The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-20
A JEWEL SALESMAN.

"A J1W LII CALEDONIA
III WAS returning to Petersburg, after an
Viz absence of some weeks. As.our train
10 stopped at Twiss a young man got in.
who, while not particularly shy looking,
had tie air of big schOolboy out for holt
day. In taking his place in the comrart-
ment he first, with great care, but in the
netting leather valise, which evidently
contained something precious, as he scarcely
took his eyes off it during the first hour of
the journey.
You know how tediously monotonous
railway is-one quickly tires looking
through the window at the straight line of
road flying past in the midst of plains of
wearyiDg samenesS of aspect-and TO relieve
the tedinm of the long, uDeventful journey
the passengers naturally began to chat and
exchange opinions and confidences. prompt
ed alike by ennui and curiosity, and our
young man would have found it a difficult
matter to escape from his share OF inteTro-
CATION, His great anxiety lest any accident
should happen to his valse was so apparent
to all that one of the passengers remarked
of it to him in jocular way.
lie redeemed little and replied: SIT
is true | do feel anxious, for | am trav-
eler for large jewelry establishment
and am held responsible for large sum,
the value of some diamonds in that vaIise,
which l am charged to deliver To Moscow"
This matter astonlshed me not little |
confess. The first principles of prudence
should have c0unseled him to conceal
the nature of these valuable articles. 1t
seemed to me that he was decidedly n
novica In his business thus to disclose
before so many strangers the fact of his
having fortune in his possession. | do
not know why-f0r his explanation was
Sible-but | felt q diStrust of him, and
set myself to watch his movements from
that time on. There was an affectation of
too much calm in his manner, 1 thought.
During the clatter and pleasantly COM
mon among fellow travellers, when people
talk without considering what they say,
the conversation turned upon wonderful
cas- of theft and diamond robberieS, and
little by little instances were cited wherein
the skill and rapidity Of the theft Was mar
velOuS.
sharp lookout for his diamonds. Was not
General Somaron0ff recently a victim to the
cleverneSS OF rODber who actually extracted
bundle Of rubles from the inside pocket of
his coat?
"Ohv' said the young man. Il am not un-
easy; | am used to this sort of thng''-a
statement which | did not believe. l could
not help feeling he was not accustomed TO
the charge of gems of such great value; he
had the face of 4 child, with childs soft,
sweet. innocent expression, unfamiliar with
care or responsibility Of any kind.
On reaching Kiln we all got out to stretch
our legs by stroll on the platform, and the
young jeweler, evidently not wishing to
make himself remarkable, followed our eX-
ample, taking his valise i'll hand as though
unwilling TO part with it for an instant. As
the passengers crowded toward the door he
was rushed violently forward by some one
in the throng; at the same moment the con-
ductor appeared and refused to allow us to
leave the carriage. The train was behind
time, he said, and instead of the usual stop
page at Kiln, halt of nearly minutes
limit was made. While he spoke the locomo-
tive whistled for the train to proceed.
AS we regained our compartment in some
what struggling order, the Young ieweler
uttered cry of fright which, notwth-
standing all effort at control, was one of
agony.
have been robbedr' he cried.
1t was true. Some bold operator, who,
from an adjoining compartment, had over
heard our conversation and had been al
lnred by what he thus learned. had at
tempted, with success, the robbery Of the
Jewels. They were gone-the thing was
donel
The young man still held in his grasp the
handles of The vaIise, which had been
adroitly cut, and in the presence of the
crowd he had not felt the loss of weight.
He gazed around with an indescribabie ex-
pItSslOH u LIS dCopah was tiuiy
pitiable, and it was as much through sincere
sympathy for the unfortunate youth as the
excitement OF an incident thus breaking the
tiresome journey that the passengers sur
rounded him with extreme interest and
curiosity. The theft had been accomplished
with surprising skill and rapidlty, and each
one had something to say on the subject
1t is incredible"
I'VE had only time to leave our seats and
return to them again"
ut seems like magic"
One man declared that the conductor must
be notified at once.
'NO-no." stammered the young jeweler.
''Why not% queried the other; there you
are with valuable diamonds stolen from you
and you do not wish TO be known. No ono
left the train at Kiln, therefore 1t is impOs-
sible that the thief has disappeared. Your
valise is still in one of the carriages-nO
doubt hidden beneath one of the seats"
mo, no-d0 nothing" implored the I'M
happy youth. But the other did not stop to
listen; he had already started TO inform the
conductor, and in moment returned with
that functionary, 10 whom he offered string
of suggestions as 10 the best meaus of re-
covering the lost jewels
The conductor. hesitated to take action in
The matter; but, upon reaching the next sta
ton, secured the assistance of two police
officers, whom he put in charge.
" The baggage of the passengers should
be searched" said the man who had con-
stitu,ed himself the leader of the affair, and
so the officers ordered.
At once a vigorous search began as the
train rolled onward. The news spread
quickly from the locomotive to the baggage
wagon, and every one yielded with good
grace to the examination. The young
jeweler alone betrayed any uneasiness: his
face became livid, and he swayed back and
forth as though on the verge of fainiing
The search was unsuccessful, and the
l.
manner.
Suddenly. our obliging neighbor, who had
shown decided instincts as detective, and
who entered into the work with ardor,
caught sight of passenger who, wrapped
in vOluminous cloak, had seemed to sleep
during the turmoil. Approaching him, he
threw aside the cloak and disclosed to view
the missing valise.
"Ah!" said he, with triumphant air.
knew well it was not far off"
The passenger thus disturbed did not,
however, appear put out by the discovery.
Leave me Alone" said he; " the yalise
is mine"
YoursP" cried the man; "why, the
handles are missing. You are too cool, by
far. What do you think of the impudence
OF your thief, my young sir?" turning to
the jeweler. proud IF the role he had so sue
cessiully played. You recognize your
valise, do you not"
The poor young fellow lost his head. He
should have thanked the man for his zeal,
taken back his property, and thus termin-
ated the affair; but he obstnately replied:
No; it is not time"
The thief breathed again; the perilous
moment passed. "YOu see" said he, with
superb disdain.
But our amateur detective was not con-
vinced-he would not give up the battle.
=" recognize it myself" he cried. :" am
not blind; for the matter of that, it is easily
determined If this be the missing vallse or
no. We know that the one we seek con-
tains diamonds-here will be incontestible
proof Hand me your key, sir; we shall
soon arrive at the truth Of this matter. l
cannot comprehend your doubts on the sub
ject."
But at this moment terrible cry was
heard. The young man rushed madly to the
platform of the coach and threw himself
headlong under the wheels of the train,
which crushed him into a bleeding mass.
AS you will have OWNED, the young man
who passed as travelling jeweIer was. in
reality, an agent of the Nihilists, and the va
lise lie guarded with SO much care and