, and as I watched out of the corner of my eye I saw my sister move her hand to the back of her neck and subtly undo her own rhinestone necklace, slipping it off, then she moved behind me as Rose, in her tight fitting dress, managed to stand back up and faced us, still prattling on. I was half listening, wondering what my sister was up to, changing the game plan like that. From behind me I felt the subtlest touch of a hand, and realized something was being skillful placed into me pocket, a reverse pick I remembered thinking, when all of a sudden, from behind me, I heard sis exclaim, all too loudly enough , “me necklace, its gone! “

  

Rose looked and I turned, me twin was standing there, holding a hand to her bare throat, looking down at the front of her gown. It was here a minute ago she went on, and then looked me dead in the eye, absolutely in all seriousness, “You!, it was you me lad, took me necklace as I was smellin them roses didn’t he Rose!” She looked at Rose, who was now looking me over aghast, as she started to check her own jewels to see if any of em were missing, nodded in agreement.

  

I was totally taken aback by the accusation, and placing a hand in my pocket with out thinking, felt the necklace, which startled me no end, even though I knew that it was there. All the while uncomfortably wondering how this story would be ending up?

  

Rose glared at me, “not much of a jewel thief then are you?” My sister and I both just looked at the prig , our jaws dropping as Rose carried on with it. “ Anyone can plainly see me pearls are worth a lot more than her shiny baubles!” she stated quite matter of factly. Sis kicked in without missing a beat, saying to me, quite a bit too rudely I thought , “How could you make a mistake like that, especially since nicking her pearls would have been child’s play to someone of your ilk!”

  

Rose, totally missing the insult, lifted up her necklace and taunting me with it, as she asked me twin, “ what should we do with ‘em, get the police? As Rose turned her attention back to me, I saw me sisters face over the top of Rosie’s head, smiling all for the world like the cat catching the canary. My sister said to the back of Rose’s head” No, go back inside and find out how many others lost jewels, you will be a hero. Ill take care of this one! Rose’s smug face lit up at the thought, as she turned and looked back at my sister. Sis held out her arms, and Rose went and gave my twin a big hug. Then turning and giving me a glare as she passed and off she went. I didn’t think it important to tell her that her pearl necklace was now absent from around her throat.

As Rose traipsed happily back up the path, sis grabbed me arm, “come along thief, best we get going.

I watched for a second, as me sister dropped the pearl necklace on the grass, where it laid clearly visible, and with a swish of her gown scurried off. She looked back at me, get a move on then, and I broke me stance and went dutifully after her.

  

We scurried to the entrance, and crossed into the lot and made for the other side, skirting around towards my vehicle while making sure the coast was clear. We regained my Mercedes. I let my sister in, slamming the door and practically jumping over the hood to get to the drivers side. Peeling off my suit coat and tie, tossing them along with the glasses into the jump seat , I climbed in fired up the engine, and tried not to speed as I left the parking lot.

 

As I had pulled slowly away, a couple had walked out and were heading to their car, paying us no never mind other than a nosy glance by the gentleman at me car. But I figured it was time to make ourselves scarce, and put up a bit of speed.

  

So, I said, still facing forward as I turned from the lot, what was that all about?

Killin a pair of birds with me stone she replied in a quite self-satisfied tone of voice. Then she started to fill me in on what had been transpiring before I had made me entrance…

  

When that Rose creature and I were talking with that lad she had snared, She admired me diamonds, then said, not real ducky, are they. Well I thought that was pretty rude, but held me tongue, and avoiding a smart answer, I asked about her pearls. were they real? Pretty valuable she said, I only spent 6 shillings at the carnival, but he said they were worth a lot more! . Then she shad started repeating the same nonsense about how she had a real diamond necklace at home that was worth quite a bit, and she was angry her Mater had not wanted her to wear the them out this evening,

So, then when I saw you coming up to play, I thought of a new plan to humiliate Rose. Can you just imagin what is going on in the ball room now.

…. and she broke into that nasely twang she had use earlier in imitation of Rose..

 

Rose- “Everybody There’s a thief stealing everyone’s jewelry! ! Party Guest- “ I see( in a disbelieving tone) “Rose, no one is missing jewelry “ Except you, what did you do with your necklace?” Rose – He must of stole it, the thief!” Party Guest- “What thief Rose, were is he?” “Rose- “Outside with me friend, he nicked her imitation dimonds dint he!” Part Guest-“ Rose, why would a thief steal fake diamonds?, and what Friend would that be now?” Rose- “ The chaperone, you know, the one with the silvery gown and long black hair!” Party Guest –“ Ther wasn’t no chaperone wearing a silver dress , show us what you are on about!” ( On the path by the rose bush) “ there’s no one here, Rose, and there are your pearls, laying on the ground! you and your stories you balmy twi…..”

  

Sis could not finish her routine, starting to chortle so hard at the picture of it in her mind, she nearly busted a gut. But I still had questions, so after she was through patting herself on the back I said

 

I get that, and it was a brilliant piece of work, but why call me out on it, that wasn’t the plan, me dear.

I know luv, she said, again quite smugly, placing her hand on me shoulder…. Recall that time you had me jewels in your pocket after the wedding reception, I owed you one luv, and having you put on for stealing me necklace was payback.

 

Use shortcut below for the story:

flic.kr/p/xPv5iR

 

I had forgotten that you had said I would be paid back someday I admitted, and it was a really grand way of doing It I praised her, and saw her smile radiantly as I stole a look out of the corner of me eye.

  

Then she could contain herself no more, and starting to chortle so hard at the picture of all of it in her mind, she nearly busted a gut. I also was smirking, the whole affair, in my opinion, had all played out brilliantly!

  

All in all, twas a merry drive back to town for us, with me twin sister talking miles a minute over her successes that evening, including the obvious fact that she was quite pleased with herself for not only had she finally gotten her sweet revenge on the remaining member of the group who had swiped her diamonds on a dare so long ago, but her debt to me had been paid totally off in the process..

  

With interest paid darling, I thought to myself, as I stole a glance at my beautifully decked out passenger, with interest paid!

.

A bit of a side note:

Come to find out later the police were actually called to the place much later in the wee hours of the morning. Apparently some bloke in a tux waylaid two ladies he had met and been chatting with as they were all leaving an mugged them both good and proper. He was caught, but I still chuckle in wonder what Rose would have made of it all?

 

**********************************************************************************

 

*************************************************************************************

 

In Appraisal

I do highly encourage anyone who has read my chronicles,( or looked at the clips below) and on the off-chance may actually have been entertained by them, and would like me to divulge more of our tomfooleries , to please leave behind a comment expressing that point.

Thank You

 

Food for thought:

Jewelry lifting Clips

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAZdjhNVjxk&authuser=0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls8rw2V1QCU&authuser=0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RbLiI9ZFQ8&authuser=0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XZ8s-R9vl4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofodSjKQ_-8

 

***********************************************************

Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

The neoclassical Branicki Palace (Polish: Pałac Branickich) is a historical edifice in Białystok, Poland. It was developed on the site of an earlier building in the first half of the 18th century by Jan Klemens Branicki, a wealthy Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth hetman, into a residence suitable for a man whose ambition was to become king of Poland. The palace complex with gardens, pavilions, sculptures, outbuildings and other structures and the city with churches, city hall and monastery, all built almost at the same time according to French models was the reason why this relatively remote provincial city was known in the 18th century as the Versailles of Poland.

 

Branicki was a patron of art and science, raised in the French milieu of the Polish aristocracy, who transformed a previous house into the suitably magnificent residence of a great Polish noble, a rival to Wilanów Palace, making a start in 1726. He also laid out the central part of the town of Bialystok, not a large place in the 18th century, with its triangular market piazza.

 

The original wooden manor of the Raczkowicz family that occupied the site was transformed in the 16th century into a brick two-storey castle for Piotr Wiesiołowski the Younger. Further expansion of the palace was conducted by Branicki and his wife Izabella Poniatowska. Starting in 1728 the reconstruction of the palace was directed by Johann Sigmund Deybel. Under his supervision, the structure was enhanced, the tympanum and domes on the towers were added. Deybel is also the author of the main façade. The existing pavilions and outbuildings were merged with the main building (corps de logis) according to French model to form wings surrounding a horseshoe court - the courtyard of honor (cour d'honneur), which was closed with a gate built in 1758 by Jan Henryk Klemm.

 

Among notable architects employed in reconstruction was Pierre Ricaud de Tirregaille. After the death of Deybel, in the years 1750–1771, the rebuilding of the palace was supervised by Jakub Fontana, who was an author of the palace's vestibule, rococo interiors and the staircase with statues by Jan Chrysostom Redler (1754

 

The newly created Versailles of Poland attracted many great artists, poets, and scientists.[3] A theater, orchestra and ballet were established. Among notable guests were King Augustus II the Strong (1726 to 1727 and again in 1729), King Augustus III and his wife and sons Prince Francis Xavier and Prince Charles (1744 and 1752), Prince Charles of Saxony, Duke of Courland (twice in 1759), Bishop Ignacy Krasicki (1760), King Stanisław August Poniatowski (occasionally), Emperor Joseph II Habsburg (1780), Grand Duke Paul, future Tsar Paul I of Russia, with his wife (1782), King Louis XVIII of France (1798),[9] French, English, Turkish and Russian envoys and Italian actress.

 

With the first Partition of Poland it came under the control of Prussia and then, after 1807, of Russia. In the summer of 1920, briefly, the palace was the headquarters of the Provisional Polish Revolutionary Committee. During World War Two, the Branicki Palace suffered from German bombing and fires, with damage totalling approximately 70%. It was restored after World War II as a matter of national pride. The Białystok Medical University is housed in the Palace.

 

This description incorporates text from the English Wikipedia.

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France.

 

Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi.

 

After Albigensian Crusade Bishop Bernard de Castanet, who as well was the Chief Inquisitor, ordered the building of the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile in 1282. The cathedral, here seen over the River Tarn, was built from red bricks. It is one of the largest brick buildings in the world, a massive statement of power. The cathedral´s tiered belfry, completed in 1366, rises 78 meters.

 

Near the riverbanks are the fortifications of the "Palais de la Berbie", the episcopal palace, that was more like a fortress, when it was erected. Note the huge donjon.

 

  

The inspiration for the character Angie came from the cover art that first appeared in the magazine : Best true detective cover July 1962 flic.kr/p/bnSaXy

The story of the racket dames behind the sensational Park Avenue Jewel Robberies

*****

This is a link to a You Tube Video of a thief not unlike our Angie.

youtu.be/HAZdjhNVjxk

*********

  

Title: Now, if only she could find where that darling young miss, the one so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too?

 

Case Study 113 : Warning, these are the raw, bare unusual facts as originally recorded. Some names, times, places and some facts have been altered.

Name: Angelica D circa 1933

Subject: an unscrupulous light-fingered body thief

Place: Resolution Ball - Baltimore (original incarnation)

Time: Evening, through early morning, of the dance

  

Story line:

 

Angie grinned, stowing away the emerald bracelet, as she smugly watched the police dragging away the struggling girl. Lit cigarette dangling from a corner of her lip; Angie smirked wickedly to herself as Ginny frantically tried to plead her innocence.

**

 

One of the coppers had her by the wrists; the other tried gripping her waist, finding it slippery by the satiny gown she was wearing. Ginny was pleading, it was not me, I don’t know how it got there, please let me go, my emeralds, my bracelet… its…its…. gone! I must find it, shrieked the struggling girl. Angie just listened to the girl, ginning; Ginny’s tearful words, spoken in her brash nasally east ender accent, wasn’t helping her cause with the pre-judgmental coppers.

  

One of them snarled loudly into her ear, ere ,you aint the kind to wear emeralds sister, we’ve got your number, it was her diamonds youse was after.

 

Actually, she had, Angie admitted to herself wickedly. Yes, dear Ginny had been wearing an emerald bracelet, the one Angie now had tucked securely away. Nevertheless, she chose not to enlighten the harness bulls on the matter, and smugly watched as the small group disappeared through the entrance, heading down to the eastside patrol car waiting at the street, as she let a wisp of cigarette smoke curl upwards from her sneering lips.

 

**

So it was now, with the emeralds safely tucked away, that Angie turned he back to the main door to watch down the long corridor as she continued puffing on her victory smoke. At the end of the hallway was the main entrance to the cavernous Ballroom where all action had all taken place leading up to poor Ginny’s arrest.

  

With a suspect now in custody, and two less security bulls, Angie was free to slip back in amongst the wealthy guests in attendance at the ball. Now, if only she could find where that darling young miss, the one so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too! She shivered deliciously at the mere thought of it. However, she decided to take her time finishing her cigarette, give things ample time to cool down, as she marveled at the opulence that seemed to bleed from every square inch of the Baltimore Palace this evening.

  

How Angie savored attending events held here, and visited the Baltimore area Ballroom several times whenever she was in town on “business”. The lighting, modern for the day, seemed to coax any piece of jewelry to sparkle. Making it ever so easy to focus on even the smallest (and sometimes most expensive) piece a fashionably dressed female would be wearing.

 

**

For you see, Angie was a master pickpocket, who, with the discovery and subsequent aid of a pamphlet written in the early 1800’s, was able to take her game to the next, more profitable level...

  

See Album: Angie Picks Chicago for the story of how she discovered the phamplette.

flic.kr/s/aHsjZzs5Qe

  

Entitled the Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip by “Gaston Monescu, 1826”, it covered the various tactics and moves used by master pickpockets of the time, Including whole chapters on successful “Methodes” of relieving a well-dressed lady of her” jeweles”.

  

Angie had nimbly crafted a new art form of relieving wealthy women and rich girls of their valuable jewelry. She performed this feat by combining the tactics of an illusionist, with the delicate touch of “The Dip” ; Employing this method to nick the fiery sparklers while still warm from the unwary, usually sleekly be-gowned , shapely figures ostentatiously displaying them!

**

 

Angie began to reflect on how the ballroom had looked when she had first entered some three hours previously. She had been eagerly anticipating the opportunities in store for her inside, and she was not disappointed in the very least. The place was packed wall to wall with guests dressed in their dapper nines for the annual event.

  

Like a kid in a candy shop, Angie had eagerly looked over the crowd, admiring the shiny, flowing gowns the female guests were wearing. Selecting and keenly observing dresses made of the richest, most form fitting material, for by long experience, these women wearing them would bring the most profit. By employing this method to narrow the field of selections, Angie was able to quickly to pinpoint on a piece of jewelry, make her move, and be gone before giving any security patrolling the area a chance to recognize her for what she was. It sometimes was as easy as slipping candy from a baby’s grasp, or as Angie like to imagine it, relieving the satin and lace clad innocent of her “silver spoon” *** ( see addendum AA)..

  

Angie than eagerly looked over the jewels of those she had chosen, vividly glittering their colourful joy at being brought out of the vault and worn for this evening’s festivities. She had been quite hard pressed to make a selection, so for the first 30 minutes or so, Angie just mingled about, following her whimsy.

  

Then she spotted Olivia. Elegant in a long slick purple gown of luxurious silk that pleasantly flowed and swirled tightly along her shapely figure as she flitted about, presenting the very picture of a tickle thief’s dream ( see addendum BB).. Young, flighty and loaded with beckoning diamonds, Angie began to stalk her in ever decreasing circles, hunting her slowly, deliberately, much as a snake in the grass would a tiny unsuspecting mouse. However, all too soon, Angie realized that this mouse was being watched over by someone else, like a hawk.

  

The hawks name was Ginny. Lower east end, rough as her cousin Olivia was polished, awkward in one of her cousins borrowed long satin gowns, she watched protectively over her mingling cousin from the sidelines, totally out of her element, ill-fitting right down to the only jewelry she wore, a shimmering elegant emerald bracelet that was obviously borrowed( probably from Olivia) . Angie weighed the consequences of an attempt on Olivia’s diamonds, deciding that there was plenty of less guarded prey, and so Angie reluctantly decided to let go of the scent.

 

**

It was not much later that Angie, from her new perch at one of the twin bars that lined opposite sides of the room, found herself eyeing a most interesting subject. She rose and began trailing behind the swishing gown of her new prospect. The fine taffeta gown was spilling down along the still voluptuous, if not a little pudgy, figure of an older, matronly looking lady with long hair of faded gold. Her longish hair was home to a glittering Diamond Head band, from which shimmering strings of diamonds were entertained in her still silky soft hair.

  

The lady stopped to chat with two other finely decked out women, giving Angie a chance to circle and leisurely eyeball, head to foot, these unsuspecting ladies baubles. Angie felt her heart rate quicken with delight at what she saw.. Now, older women could be a little bit trickier since they were more likely to notice quicker the disappearance of often worn jewelry, as opposed to younger ladies or girls were not yet used to wearing fine jewelry adorning their squirming figures. Nevertheless, Angie spied something that should even the playing field a bit, so to speak, making this wealthy lady a fairly less risky prospect…

  

Now, Monescu‘s pamphlet had a little side Chapter on how ladies would sooner think jewels were lost as to believe they had been stolen from them (pickpockets only go after wallets and hankies, my dear, everyone knows that!) . To this end, lifting only one of a pair, like an earring, or clips, is a safe bet, especially if one desires to tempt fate and remain in the area to try for a second piece, like say the brooch that one of the ladie’s friends was obligingly displayin!

  

And the lady with the shimmering headpiece Angie was ogling, was wearing a pair of twin diamond and ruby clips, one on each side of the wide shiny sash that tightly encircled her gowns’ bulging waistline. Taking one of those expensively jeweled clips would be as easy! As easy as picking the slippery pocket of a fidgety young child clad in silk. Which in a fashion, Angie had actually done many times early on in her career. ,.. Including once long ago, coming across not one fidgety child, but a small group of em! The wedding attired young girls were playing alone at a playground, their chaperones having obligingly wandered off for a bit of naughty fun! When Angie finally left the chirpy little group to continue their game of (appropriately enough) cops n robbers, It had definitely not been just the contents of the gullible young lady’s fluttery satin gowns’ pockets that walked off along with her!

 

(See album, Angie at play, for the full story)

flic.kr/s/aHsjYB65Je

  

Angie’s full attention was now focused on the two wave shaped clips as the pair fired glittering salvos of flickering rainbow-like colures with each elegant movement their mistress made. Patiently Angie stalked from a distance, awaiting her chance. It came soon enough, when the Hors d’oeuvres were put out, and the clips, along with their mistress, headed with the other multitudes of guests to the long banquet tables. As they formed a line, Angie managed to wedge herself in between the lines, effectively cutting off her victim, who bumped against Angie.

  

Angie’s left hand slipped in and snaked along the satin sash, feeling once again the deliciously tingling ling chill she always experienced when her fingers first rubbed against the warm scintillating material of a luscious gown as she dipped in to steal the selected jewel.. This time was no different as her slender fingers located the first of the clips ; lifting it up, and nimbly flicked open the clasp( it was amazing how jewelers skimped on clasps when making upper end jewels), at the same time her right hand slithered up the slick taffeta backside of her victims gown. Reaching underneath an armpit, her fingernails dug in, distracting her victim as to the nefarious activity happening at her waist. The lady was knocked slightly off balance, and anyone else who saw the pair had their eyes focused their faces, and not on any handiwork occurring with the hands below sight.

  

Angie apologized profusely in her softest most innocent voice. Petting down the ladies backside as she did so with her right hand, while her left plucked the clip from her sash and palmed the jewel and slipped behind her back. It was over in seconds, merely someone trying to cut the line, and Angie made her escaped receiving a few clucks of the tongue from one of the ladies’ friend as the lady caught up to them. Angie just smiled at them winningly, her hand still behind her back. As she smiled, Angie slipped the diamond clip down inside her sash before turning away and heading off.

  

It had all come off quite easily, and Angie was congratulating herself, when suddenly a voice behind her pronounced, quite loud and clear, oh my gwad Ceclia, you’ve lost a brooch. Diamond clip Angie correctly the lady silently to herself. She did not turn, but kept on moving, even slowing her pace a bit. From the same area she heard Celica gasp. Me clip, I’ve lost one of me diamond clips! it was here a minute ago, remember Maud, you was admiring them, weren’t you? Angie could imagine from what actions the lady in the elegant taffeta gown was taking now that she had discovered her loss, security was probably hoofing their way over, Angie had to think quickly.

  

Not losing any of her demeanor, Angie turned causally around to watch with the rest of the nearby group as the lady was showing her sash and the remaining clip to a couple of her friends. Angie spied a brace uniformed bulls approaching. She casually turned and headed across the room, her mind whirling. she knew that the pricy clip was too hot to hold onto. She had slowly looked around as she sauntered away from the scene. Then, spotting one of the many Ladies powder rooms scattered around, she ducked into it. Angie knew from past experiences ( and a few hints from Monescu‘s phamplett) that rooms such as these had a plethora of hiding places to let “hot items” cool down..

  

She entered the room, the noise dying out as the door closed. She was alone, wait, not nearly, the room had one other occupant. Ginny was at the sink, washing her face, the bored look she had worn all evening now was replaced by deep thoughts, forlorn ones by the looks of it. On the fly Angie coolly devised a plan.

  

She walked up behind the unwary, unnoticing, fetchingly clad Ginny, and wrapped her arms round her, hugging, as she called out, Maude dear, I haven’t seen you in ages. Ginny was uncomfortably flabbergasted, and Angie felt her warm figure stiffen. She turned and Angie apologized, I am so sorry , I totally mistook you for someone else. I should have known better, Maude is not nearly as pretty .As she spoke, Angies’ fingers touched and prodded the startled girl, not allowing her to collect her wits. If Angie was hoping for a smile, she didn’t get it,. Streetwise Ginny looked at Angie hard, and scolded the thief for scaring the beezusses out of her. In a Huff Ginny left, Angie watched as Ginny’s soft gown curled around the closing door before whipping out of.

