Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-28

"Well," said Marion. rs he folded mp
Denc's report. " | suppose this u about the
end of the business. except Intervening
the man and getting the diamonds; 1t is TO
be hoped that the supple-tnsered Indian
hasn't trickod Dene after all, and kept the
genuine articles herself BY the way. l
should rather like to hear what that wO-
man has to tell Us. Step down with me to
the Arundel and we will try to find her.
| did not much care 10 hear anything
more about the abOmInable business; but
as Marion seemed 20 wish it. and | was 50
indebted 10 HMM the matter, / smOtherod
my Discrimination and went.
Safyah was not hard to find, and this Is
the tale she told Us:
As soon as heard the gentlemen dis
perse from the smoking-room and the
house at last began TO be still crept down
stairs and quietly sat down in the window
seat at the southern angle of the corridor.
! had taken care 10 open the easement be-
fore, and the night was perfectly calm, 50
that | could catch whatever sounds came
from Mrs. Walcot's rooms, as they were
reached from the opposite wall; ! heard
her talk TO her dog Venus, Poor dear
creature, what makes 1t 50 sleepy
then?' II could have told herr;
heard her open and shut with a
click her travelling bag, and soon
followed another hard metallic sound,
which l guessed came from laying the re-
volver on the little marble table by the
bedside; | heard the clinking Of the spoon
In her cup OF cOcOatlna, then the sound OF
the cup and saucer set down. then ten
minutes of shutting; then long yawn-of
which was glad. for itmeant drOwsiness-
the light went out, but at this time of year
there is a dim lustre clear enough to see by
all night. Soon all wasstill. WAITED there
full hour that her sleep might be set
tied and deep. Next ! looked to see that all
the doors in the corridor were closed. so
that there might be no draught TO shut any
of them with an awakening bang, though
as the night was calm there was little
chance Of that; still, it was well 10 be on
the safe side. Then with the small screw
driver Mr. Dene gave me | softly turned
the key, pushing back against the spring,
but not relaxing my hold after the resist
ance was overcome, so that there was 10
sound then / turned the handle. and as
TINS, like all the Court, was well fitted, 1t
made no noise inch by inch | opened the
door, and at last ! stood inside; | had no.
thing with me but the bag containing the
false stones, a delicate feather, and my own
skill and courage.
IL stood and considered. I could see n
little and hear more: the dog was breathing
heavily in her basket near the marble table.
Mrs. WalcOt had her face turned the other
way and was fast asleep. Then / slipped
silently round the bed and observed the
sleeper. One hand lay outside the coyerlet.
the other was placed beneath her cheek and
parted lips, but whether it held anything
could not be seen. nor, as she then lay,
could pass my hand beneath the pillow
And now began my task. You have heard
of the Indian thieves, and how by making
sleeper toss about recklcsslv they
can steal away the very bcdclOthes
on which he IS lying. All this / knew,
and many other trick of hand-cunning.
And now, one slightest touch of the
tiny feather, she removed her head an
other touch her hand stirred: a third. her
head turns half round, and held loosely in
her fingers appears IN the shadowv twi-
light a small lcathcrn bag. Now for the
test of delicate skill; hardly a brush.
hardly more than tanning of the surface
of those slender fingers and the hold r.
lakes; | touch the bag, the treasure IS
mine-nO, not yet-the hand slowly be-
gins to close again. Shall / snatch
the prize? No: such TOughness is
only for clumsy hands; let me be awhile;
vet one more subtle stirring of that satin
skin, the faintest rufile; her hand once
moreuncloscs and remains Enclosed Softly
grasp the bag, untying the thick cord of
silk, and bury II in my pocket, where the
diamonds make no sound rs they fall, then
Withdrawing my hand l unfasten the other
bag and insert It in the neck of hers,
smothering the two in my shawl, as I re.
verse their position, to drown tho noise OF
the moving stones. And now it Is done.
the silken band is tied again-still she
sleeps peacefully-and lastly replace the
bag near her hand as it was before. Was
it part of my natural cruelty or the
pride Of triumphant skill that made me
yet once more touch her hand, which, AS it |
opened and reclOsed, again grasped the !
bag, TO complete the unhappy woman's /
deception? All over now save an easy re- /
treat; one look round to see that no traces |
are left; softly / open the door, softly |
pass through, softly close it again. l go |
down the stairs and pass out into the cool |
night air. where ! walked in the shrubberv
till Nr Dene came, and gave him the real
diamonds. "Ah, Sahibs," she added. "you
are our masters, but you have great deal
to learn from US"