New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-09
VII

Well" said Marion, as he folded up Dene's
report, suppose that is about the emu OF inc
business, except interviewing the man and getting
the diamonds; it. is 10 be hoped that the supple.
fingered Indian hasn't tricked Drne alter all, ana
kept the genuine articles herself. by the way,
should rather hRe 20 hear what that woman has
TO tell us. Step down with me 10 the Arundel
and we VIII try to find her"
did not much care 20 hear anything moro
about the abomlnablc business: but ms Marion
seemed to wish il, and | was so indebted 30 him
In the matter, | smothcrcd my Discrimination and
wen
Salyah was not hard to find, and this is the
AS soon as / heard the gentlemen disperse
from the smoking. room and the houSn at last
began TO be still l crcpt downstairs and quietly
sat down in tie window sent nj the southern
the easement before, and the night was perfectly
calm, Sc that could catch whatever sounds
came from Mrs WnlcOtS rooms, rs they WIRE
reached from the opposite wall heard her talk
10 her dog Venus, Poor dear creature, what
makes 1; 50 sleepy them Il could have told
her; | heard her open and shut with chcE
her travelling bag, and soon followed another hard
metallic sound which | guessed came from laying
the revolver on the little marble table by the
bedside: heard the CliDking OF the spoon IN h'r
cup Of coccatina, then The sound OF me cup ana
saucer set down: then ten minutes OF shutiing
then % long yawn--Of which ! wns glad for IL
meant drowsinosS-the light went out; but at thus
time Of year there i dim luNtrr clear enough
10 sec by all night Soon oil was stu waited
there a full hour, that her sleep might be settled
and deep Next | locked to SCI that all the
doors in the corridor were clO~td. So that there
ght be no draught 10 shut any OF them wlth
AN awakening bang, though as the night was
calm there was little chance Of that; stll IL was
well 10 be- on the safe side Then with the small
screwdriv"r Mr. Dcnc gay" me softly Turned IN.
key, pushing bnck against the spring, but not
rciaxing my held after the resistance was
overcome, ~ that there was no sound :;
then / turned the handle. and -
this like all AZ the Court, WIS wclittcd; IL made
no noise; inch by inch 1 opened the door. and at
hast | stood inside; | had nothing with me but
the bag containing the falsr stones, IA deNc"e
feather and my own skill and conrngr ,,
stood md considered. could ~" niue
and hear morr LJc dog WIS breathing heavily ~
her basket near the marble table. Mrs. Nairot
had her fncc turned the other way aWl was last
asleep Then | slipped round the bel and OBJ
served the sleeper one hand lay outside the COW
rrLt the other WIS placed beneath her cheek and
parted lips, but whether II held anything c"ud
not bc seen, nor, ns she then IAy' c'ulu l"sS my
task You have heard Of the Indian thieves. and
how by making u sleeper toss about r"'tirssy they
cnn steal away the very bcdciothcs on which he Is
living Nj This | knew and many nnoth"r trek ot
hand -cunniug.
- And now, one slightest touch OF the tiny
feather she moved hcr head another touch her
nd stirred third, her head turns bali ROUND.
and held loosely In her fingers APPEARS IN the twl-
light q small leathrrn bag. Now for the test OF
dcbrate skill; hardly a brush, hardly more man
n tanning uf the surface Of those slender M.
gen, ana the Nuu ttluN'br thu'H INV '"s' ~
treasure Is minc-no, not yCt-the hand slowly
begins 90 close again Shnll snatch the prize
No. such roughu'ss is only for clumsy hands Leo
bc awhile: yet one rnUr' subtle stirring Of that
Saiin silk, the faiutcst rufr her hand once more
uuclcSrs and remains Enclosed. Softly grasp
,ho bag uutying the ia n cord ~ silk and bury
IL in my poc<rt when the diamonds make no
sound ~ they fall: then, Withdrawing my hand, |
unfastrn the other bag and iusett II ~ the neck al
hers smOtheTng the Two In my shawl as reverse
their position to drown the noise Of IN" moving
stones And now II II done, the sk"n band -
tied ngniu-still she sleeps pcarcmlly-dnl lastly
replace the bag near Her hand ~ II WIS before.
Was il part ui my niuul cruelty, or the pride
OF triumphant skill. That mad" me yet once more
touch her hand, which u opened and rcclo>"d
Hgnin gras,zd the bag, 10 complete the unhappy
wornnn's d"rcptluu2 All over now, save IN easy
re- rcat ono look around 70 scc Tint no traces are
left : SOFTLY | orcn th" door, softly pass through.
softly clo>r II again. | 70 down the stairs and
InsN ont into the cool night air, where | walked
in the shrubbcry TIL Mr. Denc came, and gave
him the real diamonds Ah, Sahibs,' Size added,
YOU arr our masters, but You have u great deal
TO learn from us