  

She was smiling to herself, for as she had hugged Ginny, she had deposited the clip in the innocent girls green velvet purse that was laying open on the vanity. She had also in the process, tit for tat, whisked off the wide gold bracelet embedded with emeralds.

  

Not wasting any time Angie headed down the hallway where she secreted the bracelet in a nearby ash can, slipping it underneath the ½ ash filled bowl. Angie than reentered the ballroom, and went up to the orchestra’s conductor and requested a couple of waltzes, ones she knew were lengthy.

  

She then look around to make sure that she had all the principle players in her plot in sight. She spied Ginny talking with her cousin Olivia, and Celia was still searching the floor by the banquet tables. Now Maude , Maude took a little doing, but Angie spotted her chatting with a security cop. Great Angie thought, all I need to do is wait for it. “It” soon became apparent , was the start of one of the slow waltzes, and sure enough, Olivia was almost immediately scooped up and led off to the dance floor, leaving poor Ginny alone, as she had been most of the evening. Her hard disposition more than enough to keep any potential suitors at bay.

 

Angie immediately sought out Maude, a short mousey woman in a faded velvet gown wearing loads of gold chains and bangles. Angie caught her ear; feeding her a story about what she saw being placed in a certain green velvet purse. Maude’s eyes darted to where Ginny stood along a wall, and Angie saw a delicious gleam flare up in mousey Maude’s semi -be speckled green eyes.

 

**

Angie than serenely slipped back, regaining her barstool perch and waited as the developments unfolded. Maude went to the copper she had been chatting up, and they both went to Celica. The copped grabbed a partner and the group surrounded poor Ginny. Angie kept one eye on the, and the other on Olivia, who was dancing on the far side of the room, blissfully unaware of the clamor on the far wall, that was surrounding her hapless cousin Ginny.

  

Angie saw that, upon discovering what she had in her purse, they were going to arrest her and escort Ginny off the premises, exactly as Angie had planned! Angie slipped from her stool, and headed out to the lobby to await the final act in Ginny’s tragedy. Angie concealed herself in the hidden alcove, behind the small ash can where she had stashed the emerald bracelet. Just in time to witness the poor girl, struggling between the two security types, and being forcibly escorting her out. When she was sure no suspicion was coming her way, Angie lit a victory smoke, and retrieved the emeralds, stowing them away as she looked back upon the protesting Ginny, struggling as she was being ushered out the door to the waiting patrol car on the street below.

 

**

Now, Angie only had to find where that darling young Olivia, so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too! With a suspect now in custody, and two less security bulls, Angie was free to slip back in amongst the wealthy guests in attendance at the ball. Good thing old Angie girl was a tough cookie, she contemplated, congratulating herself over not losing her head and coming out in roses, as happy with herself, she watched down the hallway. She was in no hurry; haste makes waste after all, so Angie savored her thoughts as she waited patiently to continue her mischievous habits.

 

Her thoughts now were trained fully on the unsuspecting, capriciously flighty , Olivia, and her dazzling diamonds.

 

In her mind’s eye she relished over several scenarios that could develop, and how to use them to her advantage, Angie exciting herself so much that she held the cigarette for a minute to lick her lips over them…

 

She imagined Olivia darting about, as she looked for her missing cousin, imagining, a well-placed foot on the hemline of a swirling long purple silk gown, which could yield some marvelous results.

 

Or perhaps Olivia could use some help looking for her cousin. Angie would then be able to discreetly help herself to some of the enticingly slippery-gowned Olivia’s dainty, but expensively fiery, diamond jewelry.

 

Alternatively, and best of all, and it is here where the almost purring Angie licked her lips, was a most scintillating scenario…

 

Angie could explain what had happened and offer to share a cab downtown with her new friend. Angie would comfort the worrying, sobbing (brought on by how Angie would describe what had happened) girl riding alongside her in the back of the bouncing cab. Angie would comfortingly stroke the warm figure encased in the richly slick, scrumptiously smooth silky gown, as she cooed words of encouragement in Olivia’s ears, Angie’s lips touching the diamond earrings dripping down from their lobes.

 

Then she would let Olivia go inside alone, as not to cause her cousin any further embarrassment. Then Angie would watch as Olivia hurried away, admiring the flow of her shiny gown in the light from the entranceways lamps ,and while also basking in the provocative sparkle of any remaining diamonds that Angie had not managed to spirit away during the ride down to the police station.

 

Angie shivered happily, as she gave one final drag on her cigarette and bent down to place it in the ash bin.

 

Suddenly Angie’s senses perked up, and she raised her head, shooting her gaze down the long corridor..

A lady was leaving the ballroom, unescorted, heading down the long hallway to the exit. She could tell by the quality of the long slinky gown that fell in ruffles from the hem of the long black mink she wore, and by the rings glittering from the hand that held the thick mink, that this specimen was well worth some effort. Angie rose, not yet noticed by the fur encased broad. One for the road, Angie thought to herself, bemused. The lady kept looking back, like she did not really want to leave and was afraid she would miss something exciting. That fact, along with the narrowness of the passage made for an excellent opportunity… A well place foot, and expertly placed bump, a few seconds of confusion, and the lady and Angie would part company, and Angie would have parted something else from the broad, and be a richer woman for it.

 

It was a formula that Angie had perfected and executed many profitable times. As a matter of fact, it had only been a few days prior that a young daughter, quite fetchingly (and targetable) in a pretty lavender satin and lace gown, ornamented regally with pearls and a flashy blue rhinestone tiara, had quite literally, but not accidentally, come under foot. Allowing Angie the opportunity to artfully nick the girl’s fine strands of gleaming white pearls (with a sapphire gemmed drop!) that had obligingly bounced up from the girl’s heaving chest into Angie’s waiting fingers.

 

Angie now watched this rich lady headed towards her, with the very same thoughts in mind. But she needed to know what jewels the broad had hidden under that pricey mink. As the lady came close Angie tried to “will” her to open up. “C’mon honey, its warm, you must be burning up in that pelt, show mama what you got.” But the broad did not obligingly peel back the mink for Angie, and Angie would never know what riches may have been in the cupboard, or perhaps it had been bare, though Angie seriously doubted it. The lady reached her, shooting Angie a nervous smile. Angie smiled back, wondering if the lad realized how close she had come to being relieved of one of her fancy trinkets.

 

As the woman passed by, Angie watched her backside, musing to herself, Fine, I’ll just have to settle for Olivia. Angie then started down the long deserted corridor with a brisk walk, her satin dress bouncing in rhythm.

 

**

Reaching the Ballroom proper, Angie stopped and gave the room a vigilant scan for security, and as she had figured, it definitely had loosened up. She then searched in earnest for the young miss clad in her expensive purple silk “tickling gown”( see addendum rr). The naïve young thing had been ever so carelessly displaying those delectably exquisite diamonds of hers with such reckless abandon that it would be a wonder if she still possessed all of them. It will be a wonder if she still does after meeting me, Angie mused. She almost was purring in anticipation as she thought about those diamonds, especially the long necklace and the way it had flung from side to side as the girl had walked past Angie the first time that evening(and several more since). Angie envisioned the diamonded box clasp at the back of her bare neck (long hair was high in a bun) that held the necklace around her neck, for now! She secretly prayed that Olivia had not removed her shiny hairpiece to let her long hair down, it would make things so much the easier.

  

As Angie thought about this she slowly edged her way along the wall, dodging in and out amongst the happily chatting guest, constantly on the lookout for Olivia.

  

Now Angie had learned not to stay so focused on one target that she would miss another opportunity that may unexpectantly arise. This was another lesson she had learned the hard way, most notably at a fancy wedding reception that was held in a fancy venue complete with a hedged in English Garden. A perfect spot for ambushing unsuspecting, well-jeweled quarry!

 

(See album, Angie being receptive, for the full story)

flic.kr/s/aHsjZzsjGH

  

So, by being on the alert, Angie was prepared when she was suddenly, unexpectedly blindsided from behind as something incredibly soft, slickly bumped up against her back. Like a cat, she kept her feet and whirled around in time to catch a handful of pure heaven in the form of one of the be- gowned young “princesses” that seemed to be everywhere this gay evening. She found herself nose to eye with a young miss, resplendent in a long slippery gown as black as ink, and as soft as young chinchilla. The sleek gown literally poured tightly down along her perked figure to the floor, covering over her shiny black high heels. The colour of night that was her gown was broken only by the whiteness of her bare shoulders and neck, and by an exquisitely large, leaf like brooch of clear diamond banquets that covered her right side at least 8 inches above and below her slender waistline.

  

The young “princess” giggled nervously as she profusely apologized over her “silliness” at tripping over her own gown as she had stepped backwards. Angie oozed kindness as she spoke soothingly to the girl, watching her melt like putty in Angie’s light fingered hands. As Angie spoke calmingly to the girl, her eyes were indiscreetly soaking up the dazzling white diamond necklace that surrounded the nervous girl’s bare white throat that was now eye level to Angie. .Angie looked down at the girls gloved hand resting upon her full bosom , admiring the softness of the satin gloves (dyed to match her gown) that stretched up past her elbows, drooling secretly over the enormous cocktail ring that graced one of her fingers. The princess raised up her hands, giving them to Angie, who took up the satin clad hands, holding them as tightly as she was holding the girls gaze, before letting the girl slowly slip them from her firm grasp., .

  

The girls eyes finally broke away, and Angie smiled exuberantly, giving the girl an enveloping hug to show there were no hard feelings, letting her hands slip ever so gingerly down to grasp the girl by the waist, giving her a squeeze. She then let the young thing slip out, free to go on her way, as Angie turned and did likewise. As Angie sauntered off, she happily thought that it was sometimes funny how occasionally, when least expected, one gets very lucky. As she thought this, she moved her clenched fist to the top of her dress. Pulling the dress out, she dropped down her cleavage the rather large, expensively glittering , diamond brooch she had so carefully slipped from the rather ditsy young ”princess” black satin clad waist. The damsel had not so much felt a prick when Angie had lifted the jewel, snapped the clasp open, and slipped it from her figure as her hands had squeezed her scintillatingly soft waist. She now felt it wonderfully slip down, joining Ginny’s purloined bracelet already resting securely there. Angie stole a careful look back over her shoulder.

  

The clueless young” Princess” was now happily dancing away with a tuxedoed young man. Her handsome partner, with a neatly trimmed beard, had one white gloved hand holding up her hand in black satin gloved the enormous cocktail ring shining out like some richly coloured beacon ; the other white gloved hand lay upon her back, mere inches away from the simple hook in eye clasp of the necklace of white diamonds. Angie drooled, how she would have liked to have had her hands in either of the positions that the man’s were now laid. Taking the ring and necklace would have been a piece of cake. Angie did sometimes secretly envy men, who could get close to jewel-laden ladies in ways that Angie could not! Angie imagined these wicked thoughts to herself as she allowed herself to be mesmerized by the blaze of fiery diamonds that for the time being, were still wrapped around the “princess’s” slender white throat.

  

Angie was not worried about the young lady raising a squawk over a missing brooch. Clumsy Dames like her were used to having jewelry misplaced. Angie wondered if they ever realized how many times those jewels were not misplaced, but stolen by light fingered thieves who, like Angie, knew all too well how to read the signs and reap the rewards. If only she had had time to be better prepared, she sighed, turning her attention reluctantly away from the diamonds.

  

Angie moved off, filled with the confidence that the tides of her fortune had turned for the better. Rounding a corner Angie spied Celia off to one side, and toyed with the idea of slipping off her remaining diamond clip now that Maud was still chatting up one of the Guards (another one out of commission!) Then, for a split second, on the other side of the room, she saw the silky wisp of purple that singled out her prey. Now, down to business she said, licking her lips. With a cat like gleam in her eyes, she swiftly stole into the crowd of dancing couples. Soon she was lost to sight, swept up in a rainbow coloured sea of slinky swirling gowns.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

( addendum AA )..

***( Not that Angie really ever stooped that low….. The closet she ever came was finding a wealthy couples silk suited young one left alone for a few minutes in his carriage holding a fine grained wooden rattle with possibly real gold inlays. Pulling away the rattle, she had let it drop beside the carriage, walking away and watching from a distance as the baby started to fuss. Soon the child’s young sister, who had so inattentively been minding her younger brother, approached. Angie watched, mesmerized by the thick sterling silver chain and locket that was dangling merrily from the girl’s throat. Timing it perfectly, Angie moved to the carriage as the girl was bending over, cooing and shaking the rattle to quiet her baby brother down. Taking swift advantage of the young girl’s distraction, Angie’s long fingers nimbly lifted up and slipped off the glimmering chain and locket from the high frilly neckline of the sister’s shiny blouse. Then, as Angie pocketed the purloined jewel with one hand, she made use of her other to admire and compliment her unsuspecting victim of her party outfit, consisting of a cute long sleek midnight satin skirt paired quite fetchingly with the ruffled long sleeved blouse of emerald taffeta!

Angie spent a few chancy minutes talking to the sister, looking for older than her years with her long brown held up in a high bun, as her baby brother settled down. As they chatted, a thought emerged in Angie’s mind around making a try for the girls silver engraved cuffed bracelet wrapped around the charming young sister’s slender left wrist, or possibly, even better, the child’s dangling clasped silver earrings! Throwing all caution to the wind, Angie made a lighthearted attempt to suggest how much better it would feel for the young lady by letting her hair down. It must be awfully hurtful for her, to have it tied up in that high tight bun, Angie cooed. A lot more comfortable hanging down and free in a ponytail like mine, Angie suggested, offering graciously to help with the procedure. The young lady giggled, shaking her pretty head, earrings flickering, as she looked over towards a small gathering of self -absorbed, well-dressed adults standing by the tables set up at the east end of the gardens. She apologetically told Angie that Mama would certainly not approve. Score one for Mama, Angie sighed, petting the girls soft shoulder to show her no worries, and while doing so took her other hand and running it ever so lightly along the youth’s black skirt, delved into its’ pocket , but found the cupboard bare. So, then, after looking down at the sleeping baby, Angie finally took her leave. Migrating off towards a small gathering of fancy frocked, nicely jeweled debutantes giggling by an exit in a far west corner of the extensive parks gardens)

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Addendum BB)

(excerpted from :Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip by “Gaston Monescu, 1826”)

A perfect tickle thief setup, as Angie renamed it, was a ploy for use on a lady “waering a long gown or skirtes” that was easily trip able, when a foot stepped on it from behind, sometimes added with a soft nudge, sending the wearer tumbling. Ones fingers, in the process of steading or helping would glide(tickling) over the material ( the sleeker the better) to reach and pluck free the fair ladies’ targeted bauble.

 

**********************************************************************************

 

Interested in reading more about the shenanigans of Angie?

Then Check out the following albums:

Angie Picks Chicago flic.kr/s/aHsjZzs5Qe

Angie being Receptive flic.kr/s/aHsjZzsjGH

Angie being chartable flic.kr/s/aHsk5YknhV

Angie at Play flic.kr/s/aHsjYB65Je

Angie Trick Or Treat( coming soon)

 

Editor’s Note:

Our Thanks to Mr Gardner for pointing out the existence of Mr. Monescu’s 1826 guide

 

**********************************************************************************

Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives

 

Dolls to Tea

Time frame -- The Gilded age

Season -- Autumn

 

Back in the early 20’s there was at the time ( and still is today) a rather large hotel/Inn located just 20 minutes’ motor ride from Cambridge. For the sake of a name, we will generically call it The Riverside Inn….

  

It had been built almost 2 hundred years ago around a natural mineral spring long said to have healing benefits by drinking or bathing. The pamphlets for the place promised ‘ Here, for just a two week stay, almost miraculous cures for a litany of ailments are promised simply by imbibing of the water’.

Gullibly wealthy guests from all over the realm come to visit, lured in by those intriguing promises of great well-being.

The hotel still stands in this modern age of cells rap,and mini motels…

But allow us to take the reader back, back in the hotels sometimes murky past, to a time when Jazz was all the rage and socialization was held firmly under thumb by some rather imposing hierarchy led standards. AKA, if you weren’t in their circles, you just did not exist… which made it far too easy for certain talented scoundrels to ply their nefarious trades…..

  

This story is taken from a dusty, tattered old journal kept in the study archives of Chatwick University. It was discovered in an old 1930’s era steamer trunk found in a dark corner of the Riverside Inn’s basement.

The trunk, containing a males’ possessions, was tucked away amongst a rather old, musty collection of unclaimed luggage and steamer trunks, filled with clothes and other artefacts from bygone ages. These trunks were being examined during the early 1950’s in an effort to gather materials for several new display cases.

The rather unique journal was turned over to a university professor by the authorities’ for investigation. The Journal contained entries made in the mid-(19) twenties and concerned, well you will read bout it soon enough…

  

The gentleman who kept the journal had written a first name on the inside cover… the name was Sabastien

Here is the story… Mostly in his words

^^^^^^^^^^^^

  

“This journal entry was made during my second visit to the Riverside, nearly 4 years after the first, plenty of enough time given for short memories to have forgotten previous, rather encroaching, incidents.”

What follows is a description of Sabastien’s two week stay at the rather ancient resort/hotel called Riverside. He details in full observations about his fellow guests, noting especially the females, , members of their entourage, their dress on certain evenings, the jewels they wear on those times, as well as their everyday jewels. Chronicles are also made of movements, habits, rooms occupied and a multitude of lists that would be far too much for this story. So we have just condensed his story to the relevant facts and descriptions pertaining to the gyst of his story….

If interested in reading these rather lengthy entries, please contact the Criminology Department of Chatwick University.

We will start out story on the events recorded on Sabastiens’s final day… The EDS.

  

It was a rather balmy fall day, that Saturday Afternoon that I was planning to leave. It had been quite an interesting week spent, as noted previously, and I was all too ready to leave now that my plans had been finalized and strategies worked out for my next adventure, as I always preferred to call them.

 

…..

 

The hotels motor car was not due for some 30 minutes, my trunk had been packed and ready for transportation to the railyard since breakfast, so I decided to entertain me self by going down one last time for afternoon Tea in the outside garden area.

 

I always enjoyed afternoon tea’s here, meandering amongst the well attired, wealthy guests, most of whom were under the impression that I was one of their class. If they only knew the truth!

 

The men dapper in day suits, straw hats and dangling thick gold and silver watch chains, and clutching ivory handled canes.

 

Their ladies were enchanting in their afternoon frocks, hats and parasols, their shimmering day jewels flickering an appealing display of colourful lights.

 

Ah yes, the ladies… The whole lot of em were mascaraed and lipsticked up, reminding me, not for the first time, like so many well-dressed posh dolls. Dolls at tea I was constantly thinking..Genuine Dolls, with genuine jewels my mind always added… For there-in lay opportunism, but for a different game than the one I was currently playing!

 

This is basically how the scene played out every afternoon in the Inns’ proper English back garden, complete with encircling hedge!

  

Today was no bloody exception.

 

As I leaned against the post of a deserted gazebo and watched with interest as the above thoughts played about in me head…

 

I let meself travel back to a time when as kids, my twin sister and I were shooed outside to play on a brite sunny afternoon. Sis had met a friend, and I had gone alone for a tramp in the woods. As I was coming back into the garden I saw me twin sister and a friend, both dressed up in some of their mums old shiny dresses, wearing some bits of play jewellery. They were pretending to have a tea party and had collected an assortment of dolls which they circled about. One of em, a larger one in a shiny pink ruffled frock, was wearing a small rhinestone necklace that sparkled in the sun. I walked past as sis and her friend pouring the tea for a rather dishevelled clown doll across form the doll in pink. With their backs adventitiously turned away, I walked past and whisked away the necklace, with the intention of waiting till the girl’s noticed so I could tease them a bit.

 

When the pair satisfactorily discovered the doll’s, necklace had gone dodgy, they discovered my hiding place and chased me around trying to get it back. One thing led to another and we discovered a new game.

 

We called it Robing hood at tea, me sister having an infatuation with the bowman thief!

 

They would set their dolls about wearing jewels. I would try to find them and, while avoiding the sheriffs guards ( the girls) , lift the doll’s jewels and try to make it back to Sherwood forest uncaptured with the girls usually in chase if I was discovered. Basically it was a mixture of cops n robbers and hide and seek.

 

My mind drifted back to the present, I let my eyes travel as I rested in my perch, pondering.

 

It twas an intriguing thought though, I mean, what if some of these ladies, all dressed and bedecked in real jewels, had been actual life size porcelain dolls? How easy it would be to walk past some of them whilst avoiding the guards, and become a far richer man for it? Of course, for me it was more than just fantasizing, but I would not allow meself to mix any pleasure whilst I was still out on business.

  

I straightened, stretched, and with my thoughts still in mind, started to head over to a group of ladies that had just wondered out after refilling their china teacups. One of em was wearing a necklace and earrings dripping of rhinestones. Her name was Theodora ( Teddi for short) and I called her privately “The Flamingo” for she was always fetchingly dressed in some shade of pink.

Today was no exception, a frilly frock of pink island coral. I fell in place beside her, and her jewels…which I, for the reasons given above, was obviously being vexed enough by to get a closer look at!

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

After a bit, I left the enchanting Teddi, and continued walking around , joining various groups of chattering guests, and making small talk for about another half of an hour, behaving me self like quite the proper (mock) gentleman.

