The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-27
place and help him to weigh out some dol

place and help him to weigh out some dol
lars.
Vanderstroom, thus invited, Dipped his
chubby little hand into his patrons pocket
and produced the case.
1t was handsome Russia leather affair,
bound with silver and having an autograph
cut in the same metal on the back. But
Cornelius placed the pocketbook in the
Americans hand without stopping to de-
cipher the name.
The stranger laughed again and returned
it to the diamond merchant with request
that he would read it,
The little man gave start and a short,
sharp cry of surprise sprang to his lips,
for he could scarcely credit his eyes with
what he read. There, on the Americans
costly case, he saw his own unusual name
CORNELIUS vANpERsrRoM.
The American lighted a cigar, took a
minute or so to get it into working order,
during which he seemed to be deriving in
finite amusement from the merchants as
tonished looks, and then he said:
All powerful strange, amt it. that my
name should pan out just like yours?
Guess was just as habbergasted as you,
when, looking in your London directory
for leading diamond joint, came across
the fac-simile of my sponsorial appella-
ton among the Hatton Garden COM
munity. That's what drew me to you. for
u.
'The little Dutchman had never heard of
any kith or kin In America But then the
tribe OF Nanderstroom had scattered from
The Hague and Amsterdam years and
years ago, and some of them might have
found their way TO the colonies on the
Hudson. Yes, no doubt the general was
right-blood as we'll as business ties ex-
listed between them. And, as he knew full
well, the old settlers from the low coun-
tries formed the major portion of the aris-
tocracy and wealth of the New World
Cornelius was by no means loath to well
come so desirable a family connection, es-
peclaily when the taste for diamo nds. the
dashlng bays and the untold wealth of
Potshot Gulch were borne in mind
No sooner, however, had these thoughts
taken form within the active brain of
Cornelius than a horrible suspicion pre-
sented itself. What if this newly dis
covered kinsman had only found him out
IN order TO Obtain lengthy credit for the
jewels he had selected? The bare idea
was too appalling for contemplation and
1t caused the little merchant TO break out
into protuse perspiration
The American was evidently thought
reader OF the highest order. He produced
Bank of England note from his pocket
book for tl00 and laid il on the table
Bills, p" said he adroitly calling in ALTER
atoms artful aid, were bully BOYS for
business" No getting over them He
liked a fair and square deal he did. and
no tavors asked. This was how ne guessed
he'd like TO trade. He was a stranger in
Europe, and he'd ask no man to 90 hail
for him-no, stree. That 800 bill was.
he calculated, better introduction than
all the names and references ION this
played out side of the herring pond"
The diamond merchant rubbed his
hands, smiled effusivey. and was evil
IDENTIFY of his namesake's way of thinking.
Wal, then. s'pose we fix it this way'7'
continued the American, in his uncoro-
promising Yankee style, you hold this
/ 100 bill and wire me TO my hotel when
the tixings to the diamonds are complete.
Then / come along to your bureau and
weigh in 81, 400 more and you hand over
the jewels. That way | don't plank
down too much beforehand for what |
you've not been fully paid for
Really, after all, there was A DOWNRIGHT
honest way of trading about these New
England folks that put your Old World
methods to the blush So thought the
little merchant as he consigned the note to
his walstcoat pocket and took down the
address OF the Americans hOtel-a first
class one, by the by--in Northumberland
avenue.
linen, with many expressions of mutual
esteem, the two Nanderstrooms parted.
But long before the expiration of the
term nxed Tor the completion of the set
ting of the diamonds the American was
back in Hatton Garden. And the visits
became more frequent as the intimacy be-
tween the two Vanderstrooms grew
stronger. The coloneI-he was not a gen
eral, as the Dutch Cornelius found out
from inquiries he caused 10 be made at the
Americans hotel-the colonel de-
yeloped a habit of dashing I'D with
those magnificent bays of his to the
merchants office two or three DAYS a
week, Just 10 see how he was getting on"
and TO invite him out for bottle of ..'!4r
and an oyster patty at the adjacent rail
way restaurant. on these occasions the
American would allow the voluble little
Dutchman TO do the major portion of the
talking. Somehow or other the converse
ton invariably took the direction, under
the colonels dextrous steering. of London
thieves and the various great robberies
and swindles that had recently taken
place ~ the metropolis. This was a sub