The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-05-14

Patrick, the old coschman, who me
me as l stepped upon the platform
"Sure, the ladies have been very ner
yous .about We, the whole day, ant
they sent me TO meet ye wild the car
iriage."
| muttered something not very
complimentary about the ladies', as
jumped into the vehicle.
"Sure, sor," said Patrick, as bs
leaped into the bus and started the
horses, "did ye have any .brouble
in girtin' the diamonds safe home
here p
Certainly not, Patrick" l replied
with dignity.
well, dye know, sor, there's biz
dale o. worrvin' about We at the
house this day. By the way, sor-
excuse the liberty-who was that
young lady | seen We talkin' to in the
car 2"
"A young lady from Hartford"
And We made ber acquaintance 10
the car, III be Bound, sor."
well, Patrick, perhaps you are
not far from being right" / replied,
with a smile.
"Mistherr Jack" burst forth Pat.
rick, "the girls will be the ruin Of We
yet. I'll bet months pay that girls
got the diamonds "
Nonsense |" l exclaimed, grasping
the bag involuutarily; you're crazy,
Patrick They are safely locked in
this valise."
as that SO?
Certainly it is.''
"Well then, sor, be jabers, I'll not
believe it till see them" and Pat
rick resolutely turned his back and
began hurrying the horses
Have you got the diamonds !?
Has anything happened ?" demanded
my sister aud dozen Of her lady
friends, springing to my side as | en-
tered The drawing room
Bother! Yes!' exclaimed,
"Pve got the diamonds, and nothing
has happened either TO them or to
me.n
"Weli-well!' exclaimed my els
ter, impalieDily, "open the vslise
Quick I'm dying to see them! -
With much dignity | fitted the key
into the lccs, aud turned it. At first
it resisted in an unusual manner, but
suddenly it gave may, and the bag
opened.
started back. The contents Of
the vslise were certainly not in the
condition in which | had left them.
"Wby, what's this ?" exclaimed
Alice. who had already begun an in-
vesligaiion. why, Jack Bascombe,
this bag is filed with old newspapers
ard bricks It's not yorr valise at
all -
sank into chair. unable to utter
word.
"Dida't tell ye so, -sor p remark
ed Patrick, who had fingered by the
door.
"And here's ID envelope directed
30 you" ssaFF.@ -..srs
tore it open, aid on the dainty
sheet which it enclosed | read these
words;
"MY 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
l will not linger on the scene v hieh
followed The memory of it is still
painful. Ny sister did not spare me,
and could not say word in self-
defense.
My sister did not wear the dia-
monds at her wedding, but she did
very soon after. for they were reeov-
cred within week By lhe detectives
who we're employed TO work up the
case, and To whom | made the hu-
initiating confession Of my folly. l
vas summoned 10 New York one
morning, three days after the memo
rabie trip of which 1 have told, for
the purpose of identifying a noted
thief named Bill Travers, wbo was in
the hands Of the police.
l found him to be the very man
whom saw at the window Of the la.
dies room in the depot in company
with Laura Gardner,
sits just IS | thought" said the
detective, WIEN fully identified the
fellow "the pretty girl who roped
you 10 was Travers' wife. She's 40
old hand. Well, you can go home
now. You'll have the diamonds back
10 day or two. | give YOU my hon
est word
Two days later the jewels arrived
The story of the aair was in ell
the papers, and for long time | was
the laughing-stock ofthe " hole nelgh-
borhood.
Said the HERALD:
Mrs. Travers requested Mr. Bas-
combe to close the window. OF
course be hssteped to obey and
while be was sDgsg, d in conflict
with the bolts and springs, she skill
fully substituted for bis valise anoth-
er which che had concealed under the
seat, and which was its exact fac
simile With this spurious valise
the fascinating and fascinated youth
unsuspectingly departed. Young
Bascombe evidently possesses a re-
markably impressible nature, snd an
unlimited amount ofcon6depce In the
integrity aud virtue Of bis fellowman
and woman. Let us hope that
this occurrence will be a lesson to
him.
1t was,