Soon I observed the hotels car pull in and a chauffeur exited and disappear inside. He promptly reappeared, followed by a lad carrying me trunk. I caught the chauffeurs eye and taking my leave of a of a rather fetchingly cross-eyed red haired Irish lass by the name of Cybele Gealach, I kiss’d her well ringed fingers, while studying with wry amusement her emerald bracelets as they slipped down from her inviting wrist in a shower of sparks. She smiled prettily at me, and I bathed meself in one last look at her lovely figure, resplendent in a green satin frock, with a pretty display of jewels as green as the emerald isles themselves, before I forced meself to turn and head over to the path leading from the garden to the car park.

  

But to some trepidation, I found me path was blocked at the end by the “triplets”, standing under an old chestnut tree, amusing themselves.

  

The triplets now were a trio of young gangly 16 year old “ladies” who fancied themselves as being proper grown up adults! Thicker than thieves that lot was, and possessed no less a mischievous thievish outlook upon happily creating misery for others! And there they were, looking all pretty and innocent in the dappled sunlight that was coming through the grove of chestnut trees. A group of charming angels, to all outward appearances, these young ladies could be mistaken for……! Never mind, even in me private journal I am unable to put down the word!

But then, appearances can be a bit deceiving….

  

My personal nickname for these pet peeves was the triplets , even though they all had different mothers, and for all I know different fathers. Two were cousins, the third belonged to a wealthy lady( hell, they were all wealthy ladies there, now, weren’t they?) named Beverly whom I had become rather great chums with, when her youngest daughter Sadie and friends were not around that is!.

  

The three girls set themselves apart from most of the other children their age by being rather snooty, stuck up and all too very self-important. The lot liked to be dressed up, insisting on wearing their Mothers’ good jewellery rather than costume that most girls their age wore. This all made themselves to appear far older than the 16 years they were. They also liked to huddle about and make snide comments loud enough so that their victim was quite aware of what they were saying. . And they were always willing to play the innocent children, the all pure and sweetness role , if things got too hot, or their gullible parents got involved.

  

They were Pretty.. pretty much damn near an annoyance any time I ( and most others I noticed with satisfaction) I encountered them…

  

But now there was nothing to do but walk past the triplets as they stood there chatting away in aimless abandon.

  

I approached and tipping my hat to the three, watched as all three heads turned away, averting my saltation. I heard sassy Sadie say loudly enough to reach my ears( no accident), in her habitually whining voice, wonder where that repulsive prat is goin? Away for good, hopefully!, I heard her sulky cousin Jackelyn chime in, and homely Miranda just giggled, or cackled was it?

  

I tried to walked nonchalantly past, but as I did something struck me smartly at the back of me head. I turned, but the three had their backs to me, giggling … No tellin which one had done it, but I was pretty sure there was one less horse chestnut sitting at their feet. Who’s did they think they was playin at.., a bloody Pulcinella?

  

Now I could have behaved meself like a proper gentleman and kept on walking as if nothing had occurred and let them have their little laugh. But what would be the fun in that?

 

So I turned and faced their lovely shiny backsides.

 

“Oi’ Miranda”, I called out cheerfully like I was greeting a well liked friend.

 

The tallest of the trio, and far less pretty, Miranda, was a blonde lass, fetchingly wearing a party dress of sage satin and lace, with pearls that dangled about , now turned and looked at me with arched eyes. She was showing a most unfavourable expression upon her puckered face as she threw back her long brown hair, pearled earrings swinging gaily. I knew she had to have been taken aback that I knew her name, but it did not show.

 

The other two looked also, on ready to pounce at me next move, I saw Sadie quickly glance over at her mother Beverly, making sure she was close enough to scurry to her daughters rescue..

 

For disclosure the cousins, their names were Jackelyn and Sadie. Both lassies were brunettes, of the same height and shapely build. Jackelyn was wearing a rather adultish cocktail dress of flowing purple silk, with brite silver chains decorating her figure. Sadie was wearing a velvet long sleeved French Frock, and her jewels were obviously an adults seed pearls with diamond clasps. If I had been up to the challenge of playing that robin hood game, Sadie’s pearls would have been the most desirable objective of all.

 

But I digress…

 

As Miranda and her “clowder” looked on I smiled and said…

 

Ta’ Miranda, almost forgot, Lucius said he would meet you in the gardens at ten tonight..

(Lucius was a 17 year old playboy with Italian good looks that all three had been playing for after he had arrived with his Mother, a vivacious raven haired lady by the name of Pamela) several days ago..

  

I turned heel abruptly and walked away with a purpose. After lobbying that bombshell into their midst I figured that jealousy should rear its vindictive head and do the rest of the damage. It would be ever quite a delight to see the three of em receive some comeuppance

  

I heard nothing from them as I walked away, and made it to the waiting car without further incident ( or thrown horse chestnuts).

  

The ride in the hotel’s car was rather dull, and unexciting. I arrived at the train station with 45 minutes to spare, saw my trunk on the train, and carrying my black valise headed off across the street to a pub for a spot of rhine steak and kidney pie( a item never found on a classy Riverside Menu) , along with two pints of house bitters to wash the lot down with.

 

I took my time, not even budging when the train, ten minutes late, whistled for the final departure.

 

I got to the station just as the departing train was just disappearing around the corner.

 

Appearing breathless I explained to the station master my predicament , and he told me that there would be no other train heading out till 2:00 am! ( a fact that I was well aware of, but I kept it on the quiet) Mocking my displeasure, I paid for a second ticket and had the master cable ahead to secure my trunk.

  

Taking my valise I went into town and found a place that hired out cars. Paying for 1 day in advance, I hopped in and headed back to the Riverside. There I made my story of woe known to a chosen few that I had missed my train and had decided to come back to pass the time.

  

Fortunately there was always enough going on to help pass the time ( one could almost feel Sabastien winking as he wrote this, especially considering what mischief follows ….the eds)

  

Traditionally, every weekend on Saturday there was a 5 course meal served (formal attire required) followed by a posh ball held for the guests in the elegant Regal ballroom located at the end of the Inns west wing, with a full orchestra playing. ( The ballroom still exists, but has since been turned into a modern dinner play theatre..the eds)

  

After supper I meandered out to the gardens while most of my fellow guests headed over to the ball room’s bar to start drinking their way into the night’s festivities. The Orchestra started up promptly at 8 and soon the ballroom was filled with the vast majority of the guests who were staying at the hotel that week, happily dancing and socializing with not a care in the world. If they only knew of the cat amongst the pigeons.

  

With the majority of the hotels security helping out at the ballroom, and with the guests letting down what little guard they felt about protecting any of their valuables here, it was the perfect opportunity to do a bit of my business that evening in the Hotels’ East wings third floor.

  

This area was home to some to some of the better suites, occupied by the wealthiest of the Riversides’ guests. Since said guests were all happily partying their night away, I was soon to be most happily occupying my “accidental” layover by emptying their rooms safes of jewels, money notes and other small, but pretty things of value. I was certainly not unabashed, for my livelihood, my trade and pleasure in life, is being a professional jewel thief, burglar and rather skilled amateur pickpocket.

 

I added the pickpocketing bit due to the reference I have written earlier in my journal about the Robing hood at tea game I played with my sister and her friend … because it had a direct refence to my becoming a pickpocket as well as a cat burglar…

 

This was because at my suggestion, usually the girls would be in play dress up mode, which I found to add a quite alluring addition to our play. I found meself becoming tantalized by dangling jewels shimmering about them as we were involved in the game. So Robing Hode soon had a private desire, to not only take the jewels that adorned the hidden dolls, but to lift those that the dolls’ guards were wearing! At first I was caught in all my attempts at this new objective… but practice makes one perfect! And so it was that I was soon able to become quite adept at certain opportune times ,lifting the very jewels me twin sister and her friend were wearing! Using the various distractions and engaging conversations I employed, Rhinestone necklaces, bracelets, and brooches soon fell under my ever increasing light touch. This awakened in me a certain secret desire, that may been a major focal point leading me to my eventual path in life.

 

So, for having played those childhood games with my sister and her friend, I would say made me a somewhat skilled amateur pickpocket. Giving me quite a feel for some things, I guess would be a way of putting it! So much so, that even though I started out emulating that persona of a gentleman thief , being a pickpocket of certain shiny lures was at the same time, never far from me mind!

  

Then, as it so happened , I was able to meet up with a like-minded bloke who( for a price) instructed me on a few of the finer, less practiced, points of pickpocketing.

 

So I was more than prepared for the first time the opportunity arose! And once it did for the first time, I was able to relieve, quite unnoticed, a pricey necklace from around the throat of a lady I had been dancing with… Possibly not an outstanding accomplishment on its own, for some people I will admit.

 

But when taking in consideration that I had brought up the subject to a lady I had been seeing during the course of gathering information, and found her so quite intrigued by the notion that she bet five shillings against me taking a piece of her jewellery before the night was gone, says something! It proved to be a rather enticing little challenge: If she caught me with my fingers in the till, I was out a few shillings, and if she didn’t?

 

Well suffice to say, betting 5 shillings against a 1000 sovereigns worth of her jewellery was a suckers bet, and the end play was, as I paid off my bet and left ,was a whole new avenue opened to me on a way to make a nice bit of extra money between heists..

**********************************

 

So, now, with just burgling on me mind, I waited in the shadows till the party was well underway before making my move from the gardens. Once I made sure all the players/pigeons were in position, and away from their suites, I slipped away to my hired car. Once there I retrieved my valise, and in the obscurity of some nearby woods, donned a black silk face mask, holstered my rather wicked looking military stiletto knife with its finely whetted blade., and pocketed a set of well used skeleton keys.

  

Then I circled around the woods, and cut across a small bit of grass, to a seldom used service door that I had opened earlier from the inside. I than snuck up a back-service staircase to the third floor, and opened the upstairs service door leading directly onto the east wing. Making sure the coast was clear, I went into the corridor, and starting at the far end, I began to work my back down..

  

I Finished the first six suites in record time, easily locating the safes( It was not Sabastiens first time here..the eds ) and quickly opening them and scooping out their lovely contents. End result being ¾ of me valise filled. To be honest, it had almost become mechanical and a bit run of the mill at times, but the thrill that drove me( as well as living money) still held strong….So It went quite smoothly, with no interruptions, or hearing any intruding footsteps coming down the tiled hallway floor. The tiles were black and white in a chess board pattern, which made me feel that I was playin a game on chess against and unseen, probably unforgiving, master. It kept me on my toes, never knowing if a vengeful queen would appear to check ( or checkmate) my roguish Pallidum as he pilfered the fair maidens jewellery caskets !

  

My next move was on the seventh Suite. This one was a large double suite at the end of the hallway, across from rooms 8 and 9 across the hall. This room was occupied by a silly lady named( kid you not) Bunny! , and her two pretty younger sisters’. I went across and easily picked opened the locked double doors.

 

This room was a right cornucopia with not one but two bedroom safes!

 

I took the master suite located on the right first. Slipping in I took my torch around for a careful look. A large four poster was off to one side, a vanity was set up next to it, my light catching in its mirror. Holding the light firm, I watched as my shadowy form approached, filling up the mirror. Above the vanity was a pretty picture of a lady in pink lingerie reading a book as she sat in a chair, her evening dress spilling about . This picture was on a hinge, and I moved it, exposing the wall safe hidden behind. Spinning the tumblers I soon cracked it and upon opening its door was rewarded by my torch setting off a display of rather dazzling light from an open jewels case. The small safe was crammed full of other, unopened jewel boxes and cases. Quickly, holding me torch tween my teeth, I quickly opened them and dumped their quite glittery contents into my valise. Then following the same pattern I had been all evening, I closed up the safe, slide back the picture, and making sure nothing else in the room had been disturbed , or missed,by me, quickly walked out.

  

Then I made my way to the second bedroom and slipped through the door. Again I let my torch canvas the room. This time a rather small, but shimmering pinprick of light came from one of the twin beds that lay on either side of a rather large vanity. My torch, following the pinpricks, soon captured a figure laying on the bed. Quickly I turned off me torch and by the moons light streaming through a window watched with held breath, not a peep! , Cautiously I made my way to the bed. It was Khaliesi, one of the sisters ( the prettiest in my book), out stone cold.

I looked at the small table next to her where several bottles lay. I picked up a couple, one was for a cold, the other was a sleeping aid, one I knew to be strong enough to put an elephant down for the count. I turned on my torch and allowed my light cautiously go up and down her silken peach coloured nightgown that outlined her petite figure. It was a diamond bracelet upon her lovely wrist that was sending out the shimmery pinpricks . It was a beauty, worth quite a few quid and I was rather shocked it had not been locked away safe. She also was wearing an emerald ring on her pinkie.

  

Turning away I went up between the beds and slid open the middle ages themed picture above the vanity. Then quiet as a churchmouse I cracked the safe and began opened a second assortment of jewel cases and boxes.

  

This safe was a little smaller, but no less full! I finished up, locked the safe and slid back the picture. Not a peep from the sleeping lady in the bed. I let me torches light go over her again, she looked like a china doll there asleep , her colourful silk kimono making her appear even more doll like! Me light caught the living doll’s bracelet again, and beckoned out to me like some dazzling sireen..

  

For a second my mind travelled back to when me sister and I were children. Sis had been wearing a costume bracelet that shimmered like the sleeping Khaliesi, along with a quite soft long gown our mother had worn as a bridesmaid to out Aunts wedding. I had taken that very bracelet from one of her dolls during play the week before, so I knew its clasp. As sis was talking to her friend ( similarly dressed for “tea”), I ran up to them and told them I had seen a fox with her pups in the hedge. Naturally the both wanted to see it and led them to a hole in the hedge. As both girls were bending down and gawking through, I stood close enough to be able to press a certain arm between me and a silken waist, then undo the clasp the shiny bracelet form the pressed wrist and slip it off without notice….The I went over to our friend, and attempted the same maneuverer on her necklace, but was caught red handed and promptly pummled and tackled in a smothering of silk and satin until I was forced to give up my ill gotten gains!

  

Shaking me head clear of the rather pleasant memory, I focused on the task in hand. There would be no friendly pummelling if I was caught now.

 

I tip toed on over and looked down upon the lovely girl’s Bracelet encircling her wrist. It was a simple enough clasp, box style with a button on the side.. In for a penny ,I thought to meself, and I reached down and ever so gently flicked open the clasp. It lay there shimmering along the brown satin sheets of the bed. I crouched down, and watching the lass’s sleeping face, half covered with her mass of long silken black hair, , slipped away her bracelet off from under her wrist, where it fell into my palm with the whisper of a swish. I watched carful, not so much as a flutter. Then I carefully removed a glove and dipping two fingers in a obligingly placed glass of water, whetted her pinky finger, the lass was out cold, did not stir a bit as I prepared. I Than slowly worked the ring over her wetted knuckle, then simply slipped it off her finger as easy as if she had been a real life doll. Actually, almost like, one of the mannequins I head of being used by some pickpockets to train others…..I hadn’t needed a mannequin with bells, not with an obliging sister close at hand !

 

Rising from her bedside, I backed my way carefully from the room, she had never as much as budged.

  

I made it back into the main room and took a few seconds to catch my breath and take quick inventory. Both safes had been surprisingly full, with enough jewellery and cash that my small satchel was now filled to bursting.

  

I right then and there then decided that I should call it a night, an early placed Checkmate if you will, leaving the last 2 rooms on the opposite side of the hall untouched.

 

Though one of em belonged Beverly and her three daughters, one daughter being Sadie of the nefarious triplets who like tossing horse chestnuts. Their room had been on my not to be missed list, but alas, birds in hand I thought. Though I would have liked to have nicked something of Sadie’s, if only to cause her further grief for the twit’s actions earlier.

 

The last room belonged to the flamingo, the beguiling young lady named Theodora ( call me Teddi, simply everyone does luv) . Teddi was a whimsical long blonde haired, blue eyed lass always ( as I wrote about earlier), dressed in some shade of pink and usually wearing pearls. I had quite liked the lass, so probably would have given her room a miss anyway I consoled meself.

  

Un-donning my mask and placing it in my vest pocket, I placed my knife in its sheath strapped to my right leg, straightened myself nicely up in one of the rooms floor length mirrors, picked up my now weighty black valise, then headed back out to the corridor. Swiftly walking the few paces to the end, I entered the service door, and made way down the corner staircase, and out the side door leading to the back lot.

  

I cut across the green space at the back, keeping in the shadows of the tall bushes that lined it. I stopped on the inside of the exit and looked over the parking lot where I could see my rental was still parked in its corner..

  

As I stopped and looked about for any signs of quick movement, I suddenly heard a girl giggling form quite close by. . I froze, then immediately hiding the weighty valise in a small hedge, cunningly made my way around to the corner. Glad I had stopped!

  

I let my eyes quickly become accustomed to the dark, a trick I had learned when as a lad I had gone into the woods at night searching for the elusive foxfire mushroom! I tiptoed It past the corner looked around a small shrub. There, I saw the girl Miranda talking to Lucius. Both had a clear view of the car park and my car! I grinned to meself, so the silly twit had believed me and approached Lucius I thought, well all the luck to them I thought!

  

I knew that Lucius and Pamela had had plans that evening, so was a bit surprised to see him around that early?

 

I will admit That earlier I had envisioned Lucius being out of the picture and a well jewelled Amanda searching in vain for him around the darkened gardens , perfect for a good jewel lifting bumping into! It had been a nice daydream while going to the station.

 

One that note, Miranda was looking quite rather fetching in a long lime green gown of satin and chiffon, an outfit I had seen her wearing out in earlier that week. . Her accompanying jewels were also the same, glittered smartly as they were bathed in the full cloudless evenings’ harvest moons brite light. It was a rather nice set, emeralds and small diamonds. As well as an expensively complete one, hairs clip, earrings, necklace, brooch, bracelet and ring, the horse being worth far more than the buggy, as my great uncle Thomas was always found of saying..! But wait a minute, Miranda was not wearing the either necklace or the brooch of the set… twas odd I thought at the time, knowing how she liked to flaunt her mother’s pretty jewels about ?

  

I watched the show for a bit, waiting till the quite engrossed couple were distracted enough to permit my unnoticed escape. I decided to chance taking the long way around and approach form the ballroom’s front gardens so that it would not seem unusual for them to see me coming from that area. I had begun to slink back, when the pair did me a favour and moved off towards that very garden. I watched until they had disappeared around the English ivory covered stone entrance. I did not think for a minute that the pair were heading back inside, rather probably going to one of the secluded gazebos to have a bit of unobserved fun…

  

I slipped away, retrieving the valise, I made my way straight into the woods and circled out of sight back to the rental car. I Quietly opened the boot and hide the valise with its purloined contents inside, carefully closing it. locked it up and pulled out me silver pocket watch. Luck had been on me side that evening, no lie, and it had all gone so very smoothly that time was also now on me side. I had well over 3 hours left to make my train. Double checking the autos door locks, I turned and slipped back into the woods to ponder about things a bit.. .

  

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

From my concealment, I looked back at the far wing, eyeballing the lights spilling out from the ballroom’s massive windows unto the green close cut grass.. The faint strands of the orchestra could be heard from inside wafting over the top f the coming mist..

  

I mulled it over a bit, In my chosen line of business, one learned not to shy away from taking risks. I will also admit I was keen on practicing up on my pickpocketing skills. I had been a good boy up till then in regards to any such thievery for fear of upsetting my planned bit of burgling.. but now that that had been accomplished in spades, I felt a simmering desire to make an attempt, but only if the situation was 110% in my favour…. Seeing Miranda all decked out had whetted my appetite for an additional score, and one of the Triplet Doll’s would be a perfect “after meal Hors d'oeuvre”! Miranda was out of the running, But her cohorts Sadie and Jacklyn were probably not!

  

Now to note, even though I had behaved meself for the whole week, opportunities to lift a few rather enticing baubles form unsuspecting lassies had come up on numerous occasions. But during that time, I remained true to my plans. But If I hadn’t, I could almost guarantee that the jewels of one, if not all of the triplets, would have fallen into my plucking grasp. So, that now I decided if I was going to try for a second bird the evening, It would make all the sense in the world to try to make an additional score one of my pet peeves….!

 

I only needed 20 minutes to drive to the train station, so I had plenty of time to re-join the party, for one last look around at the poshly dressed guests, and also to satisfy my rather wide array of curiosities.

 

I skirted back through the woods around the opposite side the Inn from where the happy couple were probably snogging. I stayed in the wood line till I reached the back garden, hidden behind some thick hedges. I knew that there was a break in those hedges behind a pagoda that I could squeeze through. I did so and cutting across the deserted gardens made my way to one of the 3 exits that led back into the ballroom/banquet halls…

  

I entered a door that was next to the restrooms and looked around at the mingling throng of guests, all decked out for the grand event. There were whole families in attendance, ladies and girls in proper gowns and dresses, decorated with all sorts of gems and jewels imaginable. The men and male youths were all dapper in starched evening dress, high collars, many of the men wearing gold pocket watches that dangling from vests, and sporting large family crested signet rings.

  

I made my way through the crowd before I spotted Ms Bunny and entourage. I wanted to find her for two reasons, the first was to make sure she saw me there (after all, what thief is going to chat it up with the person whose room he has just burgled). The second reason was the question I had as to why the safes had seemed too full of jewels. That was answered as I came up to Bunny and her other sister, none of them were wearing any jewellery, other than a small ring or two. Lucky thing for me, rather a pity for Bunny and her sisters…

  

I showed no previous knowledge of where her sister Khaliesi was , playing it nonchalant by asking if she was, dancing with some dark mysterious stranger perhaps… Bunny , twittering at my foolish jestering, admitted Khaliesi had retired upstairs, with a cold, poor dear! That explains it I thought to meself, for I had made sure all the occupants of the rooms I had planned to visit were accounted for, and I knew I had seen Khaliesi’s perky figure swishing about earlier….

