, 1876-12-29

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..uofhff tsan II cuutains Diamonds
- oshrr valuabl-s. Woalf you do
-sths rrrsi favor II taking charge of
lor the day.
n bot. With his usual urbaniiy.
.yT..l 20 this proposal, and the merch.
~ DEPARTED With light heart on his
tOur of inspection.
Next morning after breakfast, he cor
dially thanked his kind entertainers for
their Jealous hospitality, and added
hat. as he was about to depart, he
would now resume his charge of the
box. which had never before quilted
his person since he had received it from
lis owner. The host and hostess stared
At him in well-acted amazement.
"What box?" asked the host. 81 re-
member no box +; do you, my dear?"
turning to his wife.
"No,r she aaid, ST have no recollec-
ton Of any box whatever"
"What was it like?" asked the host.
. "Perhaps you left it in your own room"
But the merchant persisting that it
was with the host himself it had been
left. on returning to his hostess and try
ing to make her recollect the circum-
stance, both, after appealing to each
other several times, and fOrtifying each
other in their denial, became cold and
distant, and began limiting that some
thing must have happened to the mer-
chant to induce him to persist in so
strange a delusion. As the host touched
his forehead with significant glance,
the poor man remembered that he was
ina strange city, and the ground seemed
slipping from under his feet danger to
himself loomed in the distance, and he
hastened from the house in alarm.
Straight 10 the police he went and
stated his case. The official listened
imperturbably to the whole story, and
then asked:
"You gave up this valuable box to an
acquaintance of weeks standing, with
out any witness or any written acknoEl-
edgment?"
"He had been so very kind, and a
man in his position"
Bah-you q man of business But
have you no proof that the box belongs
toyou2"
"None whatever, except the key. It
is locked and have the key-here it
is" and he produced small key from
an inner pocket.
The official remained in thought for
some time, and then said :
well, will do the only thing 1
can for you. The Archduke Constan-
tine, the Governor of Poland, is a stern,
harsh man, but he is known for his Wig
orous justice, and, if he believes your
story, he will do his best for you. I
will take you to him at once"
No time was lost, and the merchant
soon found himself in the archduke's
presence, and was desired to relate his
story. When it was concluded, the
archduke, after moments reflection,
rang bell. An official entered.
Send for NJ" naming treach-
erous host.
ltwas quickly done, and the archduke,
without question or preamble, said to
the guilty man:
Sit down at the writing-table, and
write as shall dictate to you"
The man took seat, and took up q
pen the archduke began dictating-
MY dear wife All is found out"
No; l won't write that" said the
man, springing from his seat
linen you are guilty" was the
prompt answer.
Puzzled and foiled, he resumed his
seat, and wrote as he was desired.
My dear wife: All is found out.
send the box by the bearer"
Then he signed it with his own name,
Dy the archduke's order, and messen-
ger was dispatched with it. The mes
senger found the lady at her toilet /;
Wnen she read the missive she turned
iasny pale, trembling violently. Then,
leaning forward, she drew the box from
t1e recess in her toilet-table, and hand
ga 1t to the bearer, who, swiftly return
ing, placed it in the hands of the arch
uuke, He Immediately handed it to the
merchant, desiring him to unlock it I;
ana that being done, he asked whether
sne diamonds were all there. Yes, the
oox had not been opened +; they we're
exactly as the merchant had left them.
Again the nrchdnLa rnncr tha hall and