Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-28
GaLes ano sket1kts.
rHE WRONG UMBRELLA.


period be as easily choked with sprat.
A very worthy friend of mine, sea cap
tain, sailed the whole world over and
battled successfully the most terrible seas
and storms, but one dav, after he settled
in Edinburgh. he went down tOthe Queens
Park and got drowned in that Insignificant
puddle called Dnnsappie Loeb. 1t is
not always the big things which pull a man
up, and many thief escapes easily with
big haul who month or two after. is
lined for some act not involving the value
of a shilling. But for turn of this kind
believe the real facts in this case would
never have been brought TO light. The
plan was SO ingenious and so cunning
" devised, and the principal so far re-
moved from the ranks Of professional
criminals, that it is no wonder we were
puzzled and non plussed. | shall begin
with the first case. that the reader may
understand and share our mystificatiOn
A gentleman drove up TO Princes
street jewelers. 10 carriage or cab-the
jeweler was not sure which. but inclined
to think it was private carriage-in broad
daylight, and at the most fashionable hour.
He was rather pretty-faced Young man,
of the languid Lord Dundreary type. with
long soft whskers. which he stroked fond
" during the interview with the trades
man, and wore fine clothes OF the newest
cut with the air Of one who was utterly
exhausted with the trouble of displaying
his own wealth and beauty. He wore pa
tent boots, fitting him like gloves and APP
peared particularly vain Of his own neat
foot and the valuable rings on his white
fingers.
When this distinguished customer had
been accommodated with seat by the
jeweler-whom | may name Mr.. Ward
he managed to produce a card case. and
then dropped a card bearing the name of
Samuel Whitmore. The address at the
corner at once gave the jeweler clear
idea OF the identity of his customer. The
Whitmores were a wealthy family having
an estate Of considerable size in the
West, and had, in addition to the fine
house on that estate, town residence
in Edinburgh and another in England.
There was large family Of them, but
only one son; and that gentleman the
jeweler now understood he had the
pleasure of seeing before him. He was
said to a fast young man, with no great
intellect, but traits of that kind are not so
uncommon among the rich As not to ex-
cite comment among tradesmen. The
fOllies of some are the food of others, and
the jeweler was no sooner aware OF the
identity OF his visitor than he mentally
decided that he was about to get good
order. lie was not disappointed-at least
in that particular.
81 want your advice and assistance, Mr.
Ward as to the best sort of thing to give
ah-to a young lady-you know-as a
present." languidly began the pretty
young gentleman. at must be real
tip-top thing-artistic. pretty. and all that
and you must be willing to take it back if
she shouldn't like it-that is, in exchange
for something as good, or better"
Hadn't we better send IA variety of ar
tcles to the young lady, and let her choose
for herselfP" suggested Mr.. Ward.
''Oh, hang it, no that would never
do" said Mr.. Whitmore. with considera-
BILE energy. ''She'd stick to the lot, YOU
know; women are never satisfied" and
he gave peculiar wink to convey the
idea he wished to express. "You must
be good enough to show me the things. and
I'll choose what | think best. and YOU can
send them to the house addressed to me-
I'll take them to her myself tomorrow,
and if they don't suit III send them back
by my valet. or bring them myself"
All this was fair and quite business like.
and Mr. Ward FASTENED to display his
most tempting treasures to his customer.
who. however, speedily rejected the best
OF them on account of their high price
At length he chose g lady's small gold
lever, ornamented with Jewels on the back,
and a set of gold ear rings. with brooch
and necklace to match. The price of the
whole came to a tritle under 500, and the
buyer expressed much satisfaction at the
reasonable charges and the beauty of the
articles.
You will put them up carefully and
send them home, and, if | keep them. YOU
can send in your bill at the usual time"
said the agreeable customer; and so the
pleasant transaction concluded. the Jewell
err showed him out, the cab was entered,
and Mr.. Whitman not only disap-
peared from the jewelers. sight, but
also. as it seemed. from every one
else's. As he left the shop, the
languid gentleman had looked at his
watch, and the jeweler had just time to
notice that it was an expensive gold one,
with very peculiar dial of gold figures
on black ground. Some reference had
also been made to diamonds during the
selection OF the presents. and Mr.. Whit
hhoie hsiu oetI oUlfyitS enough 10 remove
one of the rings from his white fingers and
place it in the hands of the jeweler. when
that gentleman read inside the initials
IS. W.
These two circumstances were afer-
wards to add to the intricacy of the case
when it came into our hands From the
moment when the prettv-faced gentleman
was shown out by Mr.. Ward he could not
have vanished more effectually if he had
been driven out OF the world. Half an
hour after. young apprentice lad in Mr.
Wards employ took the small parcel Civ
EN- him by his master out to the stately
residence of the Whitmores at the West
End, and, according to his statement. al
forwards duly delivered it. There was
no name plate on the door. but there was
a big brass number which correspondent
with that on the card left by the pleasant
customer. The messenger, who was no
stupid boy, but lad of IL. declared most
positively that he looked tor the number
in that fine crescent. rang the bell. and
was answered by dignified footman.
He then asked if the house was that of the
Whitmores, was answered with a stately
affirmative. and then departed, None Of