River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-07-04
A SHREWD ROGUE.
His Ingenious Plan for Securing
Valuable Diamonds.

From time TO time the general pub
lie reads Uf some wonderful jewel rob-
berry. and uarvels AT the sagacity of
those thieves who prefer to turn their
talents, often Of the highest order, to a
dishonest account when they might
make an honorable and profitable live
,ihOOd- But there have been one or
two audaci0us 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 a 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-
dacilus plot by which the firm had
suTs rcd 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. a member
OF the Upper House, with a town resi-
dcuce 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. I forget which-with a royal
parsonage To sign the register, and
wedding presents from Her Majesty
downward. Ills Iordship 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 of. discussing it with my
partner, both wondering if we should
nave HtA NENLE AEuLtA lAtEf AaAl4s " AAt-lA a
slim looking gentleman came in and
laid a note upon the table 1t was an
order from the Earl 10 repair at once
tO Arlington street with a parure OF
diamonds. Of which we make
speciality. I arranged to call little
later in the day. a fact of which | in
formed the slim gentleman. But to-
Al r. 4 Il.
note by the same hand advising me
that his lOrdship had left town sud
denly for M Castle. his seat in
Loam-hirc. and that I was 10 como
down there for instructions in the
course of the following day | re
member being somewhat annoyed at
the time, for had an important family
engagement on the morrow; but | 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 I could find neither of the Earls
notes. though l distinctly remembered
placing the second one upon the desk
before me while was giving the mes
senger my reply. / thought little OF
it at the time. though how their loss
affected US afterward you shall hear.
went down TO NJ the following
day with more valuables than | had
ever carried before or since. must
have had at least $50. 900 worth about
me altogether But am not nerv-
GUS man. though men in my line have
been robbed IL railway carriage be-
fore now.
knew the Earl very well by sight.
though / had never had a personal in
tcrview with him before. had occa-
siOnalIy seen him in the counting
house and had listened to his peculiar
IL grating voice-a deep. stern voice.
with rough rasp in il like the noise
of "a saw-a voice / could pick out
among a thousand. had no occasion
20 find FAULT with my reception An
elegant luncheon awaited me in the
diniug-room. and his lordship's own
mantle slim gentleman aforesaid
was toId OF 10 administer 10 my Great
IRE comforts. He was extremely
chutjy and agreeable, without being
the least forward. as .'gcntlemen's
gentlemen. too often are. aud asked
variety Cf questions abo;.t ms bust
ness. commiseratiug me upon the anx-
iety | mus; suffer in travelling the
country with 80 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 to
have i'm my possession the precise or
nameuts they required; and a | re
turned to town tina, night well pleased
VITA my Journey and big check in my
pocket. / congratulated myself that my
treasures were 80 considerably light
ened since the morning. Il WAS more
than twelve months before | heard
from the Flrl again.
II was one dull November morning.
with 4 foe beginning to settle over the
city, 50 dense that we had lighted the
gas. though il was not long past eleven.
wbcr a visitor was ushered into the
counting hOuse-uo one else than the
slim gentleman. who gave me smil-
ing recognition and held GU. a note for
my perusal. / was somewhat aston
ishsd and not little pleased when
saw that il was an order for "A parure
OF diamonds; in fact, almost the same
order as l had received nearly eight
cen months ago. In n iOcular way
pointed out this resemblance 70 the
slim gentleman. To my surprise his
face became grave, and he looked
around cautiously, as il afraid
OF eavesdroppers. and coming a
little closer. began in significant
tone; .-Of course. you understand. sir
that confidential servants are often
obliged 70 know things that il Is as
well other people should be ignorant
q. Every noble family has its skele-
ton, md our family have theirs Now.
In she first place, have you another