The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-16
MONGOIIAN GENIUS.
CLEVER ACT OF A cHfNAMAN WHO
STOLE A BOX OF JEWELS.

. OE6 - Dun Ut JEWELS
Story of q Burglary I'm China-A Creased
Scamp Covered With q Sheet Makes
Away with the Strong Box of an Amer
lean Embassador-The Thief Escapes.
-"My husband was, as you know, in
the Austrian diplomatic service" said
an American woman whose experience
of divers lands had been most extensive,
land of course the number of incidents
in our varying life has been legion. But
there was one adventure which occurred
while we were attached to the embassy
in China that so combined the ludicrous
with really serious that shall never for
get it.
"After we had been there about year
there occurred some grand jubilee or
other at the court to celebrate the en-
peror's birthday or some other festive
occasion, and Baron Fl. had been sent
from Vienna as special convoy to tender
congratulations, etc. He, Of course,
stopped at the legation The night be-
fore he was to leave he returned very
late for dinner. I could see during the
evening that he was distract and wor-
RED, and after our guests had gone he
confded to the count and myself his
trouble.
"He was nervous, fussy little man,
and was evidently greatly disturbed. i
have had some important jewels con-
fided to my care he told US, to be given
to our emperor as a memento Of this &C.
casion. Tomorrow sail, as you know,
In the government steamer for home,
and as soon as l am aboard ship shall
not feel any anxiety; but 1 must confess
that tonight | am nervous-why, ! do
not know; but have the feeling, and
thought I would confde it to you, and
perhaps you would share my response
bility.'
''My husband, who has inherited from
his Irish mother a bold carelessness
which has often stood him in good stead,
although disastrous in this instance, said
good naturally: Give them to me, if
you like. have an iron box by my bed
where lock up any important papers
that | have in my room at night, and |
will keep them for you The baron,
greatly relieved, gladly handed over the
little case that hela the costly trinkets,
and shortly afterw 1--we all retired for
the night.
STORY OF THE BURGLARY.
"The counts room adjoined mine, and
the last thing | 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. l was
awakened from deep sleep by the noise
of scuftie, and Immediately afterward
the shout of my husband, and in a few
the whole house was aroused.
Catch the thievesr shouted the count,
and for short time all was in confu-
sion, no one understanding the why and
the wherefore of the uproar, the count,
in the hghtest of attire, having torn
down the stairs and into the courtyard.
After useless pursuit he returned,
breathless, to tell his story.
''The box was gone; that had seen
at once, and had already communicated
my fears to Baron H, who had also APP
peared upon the scene, and who was
nearly frantic. Between gasps for
breath-for what with the excitement
and the chase and his embonpoint my
poor husband was completely exhausted
we finally elected the following facts.
After he had put the jewels in the strong
box, which stood on a table at the head
Of his bed, he sat down at his desk, and
finding that he had more to do than he
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 light noise of the open
ing door aroused him at once, and by the
dim light from the hall he saw a muffied
figure approaching his bed, while an
0ther form, also shrouded in drapery,
stood by the door. Count A. is brave
man and strong man, and has always
been a famous athelete; so rather enjoy
ng the idea of the denouement he lay
quietly in wait, knowing by flash Of
that the jewels were the object
If the midnight marauders.
CREASED BURGLAR.
1.-THE robber came steadily and noise
essly toward the box as if he were per-
ectly familiar with the location, while
he count feigned sleep and allowed him
% come near enough to lay his hand
lpon it. Then with sudden movement
le threw his powerful arms around the
,hief and shouted for help, but by an in
lescribable wriggle the creature slipped
With the dexterity of serpent from IN
Ter the heavy sheetlike drapery, leaving
t in my husbands clutch.
with a bound the latter was out of
ed, and for the second time he had the
niscreant in his grasp; but again he was
oiled, this time by a new device which |
viii venture to say has never been heard
# in the police reports Of any civilized
country. The man was completely nude
nd CREASED from head to foot with a
lippery as an eel. Notwithstanding that
he count caught him several times he |
made good his escape, never relinquish-
ng the box.
Yes; the jewels are gone" continued |
he countess, in answer to An inquiry. |
And what is more we could never trace |
hem; there Is no detective service In |
lima that amounts 10 anything, and |
ne wretches were completely successful. /
Saron H, although terribly afraid OF |
be consequences Of his having FeleRated /