The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-12-30
THE MISSING VALISE.


was returning to Petersburg, after an
absence of some weeks. As our train
stopped at Twiss young man got in,
who, while not particularly shy looking,
had the air of u big school boy out for
holiday. In taking his place in the com
partment he first, with great care, put
in the netting a leather valise, which
evidently contained something precious,
as he scarcely took his eyes off Il during
the first hour of TIE journey.
You know how tediously monotonous
a railway is-one quickly tires looking
through the window of the coach at the
straight line oA road flying past in the
midst of plains of wearying sameness
of aspect-and to relieve the tedium of
the long, uneventful journey the passen-
gers naturally began to chat and ex-
change opinions and condolences,
prompted alike by ennui and curiosity,
nnd our young man would have found 1t
difficult matter to escape from his
share of interrogation. His great anx-
iety lest any accident should happen to
his valise was so apparent to all that
one of the passengers remarked on it to
him in jocular way.
He redeemed little and replied: ut
is true, | do feel anxious, for l am
traveller for large jewelry establish
ment and am held responsible for large
sum, the value of some diamonds in that
yalise, which am charged to deliver in
Moscow"
This answer astonished me not little,
/ confess The first principles of pru-
duce should have counseled him to con-
ceal the nature of these valuable arti-
Giles. 1t seemed to me that he was de-
cidedly novice in his business, thus to
disclose before so many strangers the
fact of his having fortune in his pos.
session. | do not know why-for his
explanation was plausible-but felt a
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, | thought
During the chatter and pleasantly
common among fellow travellers, when
people talk without considering what
thev say, the conversation turned upon
wonderful cases of theft and diamond
robbe1ies, and, little by little, instances
were cited wherein the skill and rapidly
of the theft were marvellous.
The young jeweler was advised tt
keep sharp lookout for his diamonds
Was not Gen. Somaronof recently {
victim to the cleverness of II robber whC
actually distracted bundle of ruble
from the inside pocket of his coat?
"Oh," said the young man, Il am no
uneasy; am used to this sort of thing
"a statement which | did not believe
could not help feeling he was not &C
customed to the charge of gems OF sucl
great value; he had the face of Il child
with childs soft, sweet, innocent ex
preston, unfamiliar with care or re
sponsibility of any kind.
On reaching Kiln we all got out t.
stretch our legs by stroll on the plat
form, and the young jeweler, evidentl.
mot wishing to make himself remarka
BILE, followed our example, taking hi
valise in hand as though unwilling t
part with it for an instant AS the passeI
gers crowded toward the door he wa
pushed violently forward by some one i
the throng. AT the same moment tn
conductor appeared and refused to alloN
us to leave the carriage. MO train wa
DenIuu llLlc, lc Silu, anu ilBUeiu VI vi
usual stoppage at Kiln halt of merel
IL minutes limit was made. While b
spoke the locomotive whistled for til
train to proceed.
AS we regained our compartment
somewhat struggling order the youn
jeweler uttered a cry of fright, whicl
notwithstanding all effort at contro
was one of agony.
81 have been robbedw he cried.
1t was true. Some bold operator. wi
from an ABIDING compartment had owe
heard our conversation and been allure
by what he thus learned, had attempte
with success, the robbery of the jewel
They were gone-the thing was done!
The young man still held in his gra
the handles of his valise, which had be-
adroitly cut, and in the pressure of h
crowd he had not felt the loss of weigh
He gazed around with an indescribah
expression of terror. His despair W
truly pitiable, and it was rs mu'
through sincere sympathy for the unfol
innate youth as the excitement of an
cident thus breaking the tiresome jor
ney that the passengers surrounded hi
with extreme interest and curioht
The theft had been accomplished wi
surprising skill and rapidity, and ca
one had something W say on the subJe'
ut il incredible"
1--WE had only time TO leave our sci
and return 10 them again"
at seems like magic"
One man declared that the conduct
must be notified at once,
Mono" stammered tho young je
eler.
why notY' queTied the other 'hi
you are with valuable diamonds stol
IRON you, and you do not wish u
b. known No one left tho train
Kiln, therefore u 10 impossible that I
thef his disappeared, Your yaliAe
6iill Ia ono of tho caTriagasI no dOu
kiaaes hsnsaih 0sls " " seAia"