National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-19


Exerted as an Aid to lme--IIoodwlnkins
a Susceptible Doctor.
In March, 1850 there arrived at Con-
stantinople by tho Austrian Lloyd's
steamer Vorwartz a nobleman styling
himself Count Steilano Perragi. Hotook
q suite of rooms at Mesirios fashionable
hotel in Pera and by his lavish style
Of living, soon became the center OF at
traction. lie said that no was colonel
of the Austrian Imperial Guards, and a
member Of tho dict. ue had come to
Turkey on private government affairs,
and was furnished with numerous intro
auctions to the different foreign ambaSsa-
doris and merchant princes.
A month after his arrival he headed a
subscription list with tho sum Of fvo
thousand piastres in old Of Madame
Sophie Cartenagg, tho widow Of the late
Monsieur Cartonagg. formerly banker of
Berlin, who, by tho sudden death of her
husband, found herself in q strange land,
with her three young children, destitute
of all support" In some such manner
| ran the hohding oil the list
Count Perragi humanely took upon
himself the task of soliciting subscrip-
tions; and incredible as II may seem,
collected tho sum of $1,000 In TWEEN ty
days.
Ono morning Perragi suddenly disap-
peared. Suspicious having arisen, tho
police authorities were instructed to find
| out Madame Cartenagg. But alas. for
human crodulity. the police swore by tho
beard of Mohammed that the madame
was a myth, and the Crescent City know
her not.
Now for tho second act. Not far from
the Cafe do Paris stands the shop of NM.
Degranti Brothers, diamond brokers to
his imperial majesty the sultan. Opposite
to this extensive depot Of precious stones
stood tho pharmacy Of DIR. Jacob Valpass.
Five minutes walk from these two
establishments stands tho Hotel de PEu-
rope.
In tho latter place Madame Estelle
Deorest and her sickly son Albert had
hired magnificent suite of rooms for the
winter. She was quiet, melancholy sort
OF lady, of about 30. All her thoughts
seemed centored In her boy. She paid all
her bills regularly, saw no visitors, and
received no letters SO much for madame.
NJ. Degranti, junior (the jewellery, was
a rather fast young fellow. very rich, and
very fond of horses. The elder brother,
OF this time was absent in Paris.
DR.. Jacob Valpass was a man of 80, and
considered very clever. His father had
left him some considerable property. but,
as he was passionately devoted to his pro.
fessiou he still continued in practice. We
have now sufficiently described the -four
principal actors in the drama.
l al NtVht NJ
DR.. Valpass sat in his study. A person
requested to SEQ him. A tall, deeply.
yelled lady entered. DIR. Valpass politely
offered her o chair, and asked her the
nature of her business. With q deeT
sigh, she threw back her veil, and the
J doctors weaker human half surveyed heI
dazzling beauty In bewildermont.
!; She told hor story In quiet, brief man
ner. She had an only son, on whom she
/, dotted passionately. He was subjected t.
fits Of monomania. And, most extrsor
binary Us 1t might seem, his desires lay
In the fact that nothing but diamond
. placed about him would satisfy his crav-
ings. She had consulted the best medica
men in Europe, and they prescribed
!. change of scene. She had travelled |
; great deal, but without any salutary efiec
on her boy.
0 DIR. Valpass took charge of this curl ou
g case, and soon became very intimate wit
. Madame Deorest. To DO brief, poor Val
70 pass fell deeply in love, and a month afte
hor acquaintan he proposed to her an
J., was accepted. Thus stood matters il
Z December, 1851. and so closes the secon
b act.
. Tho last scene opens on the 4th day o
q January, 1852. DIR. Valpass was putin
= on his gloves, preparatory to entering hi
: carriage, when no saw his atiianced brid
! rushing madly toward him.
'What is tho matter, Estolle"
ooh, he Is worse oh, come to him
, come to him ~ cried the frantic mother.
"One moment; step into the carriage,
will be with you Immediately"
I. He crossed over to the establishment {
h NM. Degranti.
LET me have that diamond necklace
+. these bracelets, this brooch. and thes
rings. Quick, Degranti! l am in
-. hurry. only want them for an hour"
=. But, Doctor, these are worth millions
x and"-returned tho ieweler, rather at
81. loss what to do.
.. "Give me pen, ink, and paper. Her
Il. is my note of hand for the articles. HoS
e, much are they worthW
L" AT a rough calculation, 100000
francs"
l. "Very we'll; hero they arc. Now, quici
the articles"
II Ten minutes after tho doctor an
madame reached the hotel, and fOun
So Albert In the arms of two domestics. Th
e. medical man took charge of tho yellln
boy and dismissed the servants.
4 lie drew forth his treasures and place
-, them about the boy. 1t was wonderful
"' The boy danced with glee, clapped h
e. hands, and gradually became pacific,
He then slowly left the room with dowI
O cast head. The enraptured mother fur
81 herself into the arms of her savior, On
rs with tears in her beautiful eyes thanke
:, him from her heart. Then followed or
a. q. long, delicious kiss, and the doctor WI
M in tho seventh heaven of happiness
z; Madame excused herself for momei
o, and left NalpasS.
n Half an hour elapsed, then an hon
o. y then tho doctor became fidgety. /
IN approached tho door; it was locked. +,
", another hour did the doctor renal
is quietly in tho room. Then n suspiciC
n flashed like lightning across his brazil
~ He Numbered at the door, tho sorvan
ID came running up, the door was force
Y open, madamos sleeping room visite,
C. but 10 tho birds had flown.
y, "a Two years after Valpass received 81
a: following note:
- 81 thank you for all your kindness; ar
m moro so because you were the victim
m Kisses are dear; The only one that euor
Z; sold brought fair price. 1t took =,
q nearly two years to mature our plan
~ How we'll we had calculated in all thin
oil is manifest by our ultimate success. M
n husband, Count Steffano Parragi. desir
M to be remembered to all his dear frient
II, at Constantinople, and hopes that u
- second surprise may DO of some value
them. Your diamonds brought mo fl
millions of francs. Adieu."
i: There was no signature or date. A
Id this was tho last Of the "diamOi
robbery" Tho thieves were new
captured.