The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-10-12

with dignity.
"well, dye know, sor, there's bin
a dale O. worryin' about you at the
house this day. BY the way, sor-
excuse the liberty-who was the young
lady ! seen ye a-talkln' to in the carr
"a young lady from Hartford"
"An' ye made her acquaintance in
the car, I'll be bound, sor."
"well, Patrick, perhaps you are
not so far from being right" ! replied.
with a smile.
"Nfisther Jack" burst forth Pat.
rick, "the girls will be the ruin Of ye
yet I'll bet a months pay that girl
has got the diamonds"
"Nonsense!" I exclaimed, grasping
the bag involuntarily; you're crazy,
Patrick. They're safely locked in this
valise."
as that sof"
Certainly it is"
"well. then, sor, bejabers I'll not
believe il till I see them" and Patrick
resolutely turned his back and began
hurrying the horses.
"Have you got the diamondss Has
anything happenedf' demanded my
sister and dozen of her young lady
friends. springing to my side as ! en-
tered the drawing-room.
"Botherl Yesl" / exclaimed, Eve
got the diamonds, and nothing what
ever has happened either to them or
me-"
"Well-welll" exclaimed my sister.
impatiently. "open the valiesl Quick!
I'm dying to see theml"
With much dignity l fitted the key
into the lock, and turned it. At first
il resisted 10 an unusual manner, but
suddenly it gave way, and the bag
opened.
1 started back. The contents Of the
valise we're certainly not in the condi.
ton in which / had left them.
"why, what's thisf' exclaimed Al
ice, who had already begun an inves-
tigation. "Why, Jack Bascomb, this
bag is filed with old newspapers and
bricksl Its not your valise at all!'
/ sank into chair unable to utter q
word.
Didn't tell ye so, SORT" remarked
Patrick, who had fingered by the door.
"And here's and envelope directed
to you, in the bottom Of the bag" add
ed my sister.
/ tore it open, and on the dainty
sheet which it irclosed / read these
words:
envy DEAR JACK:
1t was all put-up job. When in
the future you travel alone, beware Of
pretty and unprotected girls like
Yours truly,
LAURA GARDNER"
will not linger on the scene which
followed. The memory Of it is still
painful. Ny sister did not spare me,
and could not say a word in self-de-
Tense.
NV sister did not wear the diamonds
at her wedding, but she did very soon
after, for they were recovered within a
week by the detectives who were en-
ployed to work up the case, and to
whom had made the humiliating
confession Of my folly. l was sum
moned to New York one morning,
three days after the memorable trip Of
which have told. for the purpose OF
identifying noted thief named Bill
Travers, who was in the hands Of the
the police. found him to be the
very man whom l had seen at the
window of the ladies' room in the de-
pot in company with Laura Gard
ner."
ats just as | thought" said the
detective, when had fully identified
the fellow; "the pretty girl who roped
you in was Travers' wife. Shes an
old hand. Well, you can 60 home
now. You'll have the diamonds back
in a day or two, l give you my word. !"
Two days later the jewels arrived
IN B.
The story of the affair was in oil the
papers, and for a long time was the
laughing stock of the neighborhood.
Said the Herald:
4 "Mrs. Travers
requested Mr.. Bascomb to close the
window. OF course he fastened to
obey; and while he was engaged in u
conflict with the bolts and springs, she
skillfully substituted for his valisc an.
other which was its exact facsimile.
With this spurious valise the fascina'
ting and fascinated youth unsuspect-
ingly departed. Young Bascomb ev.
identity possesses a remarkably i'm
pressible nature, and an unlimited
amount OF confidence in the integrity
and virtue of his fellow-man--and wo-
man. Let us hope that this o,cur.
renee will be lesson to him."
II was.