South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-06-06
The Tell-Tale Diamond.

made good their escape with $50 900 in
their possession. As soon as the robbery
became known, repaired to tho bank and
sought the President, TO W lcm presented
my credentials and made kn1sn my inien-
ton OF commencing work az once The
old gentleman readily acqlie .ced, and to-
gethet we passed into the main offi So, where
several spruce-looking men were scratching
away as unooncernedIy as If they had not
been engaged in any amin re- discussion of
the robbery only a minute before
glanced at them sharply, but saw no hing
suspicious In their looks, and concluded il
would be a waste of time to question them.
examined tue lock Of the door opening
upon the street, aud found it had not been
tempered With, although the first arrival
had found the door sjar l next turned
my attention 10 door opening upon the
rear, and found it securely locked, in which
condition it had been, so the President as
sured me, since the night before.
who has charge Of the key Of this
door :" L enquired.
'Mr. N, the Cashier, had one, and
our Jauitor the other
Can either Of these gentlemen bo sum-
moned 2
Yes, both, if peeds be- Here War
ren, run around to Mr.. Ms and tell
him that | wish to see him imme dia,,ly.'
The clerk addressed was about to obey,
when a sudden thought struck me aud |
called him back.
you need not trouble Mr.. N; but
if the jauitor can be found ask him to step
down for minute or two.
| In less than two minutes the clerk re.
turned with the janitor-a broad shoulder
ed lrishman, whose answers to my Gues-
tons were given in such u straight. forward
manner that | at once exonerated him from
all blame.
home, do you not 2 Inquired, looking tn Re
man in the eyes.
yes, sometimes | does, an sometimes |
doesn't, was the laconic answer.
'Whcu do you not p
'Whcn Mr.. N worruks late O nights
as has been the case much o'l,te'
did you lock up last night
'Yes, sir, watts more, tried every dure
afterwards
'At what time did you lock that door p
and pointed toward the front entrance.
Well, as near as | eau recollec,, half
past siven.'
Are you sure you shot the bolt into its
! socket?'
aye! could swear that l locked that
durc an left it locked
How about the windows-did you fast
en- them as well p
'YiS, ivory wan OF them.
very good, sir you may go now, if
you like and turned to the President.
Now then, Mr.. J.. with your per-
mission, I will investigate matters below
stairs
The old gentleman conducted me to the
vault below The heavy iron door of the
large vault ir which the bank funds were
stored, stood wide open, aForiing a view
of the interior, which presented a scene of
confusion not unfamiliar to my eyes. Books
and papers lay upon the floor in every di.
recton, where they had been thrown after
gratifying tho curiosity Of the burglars
I stopped to pick up a crumped d,cu.
ment tba. lay at my feet, and as | did so,
the sparkle of a gem, heretofore concealed
by the paper, caught my eye. With a
quick motion OF The hand picked the stone
from the floor, and held il concealed in the
palm of my hand, while paru-ed the doc
umcnt, more for the purpose Of crucealing
the exul,ation | felt at having gained az
important a clue, than Tor any other reason.
Having glanced at several other Utpcrs
similar to the one ! bad first picked up, /
began a thorough search Of the vault,
which proved fruitless; but the diamond
in my possession was sufficient foundation
on which TO weave a network Of circumstan-
tial evidence.
Having no further business at he bank
| took my departure and went direct to a
celebrated jewelers. establishment ia Som
ers street The proprietor Of tho store
knew me, and iutuitively guessing ny bus
incsa, conducted me to bic private Office.
wei, Tracy, what's up? he inquired,
when we had become seated.
Nothing UNUSUAL replied 'You
have heard of tho Clifton bank robbery
presume.
The Clifton bank? A yes, did hear
some one remarking about il. There was
no account Off 10 the morning papers.
mo, I believe not The affair was not
discovered in time for The reporters to get
bold Of it. Well sir, the bank has been
robbed 90 the tune Of thirty thousand dol
lsr', and Am engaged on the case
Hum Indeed Hope you'll! catch the
rsscals, old boy Dreadful state Of things
TO exist in a small city like this, and the
little man twisted uoe.sily 10 bis chair
Not so bad a. you may imagine BE
calu:, my friend the parties that robbed
the Clifton bank will not DO likely to pay
you visit
'Ah hope your surmises are correct
but pray toll me your reasons for thinking
AZ WIN 10