Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-03-04
GEN. JACKS DIAMOND.

Pretty much everybody has heard O
General jacks penchant for diamonds
and great many of us know the maj
himself. a sturdy character. sound ant
firm on his feet as horse block.
Lis said that those who want to com,
IL over General Jack-no easv thing tf
do-alwavs approach him on his dia
mond side. BE takes it as a complimen,
to be asked to show his collection. anG
does show il. But he is a good Judge o
character for all. The story goes tina,
some thieves conspired to rob him BY
profitinR BY his pleasure in showing hi
treasures. There were three of them
uobby English fellows-who came ovel
expressly to do the job, and thoroughly
posted. They made his acquaintance,
and in due course procured the invita-
ton to see his diamonds. They claimed
to be sporting men, ardent turtles, but
connoisseurs in such things. They came
to Jacks house one forenoon in coach,
and he received them alone, opened his
safe, displayed all his treasures, went
into their history, etc. This" he
said, sis my Golconda specimen-not
very large, but remarkable for it's bril-
liancy and pure water. This is my Bra
zilian-it is bit off color, suspicion
of canary tinge - ....,--
Whack smack thwack. You
would, would youY" and with three sue
cessive blows OF his fat white fist, his
three English visitors were knocked
down and put h0rs du combat. It was
a mere suspicion on his part-something
he saw in the mems faces, read in their
eyes--but 1t saved his diamonds. He
summoned aid, locked the safe, secured
the men, and found them fully armed
pistols, burglar tools, handouts, rope,
gag, chloroform, red pepper. He dis
armed them, bundled them into the
coach, and gave them twenty-four hours
to leave the country.
One day General Jack had visitor,
man Of forty years, with grizzled hair
and stoop in his shoulders-a pallid
face. somewhat bloated from long indul-
gence in liquors You don't know me,
General Jack9" said the man.
The general was puzzled good deal.
"Hombre, I've seen you somewhere.
Stop-I have it! Good Lord, Gary,
what have you done to yourself9"
cts fifteen years ago, general" said
Gary, apologetically.
"Only fifteen! Zounds You were
a handsome fellow then; I thought you
were o genius. And your wife was
lovely"
"Don't mention the past-she's a
wreck-six children to care for; and
am-what YOU see. want you to do
something for me, before the black dog
deyours me-"
Hombre, it's the drink that does
it,"
II want you to save me from the
drink, general"
"How came it, Cary9"
Il was the war. poverty. sickness. long
in adyersity. long lassitude
and loss of spirits, chagrin, all that
turned in.
"I think I'm gone, general, but Mar
Qaret won't hear a word of it. She told
me to come to see YOU and ask YOU to
help me-"
"Where is the little woman, Mark7"
He named wretched tenement house.
Jack drummed on the table
with his fat fingers q moment. "Not in
want, I hope, Cary2' said he, at last.
"Not quite, general; but the times
are hard; I can't get away, and there's
40 telling how long it will be before that
comes. too"
"Oome, let's 20 and see her." said
she general, and Gary, without word,
od tho xuav IN hia moor loduinoa