  

So my curiosity satisfied, I stayed around for a bit continuing on with my socializing when I noticed someone ( jewels) of interest coming towards me….

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now, while I had been chatted up Bunny, I had been discreetly watching a table that was in a shadowy corner of the dining area. The shadows were caused by the placement of the table under an upstairs walkway that led across the wall of the room. The stairway was used by the service staff to take food up to the guest rooms. Since most of the guests were down here partying, it was not seeing a lot of use this particular evening.

  

But getting back to the table. There were two young ladies, quite well dressed, sitting there. Both were decidedly pouting. They were none other than the other 2 thirds of the triplets ,I had been seeking. Sadie and Jacklyn! It took no genius to guess what they were sulking on about, Miranda being absent, and in their vapid minds, still probably snogging Pamela’s prodigy Lucius!

  

I had been keeping them under eye, admiring their quite flickering jewels, positioning meself so that they stayed in my view. I was duly rewarded when Sadie pulled away and began walking with purpose across the room. Most of the tables were deserted, supper being over, most of the guests being on the dance floor, smoking room, or drinking heavily at the rather extensive bar on the opposite side of the ballroom. There were a few groups of ladies talking amongst themselves in the dining area, but all had their backs on the sulking girls. So Sadie leaving was not observed by anyone other than me!

  

I offered my sad my goodbyes To Miss Bunny, kissing her shiny gloved hand and whimsically wandered off, falling in line a discreet few paces behind young Sadie, who was walking with her usual swishing strut, nose high in the air.

 

Now Sadie had proudly preened herself in a rather fetchin silvery dress with puffed sleeves, that flowed with an elegant slickness along her petite figure. Sadie wore only three pieces of jewellery. One being a long gold braided chain with diamonded pendent in the shape of a rose, with deep blue sapphires for petals, the second was a brite Sapphire ring with diamond chips.

 

But it twas her third item of jewellery that dazzled above its companions! A pair of long diamond and sapphire earrings that shimmered and sparkled like African wild fires as she walked with her snooty noise held high with arrogance. The jewels were probably were her mothers, or an older sisters, and I was surprised that she wasn’t better watched whilst wearing such expensive baubles about.

  

My curiosity whetted, I was being speculative about where she was heading off to, weaving in and out of the mingling crowd, unescorted by any adult, advantageously unattended by her “clowder” of fellow fiends namely Miranda and Jackelyn!

  

I saw her stop by the door wherein I had gained entrance. I backed off and went to an opposite corner. She had stopped and was looking out looking out to the deserted (still I hoped) garden. So she did probably know about Miranda, and hence the reason for the sulkiness. But no, She skipped away and headed towards the ladies powder chamber. So I now pondered, should I wait to see until she came back through, or chance it that she was going to come out into the gardens? I didn’t want to make the wrong decision by hesitation too long .. There was a reason for this…

  

As I have stated previously, I had forced meself to be on best behaviour the entire week while plotting my nocturnal visits to the selected damsels inviting safes/lockboxes on Friday evening. So much so that even though opportunities were constantly waved beneath my nose, I had tried not to allow even so much as an attempt at any well decked out Ladies pretty baubles for the better part of a week. . Which was not easy, especially if I felt the opportunity presented would have been a way at teaching some snotty young lady a rather surreptitious lesson, even for my benefit only. Then it happened, on Thursday.

  

One of those opportunities had presented itself in a rather unexpected way. It concerned Miss Sadie, who on that delightfully enchanted evening’s party, had given me a bit to fantasize on. Sadie was scampering about in a ridiculously pretty long satin number that spilled and flowed swishing in an all too naughty fashion for one so young and naive. She was also wearing the even more ridiculously expensive Necklace and Earrings, bouncing gaily to and fro, that she was wearing again this very evening.

  

But I had been good, and had taken leave and was heading to bed when I started chatting it up with the pretty female desk clerk. Out of the corner of me eye, I caught sight of young Sadie scurrying through the lobby towards the rickety old elevator that led to the upper floors suites. I hesitated mulling it over, then the devil on my right shoulder made much more sense than the rather harried angel perched on the other. I made it just as the door closed in to my face. I watched as the ancient machined groaned and jostled its way up. Ahh it would have been all so very easy, but I convinced myself it was all for the better.

  

And now, right here, I was being given a rare second opportunity to …….. well you know!

  

So I made my gamble, and moved along the wall, reaching the outside door I propped it open an inviting( I hoped) crack ,then headed outside and took a position in the shadows of an advantageous and welcomed hedge wall. I figured that she would after all try coming into the garden to snoop up on Miranda. So I wanted to be ready to seize upon that little bit of opportunity if it presented itself..If not, than I was just all the closer to my exit anyway!.

 

So now I cunningly waited, ready to take full advantage of whatever situation decided to present its lucrative self.

 

My intentions were to do a bit of falling in step, slipping up against, and execute a bump like move in order to pickpocket a bit of this ones jewels, especially a try at her fancy necklace

.

 

Now I harboured no doubts that the Sadie’s earrings possibly would be out of reach, but her pretty ring and necklace would not be so elusive and was worth a tidy enough sum to whet my appetite to the point of taking the risk.

  

Now there are several ways to relieve a lady of her ring or necklace! I have at times given employment to a majority of them. So, with me thoughts training on which method to use, I waited, still hidden in the shadows, in eager anticipation. For the hunt was now very much on!

  

Then I saw a petitely lithe shadow by the door and sure enough, Sadie had come peeking around the corner and flutters down the path towards the hedge where I awaited with eager anticipation. I could see her flickering jewels sparkling with pinpricks of fire, as they were swinging against her figure whilst she made her way down the path towards me lair, and the trap I had set!

  

I smelled her perfume before I saw her… another chess piece was on the scene… Pamela!

  

Her shadow loomed behind the girl, she had swiftly came from the same exit as both Sadie and I.

 

It was most definitely Pamela ( or Pam Pam as Lucius was apt to call her) … She must have seen the naughty girl sneak out of the party and come to collect her back inside. I moved deeper inside the hedge, cursing me luck as I watched through a crack. And what I was witness too made me freeze in place. For this evening I was not the only scoundrel out seizing an opportunities.

  

Pamela, it should be noted, was purposefully dressed up in a pretty gown of slippery green taffeta, quite simply stunning on her. Her only jewellery was a pair of long earrings, swinging provocatively down to and almost touching her semi bared shoulders.

  

As I watched she approached, unnoticed, right up behind the girl, catching Sadie just before she had reached my hidey hole. She tapped Sadie on her satin clad shoulder, catching her startled attention with a hug of apology. She excitedly asked Sadie what she was ever up too this evening, outside all alone? She was seemingly surprised that Sadie was not with Jacklyn? Sadie just told her that Jacklyn was back inside, and that, she(Sadie) was old enough to be on her own. Of course you are me dear, were the approving words given, and Valentine gave Sadie a second hug to show no worries.

  

Within the course of the conversation, just 5 short minutes, Pamela admired Sadie’s slick silvery dress, her silken blonde hair which she playfully lifted up over the child’s head and let it flow down again in a silken mass. Then she had held Sadie’s hands as she cooed to the girl over how pretty Sadie was looking that evening. It was being laid on all too rather thick for my tastes I was thinking as I watched the show. Sadie had giggled as Pamela had touched her (Sadie’s) wrist, and with a ticklish touch, had let her fingers brush along the girl’s sides, doubling Sadie over giggling. Pamela laughed right along with he. Sadie was eating it all right up, blushing red at all of Pamela’s flattering words and the pleasant touch of her long, quite nimble fingers.

  

Pamela then told the girl to better shoo on about her business. I could see the relief in Sadie’s eyes that an adult had not scolded her for being out on her own, and had instead treated her like a real grown up girl! She turned skipping merrily towards my hiding spot. I shrunk back into the shadows, watching from a crack. Sadie came past, her shiny dress fluttering as she still was skipping happily on her own secret mission.

  

I then looked back at Pamela. She was still standing there, watching Sadie with a rather interesting smirk playing along her ruby red lips. After a long few seconds Pamela briskly turned and headed purposefully back inside, again using the very door that both Sadie and I had used to come into the garden.

  

I watched her disappear inside, my mind reeling over what had just transpired between Pamela and poor unwary Sadie.

 

I had watched, captivated and captured, the whole affair with awed astonishment...

 

Now, of course I have met several male pickpockets, including the one who had mentored me. But never given much thought that there would be any female ones, until now. For as I had watched in amazement as in a much quicker fashion, and using much more honed methods, than ever I would manged to accomplish. Pamela had first lifted and slipped Sadie’s sparkly pendent and gold braided chain effortlessly away from the poor thing not!). Then, focusing on Sadie’s hand, she had greedily, ever so gently caressed ,Sadie’s fingers while slipping off the enticing sapphire and diamond ring from her pinkie finger with an almost effortless simplicity of ease. Thus only Leaving Sadie’s dangling earrings, expensively and beckoningly, last on her list!. Pamela had then, with great finesse, managed to pluck the pretty sparklers off from delicate earlobes, one by one, as the pair of ladies had giggling away, their fore heads touching in a conspiracy like manner.

  

Mulling over the entire bit of Pamela’s’ inspiring achievement, I gave some careful thought to the situation as it now existed, whilst I waited for the coast to clear.

  

Now, I had learned earlier through idle gossip, that that the function Pamela and her “son” Lucius had been attending was rather posh, fancy dress bit of a wedding. It was taking place, or had been, at the big cathedrals ballroom in Cambridge. I figured that Her “son” Lucius, if indeed the handsome youth was her son atoll, ( I had wondered what the Pam Pam bit was all on about!) must be the spotter, giving Pamela information on the jewels of the girls he had met and probably danced and cajoled with.

  

Pamela, tipped off ahead of time, must then have moved in and worked her talents, magically making the chosen victims jewels mysteriously disappear. I wondered how many times the team struck gold (diamonds?) tempting fate before wisely knowing when to vanish before the wealthy guests finally figured something was not on the up an up due to the fact that their jewels were vanishing at an alarming rate?

  

Quite a charmingly practiced team indeed. I found meself wondering how much they had gotten away with ?, And now they had come back here , playing their tricks, putting a nice bit of shimmering icing on their already jewel gem encrusted cake!

 

(While doing research on the Journal, an undergrad was able to match up some of the incidents Sabastien described , including the ones that occurred at the Riverside, to police reports of unsolved thefts during the same time frame! Since it is highly unlikely that any arrest could be made( even if the suspects are still alive) by solely using the journals’ entries, said cases will most likely remain unsolved. Though in some a footnote has been made in the official files. the eds…)

  

I looked at the door leading back into the ball room. The one Pamela had just used a minute or so ago. I wondered if she had a purpose in mind, another well adorned victim, previously preselected and carefully observed. A vision of Jacklyn suddenly popped into me head. The last of the three. If that was where Pamela was heading, I knew of a shortcut to the dining area!

  

Now I was determined to beat Pamela at her own game….. go to play out a gambit. For there was yet one of the trio still in play, the fair damsel Jackelyn! I rose and went up the path, my mind traveling inside to her, as she had sat alone at the table after Sadie had passed me.

  

My vision went to her, imagining that she was still put, sitting alone at her table, wallowing in her self-induced misery….Jackie was wearing a soft gown of long purple silk that fell fluttering in layers from her shoulders down to her high heeled lavender painted toes.. Each layer was adorned with long fringed threads that swayed every time she moved. Her jewels were far pricier than Sadie’s, all genuine sapphires ringed with small diamond chips. They had consisting of a dainty jewelled necklace ,small dangling earrings, brooch on one shoulder and matching bracelets and rings, one on each wrist and hand.

  

A thought played out that I should not take any risks, bird in hand and all of that usual bit. But I felt an overwhelming urge to take something sparkling from at least one of the triplets, and to silently beat Pamela. For now I was sure that Pamela had Jacklyn in her heinous sights!

 

Or I could just leave right then and there, but where would the fun in that be! I ask of thee?

  

So, on a lark, I headed to the third entrance off the garden. A secluded door stuck in a corner that led to an upstairs corridor that looked down over the banquet hall. The hall below containing the tables where I had seen Jacklyn and Sadie brooding sulkily earlier. It would get me there far quicker than it should reasonably take Valentina who had to travel across the crowded ballroom before reaching the area.

  

Reaching the door , I waited a few precious seconds before slipping inside. I made my way up the stairs and into the seldom used , quite deserted corridor. I made my way, hugging the wall and staying in the shadows. The banquet hall came into a birds eyed view. I looked down and saw a flicker of a rich purple Silken gown at one of the tables. Jacklyn was still there, and she was alone, none of the other tables were occupied, everyone appeared to be on the dance floor, except for a small group with their backs to the dining area as they huddled by a roaring fire in the large stone hearth.

  

All I had to do was go down the back staircase, and walk up behind Jacklyn and make my move. It was a perfect set up, or would have been. For as I studied Jacklyn, while making my way to the stairway, I could not make out any sparkling signs of her expensive sapphires. which was odd, for they had ever so sparkled, winking vexingly at me as I was talking to Bunny.

  

I Made my way down stairs to the banquet hall floor, and started to stalk ever so carefully towards the unsuspecting Jackelyn. Soon I got close enough, without being spotted, to verify the reason I couldn’t see her sapphires sparkling, she was no longer wearing any of them.. She had been plucked as clean as her partner in crime, Sadie!

 

So once again, I was too be denied! But by whom? Was there yet another? A third pickpocket working the area stripping these unwary dolls of their precious baubles? Lucius perhaps?

  

I stopped in step and looked around.

  

Soon I saw her. So she had either beaten me to it, or had already visited the poor doll after I had left to follow Sadie!! Either way, she had made rather quick of it I thought , looking back at the totally unawares Jacklyn…

  

Pamela was back in the area, and had joined in with the group of four exceptionally well dressed ladies standing by the Hearth. As I watched one was hugging everyone good night, I observed her as she walked off… She was wearing a rather provocative long ruffled dress of ivory lace and satin. Her ears, wrist and fingers were home to a matching set of blood red rubies and diamonded jewellery. She was wearing no necklace, which I found conspicuous, and as I looked back towards the remainder of the group, I wondered what else, aside from Sadie and Jacklyn’s jewels, dear Pamela had buried deep inside some unseen pockets!?

  

Pamela stood amongst them as the rather shimmering decked out group prattled on. She currently had her hand on the gloved elbow of a lady in a long teal satin frock. Diamond rhinestone chains were hanging down from the ladies bobbed haired head, and a rather nice set of dazzling diamonds sparkling along the rest of her well-endowed figure, tightly outlined by her cocoon of shiny teal.

  

I looked back at Jacklyn, she had a foxy gleam in her eyes, and was happily singing to herself, obviously making plans. She was watching out towards the dance floor, oblivious to anything different. As I watched I saw her stand and move off towards the dance floor, perhaps looking for the erstwhile Sadie and Miranda?

  

I looked back to Pamela, she was already briskly moving off, her eyes on the wandering Jacklyn. I looked back at the well-dressed group she was leaving. Immediately I saw that a diamond bracelet was gone ,that quick and easy, from the lady in green teals wrist. The same arm Valentina had been so chummily holding… and I couldn’t quite put a finger as to why, but there was another member of that group wearing a brown satin gown that appeared familiar. And I had the distinct impression that there was a rather pretty diamond brooch that should have been hanging down like a glittering waterfall, from the front of that very same shiny brown gown!

   

Bollocks, I swore silently to meself , right there and then deciding to concede my intriguingly private game to the quite skilful Pamela and leave forthwith. For with a hefty satchel brimming with these wealthy guests purloined jewels in hand, it really was quite silly to keep trying riske it all on a silly parlour game of trying to outwit a fellow jewel thief! Turning sharply, I regained the stairs and again keeping against the shadows of the wall, followed the corridor to the outside exit, pausing up at the top of the stairs to see if I was being observed. I was not!

  

But my mood was anything but dark due to my missed opportunities. For I had still made quite a nice hull that evening, far more than Pamela had made from what she had taken from the triplets, and speaking of the triplets ; it twas Quite a delight to see the three of em receive their comeuppance, even if it was not done by my hand.

  

I went outside and entered the garden looked quickly around. No one was in sight. I darted behind a fountain, and watching the exit doors from the building, and the exit from the hedge for newcomers. With the coast seemingly clear, I slowly meandered my way down the path to the exit from the garden. The exit was in the form of a rather fancy wood trellis with red climbing moss roses set in the hedge. As I walked I heard voices, and looking back I saw all three of the triplets by a corner gazebo, talking with Lucius.

  

I could see nothing sparkly from anywhere on any the poor lassies figures. And apparently none of the three twits had noticed they had been royally stripped down to their pretty frocks either. What a shame I said, sarcastically, to meself, feeling not a bit of pitying empathy…And I was sure that Lucius was not going to enlighten the wretched young ladies’ as to the situation either!

  

Gaining the exit I waltzed me way out . I I then, with my back to the hedge , skirted the woods and made it back to the car, unseen as far as I could know, and hope.

  

Checking the boot to make sure I hadn’t been burgled (that would have been a laugh, not!), I started the engine and drove a nice leisurely pace back to the station. I only passed two other cars, so the road was my own so I travelled with comfort and ease, and made it to the train station without incident.

  

I gained my seat with 35 minutes to spare..

Figuring I would be the last on, I snuggled down and prepared to sleep the hours till the next stop (Chelsea which was about 2 hours away where I would meet up with my luggage, having the clerk telegraph ahead to have it taken off for me)

  

The train blew a last call whistle at 5 minutes to leaving. Suddenly there was a bustle of activity as two passengers scurried on. Cutting it close I thought.

  

Sure enough they were, and it turned out to be none other than Pamela and Lucius. Lucius was attentively carrying a large carpetbag, and I was pretty sure I knew some of its contents. Neither had changed costume, so they must have had a car loaded and ready for a quick exit.

 

They breezed past me without a glance and disappeared into the back bowels of the train.

  

I pulled me hat down over the eyes and pretended to be asleep , dozing for a quick kip as it were , while they passed by…

No need to chance uneasy recognition.

 

My mind, far from sleeping, now started to whirl with all sorts of thoughts upon the new development in me plans! Just as the train was pulling out at midnight I was pondering over those two, and the shiny contents of a certain carpet bag.

 

Now the express only stopped at larger cities, a total of 5 more stops on the route before that last at Surrey..

  

As I had said Chelsea was the next stop, and if Pamela and luscious did not depart the train with me at that stop, the next one was 4 hours away in Hampshire, which had a rather respectable police presence, no less than 2 chief detective inspectors

 

So I thought to meself, If the pair were to stay on the train, and the Hampshire constabulary were to receive an anonymous wire about what the contents of a certain carpet bag has to do with some nefarious activities occurring at Riverside Inn, Cambridge earlier that evening. And if the triplets jewels were returned, than it would mean that they were back in play for me to follow them home and try to steal the pretties for meself at a later date! It was a rather warming thought indeed!

 

Or, I additionally reasoned, I could give honour to the supposed thieves code and keep me tongue?

But than, I ask of ye, where would the fun be in that?

  

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Editors Note:

The journal has been ended at this point deliberately to maintain an element of mystery to the tellin.

However, without giving too much away.

We can reveal that there was at least a third visit that Sabastien made to the Riverside some years later, possibly this is when the trunk was left behind unclaimed.

During this visit he once again met up with one of the triplets, a bit older, a bit more posh, and a bit more of a bratty glib . She was also adorned with far more enticing baubles….. So it was no great deliberation on Sabastian’s part to come away from that rather unexpected reunion with a nice bit of added acquisitions. He accomplished this feat in ( his words) a rare trifecta; Burgling, lifting(pickpocketing), and stealing jewels from the same female victim in a 24 hour period!

 

And that is where the fun in that would be!

 

La città di Venezia è stata per più di un millennio capitale della Repubblica di Venezia e conosciuta a questo riguardo come "la Serenissima", la Dominante e "la Regina dell'Adriatico". Questi appellativi erano opposti a "la Superba" o "la Dominante dei Mari", riferiti alla repubblica marinara di Genova, principale concorrente e avversaria di Venezia.

 

Per le peculiarità urbanistiche e per l'inestimabile patrimonio artistico, Venezia è universalmente considerata una tra le più belle città del mondo ed è annoverata, assieme alla sua laguna, tra i patrimoni dell'umanità[8] tutelati dall'UNESCO: questo fattore ha contribuito a farne la seconda città italiana dopo Roma con il più alto flusso turistico[9], in gran parte dall'estero.

 

Il territorio comunale si estende su buona parte della Laguna di Venezia ma anche sulla terraferma circostante, comprendendo la vasta area metropolitana che ha per centro Mestre.

 

-----------------------

Veneza é uma cidade e comuna italiana da região do Vêneto, província de Veneza no nordeste de Itália. Tem cerca de 271 009 habitantes e é conhecida pela sua história, canais, museus e monumentos. A comuna de Veneza estende-se por uma área de 412 km², incluindo as ilhas de Murano, Burano e outras na lagoa de Veneza, tendo uma densidade populacional de 646 hab/km². Faz fronteira com Campagna Lupia, Cavallino-Treporti, Chioggia, Jesolo, Marcon, Martellago, Mira, Mogliano Veneto (TV), Musile di Piave, Quarto d'Altino, Scorzè, Spinea. A parte de Veneza em terra firme é a fracção comunal de Mestre.

