Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-06
MISCELLANY
Set a Thief to Catch a Thief.

Some eight years ago, the diamonds Of
the Austrian ambassadress at Constantine
ple were stolen from her toilette table by
some peculiarly cunning and daring thieves.
A large reward was offered for the recove-
ry of the gems, and Dindar was deputed by
h,s superiors to the Office of detective in
this particular case. In the course of a
week, Dindar, whose scent no Border blood
hound ever surpassed got clue to the O.
riglnators of the robbery. The plunderers
we're numerous, and as the jewels could
not be sold without great risk of detection
in Coustautinople they had resolved to car
ry them for sale to Teheran, where they
had no doubt of finding ready market for
their valuable booty among the mobiles OF
Persia. Dindar Aghar found out theiI in
tended route, and on the arrival of the ras-
Gals at Kars, respectable merchant from
Koordistan,in high cap ofblack sheepskin
and a huge robe, entered their caravanse-
raj, ,and very deztrously managed to extract
from them, in the course of conversation,
an avowal that they had diamonds for sale.
For these the pretended merchant, t,who was
nc, other than our friend Dindar offered to
give handsome price, and thus save them
the trouble Of continuing their journey to
the capital of the Shah After great deal
of bargaining, the robbers agreed to sell the
Jewels for ninety thousand piasters, or nine
hundred pounds sterling, and with apparent
reluctance ard hesitation the merchant pro-
duced heavy leathern bag and counted
out the sum in silver beschllks. The mon
ey was some fictitious coin manufactured
by gang of forgers in England or Russia,
aud which had been seized by the Vizier
and confscated. The WHY Dindar had pro-
vided himself with large supply of this
counterfeit money and was thus enabled to
purchase the gems of the Baroness Won
- for few haudfuls of clipped pew
ter. The robbers left Kars joyfully on their
homeward route AT their first halting-
place, however, some Of Tire more wary be-
gan to suspect the accommodating mer-
chant who had so opportunely Interposed
to save them the weary ride to Teheran.-
Perhaps Dindar, aware If the worthlessness
of his circulating medium, was too eager
and TOO compliant in bargaining to smt his
reigned character OF a greedy trader. AT
any rate, the thieves examined the contents
of the money-bag, and discovered the be-
schliks to be spurious limitations, even grea-
ser and more adulterated than the Sultan's
shabby coin. The gang returned
at full speed to Kars, found the treacherous
merchant quietly smoking his chboque in
the caravauserai, furiously accused, de-
prived him of the brilliants which he had
uniustly obtained, beat him severely with
5ridles belts and pipe-sticks with the full
and unqualified appreciation of the bystan-
ders, and finally only abstalned from drag
ging him before the Cadi from the fear that
the sisnalsment of some Of the party might
be unpleasanty familiar to the myrmldons
of the magistrates of Kars. Having thus
regained possession of the 'brilliants, they
fastened ON towards Teheran. A
fresh plan vas soon formed, and D!ndar
A char mounted his horse, without needing
either his aching bones or the Jeers and
curses ofthe otherinmates ofthe khan, who
regarded him as not only dishonest tra-
der, but far worse--as detected impostor'
He rode as fast as possible on the road TO-
wards Persia, until his horse, knocked up
6y two hard days travelling over stony
ground, became too lame to proceed. DIM
dar, who was as good Judge OF the equine
race and as adroit haggler as the cannlest
native of Yorkshire, purchased strong
shaggy yaboo from peasant for trtle,
and pursued his journey. Pushing on un-
remiHngly, and seeking little frequented
pass in the mountain range, Dlndar had
the qualification of arriving before the rob,
hers among the wide-speadlng plains OF
Persia. = 1t was some time before he
encountered band fit for his purpose the
Koords were too savage and treacherous,
the Uzbecks too fierce and morose, the Eel
vauts too pastoral and gentle to be the al
lies of this Candiote Ulysses, At last he
arrived among the black tents and plcketed
camels of a tribe of Turcomans-a people
brave, hospltable and faithful, but with ex,
medieval ideas Of the rights OF
uroneriv. To the chieftaln OF this horde,