Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-05-08
NUMBER 81.

And noticed curious change in his
voice and manner. So, too, did MAI
thur, who stood for moment looking at
him with seeming perplexity in the midst
Of his too evident stupefaction
Meanwhile, Ned, who was Of prac-
teal turn, began taking from the capa-
cious pockets Of the taller Of the two
outlaws the valuables and money Of
which our little company had been de-
spoiled at the eager suggestion Of the
two diamond brokers, who had been lit
orally paralyzed with terror during the
entire scene through which we had
passed, both Of them having been re-
lieved Of large amounts.
Of course, they insisted upon receiving
their own property first Then came
ours. And, at the same time, from bit
of wash-leather in the same pocket rolled
a diamond Of such peculiar shape, size
and color-for it was one Of those rare
gems, perfect diamond that both
Ned and myself uttered simultaneous
cry Of astonishment and delight, as well
we might, for it was our stolen dia-
mond!
'FYou are in luck, gentlemen, " quietly
remarked Mr.. Smith, who had been
watching the whole procedure, while
M'Arthur stood looking on with covet-
ous eyes. II see that this is the stone
that you had stolen from camp, some
days since. had q glimpse Of il the
morning Mr.. Girard heren-nodding at
Ned-sIwas showing it TO Jacobs, the
brokers, on the corder Of Krall street. l
should know it among thousand
MArthur, who. with his recovered
revolyers, which be had buckled on,
had assumed his usual air of braggado-
cia, was heard to express considerable
dissatisfaction
One diamond is like anothern' he
growled-
And his idea was that under the cir
cumstanees the whole party had a sort Of
common interest in this one, to which
the brokers gave ready assent
I'D like to see any one try to take It n
said Ned, with dangerous CLEAN in
his eyes
And little Mr.. Smith, nodding approx
ingly, removed from the dead mans
body the money belt Of which Mr..
1rAruthur had been deprived
But instead of handingit to the gentle
man, he buckIed it about his own waist
with an agreeable smile.
'sWhat the deuce dos this meanz
yelled N'Arthur, whose face was purple
with rage, when, no less to his own than
to our astonishment, his arms were pin
ioned by the little colporteur, who seemed
to have thestrength Of two ordinary men,
And in another instant his wrists were
adorned with pair of shining steel hand
cuffs.
It's no use kicking, William, quietly
remarked his captor, removing a faded
naxen wig from his own head, and expos.
ing to view short crop of stubby black
hair. 81 didn't mean to have pulled you
till we got to Wellington, but this little
affair has, so to speak, precipitated mat
ters little"
And after we were all again en- route,
having left word at the next station as
to the disposition Of the outlaws bodies
the pseudo Mr.. Smith informed US that
the scowlng prisoner on the seat op-
posite, who was kept in bounds BY the
sight of cooked revolver in his caDtor's
hands, was one William Hardy, with a
dozen aliases, whom he-Dennison Hunt,
the then best known detective in Eng
land-had followed from Liverpool
to the very heart of South Africa, re-
ward Of a thousand pounds having been
offered for his apprehension as principal
in great London bank robbery.
"But I never thought should Be the
means of helping you two gents to your
lost property" said Mr. Smith, with his
customary placid smile, as after the
wearisome journey, we alighted in front
Of the Diggers' Retreat at Wellington,
with dust begrimed faces and stiffened
limbs, four days later.
And, 20 his credit be it said, the detec-
tive would not accept a penny Of recon-
pense from either of us.
.'The excitement Of the little 'scrim-
mage, was enough, +" he said, as we shook
hands at parting