Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-08-04

w ell, IOt 6AdClIy, he Sdlu smiling,
"but good many valuable stones pass
through my hands from time to time"
| did not press my inquiries further,
and we talked on pleasantly; it was so
agreeable to find a sympathetic mind.
We discussed some of my choice old
sherry that | don't open for everybody,
and when the Herr rose to depart, |
! felt that one of the most agreeable
hours that [ had ever passed had come
| to an end. I pressed him much to stay
and dine, but he was unfortunately en-
gagged that evening, and was due at
MertOn's next day-in fact, as he smil-
ingly said, his only business in London
had been to inspect my beautiful col
| lection. He was preparing a work on
curious specimens of precious stones,
| it seemed, and was anxious to describe
some of mine in it. To ensure full JUS
! tice being done to their merits, / told
him | would write the account myself,
and forward it to him to make use of
as he saw best.
He was very grateful, and we parted
on the best of terms.
| was so eager to fulfill my promise
that I sat down at once to my task,
leaving the safe open Ia thing [ never
do as a rule), in case I had to refer to
the shelves to verify nv description
[ had just given the shape and
weight of my largest topaz, when my
servant knocked at the door.
FPlease, sir, a German gentleman, /
can't rightly hear his name, wants to
see you"
''Show him in," | answered, never
doubling that it was my worthy friend
returned. But in walked a shabby
old man, who looked dusty and dis
reputable, and not at all person to in
troduce into a room with jewels lying
about.
81 am Herr Schlossman," he began.
'"There must be some mistake" [
said, coldly "for the only Herr Schloss-
man | am acquainted with, a friend of
an old friend Of mine, has just left the
house."
each Himmel," cried the German,
waving his hands, excitedly. 'Den dat
is de rogue, de rascal dat pick my
pocket and steal my purse, my papers,
all-all r' and he jumped and gesticu-
lated as only foreigner can.
As he Gained down, he begani q
long-winded story of having arrived
early that morning, and finding that
his pocket had been picked at the sta
ton, whereby he had lost all the money
about him also a letter of introduction
to me from Merton. His luggage had
gone direct to Merton's house-at least
that was his story-and he had not
lon 1oft - h.
breakfast at the hotel, and his journey
to his destination. However, he luckily
remembered my address, and came to
ask me to lend him sufficient for those
present needs.
Now, it happened, that very morn
ing, [ had been reading in the Times
an account of a swindler who had ex-
tracted money from several physicians
by an exactly similar story, and [ was
not going to be taken in after the same
fashion. Had not the genuine Herr
Schlossman just left me? So [ told the
German, firmly. that it was useless
coming to me with his trumped-up
story; that the dodge was an old one,
out, the better. | must say he brazen-
ed the matter out we'll enough. He
was furious at being thought an i'm
poster; declared Merton could vouch
for him Merton being thirty miles Off
and, at last, became so noisy In broken
English and German, shat | was obliged
to tell him that, if he did not go away
quietly, | must send for the police.
Then he seized his hat, and dashed out
in tornado of explosives in both Ian
guages.
l had been so disturbed by all the
cOmmotion that [ felt confused about
my list of gems, and went hack to look
at them again before continuing my
writing. Was it to be believed My
best jewels were gone Yes, it was too
true. Aunt Dorothy's diamonds, which
/ had kept in small case to them
selves: Uncle Johns Indian collection
both had vanished Nothing was
left except my own purchases, and not
the best Of them even; for a certain
ruby [ had given-well, rather long
price fOr-was missing likewise. Alto
gether, [ had been robbed of nearly
$4,000 worth of property. When could
the theft have been perpetrated? The
jewels were safe an hour ago, for [ had
shown them to Herr Schlossman.
Could he be the guilty party? But
then Merton vOuched for him. / could
not suspect him of such a robbery. If
1t had been a loose stone, more curious
than valuable, it might have been
easier to believe. Collectors sometimes
yield to such temptations, but rich
man to make off with $4,000 worth of
.1at11 al i,
ly. Then thought of the shabby Ger
man, far more likely subject for sus-
picion; in fact, | should have been GER
tain he was the thief, save that could
not understand how he had managed
to appropriate my property under my
very eyes. Still, as the "pea and
thimble trick" shows, the hand can be
quicker than the beholder's sight, and
it was possible that my German friend,
amid his angry gesticulations, had con-
trlved to ship my jewels into his peck
ct. Either he or Herr Schlossman must
have been the thief, and | could not
suspect MertOn's friend. However, it
was useless to lose time rejecting. I
called a cab, and hurried to the nearest
police court to give notice of my loss.
AS | stated my case, the evidence
against the German stranger seemed to
grow more conclusive. His attempt to
gain money by false representation
looked very suspicious, and the police
inspector smiled at the negative evil
dence that had not seen him touch
the jewels.
"You never see a conjuror put a
watch up his sleeve when he makes be-
lieYe to slip it into q cake. and Won