Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-05-29

of the large vault in which the banks
funds were stored, stood wide open,
afording view of the interior, which
presented q scene of confusion not I'm
familiar to my eyes. Books and papers
lay upon the floor in every direction,
where they had been thrown after
gratifying the curiosity Of the burglars.
stopped to pick up a crumpled
document that lay at my feet, and as I
did SO, the sparkle Of a gem, heretofore
concealed by the paper, caught my eye.
With quick motion Of the hand /
picked the stone from the floor, and
held it concealed in the palm Of my
hand, while perused the document,
more for the purpose Of concealing the
sxultation felt at having gained so i'm
poztant a clue, thanfor any other reason.
Having glanced at several other
papers similar to the one had first
picked up, I began thorough search
of the vault, which proved fruitless;
but the diamond in my possession was
sufficient foundation on which to weave
q network of circumstantial evidence.
Having no further business at the
bank I took my departure and went
direct to celebrated jewelers. establish
ment in Somers street. The proprietor
of the store knew me, and intuitively
guessing my business, conducted me to
his private office. t
"Well, Tracy, whats up :" he in
quired, when we had become seated.
Nothing unusual" replied. "You
have heard of the Clifton bank robbery
presume. +, -..
'sThe Clifton bankl All! yes, I did
hear some one remarking about it
There was no account of it in the
morning papers,"
"No, believe not. The affair was
not discovered in time for the reporters
TO- get hold of it. WE'LL sir, the bank
has been robbed to the tune of thirty
thousand dollars; and l am engaged on
the case"
"Ham indeed! Hope you'll catch
the rascals, old boy: Dreadful state Of
things to exist in small city like this,
and the little man twisted uneasily in
his chair.
Not so bad as you may imagine.
Be calm, my friend; the parties that
robbed the Clifton bank will not be
likely to pay you visit.
I "Ah! hope your surmises are cor
rect; but pray tell me your reasons for
thinking as you do"
Certainly. In tho first place the
bank robbery is the work Of man, and
he is not professional burglar. In the
second place, that man cares more for
greenbacks, that he does for gold
ornaments, and would not plumber
your place for all there is in it. In fact
this very same party owned diamond,
but threw it away rather than carry it
around with him. It is very pretty, is
it not?" f-.-..-
And I held the stone up to him.
The Jeweler took it, examined it
closely, and returned it to me with the
remark: ''It is, as you remark, very
pretty stone, and, l might add, very
valuable for a gem of its size That is
your clue, I presume'"
eyes, the only clue happen to pos
sess. Now, then, I am anxious to find
the ring to which this stone belongs,
and you will please allow me to see
the rings that have been left here for
resstting since the robbery"
''With pleasure. Excuse me one
moment.
Ny friend disappeared. Returning,
a minute later, with number Of rings
on tray, which he placed on table,
he began to examine the labels attach
ed. .......... ...........
"Some Of these rings have been in
our possession number of days. All !!
here is one received this morning.
January l1th-diamond setting-E.
Baker,"
And he read The inscription.
took the ring from his hahd and
examined it. It was finely-chased ring
Of virgin gold, with the stone missing:
I fitted the diamond in the setting, and
passed it to my friend.
'.By Jove, Tracy, that is the very
ring you are in search of New lot
me see."
And he went nearer to the light.
eyes there can be NO doubt about
it. The stone fits into the setting
nicely, and, now that 1 Think Of ih is
Of the same kind and quality as order
ed"
"What name did you say the party
gavei' ltt~.
"Baker-Emily Baker"
emily Baker! Then it was LADY,"
! 81 presume SO; at all events; she
looked, and acted like one."
| uVUkst, Il S3,o IN call far the rinp Z"