Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-10-28
A JEWELLERS STORY.

1t was on the Goth of October, 1850,
that l was returning to England,
having taken the steamer at Dublin
for Holyhead. Business had taken
me to Ireland-I am a jewelcr and
it had been necessary for me to visit
q branch of my own firm in Dublin.
l was bringing back certain valuable
jewels which required resetting-dia-
rlonds Of great value, and some other
things of less Importance, but still
valuable.
l carried the jewels which | have
already mentioned in a small black
handbag, and so long as knew that
it was safe l was free from care. Ar
irving at Holyhead, l took my seat in
an empty first class railway carriage.
Just as the train was moving off,
however, a gentleman got in. He sat
down nearly opposite to me, SO had
a good opportunity of observing his
appearance. ] noticed that he was
young, apparently not more than
four and-twenty, that he had broad
black band around his hat, and that
vi lib ldCo Wclc tIdCco VI IcCcilb SoI
row, almost in fact, of agitation. He
seemed relieved at having caught
the train; and being, like myself,
quite disniclined for conversation,
our journey proceeded in silence.
My bag lay beside me and quite
under my eyes. l was tired after my
crossing, and fell into sort of doze.
On waking instantly glanced at my
bag. There it lay quite safe. My
companion, however. had moved his
seat We stopped at Chester, and
here / thought l would get out and
walk about a little, as we had ten
minutes to wait. 1 took my bag and
got out. On my return to the train
there was my companion. apparently
asleep. / got into the carriage with
out disturbing him, and we contin-
ued on our journey. At Crewe, our
next stopping place, he got out and
did not come back. / was very tired
now, and fell into a sound sleep, with
my hand holding the handle of my
black bag. / did not wake until ]
reached London; then getting into
the first hanson saw, and still car
rying my precious bag, of which
was heartily tired, l drove home. Or
my arrival, with a method which
suppose is habitual to man in my
trade, / Instantly went to the safe in
which kept valuable jewels, unlocked
it, and, depositing the bag on the ia
BILE openedit. Imagine my dismay at
finding that, instead of my diamonds
it contained only some rusty bits Of
iron and wooden debris. My bag wa!
gone, this other bag had been clev-
erly substituted for it, so cleverly, In
deed, that even the weight, as we'll as
the appearance had been jusged.
/ put the affair into the hands OF
the police, giving them exactly every
particular as l have written it. The
bag was lost.
A year after the events narrated
in the last chapter I was again trav-
cling on the line which takes passen-
gers to Holyhead. 1t was in the be-
ginning of October, as well as I re-
member.
travelled rst-class, my usual Gus
tom when l have long journey be-
fore me. During the year not sign
had been given of my missing dia-
monds, but l had not really despaired
yet of recovering them, for had a
certain unaccountable feeling about
the whole thing; that there was some
mystery about it / felt sure
Regularly every Wednesday in
every week had called at Scotland
Yard, and always had the same an
swer:
"Nothing yet, sir"
The reward had offered was sui
ficient to insure certain interest and
the police, / firmly believe, were as
keen in the matter as / could wish.
On this October morning in 1860, !
travelled with lady who was in deep
mourning. The day was chilly and
she wore several wraps; but getting
warm in the carriage. she presently
threw aside fur cloak she was wear
ing, and my eye was instantly at
tracted by handsome brooch she had
on. on which was portrait.
Without appearing to do Sc, and
with sudden feeling of interest and
curiosity for which I cannot account,
/ managed to get nearer view Of
the portrait. It was the face of the
young man who had travelled with
me the year before when lost my
bag. / was SO certain of this that /
resolved not to continue my journey
until / had acquainted the police
with this fact.
The train stopped at Crewe, the
place where / remembered the young
man left the train on our up-journey
the previous year. Here the lady
alighted--I did also A carriage
awaited her at the depot Il secured
q fly, and directing the driver to fol
low the carriage, discovered where
the lady drove to. Her own house,
evidently. She appeared to be in
excellent position, and to be wealthy.
I was not deferred by the discovery,
for 1 felt could not be mistaken
about face, which, though l had
G certainly noticed only in casual
way at the time, had nevertheless