The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-07-08
#iseellaay.
THE LOST DIANONH.

les, got into surgery, and have at last
settled down as plain, steady gong
old country doctor.
In the year-well, the date Is of not
much consequences, 80 that may pass
1 was taking q hand at watch making,
i'm the town of Champion, up in the
west of the State. Being rather shut
tlecock on the battle -dore Of circum-
stances than rambler from inclina-
ton, 1 was remarkably steady for .
rolling stone. I was temperate, kept
little company, and would sit Of an
evening in the boss kitchen smoking
my old briar-wood pipe and reading
some work from my select library of
fifteen volumes which was q strange
assortment on cunning, locomotive
manufacture, medical culture and the
like. There was O neighb0r of Ours
who would sometimes drop in Of an
evening and discuss with me on rOli-
tics, religion or kindred subjects, and
his quiet, open way made him great
favorite with me His face belied his
nature, for while he was simple, good
hearted and rigidly honest, his features
We're extremely hOmely, his nose twist
ed awry, his hair and eyebrows Of q
dead black, and q nervous affection,
which coupled with certain snakishness
about the eyes, gave him an extremely
sinister appearance. He was an engl-
neer in a factory in the neighborhoOd,
a married man, with quiet, plain lit
tie woman for a wife, sensible and
frank spoken, like himself. q. =
Mr.. Greenfield, the gentleman for
whom / worked, was an excellent arti-
san, a man trusted to any extent by
those i'm the neighborhood, and, more
over, being an exquisite workman in
fine work, jewels of great value at
times passed through his hands for re-
setting.
a wealthy gentleman residing close
by, a Mr.. Cummings, had left with him
an exceedingly large and brilliant dia-
mond, worth at a rough estimate some
four thousand dollars in hard gold.
This diamond was set in an old fash
ioned, singular-looking brooch, and
was to be reset in heavy gold ring.
The gentleman brought the jewel in a
wrapping of tissue paper, and in his
pocket book. Mr.. Greenfield re-
moved it from its setting and placed il
in our safe, in an old jewel case, whose
cover had been twisted off, and there ii
lay with a napkin thrown across it.
Guy Scott came in that evening, and
while looking over some charts of ma
chinery, the conversation turned upon
safe locks. Mr.. Greenfield placed i'm
plicit confidence in me, and knowing
the combination of our safe, l invited
Guy to examine it; it was standing in
the hall, between the store and the
kitchen, and, taking my lamp, l tried
to explain to him the principle of its
workings. With an involuntary move
ment l pulled the napkin from off the
diamond, and stray gleam of light
striking it, it blazed splendidly in the
gloom about it.
"What's that?" said Scott, with a
start, ga diamondW
Yes, replied, carefully closing the
safe, "a stone of great value. You
mustn't mention it's being here" He
promised, and, as thought, there was
an end to it; so we fell to smoking our
pipes and chatted until 1t was pretty
late in the evening. tgssr gr.s
"Myers," said Scott, as we were
standing at the back door, for a mo-
ment, before saying good night, /
want you to lend me twenty dollars un-
til Saturday. To-morrows quarters
rent day, and / am run rather short ;
can you do it ?''
"Why, of course" / replied, taking
the money from my pocket-boOk.
You're very kind, old fellow" said
Scott, pressing my hand; II felt
soueamish as the devil about asking
such favor, and I'll square as soon as
possible"
"Don't mention it," SAID I, pushing
him from me, "I'd trust you as soon as
any man living, Guy, and never be
afraid to ask me to split with you
when there's OCCASION"
He thanked me again and was gone.
/ rather oversight myself the next
morning. and when 1 came into the
shop, Mr.. Greenfield was hard at work
at his table, coat off, glasses on, at q
watch which q man had just brought
in and was waiting for.
This man was Tom Gossage, well
known in town as rakish, ne'er-do-
anything, who had plenty of money
and q handsome person, and whose
conscience being flexible, he was moi
considered exactly safe family man.
This was a character Tom bore, and
noticed, with surprise, that the door o
the safe was ajar. This carelessness on
Mr.. Greenfield's part was, l thought
remarkable, and L confess it gave me
quite start.
To make sure, went to the safe
lifted the napkin, when perceived
fb1 fIjn,17Ol3d 7r0e 0OnG, t-
"Mr. GreenfieldW 1 exclaimed
shave you taken away the diamond
that was under this napkin?"
"No, no." he replied, turning ashy
pale; +" you don't mean to say that il
is gomez" ;, ,,,,o.
with my heart in my mouth.
"Not there! replied Mr.. Greenfield
a gasp, "Good God j. must be there
no one could have taken it !"
"The stone is gone" said | quietly
"pray sir, compose yourself"
"Oh heaven, / am ruined man.
he said, frantieally pressing his hand'
to his face.
"This matter should be inyestigat
ed,n said Gpssage, moving to the door
"and, if you like, will at once sent
up constable.
"No one shall quit this place." 1 re
piled, placing my back against tn
door, "until thorough investigation
has been made" ~ 3toEf.
For a moment his eyes met mine
then with deathly pallOr on his face
he turned away and drew his handker
chief to wipe away the beads OF per
spiration which had gathered on nj
forehead. "Just as you please" h'
said, with q strange culver in his voice
"the precaution is NO doubt necessary
Mr.. Greenfield was searching tn
shop:up and down like one half crazed
Even through the excitement OF tn
moment / felt a most intense pity 10
him, for he was kind-hearted, haru
working man, and the occurrenc
would lessen the faith that people ha'
SO implicitly put in him.
! A boy was passing, and l tapped o.
the glass of the door and beckoned hin
in. He came with eyes opened to tn
size of saucers, and he seemed strlckel
with wonderment when told him I
run and send constables Wilcox an
Fish up at once.
They arrived in a few minutes, an
the whole matter was laid open to them
AS in duty bound, 1 related the fac
that the night before / had exhibite
the lock of the safe to Guy Scott; tina
he had seen the diamond, but that
was positive that the gem was in tn
safe when it was locked. Wilcox,
Fvery clear-headed fellow, then proceed
{ ed to search Gossage, and l must ga
: that he did it most thoroughly, but
elected no light on the matter.
, "There is no ground on which tn