 

A cidade foi formada num arquipélago da laguna de Veneza, no golfo de Veneza, no noroeste do mar Adriático. Tornou-se uma potência comercial a partir do século X, no qual sua frota já era uma das maiores da Europa. Foi uma das cidades mais importantes da Europa, com uma história rica e complexa e um império de influência mundial comandado pelos doges, os líderes da cidade. Como cidade comercial, tinha várias feitorias e controlava várias rotas comerciais no Levante. Eram suas feitorias cidades como Negroponto e Dyrrhachium (atual Durrës), assim como ilhas inteiras: Creta, Rodes, Cefalônia e Zante, por exemplo. O historiador Fernand Braudel classificou-a como a primeira capital econômica do Capitalismo.

 

O patrono da cidade é São Marcos (festa em 25 de abril). A festa do povo do Véneto é celebrada em 25 de março, data da fundação da cidade.

 

É classificada como Património da Humanidade pela UNESCO. Dos muitos monumentos e locais turísticos existentes, destacam-se a imponente Basílica de São Marcos, na adjacente Praça de São Marcos, a famosa Ponte de Rialto sobre o Grande Canal, construída em 1588 segundo projeto de Antonio da Ponte, a Ca' d'Oro e numerosas igrejas e museus.

 

Veneza é ainda famosa pelos seus certames internacionais, como o Festival de Cinema e a Bienal de Artes, pela Regata Histórica, que ocorre no primeiro domingo de setembro, pelo fabrico de vidro, pelo Carnaval de Veneza, pelos casinos e pelos seus passeios românticos, levando muitos casais a passarem suas luas-de-mel.

 

Nesta cidade nasceram os Papas Gregório XII, Eugênio IV, Paulo II, Alexandre VIII, Clemente XIII e Pio X, além de numerosos artistas e arquitectos como Antonio Vivarini (1440-1480), Antonio da Ponte (1512-1595), Tintoretto (1518-1594) e Canaletto (1697-1768). No campo da música, foi aqui que nasceu e viveu Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741).

 

---------------------

Venice is a city in northern Italy known both for tourism and for industry, and is the capital of the region Veneto, with a population of about 272,000 (census estimate 1 January 2004). Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area (population 1,600,000).

 

The name is derived from the ancient tribe of Veneti that inhabited the region in Roman times.[1][2] The city historically was the capital of an independent city-state. Venice has been known as the "La Dominante", "Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". Luigi Barzini, writing in The New York Times, described it as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man".[3] Venice has also been described by the Times Online as being one of Europe's most romantic cities.[4]

 

The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers. The population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole Comune of Venezia; around 60,000[5] in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico); 176,000 in Terraferma (the Mainland), mostly in the large frazioni of Mestre and Marghera; and 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon.

 

The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain and spice trade) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history.[6] It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the Renaissance period. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.

Staghurst Noir

Just Desserts

A Prologue… of sorts:

Dickenson, Poe, Doyle and a bevy of other Victorian era Authors like to play on the stigma that the wealthy are often times arrogant, rude and for the most part, out of touch with the realities faced by most of us. Thus the wealthy were often portrayed in their tales with a quite stunningly bad light as their capers were recorded.

 

It has been mostly said they did this because their readers,( mostly poorer , common laborers) liked to hear of the wealthy’s misfortunes because it made them feel better about their own standing in life.

 

But, truth be told, most of the Victorian era tragedies of the wealthy were not entirely fiction. Because the antics of the very wealthy of those long ago periods could be both at times, incredibly rude, and often quite unbelievable, with more than enough fodder for untold series of tales.

 

The following tale, set sometime in the early to mid 1900’s, is not quite Victorian. Nor does it reflect on all wealthy personages, most of whom we are quite sure treat their poorer fellow beings in anything but a civilized and caring manner, both with respect and dignity of the upmost caliber!

 

But there are always exceptions; and this tale, being one of them, is certainly a peek in the window, a brief study if you will, of the how some of those well-born’s are capable of their own calibre of villainy…..

 

The tale told below is pretty much based on fact, skeletons dragged from a long shut closet.

The names, places and era have been clouded, so please do not associate these events with any known personages, living or recently deceased.

 

We could not have made a story like this up, and have actually toned down the more brutal of its aspects.

We do ask that anyone who has a quite sensitive nature, please not read on any further. For those of you who do choose to read on, please prepare yourself for some rather rude pleasantries ……

 

So here goes it…….

 

Staghurst Noir

Acte 1: Impetuous

 

It sits broodingly upon the hill it commands.

The large manor house named Staghurst, a giant gothic structure with an imposing view of the moors that are spread out below the valley over which it regally presides. Its many stone turrets are as much foreboding and sinister looking as the great Manors’ current mistress, a lady known for her abominable temper and incredibly violent short fuse.

To match the mood of this tale of woe, it should start out on a gloomy, fog-filled day, as the weather quite commonly is on the moors.

But as it happens, our tale starts on one of those rare, pleasant, cheery sun filled afternoons.

Our first Acte opens inside Staghurst, up in the North tower.

 

A pretty mid-teens woman wearing a prim starched black uniform with a frilly white apron, her long hair held up under a regulation white cap, is making her way up the long curved double wide mahogany stairway to the Master and Mistress’s Master Bedrooms, with its adjoining sitting room. She is carefully carrying a freshly laundered, rather gorgeous, purple satin gown, still warm from the iron. On the servant’s face is an expression of deep dread.

 

As the downstairs servant ( Fanny) finally reached the second landing, she stops to catch her breath, and her wits, before entering the open double doors of the Lord and Mistress’s sitting room. Now, in other great houses, some servants would refer to their employers as His Lord, and Her Ladyship, but not the servants of Staghurst, where there is little sign of respect or reverence. Those feelings are unknown, erased away by fear and intimidation.

 

Fanny cautiously opens the door and feels relief wash over her. She was supposed to have had the gown in the sitting room 20 minutes ago. So she is relieved to see that neither of em, Lord or Mistress, are present. Which means to her that she has escaped a flogging this time, and also it means she can begin spewing immediately the gossip news from downstairs that’s “ bin welling up inside her”.

 

A young teen servant, Maggie, wearing the same uniform as Fanny, is seated at the large vanity across the room, her back to the door. As the door opens, she had flinched, then looking up, is thankful to see reflected in the mirror that it is Fanny entering. Maggie turns away from the oak side board where she had been diligently cleaning an extensive, glittering array, of fine jewelry, and admonishes Fanny. Look here girl, if the Mistress, , had been her to see you bringing the laundry up late again… She doesn’t finish her sentence, watching as Fanny places a hand to her back( and the freshly scarred tissue that lies there underneath her uniform), both know what the outcome would have been for not doing a proper job of their duties.

 

Careful Maggie, Fanny warns, that’s what I wanted to tell you, she whispers quickly as she lays out the gown most carefully out over a fainting sofa, lest she causes a wrinkle in the delicately expensive fabric. Fanny addressed the upstairs maid Maggie by her name, something she would not have been permitted to do if the mistress had been there hovering. Fanny continues on, catching her breath before spilling it all out to Maggie:

 

The Mistress is in in a fouler mood than usual, Fanny states, watching with question as Maggie flinches. This morning her horse stepped on her heel and both the poor beast and Lord Edmunds’ stable boy, Tim, who had been holding the horse, received a most thorough thrashing from her crop.

 

Maggie flinched, she was sweet on Tim, but the Ladyship frowned upon such nonsense between servants, so it was a secret to most.

 

“Then at lunch, at lunch Fanny continues, Mistress threw a banger at cook because it wasn’t to her liken, an don’t even ask me to repeat what she said to the Masters butler when he tried standing up for cook”, she catches her breath, “why I’ll be going to confession for just hearing them!. Fanny watched as Molly’s eyes started to brim over with tears, not understanding fully why.

 

Better get yer self-going Fanny, Maggie Warned, don’t let Mistress catch ye up here! Fanny quieted her tongue, but not before one last warning; Make sure the ladyships jewels are cleaned perfectly to er liken, you know how she likes to flaunt, especially at this evenings ball for the Dowager.

 

Maggie watched as her fellow servant left to the room, then sighed deeply, wiping her eyes dry, before she resumes her work.

 

Maggie felt bad for poor Tim, like as not, the Mistress had pulled too hard on the horse’s bridal, causing it pain, making it stamp its hoof. But then all things said, she knew how poor Tim felt. Maggie placed a hand to the welt on her check. She had received it this morning when the Mistress back handedly slapped her servant when the tortoise shell comb Maggie was using on The Mistress’s hair, caught a knot, Pullin it. She looks up at the closing door, shuddering as she awaits for her employer to return.

 

Closing the door behind her, Fanny starts to bustled her way back to work in the kitchen, taking the backstairs, it would not do well for her be seen upstairs by the Mistress as she was coming up to prepare for her evening out at the Ball.

 

But Fanny was not quite quick enough, as she made her way from the sitting room doorway. She fails to hear her employers muffled footsteps reaching the carpeted landing of the main stairs. The Mistress and The Lordship turned the corner, and like a mouse caught stealing cheese, Fanny froze in her tracks, as they spot her.

 

Here now, whatcha you doing you little tramp, The Mistress screeches, and pounces like a hissing cat upon the mousy Fanny ( for the record, house cats avoid living in the manor, yet there is little evidence of mice being around either, an enigma that has not gone unnoticed by the household servants.) Wasting yer time gossiping are you! and The Mistress raises a hand and strikes Fanny across the face. The sound of flesh upon flesh echo’s down the back stairwell. As she is struck, Fanny turns away, and the Mistress kicks the poor servant with the pointed toe of a riding boot, causing the servant to lose her footing. Get out of my sight, The Mistress yells, as Fanny tumbles helplessly down the uncarpeted wood stairs like some lifeless rag doll

 

Without even looking to see how hurt the servant is, the Mistress resumes her conversation with her husband Edmund, The Lordship, as they enter the sitting room. You there! The Mistress yells at Maggie, what have I told you about talking to the downstairs servants instead of doing your work. Keep it up missy, and you will have more of the same punishment that I gave you a taste of this morning. Now draw my bath, The Mistress gave a smart swat on the back of the servants head, as Maggie rose and tried to scurry past.

******

Watch for Act 2 Vile

************************************************************************************

 

From Scoundrel Journal

A rare vintage

Black and White

Posted 11/27/2013

29 groups at this point, a number out for acceptance

******************************************************************************

Title:

Society’s Shrew

******************************************************************************

The study below was uncovered through research for the following Doctorial dissertation:

Light to the shadows of their mind:

Criminal tactics and strategies

Criminology Department Dept.

Chatwick University

 

Case Study 14 :

Name: Seth circa 192…

Subject: A rather unprincipled & deviously unscrupulous scoundrel

 

From Seth’s Journal:

Headed as:

Societies Shrew

October 11, 192

It is truly amazing what people will talk about on a train. And I could not say the number of times I had collected a tidy sum by just keeping my ears open to such talk. The following remarkable account centered on a couple named Caboyt is my case in point.

  

I was traveling between cities, after finishing a weeks’ worth of “business”, successfully making a handsome “little” profit on the jewels I collected from several unsuspecting wealthy women.

  

I had spotted a young couple sitting alone at small table in the dining car. Taking a seat in the nearby bar I had taken the opportunity to observe them. They were newlyweds. I could tell by the way they had acted, and by the shiny new gold rings they sported. She was a very attractive long haired brunette, wearing a long flowing skirt and a high-necked satiny blouse with long sleeves. He was wearing a fitted suit, and by his expression, was ignorant of anything else but his bride’s existence. I too noticed her existence. Especially the existence of the solid gold necklace set with tiny rubies and diamonds she wearing, loosely hanging down from around her throat. When she talked, her hands made little motions, and it was a pleasure to watch her rings sparkle from fingers as she did so. When they left the dining car I stayed at the bar, quickly forgetting about the pair. I enjoyed a few drinks while anticipating the new opportunities that should be plentiful at my next stop.

  

Late that evening the newlyweds were abruptly placed back into my thoughts. As I made my way back to my car I saw them in their seats, sleeping soundly. Her head was on his shoulders, an arm curled around him. The head of her husband was back on the seat snoring. I noticed her necklace hanging provokingly down, flickering in the passing lights that lit up the car in ten second intervals. The back two rows of seats were vacant, so I slipped into the seat directly behind them. I slowly moved my fingers up behind her seat, dipping down I felt through her ultra-soft hair until my fingers felt the cold hardness of her necklace. I could feel the slippery sleekness of her blouse, and I will admit I did perk up in doing so. Ever so slowly I pulled it out, exposing its gold chain. Then I slipped it around, silently thanking her for the slickness of the high necked pretty blouse that made my attempt so easy. Finally I expose the clasp, and leaving it hanging sat back for a minute to let them settle. I watched it there, as the flicking lights lit it up, my hunger increasing in a prickling sensation I knew and loved so well, the thrill of the hunt. When I could contain myself no longer I reached up again and undid the clasp, then I began the delicate operation of slipping it from her throat. It took almost fifteen exhilarating minutes as I worked it free, exposing it’s; length over the seat ever longer. Then it came loose, and with a swish curled up into my palm. As the last of it slipped away my victim stirred a little, sighing in her sleep, she cuddled in even more. I waited a few more minutes, all was calm around me.

  

I eyed the sleeping couple. Following her arm that lay around her husband’s shoulder I could see her hand. A glittery ruby ring sparkled merrily in the passing lights. The ring was definitely not as valuable as the necklace in hand, but the allure of acquiring it overwhelmed me. Now slipping a ring from a ladies finger is of course, no great trick. If she happens to be sleeping soundly, like this one, its rather as easy as taking it from a baby.

******************

(Which for the record I have never done, preferring my victims to be of a mature age. A mantra from which I have only strayed from once, for every rule commands an exception!

 

The exception for this rule was a matching set of sparklers; dangling cascading earrings, wide “lace” style necklace, bracelet and a brace of rings, all of it small and dainty, all of it quality diamond ,and best of all, invitingly obtainable.

 

Because the young miss laden down with those petite diamonds was all of fourteen years of age. And, as for the glossy taffeta gown that clung charmingly to her girlish figure? It cried out to even the most novice of us pickpockets to use its sleekness to execute a nimble “slip up and flick” maneuver to relieve this little squirming princess of some piece of her jewelry.

 

It had definitely been worth the Crown I had expended to the well-dressed young lad with a solid gold pocket watch hanging from his vest, to spend at the penny arcade, located in the bazaar across the street…. It successfully lured him temporarily away from the richly attired kid sister wearing the diamonds in question. He had been keeping an eye over her, a job for which I could tell he had been grudgingly delegated with, and which he happily abandoned; leaving the diamond laden impish young sister vulnerably exposed to the harsher realities of life.

 

I used the procured opening to cross the young sister’s path and with a perfectly timed ploy caught her in mid stride, the fingers of my right hand grabbing her by the gown’s sleek midriff causing her to totter over my arm. The fingers of my left moved in at the same moment.

 

The gown had indeed tingled quite pleasantly underneath my left hands fingers as they glided up along her taffeta slick back to lift up and break open the clasp of the silver chain, from which hung the dangling diamonds dripping down along her gown’s full neckline; As I gently plucked and straighten her gown with my right hand, my Left hand delicately began to pull away the necklace. I asked the young miss her where she was off to in such a hurry. She told me, in quick nervous breaths, that she was looking for her brother. As I listened intently, my left hand tugged, then slipped free her necklace, spiriting it away from her heaving chest with a muted swish. I watched it disappear, flickering its protest, as I held its pretty mistress’s attention. I pocketed it as she followed my pointing finger to the bazaar across the street where I explained her brother had gone.

 

I watched as she happily scurried away from me, blissfully naive that her necklace no longer was merrily bouncing along her chest as she moved. It was just then a rather full bosomed lady passed me by, nose in the air, a ruby brooch precariously perched in the cleavage of her low cut rustling gown. I followed, my mind calculating the risk.

 

***************************

 

As the train gently rocked back and forth I kept my eyes focused on the sleeping woman’s ring, first I licked my lips, then my fingers. Reaching up I gently slipped my fingers along hers, moistening them. Then I felt for her ring, and slightly lifter her finger, carefully worked the jewel off by rocking it back and forth between my fingertips. Once I had it over her knuckle, I stopped to catch my breath and look around, all was still quiet. I easily pulled it off the rest of the way, than lay back and closed my eyes. Soon both of them were snoring regularly. I than arose, stowing away the necklace securely, and walked silently amongst the other sleeping passengers. Unnoticed by anyone, I regained my car, took my seat, and laying back I closed my eyes, and happy with myself, fell into a deep sleep.

   

October 12, 192

 

The next morning I awoke to a bright sunrise, refreshed and satisfied with the previous evening’s effort. I now settled back comfortably and watched the scenery. There appeared to be no noticeable commotion at my end of the train over my nighttime activities. But it is the reason I stayed glued to my seat for the rest of my journey, and the reason I would make a rather informal acquaintance with Sophia and Arthur Caboyt.

  

The seat in front of me was occupied by a priest traveling with his rather ancient mother. Nothing that they were discussing had captured my interest the day before. The priest was spending the morning reading his bible, his mother snoozing, so it appeared neither would be saying anything to peak my interest this morning. So I closed my eyes, placed a thought in my head, and started dozing…….

 

***********

She was a beauty, a ravishing brunette clad in a long purple satiny number. Her jewels were all sapphires, sparkling as she walked somewhat unsteadily up the path leading her away from the sanctity of the castle keep. I was following with curiosity, having seen her slip out the back way, looking for the entire world like a child sneaking out on her parents. She reached the top of the hill where it opened into a small glen. Off to the side lay a dark lake of calm water. As she stood by a cement bench on the bank of the lake the moon peeked out through the clouds, placing her in a pool of light. A pair of white swans swam over in curiosity. She bent down and lifted out her gloved hand to them, her rings and bracelet glistening radiantly.

She was not yet aware of being followed……

******************************

  

I must have fallen asleep, for next thing I knew I was rudely awakened as the train was ratcheting to a stop, whistle blowing. When the train finely halted, The priest and his mother departed. I still was going on for a distance so I kept my seat. I bid them a silent adieu; nothing about them had held my interest in any shape or form.

  

But the newcomers who took their seat turned out to be a whole other story.

  

A rather stern faced husband had escorted his chattering wife and basically maneuvered her into the seat. She was clad in a long silky, rather form fitting dress. She was wearing a nice display of glistening white pearls, and her fingers were home to several sparkly rings. By the way the pair carried themselves; I had no doubts the fair maidens jewels were the real McCoy. As I watched the diamond clasp of her pearl necklace from behind I again closed my eyes, once more reminiscing about the train ride on my first leg of the journey.

  

But this couple did not appear to be of the snatch and slip into the shadows type of prey to me. I opened my eyes, wide awake, my interest peaking as the wife’s shrill voice penetrated into me. No, I smelled real opportunity being handed to me by fate. Let me explain. In my line of business I had become a quick study of a person’s character. His was obviously that of an important ( in his mind) president( probably a bank) used to controlling all aspects of his life, including his wife. She was a quarrelsome chatterbox who was as opinionated as they come. My guess is that that he only had married her for her money, why else would he have put up with her? His name was Arthur, Hers was Sophia, and the last name was Caboyt, which perked my interest even more. Caboyt being a well-known name of a wealthy family from the large city where I had grew up as a child. The couple was attending a Charity Ball at some rather ritzy sounding establishment in a City four stops before mine. The more I heard, the more I smelled money to be made. So it was without a thought that I rose a minute after they did, and got off on the same stop, forgoing the rest of my travel plans. I quickly stashed my luggage in a locker and got out onto the street in time to see them getting into a hotel taxi.

  

I went in, collected my bags and hired a taxi to take me to an inexpensive hotel that he recommended. I checked in, prepaying for three nights to cover my tracks, threw my luggage on the bed. I looked in my stage case, and selected a reddish wig and matching moustache, trying them on for effect. Adding a pair of black, horn rimmed eye glasses completed the disguise

  

I grabbed another taxi had him drive me to the hotel they were staying at. Paying him off ,I crossed the street and positioned myself in a park. It was now early evening, the sun just dipping below the tall buildings.

  

I studied the situation from the park while sitting on a bench. It was older, with balconies extending outside each of the rooms. The balconies were cement rimmed, with low rails. If I could get a room above or below theirs, It would be a short, easy rope climb to their balcony. I went inside and inquired about available rooms for the next evening, the evening of the ball. As the clerk leafed through his book I studied the registry and soon located Sarah and Henry Caboyt’s listing. It was better than I had hoped. They couple were in room 311. 313, 413 and 213 were taken for the weekend but 315, right next door was available. Containing my excitement I took it, prepaying for two nights, giving the clerk a false ID . I explained that my luggage had been delayed, and that when it came I would just take it up myself.

  

I returned to the other hotel, and dressed and went out for dinner, forming my plans as I ate. Returning I packed a small valise, put on evening attire, and snuck out via a back stairway that led to a now shadowed alley.

  

Walking out I went up the street bus stop and hailed a taxi. He gave me a suspicious look as I gave him the name of a fancy hotel that was a couple of blocks away from where the Cabot’s, and I, were staying: but I put on my bigwig demeanor and ignored him. He let me off and as I made sure he drove off, went up the block and entered my new hotel, heading straight for the elevator, not even gaining a second glance from the well trained operator. I went into my room, whistling at the fancy digs, before setting up the groundwork for my little operation.

