The Dillon tribune., 1886-12-10
no sooner made up his mind +, ,,o A..

Than he resolved to carr n,- .,' wv HIS
al once. He would not give hims 49,
.'me to think about it. fc. The vnri
robbery" has an ugly son9' and ' ~,
olo not care to say it above ,,s,,' ~
one evening when his vii VAS 1in
ing with friend in town ,e fonn1
mat she had forgotten to axe her low
WIN her. The opportunity must not
DC lost; so good one .il..nt not soon
occ'r again. He therefore crept softlv
up to the dressing-room with the low,
III ms hand. Much to his as:oni.h
ment ne found the window wide onsn
INC furniture much disarraored tbo
door OF the safe ajar, anu-the din.
moads gone. ~
FOR some moments he stood arh,st
s1ar'Ng stupidity around. Then 49,.
oE>'>'Iul trulh flashed on him. U1,v.
lars hac effected an entry while ia WINS
at dinner and carried off the jewels.
''hJ AourS were over the
news OF another great jewe. robbery
spread over the country and the ser
vice OF skilled detectives were en,is1.1
But weeks passed aud no rllmmar
nght was thrown upon the mys,.r
GUS burglary. With this calam:,
came another. Captain Valletort';
creditors pressed him so hard thar hn
was compelled to take the initiatory
step 1or gong through the bankrup,c,
court. and his name duly appeared il
the Gazette. After this the Valleto..
found it expedient to leave Encl,r
Tor time. They resolved to spend 1h
winter in Florence. In that pleasant
city they were soon the centre Of n
brilliant coterie. for Mrs. Valletort's
beauty and grace and her husbands
good-natured man'nr were as much
appreciated as in London.
One evening. When they had dined
quietly at home. Mrs. Valletort an.
nounced to her husband chat she H.,
something to show him that would
surprise him considerably. The Cav
tain quite istlessly declared hlms..;
Wiling to give her ;.s attention: an
Lila, smiling rather wicke,l!y, yanishr,
from the room, reapnearing soon atty.
with a large cardboard box under .,ev
arm, which she carefully placed on the
table.
"What have you got there. my dear?"
asked the captain in som" surprise.
"Iou slal Sc. :e:,.ipd his wife
But first promise to let me have in,
way in this matter"
"Very we'll. promise
"Oh, you dear. iool:sn Eed. Just see
how much cleverer ! a.l s!,an y,u >"
cried the little woman exutinyly. t.;
she opened the box and took out several
SHABBY leather cases.
The captain started as if he had been
shot.
"Lilla, don't tantalize me like this"
he cried, angrily "What have you
got III those cases9"
"My diamonds their fac-simile
in paste" And she displayed mass
OF gems that positively dazzled him
"i.isten to me for a few moments :,uJ
will explain everything. Soon after
you asked me to sell my diamonds
began to suspect that you meant to
take them f1om me by strategem, as
resolved to manage the matter my own
way. knew that ii you had your, n"
money would all be swallowed ~, by
your debts, and besides l would lose
every social advantage the possession
OF the diamonds gave me. therefore
arranged my dressing-room so as to
make you think that the jewels :.ad
been annexed by burglars. am! kept
the diamonds sewn in my seaIsklh
jacket until we left England"
"No wonder the detectives were
puzzled. by Jove. Lila, l didn't give
you credit for such sharpness"
In Paris took them to the palais
Royal and had them copied in paste
Now" she added with brigh. ,mi.
and. placing the shabby cases alI
differing contents in his hands. III"
real stones are very much at ,oi.
service. shall send a palagr:i'.: .
the London papers sayin" that m
diamonds have been restored to mt
anonymously. and shall wear the nast'
set at IL Prince Opoponax's to-l:. '.r"N
night. And now. dear" she added,
81 have only one piece OF advice 70
offer. The next time you arr ,;lin Nag
Of turning burglar take your wife INT"
vOur confidence"