New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-30

and the wardrobe. If he wakes while am
operating, silence him at once"
The instructions given to the man Giles
were silently Obeyed, and it renamed for
me TO obyiate the necessity of his adding
murder to his other crimes. OF course /
lay as if in sound and happy sleep-yet
wide awake
The man Giles kept his eyes steadily fixed
on the bed. In his right hand he held a
huge knife, or dagger. felt no alarm,
for on the least motion of the villain to use
the terrible instrument, should shoot him
ere he reached the bed. So far, felt per
feetly safe.
II have it," These words came in
whisper from Jean Antony. Come, Giles,
move softly Did you ever hear of such
id fool as this man He actually in
vited us to take this diamond Ha, ha!
Silence he moves No, all is still Tread
softly our fortune is made, hal Softly to-
morrow, Giles, we must away-hush All
is quiet in and without Now for the win
dow Let him sleep the sleep Of the inno-
cent?
They disappeared, carrying away with
them my valuable quartz
really, to the very letter, followed the
advice Of Jean Antony, and did not wake
from a profound, and, hope, innocent
Sleep" until the bright sunlight came shin
ing into my room through the clustering
vines around the latticed window.
That morning had considerable business
on hand. In the first place, had a screen
so placed that person could be hid there
without the least prospect Of discovery.
In the second place, had police officer
secretly conveyed into the room, and placed
behind the screen. To render his position
comfortable, | had a lounge prepared for
him to reeline upon, and a small table upon
which there was something refreshing for
the elmer man."
There" said I, "you can await the
coming man., and, if you feel disposed,
sleep the sleep of the Innocent
He smiled at the advice, and no doubt re-
peated the smile behind the screen. The
reader may exelaim, "Why did you make
so much preparation for an imaginery
visitl' imaginary it would seem, but
knew my man would come. The whole
panorama of his every action was distinctly
before me. / saw it all as if in a vision.
It's realization was to cOme--it was slowly
approaching, and when the servant an
nounced Jean Antony, just as the clock
struck eleven, l knew the first move was
about to be made. The bell sounded and
the curtain rose. There / stood in the mid
die of the room to receive him. There was
the screen, behind it the police officer.
There stood Jean Antony, looking as calm
and as eomplaeent as if the last nights fail
ure had not disturbed his sleep. Why
should it9 His object was to get the dia-
mOnd, and he came this morning fully pre-
pared, felt assured, to have it either by
fair means or foul. The fair means, ia his
vocabulary, were by stratagem, by forged
check.
Well he exclaimed, shave you heard
from our friend? ?"
"What friend2"
''Mr. Seymour. Who else I was in hopes
he would authorize you to take less"
mo, sir. The price of the diamond is
fixed at $4,000. Nothing less, / assure you,
will purchase it.
'FWell, well, we will not haggle about the
price. 1t is valuable gem, and viii take
It."
As he sad this, produced the diamond,
and laid it before him. The same smile, the
same sparkle of the eye, and the peculiar
nose, all seemed to unite into one express
sion, that of satisfaction.
Have you the money, Mr.. Antony" l
asked,
."Here is the value,'' presenting me with
check for the amount on the Canal Bank.
His left hand was turned toward the dia-
mond, when laid my hand upon his arn,
and said:
Not so fast, sir I! This diamond is real
your check may BEL
"What y he exclaimed "Would YOU
doubt my responsibility ?"
''NO. But / must first be assured that
the bank will honor your check"
Look here, sir, he fercely replied, "you
are playing me false. brought you let
ter of introduction from the owner of that
diamond. bargained for it-and it is
mine. You dare not recede from contract
so openly and so justly made. If you do, it
will be 1T the risk of your life"
ftY0u ono ayyosfo1 An I
pose to deal fairly with you. will send to
the bank, and if the check is all right the
diamond is yours"
eff you send sir, will accompany the
messenger. Let him bring the diamond
with him"
He arose as he spoke.
Certainly, sir l will go with you. So
let us depart Immediately"
/ also arose. Quick as lightning he
grasped me by the throat. 1t was with
giants strength, for / was almost thrOttled.
l, however, was not altogether unprepared
for an attack, so l struck him full in the
face, and he fell heavily to the floor. At
that moment, the detective, who probably
had been doing, stepped from behind the
screen, and as Antony was in the act OF
rising he was greeted by that functionary
by the title of . Nosey ha ha have got
you at last Get up, my friend You see,
sir, your time has come, ha HAP And the
laugh Of the detective was Indicative of the
fate of his prisoner.
.,DamnatiOnl caught in my own trap!"
Turning to me, he said--"You played
your game well. Had l known how it
would have turned out, you would not be
standing there, exulting in my disgrace"
''You mistake, sir, am not exuIting /
only regret that man of your intelligence
should follow an occupation likely to lead
to such result" l approached him and
whispered il his ear, you may retain the
quartz you carried away last night, as a
testimonial of my regard, and when in the
quiet of your prison cell, think over your
past life, and endeavOr to sleep the sleep
of the innocent"
1t was thus saved the African diamond.