  

That evening I sleep soundly, almost falling deeply again into a dream.

***********************************************

I found myself in her room once again. There were two of them. Identical twin sisters who occupied adjoining rooms in the old keep of the ancient stronghold that had been turned into a posh resort for the ultra-rich.

 

They had both been attending the extravagant ball being held in the old main chamber of the castle. But one had been ill and left early, planning to take a strong sleeping draught to fight her ailment.

 

Making sure the remaining sister was still going strong at the ball, I melted away into the shadows, breaking into her room before the twelve strokes of midnight had sounded in the large grandfather clock at the end of the hall. It took no effort on my part; she had conveniently left her velvet jewel pouch on the nightstand. I quickly scooped out its contents in a couple of shimmering handfuls. It was going to be a good night I told myself happily.

 

I went to the door that joined the room where her twin was sleeping. I cautiously opened it, and then slipped inside.

 

She looked so beautifully innocent as she slept, her brown satin pajamas shimmering in the light of the full moon streaming through an open stone cased window. After a bit of searching I found her jewel case tucked under the pillow she was laying on. I had discovered it while sliding my hand underneath, and I now began to work the calfskin leather case free. As I did I saw something glimmer faintly in the moonlight? Looking closer I realized she had no removed the pendent she had been wearing around her neck. It was on a gold chain, a ruby surrounded by small diamonds. I freed her jewel case and quickly emptied its contents, only one brightly glistening handful, which joined her sister’s collection in my satchel. I then pulled back her hair and felt for the clasp of her necklace. Locating it I slid it into my view and unclasped it. Picking up one end I lifted it from her throat, and gently pulled the other end from beneath her. It went perfectly; she never stirred as I took it from her. One a whim I peeled back ever so gently the long sleeves of her pajamas, . One her left wrist she still wore a ruby and diamond bracelet. Lifting her wrist up enough so my fingers could reach I undid the clasp and pulled it free, hanging like a wide sparkling snake.

 

I listened at her door, all was quite. I stole away, sneaking down the old servants back stairway. It was as I was edging around the building to make a bolt for the woods and my escape, that I saw her. The twin, who had stayed at the ball while her sister slept, was now lurking outside. She had no idea she was being watched. I eyed her sapphire jewelry sparkling along her pretty satin gown. I could tell she was up to something, as she hesitated, then assuming no one was around, headed off onto the path leading to a small lake. I followed without a second’s hesitation……..

 

************************************************

 

October 13, 192

  

The next morning I arose late, refreshed and ready for whatever exploits the day would hold for me.

  

After checking out my surroundings, including the balcony, I took a long hot shower and stretched out, waiting like a lion in the brush. Late afternoon I made my way down to the lobby with a book and nestled in a shadowy corner to wait. My plan was to watch them leave, follow them to gauge how long it would take them to return, head back, enter their room via the balcony and pilfer the room of its valuables and exit stage right, before they returned. I was banking on a fat jewel case. The rooms had no safes.

  

I sat, I observing my fellow guests coming and going about their personal business. Soon I noticed more and more of them in evening dress, heading out for a night on the town, which was a treat in and of its self. I did perk up when a lady clad in a long black velvet dress, matching gloves and pearls, walked down the stairs. As a pearl hanger, she would have been a tempting target. Pearls were always easy to pawn, and hers were a rather nice set. She seemed to be the easily distractible type, and easily distractible types who wore expensive jewels had always been my specialty. But I already had my mind set on Sophia Caboyt’s jewels that evening, So I let her slip away, watching her long gown swish about her pleasant figure.. Bird in the hand I thought, wistfully hoping that would prove to be the case.

  

An hour later I was rewarded as Sophia and Arthur came down. The couple was dressed to the nines for the evening, he was in a tux, she was in a long flowing glossy gown and gloves. She was dripping in diamonds, a full set. My heart sank, I wanted those diamonds, Quickly as I watched them I revised my plan. She was wearing a small fortune. I was sure that whatever was left in their room was probably not worth nearly as much, even the pearls.

  

I than sat and pretended to read my book for about another two hours while my mind went over several new plans of action. Accepting one of them as feasible, I rose and headed back up to my room. Lost my disguise, packed my valise for a hasty exit, put on my mask and gloves, turned out the lights, carefully opened my balcony door, and from a vantage point where I could see their room, I waited for their return. Breaking into a room with sleeping occupants was something I would rather not do, but oh, well, I would have to creep a little more carefully. Hopefully they would return home tipsy and sleep deeply.

  

Three and one half hours later the lights went on in their room. The balcony door was opened and Sophia came sweeping out, her jewelry blazing in the street lamps light from below. I watched with growing anticipation as she leaned out and looked onto the view below, her necklace and long earrings swaying out over the void, careful I thought, don’t let the pretty things fall. Her husband voice came out of the room inside, calling to her in an angry tone. “Sophia, I don’t believe it, they gave me the wrong top coat.” She sighed, gathering air, Are you sure she snapped, yes he said, my gloves are not in the pocket. She turned and went to the door, Go back tomorrow she decreed. I am going back now, he rebelled, and giving them a piece of my mind, I tipped that idiot 5 shillings. I heard the door slam. As it did, she had continued telling him not to go.

 

He had left and my mind started buzzing. What is he up to? He had no real reason not to wait, unless he was really that much of a hot head. If that was the case, He would easily be gone for an hour, which would give me at least 45 minutes to work with. They didn’t appear to have been drinking, If I stuck with my original plan, when he returned, things would be a lot more sticky, especially if he was in a foul mood and couldn’t sleep.

  

My window of opportunity, small already, began to shrink even more. I could have just let it go, but no I scolded myself, I would forever be berating myself for letting the chance to make a major coup slip through my fingers. I decided to risk it. Sometimes you just have to roll the dice and see how things lay and hope, luck will travel with it. I quickly reformulated my plan.

  

I went back and pulled a small derringer and some rope from my valise. She had been wearing a satin sash encircling her waist, held with a brooch. Once she handed me the brooch, I would use the sash to gag her; and my rope to tie her securely to a chair freeing me to search her and her room for valuables. I smiled in wicked anticipation; I have always liked a good old fashioned hold-up. I looked at my watch, still a good 32 minutes to obtain her jewels.

  

Climbing between the two ledges I slipped onto their balcony, ducking below the side and waited. Nothing stirred. I slinked over to the window and peered inside. No movement. Waiting another eternal minute I decided to enter, Carefully opening the glass door so it let out only the slightest of clicks I entered. I saw a door on the opposite side of the room, slightly ajar I could hear the sound of water running. Sophia was drawing a bath. I couldn’t believe my luck. I wedged myself in a corner and waited. I could see her shadow in the crack of light emitting from the door, and then I heard her slide into the tub. Immediately I was on the move.

 

I had seen a glistening pile on top of a small table by the bathroom door. I went there first. On the table were spread out in a sparkling array the diamonds she had been wearing earlier. I carefully lifted each magnificent piece and secreted them into my small satchel, one eye on the outer door, and one ear on the occupant of the bath tub. As I made a complete sweep of the table I saw her silvery, shiny jeweled purse off to one side, lying on her satin gloves. I went through it and found a the wad of notes and a heavy gold compact and matching cigarette holder. Putting the items back inside, along with her gloves, I pocketed the shiny purse. Then I noticed her jewel case when I had come in laying on the vanity. I went over and opened it, my eyes rewarded by a satisfying collection of glittery jewels, gold and pearls. I and quickly emptied it of its valuable contents, a set of emerald with diamonds( necklace, earrings, ring and bracelets), several gold chains, two pairs of gold earrings, one set with small diamonds, a thick solid gold bracelet, and a rather nice 3 strand pearl choker, as well as the pearls she had been wearing on the train. I hadn’t seen this much ice lately outside a jewelry store. Closing the case, I slipped it into a drawer out of sight..

  

I did not see her gown with its sash and brooch. I snuck a peak into the bathroom; I saw a long flowing satin bathrobe, but no red gown visible. I hesitated, for I could see her outline in the tub, she was laying back with her eyes closed, a hand hung down, from which glittered a pair of rings. No, I thought, letting them go. I went to her closet; there was a gold gown, but not the gown she had been wearing. I looked at my watch, 9 minutes left; I was running out of time. I went back to the bed and circled it, keeping a close eye on the two doors. Looking over on the opposite side by the wall I saw something glossy on the floor.. There it was, the little darling had slid off and was hiding on the floor. Lifting it up, I let the smooth material run through my hands, feeling it through the thin gloves I was wearing. I felt nothing hard, laying it across the chair I looked under the bed, saw something silky and pulled at it. It came out like a shiny snake, with a large diamond studded head. There was the prize. I took the sash and the brooch and stuffed them in my pocket. 3 minutes left by my watch.. I went back to the closet and felt along a couple of her things hanging there, hoping to find a clip , or possibly another brooch, one a silky jacket I felt something hard, it turned out to be a gold pin of a humming bird with jeweled wings. I pulled it free. My time was up, and I had plenty,

  

Turning out the lights I Heading to the door of the balcony fortunately I heard them just as I opened the glass door. I peeked to the balcony next door, on the opposite side of mine. A couple was in the middle of an argument. A quite pretty lady was giving a tuxedo shirted male a piece of her mind. She was a long haired brunette clad in a long silk sheath, gold and black descending stripes. She was lecturing a harried thin gentleman in a white tux shirt, chewing him out in rapid Italian. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I stepped out in the shadows, closing the door behind me. I did not want to chance having the dejewelled princess or her husband walk into the bedroom and find me there. The minutes ticked by. I was mesmerized by the hand the Italian woman was shaking under his nose. The ladies’ Jeweled rings and bracelets flashing extravagantly in and out of the light. I will admit that after 6 excoriatingly long minutes I started to sweat a little. The show was quite fascinating, but I was expecting company at any time. And three would definitely be a crowd. She was not running out of steam, I felt sorry for the little guy.

  

Finally the Italian banshee ended her tirade. She ran into the room sobbing, he meekly followed. Just Than I about jumped out of my skin when I head Sophia calling out her husband’s name. Arthur she screeched, are you there yet, I have soap in my eyes. Do I dare, I thought to myself, those magnificent rings flashing back into my mind.

  

I moved swiftly back into the room, stealthily going to the bathroom door, looked around the door and stole a peak. She was holding her eyes closed, searching in vain for a towel, which had fallen just below her searching hand. The hand where the expensively jeweled rings she had worn into her bath resided. I moved swiftly, rapping on the door. About time she said as I handed her a towel. I took her hand, and kissed her soapy wet fingers. She smirked; don’t try to make up with me Arthur. I let go of her now ring less fingers. Turning I walked out swiftly, closing the door behind me before she had a chance to clear her eyes. Swiftly going back out the balcony door, I flew over the rail into my own balcony, and into the door. I waited for a minute without moving. The coast seemed clear.

  

I felt safe to turn the lights on. I hid her sash, brooch, jewels, and the silvery jeweled purse in the false bottom of my small valise. I put back on the red wig moustache and glasses and evening clothes. Then snatching up my case, I went to the door after a final inspection of the room. 65 minutes now had ticked by since the husband had left the apartment, leaving his wife and her jewels behind unprotected. It was time to make a hasty exit. As my white gloved hand touched the knob I heard voices in the hall. Damn I thought, she had taking the argument out of the room. Thankfully I heard the door slam. This was becoming a circus I thought, opening door a crack. The hall way was clear. I moved quickly down the corridor turning into another , down with lay my exit down a rear stairwell. I froze in my tracks. Now what I thought!

  

At the far end of the corridor, just passed my exit, was a wall where a full length painting of the battle of waterloo hung. The lady in velvet and pearls that I had been scrutinizing earlier in the evening sashaying through the lobby, was standing with her back to me mesmerized by the painting, her hands clasped behind her while she swayed to and fro studying it.. She was so enthralled by it that I probably could have walked right up to her and slipped the pearls from her throat and wrist without her even noticing me. Why not, I asked myself rhetorically. Setting the valise by the exit, I began removing my gloves as I walked up to her on the balls of my feet, silent as a cat. Pretty is it not I asked in her ear, she started, backing into me. I caught her as she twittered nervously. Sorry I said, steadying her. She blushed as she turned to me, giving me full view of the pearls around her throat. I kissed her hand, asking for her apologies as I turned and left her standing there. I heard the swish of her dress. I had been right about her being vulnerably captivated by the painting. The proof was in the pudding, or in this case the triple string pearl bracelet I had slipped away from her gloved wrist as she had bumped against me

  

I started down the stairs leading down to the lobby silently thanking whatever distraction it was that was holding Arthur up from returning home. Then, I saw him. I was coming down to the bottom of stairs I saw Arthur cutting through the lobby. I walked past him nodding as he passed raising my valise in salutation. He nodded back passing me without another look. He had a smile on his face, so he had received satisfaction from something. I too had a smirk on mine, garnering some satisfaction that he was totally unaware that a small fortune in his wife’s jewels was walking out the door right under his nose.

 

I left, holding my valise and headed down the street. I hailed a taxi, had him drop me off at the bus station, then went into my hotel and packed, before falling again into sound , pleasantly dream filled , sleep.

  

October 14, 192

  

I arose early the next day, leaving by the same back door to the alleyway.

Flagging a taxi I had him drive me to the shopping area by the train station.

I meandered around a bit and then, sure I was not being watched, made my way to the train station.

  

I than caught the next train heading to my original destination. After a long, leisurely meal, and a couple well-earned drinks at the bar I headed back to my seat. This time there were no brides with shiny necklaces, or Caboyt’s with their pompous arrogance and fancy jewels to entertain me. So I found one of my own making. As the train rumbled into the night I snuggled down and replayed the whole adventure, savoring every aspect until I fell into dream filled sleep.

****************************************

  

She must have imbibed more than I thought, for she walked to the bench, and taken a careful look around, began to undress. Watching the swans, she started by removing her jewelry, placing them in a pile that glistened in the moon’s light. She then stepped behind some bushes, and I observed her laying her gloves, gown and some silky nickers over a tree limb. I began to move back and cut along the woods to where she had undressed. A soft, subtle splash of water let me know she had entered the pool. Reaching her things hanging on the tree limb I looked out, she was in up to her chest, back to me, still watching the swans that had moved off a small distance when she had entered. I carefully pulled her clothes off the limb, then hid them behind a tree, , feeling the hardness of her broach, I unfastened from her gown. Then on all fours, keeping below the bench, I carefully crawled forward, inching ever closer to the glistening pile of rich jewels that beckoned me…..

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Slinking away, still smirking over how rewardingly gullible the bejeweled wealthy girls in silky dresses had proven, Angie unexpectedly came across fresh, opulently inviting, prey.

************************

  

************************

 

Angelique D. at play

 

Angie D

 

Circa 1915

 

Case study 113 subset b

 

Early development: “Pickpocket” of worn Jewelry

 

Sub title:

 

What is it about rich girls that make them so lucratively gullible?

Quoted by Subject: log 1959

 

**********************************************************

 

What:

 

Along a path just outside where a departing congregation of a small church still gathered.

 

Where

 

The outskirts of Chestermere:

 

When:

 

An early fall day, in the year of our Lord 1915

 

Who:

 

An appealing lady wearing a secret smile, clad expensively in a silky top and flowing satiny ruffled skirt, a pair of gold earrings flashing merrily as she strolls.

 

Excerpted from Diary:

 

A lady in a cream silk blouse and long blue skirt was walking happily along a path on the outskirts of Chestermere. She was coming from the early Sabbath service of a local chapel, filled with the rousing words of the Parson’s homily. As Angie walked, she hummed a cheerful tune, her conscious, as always, free of any guilty feelings.

 

Angie was very pleased with herself, and the main source of the pleasure was now bouncing against her thigh as she briskly walked along. For deep in a small pocket hidden well below the waistline of her flowing sleek skirt, was a pretty jeweled pendent on a delicate gold chain.

 

Only just 15 minutes ago that jeweled pendent was still being worn by a member of a rather wealthy looking family whom had been in attendance at the same Sabbath service. Angie had scoped them out as the family had waltzed in just after the mass had started. The mother was dressed in a pretty white frock with ruffles of lace falling from her throat and wrists, along with a rather nice set of pearls. The rather formal and severe father was in a “monkey suit”, a gold pocket watch and fob stretched across his rather bulging waist. The pair had their hands full with two rambunctious , pre-adolescent twin boys, who had continually distracted them during and after the lengthy service. Which was good, from Angie’s point of view anyway, for it left the parents totally ignoring their seventeen year old daughter , at the end of the pew, standing with a sultry air about her.

 

The daughter was wearing a rather fancy party dress of thick red silk. Dangling down the front of the sheer red silk bodice, on a thin gold chain, was an attention grabbing deep green emerald starburst pendent that fell swaying from her dress’s high neckline. It had been the sleek dress that had whetted Angie’s interest, but it was the pendent that kept that interest focused during the entire service, delightedly eyeing the pendant’s shimmeriness in the low candle lit church. During the communion procession she had managed to slip in behind her in order to closer scrutinize the prospect, soaking in the expectations of acquiring it from the unsuspecting proper acting young lady..

 

As the service ended, the family joined in the stream of the departing congregation. Angie followed closely, looking for her chance. It came when the Parson stopped the father to ask a question, a group soon huddled around the mother and the twins. As everyone bent over to focus attention on the twins, including their sister, Angie circled her prey and slipped in close, hovering briefly over her back before darting in. In one fluid motion, Angie lifted with one practiced hand the chain and flicked open the thin clasp, nimbly catching the swaying pendent in her other hand as it fell, whisking the sparkling emeralds and chain away and palming it from sight. Absolutely no one noticed the flashy necklace as it vanished from the front of the sister’s silky dress. Angie had continued on her way, clutching the pendent, and headed straight out the door without looking back. Instead of heading back the short 3 miles to her hotel in the city, she decided to head out towards the woods, where she planned to lay low until dusk.

   

Angie now turned her head to have a look behind her at the distant chapel and the people milling about, her gold plated earrings flashing as she did so. Good, she thought, no one was following her, and she, in total security that she was out of danger, crossed off the path and went on the road.

  

Angie strolled along the country lane, trees lining it turning red and yellow in their autumn gowns, for quite some time, before she became aware of a band playing off in the distance.. Then turning a bend in the lane, through the thin wall of woods, she spied a wedding reception up on a hill by a white stone Church. From her vantage point she could see a multitude of colourful , richly shimmering gowns and the occasional sparkle of , she hoped , opulent jewelry.

  

As good luck would have it, she decides to crash the party. She was dressed for it, she was hungry, and who knows what pickings she may find inside to increase her earthly riches ,as the Parson had been saying! She walked around, skirting the woods and came across a hillside garden with rose covered arbors and bright flower lined paths. Two grubby boys of about ten and twelve were playing in the woods on the opposite side, by a small pond surrounded thickly with Rhododendron s. She entered the Garden and made her way up the winding path, coming out onto a small field with benches that lay on the opposite side of the church and the auditorium entrance to the reception.

 

Angie entered the crowded auditorium underneath the Church. She helped herself to the food buffet and sat outside enjoying her meal, as she watched the richly dressed crowd. A young man came up and asked her to dance, which she did happily, and just as happily lifted his gold watch and fob. And, too boot, after a few dances with him, she had become a part of his circle, happily mingling, and rubbing elbows with the obviously wealthy guests he presented her to. Including an introduction to his pretty faced teenage sister, who was sporting a pretty diamond ring on all too slender finger, that she kept waving in Angie’s face as she played with her long silky hair.

  

Angie soon left them and started to stalk about for a bit, noting that most of the guests were older, more mature specimens. There seemed to be a lack of young, well dressed children around, whose shiny offerings had been Angie’s main bread and butter for almost two years.. She had just come to the conclusion that she would have to settle for picking a few pockets or purses before leaving. She started to look around for the bloke with the fancy gold pocket watch who had first asked her to dance….

 

Then she saw her.

 

The lady was moving through the crowd, on the arms of a man half her age, giggling, not paying attention to anything else around her. She wore a long gown of a shimmery purple silk. But it was not the gown that had caught Angie’s eye, but the jeweled brooch that hung from the gowns cleavage, shadowed by its mistress’s ample bosom. Like the figurehead in a seagoing schooner it came, shimmering in the dazzling light of at least a hundred diamond chips, surrounded by an oval of blazing sapphires. Angie’s fingers tingled. It was time.

 

****************************************************

Now, it had been better than three years ago when Angie had run across an ancient, toothless Gypsy in a long black dress with a faded shawl around her shoulders, who had spoken Angie’s fortune. When she had read Angie’s palm, she looked Angie dead in the eyes, a most knowing kind of look. Then she had risen, motioning Angie to stay and came back with a rather battered old pamphlet she wanted Angie to look over. Entitled the Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip by “Gaston Monescu, 1826”, it covered the various tactics and moves used by master pickpockets. Including whole chapters on successful “Methodes” of relieving a wealthe lady of her” jeweles”.

 

The Gypsy Woman, who had hovering over Angie as she had read deeply into the pamphlet moved and sat back down across from her.

 

Angie ,who by this time in her quite young life, was already an accomplished cutpurse and picker of pockets, looked up at the gypsy, grinned, and asked if it was worth her while. The Gypsy just smiled, reached up and opened her dirty laced shawl, revealing the silvery necklace that Angie had been wearing when she had come in. Amazed she traded the necklace for the pamphlet on the spot and quickly began putting its teachings into play.

 

Angie soon mastered this new level of her chosen craft.

