The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-02-15
The Cleverest Cheat Yet.

During the last few weeks, says the Van
lty Fair, a perfect novelty in the art Of
swindling has been brought out in a town
III Italy, and, rs Il similar ruse might be
played upon the very sharpest tradesmen
II London, an account of the mode OF pro-
ceeding may be of interest to the residents
OF Bond streets and other parts Some time
since gentlemanly looking man, accom-
panied by his daughter, Il goodlooking
young lady of about eighteen summers,
alighted at the chief hotel OF the town
They gave themselves out to be English
and had, among other luggage, four large
boxes, containing two complete sets of
drawers. like those used by officers in
camp. They chose, 4 saloon and two bed
rooms, one OF which opened into the sa-
loon. AS soon AS they were settled these
drawers were unpacked, and one set was
placed against the door in the gentleman's
bed chamber, the door in question being,
like most OF those in continental hotels.
very thin
For some time things went on very sat
isfactorlly. The gentleman was not eX-
| travagant. but liberal, and was most par
ticular in calling for his bill every week
and paying it to the moment. Before he
had been many days in the town, he paid
Il visit to the principal .ieweler and made
some small purchases-in each case pay
ing cash and showing that he was well
provided with bank-notes The ieweler
was most anxious to press his new Gus
toner, and brought all kinds of beautiful
articles to tempt him, but at first his pur-
chases We're moderate, though literally
paid for Al the end Of a month the gen
tIeman paid visit alone, and after max
ing another small purchase observed that
his daughter was about to be married and
that he thought of sending TO Paris tor
set of diamonds The iewelei could not
allow such a chance to slip through his
fingers He had the most beautiful SET in
| Europe, the property OF princess; he was
sure that only Milford lng'ese could buy
them, and begged his customer just to in
| spect them The price was t5OUoot
The inspection was made bat no deca.
| ion was come to that day 'rhe NEXT day
another was made. and "Miord" agreed
to take them. The ieweler was delighted
He thought it would BE best to ask II he
should send tn, m round that evening, but
he received perfectly straightforward
ans er q do not keep 80 much money
about me. ! must draw upon my bankers
in London ! will give you .,oot to close
the business, and the Jewels you can de-
| liver against cash in the course of next
| week" The deposit was paid. and the
ieweler satisfied beyond 4 doubt that he
| was dealing with a most perfect gentle
| man. Eight days after he was requested
to call the same morning nj eleven and
| bring the diamonds, for which ne would
| be paid. lie arrived at the moment and
| found his customer in his dressing gown.
| sitting along at the set OF drawers referred
| to- front flap Of which turned down 50
as TO form a writing table. The jeweler
advanced respectfully, and laid the casket
open on the Flap in question. "Milord'
just examined the Jewels, remarked that
OF course he did not wish his daughter to
know anything of the transaction at pres
| cnt. and then proceeded to take out a
large handful OF beautiful crisp notes
At that moment the door opened. and
| in bounded the young lady in question, as
the ieweler afterwards said, lust like Il
| golden tawn." Nothing was more natur-
al than that "Mllord' should close up the
flap, and ask the young lady to 90 away,
as he wished to be alone But she was
4 spoiled child, and would have her own
way She had come to tell papa" that
the tailor was waiting for him Id the next
room and he must go. and that she was
| quite sure the .ieweler would like her com
| pany better than his; besides she had
| locket she could not open. and the ieWeler
| must help her The ieweler was not proof
| against the playful charms OF the Young
lady; he saw his goods safe, not exactly
| under his eyes, but next door to it. SO
sha harraj Ia,. ia hon, IN, t-,, AVID no ,Un,,ll
wait ''Milord'' LETT the room, and the
poor dupe enjoyed hall an hour OF delight
| full Irritation with the young lady There
| was something very winning in her WAYS,
and then she was Young bride
The time passed like a dream, and at
last the young lady passed off to go and
hurry her father The .icweler sat in med
itation; his thoughts were all engrossed
with the sweet girl who had lust left
Then he began to wonder how long his
customer would be. Then he went and
tried the flap of the drawer 1t was ell
right !" it was locked so he sat down
and unused again After some three hours
he began to think he must be forgotten
So he rang the bell and requested the
waiter to remind "Milord'' that he was
waiting, but to do it very politely. The
waiter replied that Milford and the sig
norma had gone out an hour ago There
was nothing to do but wait. and wait he
did. Neither returned Table d'hote passed
and although the poor man began to have
a presentiment that something was wrong,
the landlord was consulted, but was sure
that his guest was real gentleman, whose
only fault was torgettulness So again he
waited until past the small hours Of the
night. At early morning the landlord
again returned, and he also began to think
the case suspicious. The Ieweer was fli-
rious. lie made a dash AT the drawer,
and with the aid of the poker broke open
the flap His next move was to take the
casket He thrust his hand INTO the COM
partment, and sank bacl, into the arm
| chair lie saw before him nothing but y
square open void, leading into a set Of
drawers in the next room The landlord
did likewise, and So did the walters. Then
they sat and looked at each other. and al
last ordered restoratiyes Tor the leweer
who had tainted
The Virginia City (Nevala) Enterprise
OF the 18th instant has the following ar-
count OF 4 horrible accident which occur
red At the Consolidated Imperial mine ON
the afternoon OF the previous day among
the miners coming TO the surface at the
time OF changing shafts was Hugh McDon
nell, a native of Nova Scotia. and aged
about thirty-eight years There were four
other men on the cage with him at the
time. When the cage had reached within
one hundred feet Of the surface Mcdonnell
tainted and before his condition was known
to those with him, fell from the cage. The
man was caught as he fell between the
cage and the tilnbers Of the shaft, and hor-
ribe torn and mutilated, and before the
cage could be stopped was rolled off and
it1,4.