West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-05-07
THAT FATAL DIAMOND.
The Wall of q Careless and I'm
fortunate Burglar.


| am the most unhappy man that
ever occupied prison cell / say this
advisedly, knowing that hundreds are
at this moment bewailing their fate.
which IN many cases may seem harder
than mine; but it is not if they still re-
tain the self-respect which have lost.
That's what tortures me; my prestige is
gonei I am degraded in my own ewes;
despise myself as heartily as the most
Nlrtuous man in the world could. That
i, to whom half the thieves i'm the city
have looked for guidance, should my
self have laid plot for myself and
walked into it! 1t is too humiliatingl
10 fall victim to a too powerful com
blnation of adverse circumstances is no
disgrace; to be outwitted by the supe-
rior tinesse of the police is hard. but en-
durable; but to fall into n snare which
should not have misled boy who had
never stolen so much as a handkerchief
III his life-this, this is a shame!
III was that diamond ring that did
It, l really think some special ill-luck
must have attached to the trinket, for il
brought no good to its previous possess
or. IL was hardly in the regular wav of
business that it came into my hands
gust as IT has escaped from them i'm n
most unbusiness-like fashion. That
young man must have been i'm great
straits before he united himself to me i'm
the business of stealing his uncles cash
box in order to obtain funds to paw his
gambling debts. 1t was a very easy
matter for me. He was TO mix n few
drops of an opiate | gave him with his
relative, brandy and water one even
ing and leave the hall door open; had
only to walk in and take up the booty he
had collected and placed ready for me.
III was very fair collection of plate that
awaited me as well as the coveted cash
box; but am fond of jewelry, and the
mouse was so beautifully asleep that |
couId not resist creeping up to the mas
ter bedroom to see if there was not i'm
1t trifle worth picking up. There was
the diamond ring and rather good
set of studs. took them and slipped ont
OF the room so quietly that should not
have disturbed their owner, even if my
young friend had not, by way of max
ing sure, doubled the prescribed dose of
Opiate' and thereby plunged his uncle
INTO not sleep, but death. Poor Young
fellow, the knowledge that he had killed
relative who had ALWAYS treated him
with kindness. If also with severity. was
too much for his mind, which, doubtless.
was never strong. Those debts of hon
or were never paid, he never came to
claim his share of that nights spoil
aud have heard that the distant cousin.
who, failing him, inherited the old
man property, grumbles greatly at
having TO pay for his being kept in a
lunatic asylum
ms IS cowardice on my part ] have
condemned myself. as the fitting pun
lshment of my folly, to set down in
black and white the way i'm which I en-
trapped myself, and I am postponino
the task 10 maunder over an irrelevant
incident
The ring had not been long in NV
possession when | paid the unluckv
visit to Paris which began my misfor-
tunes. The London police were very
acuVe Just then, and the business wa,
ih consequence dull and risky 50. being
IN FUNDS, J thought might take holi-
day ana enjoy fortnight i'm the CITY of
pleasure. ] was pretty well known At
home, but ! had not. so far a. know
single enemy in France. and did not
~
would be a mere innocent pleasure
seeker. taking the day e smu.emeuts A.
they came and making no effort after
either my own gain or others. loss
such was my intention. but, alas, what
intention, especially if 10 be a good one.
can withstand the force of the habits Of
p lieume' Mime gave way, and speed
One evening q pleasant April even
ing. ] formed one Of the crowd that
surrounded the platform AT an open air
cuncett BY my side was STANDING "a
stout and elderly man. whom. from
score ~ tiny indications. ] guessed 90 br
. British holdaymakor.
There's from fifteen 10 twenty
pounds boo bis coat pocket. TU bc
bound thought T. Gle f. far too
cautious tp leave his money at Doll. hotel
where Frenchmcn. whom hc regard az.
sN thieves. may Jaw band. Ou h. 80 he
carries II about with him. thinking that
ON bis person 10 can not fail 20 boz safe q"
Iho idea NJ uudecciying him iu this
particular was too tempting found
myself smiling boo anticipation Of fhc be-
vHdercd and borrOr-strickon expression
DIS face would wear when bc discovered
DIS loss. 10 was the humOr Of the fhiug
tnH touched me.
Ahai fatal gft Of humor which has
rnuod -0 many honest men, led mc .o
hf destruction Deep Zoo mt SOUL br
meath the outer gar1 Of tbo man Of the
world ] was wearing dwDIf the fn
siiuc's of iho profc ioual p.rk-uockot
Almost uncOnsciou-Iv inserted bon, Ien
hand Owe are All ambidegtrr in our proc
t'-Ton) in bis pocket and gently drew
o1t pookctDoDk thc FrrE sort NJ
pocket book ! knew he would carry
edged away from nov victim a- soon a.
the little operation va. over. and II I'M.
iangIug myself from The Interested
auditors who were listening to garI.-
dressed dnmse sfuefIug WIKI TO-
#s.6' q 2 9pei F2#sgsa, Ya.p5 saaE