 

She had started on mannequins: clothing them in long silky dresses and jewelry. She had practiced for months, first in a rented studio apartment, then in a secret basement located in an isolated, deserted old barn and then its surrounding woods. Soon she felt confident enough to go out and try it in the crowded streets amongst shopping women. She met with great success, but her gains were only a pittance. Still she practiced, and had gotten so adept that she soon was moved onto more affluent hunting grounds.

 

She reasonably started out with weddings. For the phamplett had suggested starting out at formal parties where there would be an abundance of youngsters dressed in their best by parents wanting to show their off female issues to an adoring public( in the minds of the wealthy parents, anyway). So she went, seeking out young, easily distracted young girls who were not used to wearing the array of enticing jewels placed on them by overly enthusiastic parents.

 

Angie’s first time out was met with some rather sweet success. A large day time wedding reception in Nova Scotia, held in a public park by a majestic sweeping waterfall.

 

Late at the reception, as she was still prowling without making any formal attempts, she soon noticed that the adults at the gathering were becoming quite gay with drink, and noticeably paying less attention to their children. Said children began to wonder off in groups, exploring and starting to run about playing games, their gowns and dresses whispering a Pied Piperish tune to Angie’s ears, their shiny jewels luring her ever closer.

 

Angie soon started to follow a pair of young ladies who had scampered off to explore.

One was an impish girl with long black hair flowing down, drawing ones attention to the frilly white dress she was wearing. Gold chain earrings dancing merrily from her ears, as a longish gold herringbone chain shimmering brightly in the sun as it lay hanging from her silk dresses’’ high neckline.

Her partner in crime was a most fascinating subject. A charmingly bright green eyed proper young imp, a couple of years older than white dress, with a rather pronounced Welsh accent, much like Agie’s remembered her parents having. Her silken red hair lay down her back in a neat long French braid. A long thin satin gown of emerald green swished as she ran with the awkwardness of youth to keep up with her new friend. A matching satin bow was tied just below her throat, its ends trailing down to her svelte waistline. At the bows center was fastened a glittering rhinestone pin. She also was wearing a small rhinestone necklace that encircled her throat just above the bow. Her ears were home to a pretty pair of clasped rhinestone earrings that matched the pattern of her necklace. Around one short shiny green satin gloved wrist was a brite rhinestone bracelet.

 

The duo found the waterfall, by which a photographer had set up a camera. Angie approached the lovely pair, and easily started up a conversation, helped by the fact that as an adult, she was not scolding them for walking off. They seemed pleased that Angie was actually doing the exact opposite, like a favored auntie, she was encouraging them to explore.

 

Angie led them around a bend for a different view of the cascading waterfall, out of earshot of the reception. She helped the black haired lass, Basil, up to sit on a small stone wall for a better look, also helping to slip off the shiny gold herringbone necklace from her throat with an almost effortless ease in the process. As, with itching fingers, she contemplated what to do about Basil’s gold earrings, Angie started to watch Lydia.

 

Oblivious to what was going on around her, the red head, Lydia, was standing next to Angie, looking over the fence which just reached her shoulders. Here dear, Angie said, after pocketing the purloined gold necklace, you’re messing up your pretty dress. Angie turned the girl towards her, reached over and said, here, let my fix your bow, darling. Lydia allowed Angie to retie it, as Basil, her back to them, happily was watching, enraptured, the splashing water. Angie finished undoing and retying Lydia’s satin bow, neatly removing the pretty rhinestone pin in the process, then as she straightened the girl’s color, Angie had her turn around. As Lydia obediently did so, Angie flicked open the rhinestone necklaces clasp, and peeled off the flashy necklace from around Lydia’s throat as she turned round. Just like that, Lydia’s rhinestone necklace went the same way of er pin, both ending up with the gold chain in a secret pocket hidden in the folds of Angie’s skirt.

 

Angie stood behind Lydia, placing her hands on Lydia’s slick silken covered shoulders, all three watching the waterfall. Angie’s left hand caressingly, ever so lithely inched down along Lydia’s side, reaching the girls wrist. As Angie engaged them in conversation, she slowly worked off the bracelet, leaving only the pretty earrings as her last challenge.

 

Angie lifted her right hand and slowly moved it up to one of the girl’s dangling earrings, sparkling in the waterfalls’ reflection.. With her left hand she pointed upstream. As both girls turned their heads to look, off came a rhinestone earring. Angie than playfully lifted Lydia’s long French braid and laid it over Lydia’s shoulder, below her now bare ear. She turned to look down, giggling, and as she did so, Angie plucked away the remaining earring; it easily came off and joined its companion with the rest of the collection of jewelry in Angie’s secret pocket. Amazed that the process of removing young Lydia’s jewels had gone off so easily, Angie almost wished Lydia had been wearing bells like one of her sleekly gowned practice mannequins. Her reasoning being that she would know if it was because her skill level was that good, or just the fact that Lydia was just an unworldly youth easily distracted. Whatever the reason, Angie, feeling fresh inspiration, looked over at the chirpy basil, and her shiny gold earrings.

 

Angie moved behind Basil, placing her hands upon the slippery waistline of her silk dress, then leaned forward, whispering in the girls ear, tickling it with her breath. As Basil giggled Angie reached up gently lifted the gold chain earring up from the lobe of the girl’s opposite ear lobe. Then nimbly with her thumb and index finger, flicked open the hinge clasp and neatly removed the earring, watching for any reaction from her victim. Basil never felt a thing, Lydia was still watching the waterfall, equally as oblivious. Angie kept her chin close to Basil’s ear, and the remaining earring. Cautiously she moved her fingers up, and then darting in with them, successfully repeated the maneuver. As the earring joined the rest of her collection, Angie could not help thinking that if all her future endeavors were as successful, she could end up living quite a comfortable lifestyle.

 

Angie stayed a few more minutes, keeping the pair distracted the whole time before she cautiously moved off, leaving the two of them there by stream. Basil happily perched on the stone wall, and Lydia bent down, busily plucking at the moss growing on the old stones. Both girls still quite fetching in their pretty gowns, both a bit less weighted down by any added trimmings.

 

For the next year, fueled by her early success, she started focusing entirely on wedding receptions. Honing her skills until it became almost mundane for her nimble fingers to lift a jewel, no matter where is was being worn by a squirming young lady upon her fancy dressed person. And, actually, some of her acquisitions where worth a surprising bit of dough when pawned.

  

Favored Case in Point:

 

It was in New Hampshire, on her 24th outing late during the wedding season of the following year when she came upon a rather prim young miss of about 13, clad in a long sleeved thick yellow satin blouse, a black velvet vest and matching gold and black vertical striped satin skirt. A young raven haired bumble bee with no stinger, but with pearls, black pearls in a long string dangling down along the front of her shiny back buttoned blouse. She was also wearing matched black pearled earrings, and a small, daintily jeweled pin in the shape of a humming bird on her velvet vest. She was sitting alone at a table, playing with some crayons and a book. Angie, who had been watching her for some time from a bar stool, had come up and caught the pretty little things full attention, easily capturing her interest, then, finally, suggesting they go and watch the activity on the ballroom floor from a small alcove in a corner. Liking the adventurous way Angie had suggested it, the bumble bee had eagerly followed Angie away from the table.

 

Angie continued making small talk as the pretty thing was watching the exquisitely gown guests on the dance floor, including the girls’ parents. She was met with youthful exuberance by the youth, who was so enthralled with the activity on the dance floor that she was as unaware of what was going on around her , much like one of Angie’s practice Mannequins. After quite easily removing the dainty jeweled pin, Angie’s subtle fingers were able to lift up and flick open the rhinestone clasp of the child’s pearled necklace. Angie than coolly waited for a prime moment before whisking away the wholly distracted young miss’s gleaming black strand of pearls from around the high ruffled collar of her yellow satin blouse.

 

And also, like one of her gowned and jeweled practice Mannequins, the young girl never noticed anything amiss as Angie continued on with her conversation for quite some time afterwards. It was daring, but exciting as Angie kept stealing looks at the bare front of the glossy yellow blouse where the pearls had hung down so deliciously, knowing they were in her own pocket, so close, but for the young lady, so far.. Finally she decided she was pressing her luck, and she wished the child a goodnight, before beating a hasty exit,( but not before circling back to the now deserted table and heartlessly lifted the fat, expensively made purses, of both the young girl, and her mother!)

 

The jeweled hummingbird pin, and string of matched black pearls, dainty and long, fetched a pawned price that left whetted Angie’s appetite for more!

 

So, it was after this that Angie, looking for fresher, richer challenges, decided to seek out slightly older prey in their natural habitats, proms and social teenage dances. Where real gems, usually borrowed from their mothers or Grandmothers, would be replacing rhinestones.

 

Still very youthful looking despite her twenty something age, Angie’s first attempt was an upscale dance she had come across while out about in a neighboring city. It was held in an old ballroom for a local boy’s prep school and their dates. Figuring the girls attending would be ripe for the picking in tight gowns and loose fitting jewels, Angie stole inside for a closer look. The only obstacle was getting one of the begowned girls away from her group long enough to make a play for something of value that she was wearing.

  

But, Angie came away with nothing but valuable experience on that first attempt.

 

And it was actually her third try before she met with success in the form of a gold bracelet. It was at a formal dance being held in a large room of a rather posh hotel called the Red Lion Inn. She had gone in for a peek, and spying a pretty young thing heading for the ladies room, fell in step behind her. She was a long brown haired girl, wearing a short silk dress, blue, forming the perfect backdrop for her mouthwatering selection of shimmering gold jewellery. Waiting in a small alcove, Angie made her move as the young lady came back out the door. Bumping against her, Angie’s right hand held onto the youngster by the waist, drawing her close, as she steadied herself, apologizing. At the same time, Angie placed her left hand on the unsuspecting mark’s left wrist, easily flicking open the clasp of the thick gold etched bracelet and slipping it off and away. The young lady, accepting Angie’s apology, went on her way, and Angie, swiftly darted for the nearest exit, securing the rather overly brite bracelet in her bosum.

 

Over the spring and early summer dance seasons Angie practiced, acquiring bracelets and rings down pat using her skillfully developing fingers. She soon also was having some success with necklaces, including one with a long gold chain and a flower pendent set with a diamond carpel surrounded by ruby petals that had turned a quite tidy profit.

 

Then there had been the night of her first big haul, at a private girl’s school homecoming in Connecticut

 

She had started out by finally selecting and shadowing a young lady clad a slinky black dress, draped in her mother’s diamonds. Angie was drooling over a flashy wide glittering gemmed silver bracelet that hung loosely from the young vixen’s limp wrist. She was sure it was made up of real diamond chips. As the girl squirmed past Angie heading to the dance floor, her bracelet was easily plucked off the wrist of her black elbow length satin glove and secured deep in the bosom of Angie’s dress.

 

It was now becoming all too easy, smirked Angie as she unflappably headed out of the exit with her trophy. But, as she crossed the street, she was stopped by a hard looking Italian thug who emerged from the shadows. Angie at first thought wanted to mug her for her earrings, but it turned out he just wanted to see a girl who was inside attending the dance . He described her, and Angie, her interest growing, agreed to locate her and give her his message to meet him outside.

 

Angie went inside and soon found the girl. All her wishes had been answered. The unsuspecting lass was both richly gowned and even more richly jeweled, combined with zero common sense. This fidgeting girl had been seeing the young Italian on the sly, away from her disapproving family and friends. Angie led her out the back way, the opposite side of the Dance Parlor where the Italian was waiting in an alley.

 

Angie pointed across the street towards an entirely different Alleyway, offering to wait with her when the girl balked about going down it. As they waited, Angie fawned over the poor, beautifully adorned young innocent. Helping her straighten her luxurious gown, and helping her primp her long hair, so she would look just right for her east end Romeo. After waiting ten minutes, Angie instructed the girl to wait, while she went out and peeked down the street to see what was keeping her lover.

 

As she left, Angie stole a look back at the still primping young lass, eyeing her slinky gown, and remaining jewels, before heading off down the street, looking into her palm at the pair of long Garnet and diamond earrings that lay nestled, glittering fire there. She then placed them into a secret pocket, joining them with the girl’s small, expensive matching pendent, liberated as Angie had helped her negotiate a curb with her stiletto heels. Both pieces of the lass’s jewelry shared the same pocket with the wide silver bracelet encrusted with diamond chips that Angie had taken earlier..

 

More than once since then, Angie wondered if the ditzy, well jeweled girl ever had made it back out of that alleyway unscathed.

 

The experience had even more so whetted Angie’s appetite. So, even though she was still practicing on younger females, she was now dying to ply her trade upon mature women displaying the real McCoy.

 

***********************************************************

 

So it was with that in mind that Angie now watched, with itching fingers, the beckoning brooch. Though Angie was still unsure enough of trying her abilities on wealthy ladies who would not be as easily distracted as young girls, the timing felt right. As the lady recklessly displaying the brooch passed, her attention lost in the arms of her lover, Angie turned and followed, getting a close look first at the brooch and its pin, noting that it was not tightly clasped onto the gowns thin material.

 

As the couple headed to a table they passed two wealthy dames arguing vigorously with each other. Pricey rings flashing as they pointed fingers emphatically in each other’s face. On the side of table away from the pair, but near to Angie as she was passing by, lay a small, fat silvery clutch purse . Figuring that any dames loaded down with that many gems should be carrying a healthy wad of dosh in it, Angie, on the fly, took action.

 

As she passed she snatched it, and slipping it under her arm turned and headed towards the ladies powder room. Just before entering Angie looked back watching as the two still argued, gemmed rings flashing she had gotten away with it! Going into a stall she scrutinized the clutch for its valuables; disappointed to find only a fiver, some loose change, and a silky laced handkerchief. How cheap can you get she thought ruefully over the wasted effort? Hiding the clutch in the folds of her satin skirt, she left the stall, passing a lady applying makeup in a mirror. She was very pretty in a fluid teal gown, wearing dazzling white pearls upon her ears, neck and wrists. Something about this lady seemed familiar, and Angie’s senses started to sound an alarm. Catching each other’s eye, Angie nodded, but the lady appeared not to recognize Angie, nor Angie her, but the feeling still lingered. Angie left ,guardedly perplexed.

 

Angie went to the bar to have a drink while she thought about who the lady may have been. She was in a position to see the dance floor and she soon spotted the purple clad lady with the brooch Angie had her eye on, again in a deep embrace with her lover. The Brooch would be profitable, but risky as along as she stuck close with the Boyfriend. Angie needed a way to get him out of the picture for a while. It was as she considered several options to carry out the challenge that Angie again spotted the lady in teal , dancing with a tall red headed man. . Cold prickles like ice ran down her spine, It was the pearls! She suddenly remembered who the lady, and her dance partner were!

 

************************

 

Only 5 days ago she had been starting her third week operating in Calgary. She had been following a rather attractive, obviously wealthy woman, wearing an eye catching purple silk dress, carrying a dress bag and some smaller parcels. Close at her side was an unheeded calfskin purse. Alongside the lady was a smaller version, obviously her daughter, a girl of about 14. She was wearing a white shiny turtleneck with an equally shiny long tiered skirt. Both of her hands were occupied with department store bags also. When the ladies darted into a swanky hotel ,Angie had followed, she always had had luck in these types of establishments. They had entered a crowded lift and Angie had worked her way in behind the pair, riding up with them in the rickety contraption. Mother and Daughter got off on 12 and Angie stayed on until 15, exiting with not only the fat wallet from the calfskin purse, but also the shiny gold herringbone necklace that had been flashing from the daughter’s throat, securely in her pocket.

 

Angie decided to call it a day. She had already made about 30 dollars from wallets lifted at the department store she had been working over when she had spotted the mother and daughter at the checkout. The mother was paying from a thick wad of cash, and judging from the jewelry of both were an indication of how wealthy the family was. She had followed them out onto the street and it had paid off in spades. Now, all she had to do was find an exit. She saw a stairwell next to a slightly open door with a maids cart outside. She stopped and hovered over the cart to peer inside the room. It was at that moment a door opened on the opposite side of the hallway.

 

A red headed man in an open tux shirt came out of a room, looking at the cart, and Angie standing next to it. Seizing the opportunity, Angie quickly asked if he needed something. I was looking for a maid; I spilled some wine on the cashmere carpet. Seeing the name Bannister above the bell, she said sweetly, certainly Mr. Bannister, I can have someone take care of that for you.. I was just coming up to let you know there is an urgent message down at the desk for you. (Quick improvisation was a special talent of Angie’s.) Why didn’t you bring it, he started to snap, than , never mind, just get a maid, and he headed towards the elevator.

 

Angie picked up the towels and headed cautiously into the massive suite. From the bedroom off one side she heard running water. She looked around quickly, seeing many valuable articles, but nothing small enough to quickly conceal. She took the towels into the bedroom.

 

Angie went into the bedroom, expertly taking everything in. A long silver lamee gown lay out on the bed. On the vanity lay a silvery purse, a pair of long silver satin gloves , a silver watch, silver necklace, a pair of long dangling silver earrings, and a small blue velvet pouch. On a side dresser laid a man’s thick gold watch and a money clip with a wad of bills, a tenner showing on top. In less than a minute after entering the room she had scooped up the money clip, watches, silver jewelry and gloves stuffing them into the purse and lifting up her long skirt hid it in one of its secret pockets. She lifted up the pouch and found it was empty. A picture on the vanity showed an attractive lady in a black dress and pearls. She briefly wondered where the pearls were, did not see any likely spot, and so had turned to make a hasty exit, when a feminine voice called out from the bathroom where a shower could be heard running. Steam was coming out from the slightly ajar door.

 

Dear, a refined voice stated, I have soap in my eyes and cannot find the washcloth. Angie, smelling an opportunity, peaked her head around the corner into the steamy bathroom. There was a shower stall with glass doors at the end of the long room with a double sink running along the side. From the hook by the shower hung a peach negligee and matching long robe. The door was open slightly and a very soapy femine hand was reaching out trying to feel along a towel bar, just missing a hanging washcloth.

 

A soapy hand from which glittered a pretty gold pinky ring set with small diamonds. Angie went over and pulling off the washcloth, rapped on the glass door , receiving a thank you dear in return as the hand reached out for it. Angie wiped off the protruding hand, and a dry voice said, no, not my hand dear, as the washcloth was plucked playfully from Angie’s grasp , and the door closed. Angie bent down and picked up the diamond pinky ring that had been slipped from the showering woman’s finger by the wash cloth, from the carpeted floor underneath the shower door. she than turned ran a hand along the satin rode, looking around. Bingo, on the counter lay a pair of sparkly long diamond earrings. Dumbstruck at her luck she grabbed them off the sink. , she was jolted back to realty when the voice again called out, are you still there dear? She scurried out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

 

She was at the apartment door in a flash, opening it a crack to make sure the coast was clear, it was. In the hallway Angie headed for the stairs because she knew that Bannister was far too important a man to take a stairway. She had been in the apartment less than 4 minutes, and had probably looted it of enough valuables to more than double her take so far of the last three weeks since arriving in Calgary. Leaving by a back exit she came out of a small alley. Looking over she spotted the young lady whose necklace she had lifted in the elevator kneeling down and looking in some bushes. Her shiny skirt pleasantly splayed out upon the ground around her. Angie briskly walked past her and off down the street. She made it without incident to the dingy apartment she was renting by the day. Collecting her meager belongings Angie checked out immediately. Leaving by bus for Chestermere, where at a small bank she rented a safety deposit box to stash all her ill-gotten gains for safe keeping until the heat wore down a bit.

 

****************************

 

Now Back to the Present

 

Angie now knew how lucky she had been. The red headed man, Bannister, may have recognized her. Calgary was too close to Chestermere , she should have been more cautious when scoping out the receptions guests. Angie turned and headed to the bar to think the situation over.

 

She saw the young man whose watch she had lifted, talking to an older, pretty lady laden with pearls. Behind them stood his sister, her diamond ring sparkling as she twirled her hair. Angie circled wide, coming up behind the lad, she grabbed his shoulder, why hello there. He smiled, introducing her to his Aunt, whose jeweled fingers she took into her hand in a gracious shake. He continued talking to his Aunt, it seems that they were discussing a family matter of some importance .Angie, finding the rings were tight on the Aunt’s chubby fingers, let go of her hand and moved over to the sister, and engaged her in conversation, moving a little off so that the sister turned her back to her brother and aunt.

 

The sister twittered, curling her hair impishly as Angie asked her why she wasn’t dancing. No ones asked, she giggled nervously. What about the boy who has been watching you all eyeing, Angie nodded her head outwards, the girl turned , her hair flying, as she lowered her hand, which Angie took up, petting it in a conspiratorial fashion, go over and ask him, Angie suggested. Go an ask him? I don’t see him she said, but I couldn’t, and she turned back to Angie, flashing her baby blues innocently. That’s okay deary, Angie patted the girl’s hand, keeping her eyes in contact, not allowing her to break the gaze, and perhaps looking down and noticing her loose ring was now gone from her slender finger. Angie took her leave of the sister, and of girl’s annoying nervously twittering giggle. Angie, slipping the diamond ring securely away, continued on until she reached a small alcove from where she could see most of the reception hall.

 

She lit a cigarette, purple silk and her desirably take able brooch was still safely out of reach on the dance floor, and Bannister’s attention was all on his wife. She thought it over, weighing her options, and the risks that were now in play. The song ended, and the dancers started to head off the floor. Angie’s eyes darted, Red headed Bannister and his wife were heading off to the far side of the room, Purple silk and her partner were heading to the bar. Angie’s heart stopped, no, Purple silk was heading to the bar, her lover was off to the men’s rest room. Angie snubbed out her cigarette, rising to the bait, it was now or never. Like a feral feline, Angie began to slowly stalk her prey.

