Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-27
A SHREWD ROGUE.
His Ingenious Plan for Securing
Valuable Diamonds.

His Ingenious Plan for Securing
Valuable Diamonds.
From time to time the general pub
lie reads of some wonderful jewel rob-
berry, and marvels at the sagacity OF
those thieves who prefer to turn their
talents, often of the hig chest order, to
dishonest account, when they might
make an honorable and profitable live
lihood But there have been one or
two audacious robberies which have
never found their way into the news
papers, from some cause best known to
the losers. Some days ago we had the
pleasure of meeting one of the part
ners in q wholesale jewelry business,
dealing principally with the better
class of West-End shops, though they
are always ready to accept a private
customer. In course of time the con-
ve-sation turned upon jewel robberies,
and for something over two hours my
new acquaintance kept us interested
while he detailed more than one au-
dacious plot by which the firm had
suffered loss. After the silence which
followed a tale of more than usual in
terest, one of the circle asked if ever
private customers were tempted to rob
them.
OF course We occasionally have cases
OF that kind. said the narrator, though
usually they are quickly detected.
But perhaps the greatest loss we ever
had was in a measure due to one of the
best customers of the firm, member
of the Upper House, with a town resi-
dence in Arlington street, and no one
knows how many seats and estates in
different parts of the country. Proba-
bly, you all remember his daughter be-
ing married some four years ago-St.
Peters, Eaton square. or the Savoy
Chapel. forget which-with royal
parsonage to sign the register, and
wedding presents from Her Majesty
downward. His lordship is a very rich
man and his presents were worth a
small fortune. But they cost him more
than he anticipated.
/ was in the contingencies one
morning some months before this mar
riage came off, discussing it with my
partner, both wondering if we should
have an order from the Earl. when a
slim looking gentleman came in and
laid a note upon the table. 1t was an
order from the Earl to repair at once
to Arlington street with a parure of
diamonds. of which we make a
specially. I arranged to call a little
later in the day, fact of which in
formed the slim gentleman. But to-
ward the afternoon received another
note by the same hand advising me
that his lordship had left town sud-
denly for M Castle, his seat in
Loamshire, and that I was to come
down there for instructions in the
course of the following day. I re-
member being somewhat annoyed at
the time, for had an important family
engagement on the morrow; but 1 had
to swallow my Impotence and inform
the messenger that would do myself
the honor of obeying his lordship's
commands. My partner was in the
inner Office and it was my duty to show
him the letter. Judge of my surprise
when / could find neither of the Earl's
notes. though distinctly remembered
placing the second one upon the desk
before me while was giving the mes
senger my reply. I thought little OF
it at the time. though how their loss
affected us afterward you shall hear.
went down to M the following
day with more valuables than had
ever carried before or since. l must
have had at least ESQ, 900 worth about
me altogether. But l am not nerv-
GUS man, though men in my line have
been robbed in a railway carriage be-
fore now.
knew the Earl very we'll by sight,
though had never had personal in
terview with him before. / had occa-
sionally seen him in the counting
house and had listened to his peculiar
ly grating voice-a deep, stern voice,
with rough rasp in it like the noise
of a saw-a voice / could pick out
among a thousand. l had no occasion
to find fault with my reception Ar
elegant luncheon awaited me in the
dining-room, and his lordship's own
mantle slim gentleman aforesaid
was told off to administer to my Great
ure comforts. He was extremely
chatty and agreeable, without being
the least forward. as gentlemen:
gentlemen" too often are. and asked 6
variety of questions about my bust
ness. commissioning me upon the anx
iety [ must suffer in travelling the
country with so vast and tempting
treasures in my possession.
will not detain you with the result
of my interview with the Earl and his
daughter. I was fortunate enough t.
have in my possession the precise or
naments they required; and as l re
turned to town that night. well pleased
with my journey and big check in m,
pocket, congratulated myself that m,