Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
M0NGoLIAN GENIUS.
They Have Some Very Clever Burglar IN
China


China
From the New York Tribune.
MY husband was, a. you know, in the Aus
uian diplomatic service" said an American
woman whose experience Of divers lands had
oeen most extensive, 'and Of course the num-
Der OF incidents in our varying life has been
legion. But there was one adventure which
occurred while We were attached to the en-
oassy in China that 90 combined the ludicrous
with really serious that shall never forget it.
After We had been there about year there
occurred some grand jubilee or other at the
court TO celebrate the emperors birthday
or some other festive occasion and Baron
h had been sent from Vienna as special
envoy to tender congratulations, &c. He,
OF course, stopped at the legation. The
night before he was to leave be returned
very late for dinner. / could see during the
evening that he was distract and worried
and after our other guests had gone he
conhded to the count and myself his trouble.
He was a nervous. fussy little man. and was ev-
identity greatly disturbed. L have had some
important jewels confded to my care he told
us, to be given to our emperor as Q memento
of this occasion. Tomorrow I sail as you
KNOW In the government steamer for home.
and as soon as am aboard ship shall not feel
any anxiety, but must confess that tonight
am neryous-why, do not know, but l have
the feeling. and thought would confide il to
you; and perhaps you would share my respon-
sibility.'
MY husband. who has Inherited from his
Irish mother a bold csrelessness which has
often stood him in good stead, although dis
astrous In this instance, said good naturedly:
Give them to me, if you like have an iron
oox by my bed where l lock up any important
papers that have in my room at night and
win keep them for you The baron, greatly
relieved, gladly handed over the little case that
neid the costly trinkets, and shortly afterward
We all retired for the night. The counts room
adJolned mine and the last thing l remember
was seeing the glimmer Of his light under the
door as he sat writing at his desk finishing
up his dispatches for the morrow. / was
awakened from deep sleep by the noise Of
scuftie and Immediately afterward the shout
OF my husband. and in few minutes the
whole house was aroused. Catch the thieves =
shouted the count and for a short time all
was In confusion, no one understanding tho
why and the wherefore of the uproar. the
count In the lightest of attire having torn
down the stairs and into the court yard. After
useless pursuit he returned breathless to
tell his story. The box was gone; that I hnd
seen at once. and had already communi-
Gated my fears to Baron H., who had
also appeared upon the scene and who
was nearly frantic. Between gasps for
breath-for what with the excitement and
the chase and his embonpuint nv poor
husband was completely exhausted-we finally
elected the following facts: After he had put
the Jewels In the strong box, which stood on q
table at the head of his bed, he sat down at his
desk and, finding that he had more to do than
he expected, wrote until the small hours of the
morning. Notwithstanding the lateness Of the
hour he was restless after he finally got to bed
and did not fall into a sound sleep; SO that the
slight noise of the opening door aroused
him at once, and by the dim light from the
hail he saw muffied figure approaching his
bed, while another form, also shrouded in
QraDeTy. stood A ia
brave man and a strong man, and has always
been famous athlete; SO rather enioy-
ing the idea of the denouement he lay quietly
In wait, knowing by flash of intuition that the
jewels were the object OF the midnight maraud-
ers- The robber came steadily and noiselessly
toward the box AS if he were perfectly familiar
with the location, while the count feigned sleep
and allowed HIM to come near enough to Law
his hand upon it, Then with sudden move
ment he threw his powerful arms around the
thief and shouted for help; but by an indescrib-
able wriggle the creature slipped with the
dexterity of serpent from under the heavy
sheet-like drapery, leaving it in my husbands
clutch. With a bound the latter was out Of bed.
and for the second time he had the miscreant
in his grasp. but again he was foled. this time
by new device, which will venture to saw has
never been heard of il the police reports of
any civilized country. The man was COM
pietely nude and creased from head to foot
with soft buttery substance that made him as
slippery as an eel. Notwithstanding that the
count caught him several times he made good
his escape, never relinqunshing the box.
Yes; the jewels are gone, continued the
countess in answer to an inquiry. .'And what
Is mere We could never trace them. There u
no detective service in China that amounts 10
anything. and the wretehes were completely
successful. Baron H., although terribly afraid
OF the consequences Of his having relegated
his trust to another. behaved most handsomely
and completely exonerated my husband from
AL blame. Both gentlemen wished TO give the
money value for the loss, but this his imperial
majesty would not permit. The story OF the
creased Chinamap' got about. however, and,
We are told. vexed the Chinese officials not
little; and whether it was for this cause or for
some other reason we were shortly transferred
to another post. As it was in the path of pro-
motion we were more than satisfied and took
no pains to discover the reason