 

But then Angie saw her chance slip through her fingers and evaporate into nothingness, like the smoke from her crushed cigarette. For at that moment an older man bumped into the lady Angie was tailing, spilling his drink down the front of her purple silk gown. Angie retreated and watched from a distance. As the man profusely apologized he produced a silk handkerchief and help wipe down the pretty lady. As he did so, the beautiful diamond broach vanished from her bosom. He had been slicker, slicker than Angie was ( for the time being) able to be. Angie felt her heart sink. Not only had she been deprived of the broach, but the existence of another member of her trade meant that she had better scram, not wishing to cross him. She could tell by the look in the man’s eyes that this was one not to be tangled with

 

Giving up on any plans she had been harboring, she got up, turned her back to the dance floor, headed as quickly as she could to the far exit, keeping her gains, and cutting her (presumed) losses.

 

Angie reached the door without challenge, opening it, she found stairs leading into the Church above. But first she stole a look back. She observed the man suavely talking to the now brooch less lady wearing purple silk. In that second a long haired (ginger) young lady passed by him, wearing a slinking green satin dress. Angie saw the man watching her walk on bye, and then immediately took his leave of purple silk, and began following the perky girl in green satin, with her savory collection of loosely dangling silver jewelry, heavily encrusted with flickering emeralds.

 

Angie turned away, and while wondering how she had failed to have spotted that prime prey in green earlier, went to the stairs.

 

She went up the stairs, coming out into a small chapel in back of the church. A door led to the outside, which Angie took, pouting inwardly, feeling all the world like a child who had been deprived of a desirable toy. She found herself on the side leading down to the Garden from which she had entered. The Church was now in between Angie and the reception, so she felt free to move unobserved. She crossed over to the gardens entrance and headed down the hill.

 

In front of her was a hedgerow, on the other side, Angie knew, was the small field with benches that lay at the entrance to the gardens proper. It was coming from there that she head the voices of children playing, on the other side, but she paid no heed, her mind was on leaving the area.

 

As she hurried along the hedgerow she saw something sparkle expensively in the sunlight through one of the gaps in the hedges. She stopped and curiously looked through a small opening. That’s were all the young darlings have been hiding she remarked to herself, her interest peaking. Forgetting all about leaving and lost opportunity of the brooch, she now focused on the new “toy” now dangling its enticement to her. It belonged to a girl in a slithering silvery gown, with her long hair done up in a long plait. Angie eyed the girl’s sparklers, which Angie first took as all rhinestones.. But, as Angie took inventory, her eye focused on a ring that she was wearing on one of her petite fingers. It held a fiery display, diamonds and rubies. There was no way the ring was rhinestone. Looking around to access the situation, Angie decided that by hook or crook, she needed to get a better look.

 

Watching the colourfully gowned young ladies innocently at play, Angie mused over the golden opportunity just waiting for someone unscrupulous to acquire the jewelry they were wearing. Someone should make them aware Angie decided, surprised that no one older than 16 was watching over them. Knowing that the scene before her was too fertile an opportunity to pass up without at least a long glance, Angie looked around, making sure no adults were about unseen in the woods, or any other nook and cranny of the play area.

 

Angie had found she had a knack for capturing young, well dressed lady’s interest, much to her amusement, and profit! It was with this in mind that Angie decided to allow herself a few precious minutes to watch from her hidden opening to see what may transpire. There were six children, four young ladies who were obviously dressed for a wedding, and the two urchin boys of about 12 and 10 she had spotted earlier. They were dressed as the local poor farm boys they obviously were. Angie quickly overheard the names of the girls as they called out to one another. .

 

The group were playing, appropriately enough for Angie’s point of view, a children’s standard game of cops and robbers. All Angie could think about, as she watched the boys with exuberance chasing and holding the giggling, squirming girls, was that there would hopefully be no actual robbing of jewelry as the game was played out. As each girl, Angie quickly memorizing their names, was ”captured” and taken to “prison”, Angie was able to scope them out at leisure.

 

The youngest Cecilia, about six, was wearing a long smooth gown of deep cream, with a midnight black bolero style jacket of velvet. From her neck was happily swaying a long silver chain with a jeweled winged beetle pendent, her jacket was home to a matching pin.

 

Cecilia’s older sister, 10 year old Claire, was wearing a puffy blue satin blouse with a long bow dancing down the front. Her long skirt of glistening black flowed in ripples as she ran. Also moving in ripples were the long gold herringbone chains she wore dangling from her neck, as were also her matching earrings and bracelet. A thick, expensively shiny gold ring encircled her middle finger.

 

Claire’s friend, Abbey, of about the same age, was wearing a longish gown of sunset pink satin, with a white satin sash encircling her waist. At the center of the sash glistened a gold pin set with pearls. Around her throat, dangling from her ears, were glimmering white pearls.

 

The oldest girl, the one in charge, was a fourteen year old named Amanda. Young and flighty, she kept looking up into the voluminous white clouds in the sky as if trying to see what they were forming. She was dressed in a longish slithering silver princess style gown, the style one may see flowing along the shapely figure of an actress at the moving picture awards ceremony. A fancy necklace with large garnet stones and small diamonds was flapping against her chest as she ran. The necklace matched her long earrings, bracelet, along with her pretty ring. She was wearing a flashy red jeweled head band , with strings of gold and rhinestones interwoven into her long plait of naturally wavy chestnut hair. The head band was all rhinestone, as were the garnets in the rest of her jewels. But what from a distance appeared to be small diamonds in her matching set that separated the garnets, were actually ¼ caret diamonds. Angie, upon realizing this, felt her heart burning with desire at acquiring a piece of the set being so vulnerably dangling from Amanda’s slickly attired person. But a couple of ripping gold herringbone chains, or even a jeweled beetle pendent flicked from a velvet jacket would be nice to acquire also, if only for the practice benefits.

 

To Angie’s secret joy, Amanda was the last girl to be captured, only because a stone lodged itself in her shoe brining her up lame. She was held by one of the boys, and lead, limping, to the other two girls. As a new game was started, she sat out. She hobbled to a nearby stone bench, brushed herself off , watching the group play before removing her shoe to find the annoying stone.

 

Angie started to make her move even before Amanda had made it to the stone bench. She reached her as she was shaking her shoe, slipping up alongside her on the cool bench. The girl jumped, but Angie’s special (practiced!) smile soon won her over. Angie soon enticed the young thing into casual conversation, extracting useful information as Angie, feigning a cheerful interest on the outside, while studying the girls expensive gown and drooling over the glistening garnet and diamonds that adorned it on the inside.

 

Angie tried to direct Amanda’s attention to her young charges, commenting about their pretty baubles, then asking who the boys were, and how well they knew them, about who suggested the game they were playing, how robbers were attracted to pretty things you know, and, were the boys playing the robbers next? Surreptitiously trying to plant seeds of distrust in the immature girls mind, and Angie could see that those seeds had found rich soil. Her intention was to keep the girl distracted long enough for a go at acquiring her necklace.

 

Angie, not unlike a feral cat, waited patiently for her opportunity to take the necklace from the unassuming Amanda to arise. But the girl was not cooperating; her attention on the playing girls lasting for mere seconds before focusing it back on Angie. Angie decided to use a different tactic. Angie placed an arm around girl’s silken shoulder and pointed up into the fluffy white clouds, asking her if she could see what Angie saw.

 

In the clouds, Amanda asked? As she leaned back into Angie who drew her close, relishing in the silky , quite scintillating feel of the child’s slick gown. No, Angie thought unkindly, you silly rich twit, the clasp of your necklace is what I see ( her fingers snaked up the backside of the sleek silver gown towards the tantalizingly easy open able clasp). The one you are about to lose to me, she continued thinking before answering the girl.

 

But seconds later, when Angie did answer, it was with a sweet motherly tone that dripped honey. Yes dear, in the clouds, doesn’t that one look like a soldier, or perhaps a highway man on a horse she inquired to Amanda? No, I think it’s a prince answered Amanda, and Angie thought , not for the first time, about the power of suggestion, for the mass of clouds looking like absolutely nothing but a mass of clouds to her!

 

But, it was an opportunity opened, and as the guileless girl was happily lost in her thoughts, Angie began to lift the clasp into position. As the necklace move up the girls chest, Angie could see its jewels, all sparkly, as the sun came back, peeking through the clouds. But Angie was not the only one who noticed, for the oldest lad who had been stalking up on the youngest sister’s hiding spot, was attracted by the sparklers now flashing around the distracted girl’s throat.

  

The boy headed towards them, and Angie’s fingers retreated. As the girl noticed the boy approaching, she gave a nervous giggle, and placed a hand to her throat. Angie began to rise from the bench, feeling the opportunity was slipping away, for the second time that day. But she hesitated a minute, and she was glad she did.

  

The boy came up and asked Amanda if she was going to play again. He was openly gawking at the necklace Amanda was nervously fiddling as he spoke, and Angie drooled to herself, you dear sweet child. For She could feel Amanda pressing hard into Angie as if seeking protection from his eyes. Angie took action, pointing out the sister the boy had been stalking. Successful diverting the boy’s attention, she sent him after the girl.

  

Maybe it was the things Angie had been feeding the girl about strangers and playing robbers, or pointing out the highway man in the clouds, but the attention to her necklace by the lad had had an obvious effect on Amanda. Angie, seizing the opportunity, exploited it to the fullest. With an Epiphany like thought, she knew what to say, and do next. And if it worked, then Amanda’s necklace would not be the only bauble acquired by old Angie girl.

  

Angie shooed the lad away, and he left, reluctantly to rejoin the game in progress. Then, in an inspired bit of deceitful storytelling, Angie related to Amanda a sad tale about an incident in her childhood, one she made up on the spot. The girl listened, still cuddling for whatever reason, as Angie stroked her enticingly attired figure down, relishing in the softness of her gown, along with admiring jewels she was so intent on acquiring. It was not often in Angie’s line of work that she was able to really check out one of her victims in this manner, and she relished every minute of it.

  

As Angie went full bore into her tale of woe ,she lifted up the attractive necklace from pretty girl’s chest, as she chokingly told the youngster that when she was her age she had been playing dress up in one of her mother’s gowns and had put on some of her mother’s jewelry without her permission.

  

Angie than took up the girl’s slender hand into hers, fingering gently the pleasingly expensive ring , seeing tin the young ladies eyes that she had struck a chord, and Amanda was totally held captivated with her story. Angie continued on… She had gone outside and over to the playground where a group of older children had convinced her to play a game of cops and robbers. When they had been done playing and Angie had gone home, she discovered some of her mother’s pretty jewelry was missing.

  

Angie noticed with satisfaction that as she was reaching the end of her story Amanda had stiffened, her heart started beating faster, and she started to check over her own jewelry. Your mother’s than, Angie drooled to herself, she had nailed it on the head. Carpe Diem Angie said to herself, throwing all caution to the wind.

  

Cops and robbers? That’s the game the boys are having us play, Amanda questioned with visible concern. As she was making this statement, Angie saw with satisfaction Amanda’s open mouth gasping as her eyes went to the boys who were now high in a tree, innocently unaware of what they were underhandedly being accused of eventually attempting to do ( steal the young girls jewelry)!

  

The two Boys had spotted a bird’s nest and where trying to see if it had eggs as the sisters watched them, backs to the bench where Amanda and Angie sat. Seeing the coast was clear, Angie quickly acted, before her story lost its effect over Amanda. Angie produced the purloined silver purse and pulled out the silky handkerchief. She spread the handkerchief out on Amanda’s silken covered lap, setting the purloined purse down upon her own.

  

I really think you should put your jewelry somewhere for safekeeping. Why don’t you wrap it up in this handkerchief, you can keep it in my purse. I’ll lend it too you if you promise to bring it back to me when you get back to the reception. Amanda nodded wisely (those earrings were very pretty Angie told herself) , Angie’s heart went to her throat, the young innocent, abroad from the reception, had swallowed Angie’s deviously luring tactic. Here, Angie promised, I’ll start, and she took of her gilded earrings and laid them gently out upon the shiny white surface of the silk handkerchief. This way I won’t lose mine either, she confided in Amanda, who looked back at Angie with her innocently wide blue eyes.

  

Amanda now showed no inhibitions while reaching up and removing her glittery necklace, laying it gently out upon the handkerchief. It was soon followed by rings and bracelet. Removing the headband and rhinestones chains, undoing her plait in the process, her long hair flowed down her back in curls. It curled up as she laid it upon the ever growing, sweetly glimmering, pile. Then she flung back her long hair and undid the screw backs of her flashy earrings, placing them on top of the heap. Angie’s heart began beating faster as she realized she was going to get away with this! Aw, she thought, as the last of Amanda’s expensively glittering jewels was added to the already glistening pile, wealthy children are so adorably cute when they are being gullible.

  

When Amanda finished, Angie looked down upon the glittering mound, unbelieving her luck. But then the unimaginable happened. Amanda, laying the handkerchief with its precious cargo on the bench next to her, stood and called back the two sisters and their young friend to the bench.

  

Angie held her breath as the girls, turned and dutifully ran up to her, the boys still high in the tree, paid no attention to them. Angie watched, almost salivating as the pretty darlings in their fluttering frocks came bouncing back, necklaces flinging in and out, obediently to Amanda’s call.

  

As they reached Amanda, she told them that they had better remove their jewelry for safe keeping. Why, Challenged Cecilia, with childish accusation? Amanda looked back at the boys in the tree, because I think you may lose them while you play, she scolded. We’re careful Cecilia retorted obstinately, as she looked from Amanda to her sister Claire. Amada looked at Claire, and lifting the girls gold necklace pointed her chin at the tree containing the two boys, and said, they will be the robber’s next game. Claire went wide eyed, and told Cecilia and Abby that they had better do as they were told.

  

Claire was closest, and with a nod from Amanda, unfastened her necklace and laid it out on the silky handkerchief. They were soon followed by her gold drop earrings, bracelet and ring. She started to back away still wearing her rhinestone hairclips. Don’t forget them… Angie started to say, but was cut off as Amanda told Claire to remove them, which she did promptly. Angie was glad she had been able to hold her tongue.

  

Cecilia was next. She approached Angie and Amanda, her long dress swishing richly as she came. She politely asked Amanda for help. Turning her back to Amanda she lifted up her long hair, Amanda remover her necklace and pin, laying them upon the growing shimmery pile. Cecilia removed her earrings and ring, happily placing them with the rest. Very pretty Angie said, admiring the dress, she lifted up the sleeve, admiring it, no bracelets, she whispered to herself, as she pulled the silky sleeve back ever so slightly.

  

Abby than approached, and quietly, obediently, unfastened her pearled necklace, and then removed her glistening matching earrings, and placed them all delicately upon the pile. Momma said to be careful with them, their Grand mama’s, she bleated sweetly, and Angie felt her heart skip several beats, suppressing an evil grin upon hearing those delicious words. Claire then helped Abby remove the pearled brooch from her satin sash.

  

Angie stood back, her heart had been pounding with cutting swords of mixed delicious pleasure and anticipation as, there on that sunlit church playground, the girls in swishy gowns, removed their valuables for “safe” keeping. She knew she now had to work fast, for there was an ever growing chance that an adult would show up from the reception and ruin Angie’s fun.

  

Angie than folded up the silk handkerchief, and in a classic bit of misdirection that would have made Gaston Monescu proud, appeared to place it inside the purse she was going to leave in the children’s safe keeping. But she actually palmed it, and slipped the bundle deep into her skirts pocket as she handed the purse over with her free hand. All three sets of eyes watching the purse, not what Angie’s other hand was doing.

  

Now go and have fun, Angie encouraged the girls as she handed the purse to Amanda. The youngsters seemed thrilled that they had an adult’s permission to keep on playing, and knowing that they would not be in danger of now being yelled at for possibly losing some of their pretty jewelry, they scurried off happily, in waves of whispery satin. Amanda stopped and gave Angie a hug before following the two sisters and their friend. The kind of hug that would have sealed the fate of any jewelry she may have still been wearing, and for which Angie did a double check for. Angie then watched Amanda run off, long gown fluttering out from behind her.

  

As the four girls rejoined the two boys, Angie slowly slinked away, melting into the woods. She allowed herself to smirk over how rewardingly gullible rich young girl’s in silky dresses ,wearing ripe for the plucking jewelry ,always proved to be.

  

Folle est l’agneau de la prune qui dans le loup avoue! She whispered to herself as she disappeared from the frolicking children’s sight.

  

She stopped suddenly as she reached a small clearing with the path leading to the rose covered arbor crossed. Not believing her eyes, as she unexpectedly saw below her fresh, opulently attired, prey.

  

A young couple was busily snogging in the garden the garden just ahead of Angie. As she looked over the pair of richly dressed pretty young things, she could not help but wonder if this couple had been in charge of watching over the children and had snuck away to be by themselves. She quickly ducked behind some bushes as the girl broke away, and with a come hither look, led her boyfriend through a rose covered arbor. Not a moment too soon, for the couple looked behind them, before crossing over the path and disappearing into the woods.

  

Angie cautiously snuck forward, and reaching the spot where they had disappeared into the woods, hears the girl giggling along with the unmistakable sounds of kissing. As the couple is otherwise occupied, Angie carefully moves into the woods. She spies the lad’s suit lying over some branches, and sees the shrubs moving underneath as the couple obviously have progressed now beyond kissing.

  

Angie spies something bright and shiny laying on the ground just in front of the shrub. She inches forward. It is the girls gown, laying spread out like a slick wet fluid purple pond , and there, in a nice neat pile, is the diamond jewelry she was wearing. Angie wonders what would have happened if some miscreant, or unscrupulous hobo were to stumble upon this scene. In her mind she reasoned that they would probably steal the jewels. So, why shouldn’t ole Angie be the one to acquire this one’s jewels also? Since she would probably be losing them anyway!

  

Angie reaches down and quietly pulls away the fluidly glossy gown, the silky material whispering along the grass as it moves. Angie keeps one ear on the couple just out of sight, the other listens for any noise on the path behind her that may betray her as she melts away back into the woods. Then, when she is a safe distance away, happily scoops up the girls small fiery diamonds. Picking up the gown she carried it back, hanging it from a limb just before leaving the path, she ran a hand along its enticing length, before leaving, snickering to herself the whole way.

  

Coup-Fourré, Angie thinks too herself as she regains the path, after carefully making sure no one else was about. Off in the distance she can just barely hear the children still at play. The purse where they innocently believed held their jewelry safe, she imagines still sitting on the bench. She thinks for a second about going back and lifting that purse, but decides not to push her luck, now that she had finally found some.

  

She once again pictured the beaming faces of the three young girls as they were being complimented on their shiny dresses by the pretty lady with the nice smile and gentle fingers as she carefully looked them over for anything missed that those nasty boys may try to take. Naively unaware that they had, in reality, been robbed of the precious gems that they had been convinced to remove for “safe keeping.”

  

Angie, for the first time, but not the last, imagined in her mind, what the children’s wide eyed astonishment would be like, they opened that sleek little purse , only to find the handkerchief had vanished! . And what the couple snogging about in the woods would make of the missing gown and jewels.

  

Editors notes:

 

Even though Angie related this story as having occurred on the same afternoon ,the chronicler felt she was keeping something back. It was never discover what, if anything had been. The answer may lie in the events unfolded above. It may be worth re-reading the story to see if anyone can pick up on it.

 

Folle est l’agneau de la prune qui dans le loup avoue!

 

Silly is the plump lamb to whom in the wolf confesses

 

Our Thanks to Mr Gardner for pointing out the existence of Mr. Monescu’s 1826 guide

 

*************************************************************************************

 

Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives

 

Spotted in a wealthy area, looking slightly unloved. It was taken for an MOT in 2013 failing on a headlamp aim, windscreen wipers, a damaged windscreen and rear indicators being the wrong colour. It then passed again in 2015, with the damaged windscreen being an advisory, and the advisories from the previous failure sheet disappearing! It appears that the owner took the car to a friendlier MOT tester for the second time around, although it is likely that they carried out more work on the car between the failure and the pass. Since then, it has been layed up again, although it appears to still be cared for, with the owner putting on an emergency hood to cover the presumably damaged hood underneath. The emergency hood was given to all Rover 200 cabriolets in case of the factory hood getting damaged!

 

Mileage in between MOTs - 1,496 Miles

Mileage at last MOT - 90,024 Miles

Last Ownership Change - 11th June 2012

 

K96 XPK

✓ SORN

✗ No MOT

Expired: 05 February 2016

  

Wealthy coal operator John Jermyn built the Hotel Jermyn from 1894-1896. The hotel opened in 1896 with over 10,000 people viewing the interior of the building. It was built on the same location as the old Forest House, which was built in 1855. John Jermyn purchased the Forest House and had it razed for his new hotel. The hotel is a seven-story structure designed by John A. Duckworth, with 200 rooms made of stone and steel with metal doors for fireproof construction. Owned for many years by the Jermyn Estate, it was first managed by Fred Godfrey until 1910, followed by L. L. Shoemaker until 1917. The Hotel featured a well-known restaurant and nightclub, the Omar Room and the Manhattan Bar. Numerous celebrities were guests, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The hotel was later renamed the Jermyn Motor Inn, and is now called the Jermyn Apartments and features 85 apartments.369

The wealthy district of Leblon viewed from its observation deck.

 

Leblon district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Have a great day and weekend ahead! :-)

 

To direct contact me / Para me contactar diretamente: lmsmartinsx@yahoo.com.br