The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1886-05-01
THAT FATAL DIAMOND.
Tho Wall OF n Caroloss and Un.
fortunate Burglar.

fortunate Burglar.
I am the most unhappy man that
ever occupied prison cell Isay this
t~ivissdly, knowing that hundreds are
at this moment bewalllng their fate.
which in many cases may seem harder
than minc but Il is not II they still ro.
tain the seli.rcspcct which have lost.
That's what tortures me- my prestige is
gone; AIN degraded in my own eyes,
! dcspise myself as heartily rs the most
yiriuous man in the world could. That
!, to whom half the thieves In the city
have looked for guidance, should my
sci: have laid a plot for myself and
walked into ~ II is too humlliatingl
To fall victim TO 4 TOO powerful CONF
bination of adverse circumstances is no
disgrace; to be outwitted by the mpc-
rior fncsse Of the police Is bard, but en-.
durable; but TO fall into snare which
should not have mi.lcd boy who had
never stolen ~ much as handkerchief
IN his life--ilis, this Il shamel
II vas that diamond ring that did
f. really think some special ill-luck
must have attached to the trinket, for Il
brought no good TO il previous possess.
cr, u was hardly In the regular way VI
business tia, !, came into my hands
Just az II has escaped from them In n
most unbusiness Ike fashion That
young man must have been In great
straits before be united himself TO me In
the business n stealing his unclcs cash.
box In order 70 obtain funds TO pay hia
gambling delts II was n very easy
matter Tot f,t, lie was 10 mix few
drops of an oplate gave him with his
relatives brandy and water Uns even
iig and legye the ball door open; had
only 10 walk III shd take up the booty be
had collected and placed feady for me.
IL was q very fair collection Of plate that
awaited me NJ well as the coveted cash
box; but ! am fond of iewelry, and the
house WIS so beautifully asleep that !
could not fcsist creeping up TO the mas
ter's bedroom 81 see " there was not Ia
II triile worth picking up There was
the diamond ring and q fathef good
yet of studs took them and slipped ont
Of the rooffi ~, quicns that I should not
have disturbed theft owner. even II my
young friend had not, by wat n max
Ing sure, doubled the prescribed dose Of
opiate. and thereby plunged bis uncle
ihtoi net sleep. but death. Poor young
fellow. the bdJnledgs ,hathe had killed
q relative who bad alNsts treated bim
with kindness. II also with seteriiy, vas
too much for his mind. which. doubtless
was never strong. Those debts of hon
OF were never paid. be never came b.
claim bis share of that nights spoil.
and have heard tina, the distant cousin.
who, failing him, inherited the old
mans properly grumbles greatly al
having 10 pay for bis being kept In
nnatie asylum.
This it eowsrdice on my part have
condemned myself, ~ The fitting pun
ishment Of ms folly. % set down In
black and white the way in which | GU
trapped myself. and ] am postponing
,he task 10 maunder over an irrelevant
incideht
The ring had no, been long In my
possession when paid The nulucky
visit 10 Paris which began my iuisfor.
tunes. The London police were yefy
active Just then. and the business was
IN consequences dull and risky; 20. being
In funds. thought | might take a holi-
day and enjoy fortnight In the city Of
pleasure. was pretty well known ai
home. bat ! bad not. 20 far ~ knew.
single enemy In France. and did not
intend 10 make any For fortnight
would be n mere innocent pleasure
seeker. taking the days smusernenis A.
they came. and making no efor, after
either my own gain or others loss.
Such vas my intention: but. alasl what
intention. especially II u b. good one.
can withstand the force II the hshit II
a liietimei hihs gave way. and speed
ily.
One evening. = pleasant April even
ing. formed one u the crowd tha;
surrounded the platform at an open air
concert By mr. side was standing a
stout and elderly man. whom. from .
score Of tiny indications. ! guessed 70 be
q British holiday.maker.
There's from fifteen 20 twenty
pounds in his cost pocket. Ill be
bound" ihonghi !. He bs far too
cautious - leave his money a bic hotel.
where Frsnrhmsn. whom be regards ~
ell thieves. maT lag hands On 4. % be
carries Il about vith him. thinking thai
On his person 4 can no, fail 70 be safe .
The idea u undeceiying him In this
particular vas too tempting; ] found
mrself smiling in anticipation Of - be
vflderrd and horror-strseken sfpfessissn
his face vould wear when he discovered
his los. Il wzs the hnmor Of the thing
tia, touched me.
That fatal Kifs u humor. which has
rulned % many honest men. led me t1
my destruction. Deep 10 my soal. b.
meath The outer gzrb q the man of fhs
world was wearing. dwell the in
stincts of the professional pick-pocket
Almost unoonscioasly inserted M lefl
hand 1--WE are al smbidexfer IN our pro
fezsionl IN bis pocket and gently drsr
cut : poeksshook-ths ve<y sort .
psckst-book I knew be would carry.
sszed zwsy from my victim - soon |.
tn little op~rsfion rzs over. snd dissu
tsnrling my-<lf from The int<re<fe.
saditors who rsrs listening % gsylT
drst.ed damsel shrzekin9 9Th fk< =
mains u 4 oncz powerful se=<s. go
foasd my<<li v.lkis9 along ik< bdgkfly
heht<d houIevxrd ] he'd nof Goee n
hrfor~ ! nafic>d tkaa ~ dian0nd m
vhirh eaasiea1ly vo<s - ~ II