The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-30
sMONGOLIAN GENIUS.
Cleverness OF the Burglars OF the
F1owery Kingdom.
Tho Singular Trick by Which q Midnight
Caller Eludcd tho Grasp OF
His Would-Do
Canton

"My husband was, as you know, in
the Austrian diplomatic SERVICE" said
an American woman, according to the
New York Tribune, land, of course,
the number of incidents in our varying
life has been legion. But there was
ono adventure which occurred while
| we were attached to tho embassy In
China that so combined tho ludicrous
| with the really serious that shall never
forget 1t. After we wore there for
about year there occurred grand
jubilee at the court to celebrate the
emperor's birthday or some other
festive occasion, and Baron Il had
been sent from Vienna as special en-
voy to tender congratulations, etc. Ho,
of course, stopped at tho legation. Tho
night before he was to leave he re-
turned very late for dinner. I could 500
during the evening that no was distract
and worried, and after other guests had
gone he conflde d to tho count and my
self his trouble He was a nervous,
fussy little man, and was evidently
greatly disturbed L have had some
important jewels conf1ded to my care,
he told us, ito be given to our emperor
as memento OF this occasion. To-
morrow 1'sail, as you know, in the gov
ernment steamer for home, and soon as
am aboard ship l shall not feel any
anxiety; but l must confess that to-
night l am neryous-why, I do not
know; but I hnvo the feeling, and
thought would confldo 1t to you and
perhaps you would share my RESPONSE
bility.'
MY husband, who had inherited from
his Irish mother bold carelessness
which has often stood him in good
stead, although disastrous in this In
stance, said good-naturcdly: Give them
to me, if you like. have an iron box
by my bed where lock up any impor-
tant papers that have In my room at
night, and 1 will keep them for YOU
The baron, greatly relieved, gladly
handed over the little case that held
the costly trinlsets, and shortly after
ward we all retired for the night. The
counts room adjoined mine, and tho
last thing I remember was seeing the
glimmer of his light under the door rs
he sat writing at his desk, finishing his
dispatches for the morrow. I was
awakened from n deep sleep by the
noise of scufflc, and Immediately aft
erward the shout of my husband, and In
few minutes the whole house was
aroused Catch tho thicvesp shouted
the count, and for short timo all was
in confusion, no one understanding tho
why and the wherefore of the uproar,
the count in the lightest of attire hay
ing torn down the stairs into the court
yard. After useless pursuit he re-
turned, brcathless, to tell his story.
The box was gone; that I had seen at
once and had already communicated
my fears to Baron II, who had also
appeared upon the scene and who was
nearly frantic. Between gasps for
breath-for what with the excitement
and the chase my poor husband was
completely cxhaustcd-wc finally clio
tied the following facts: After he had
put the jewels in tho stronghold which
stood on n 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 q
sound sleep; SO that the light noise of
the opening door aroused him at once,
and by the dim light from the hall no
saw mnffied figure approaching his
bed. while another form, also shroudod
in drapcry, stood by the do r. Count
A. is brave man and n strong man
and has always been famous athlete;
SO, rather enjoying the idea of the do
noucment, he lay,qnietly in wait. know
ing that the jewels were tho object of
the midnight marauders.
The robber came steadily and noiselcss-
ly toward the box as if he wcro perfect
ly familiar with the location, while tho
count feigncd sleep and allowed him to
come near enough to lay his hand upon
1t. Then with Il sudden movement he
threw his powerful arms around tho
thief md shouted for help; bat by an
indcscribable wrigglc the creature
slipped with the dcXtcrity Of serpent
from under the heavy shcetlilsc drapcry,
leaving it in my husbands clutch. With
n bound the latter was out of bed, and
for the second time he had the mis-
creant in his grasp; but again he was
foiled, this time by new device which
will venture to say has never been
heard of in the police reports of any civ
ilized country. The man was complete
ly nude and creased from head to foot
with soft buttcry substance that made
him as slippery as an eel. Notwith-
standing that the count caught him sew
eral times he made good his escape, nov
err relinquishing the box.
Eyes; the Jewels arc gone" continued
the countess, in answer to an inquiry.
And what is moro we could never trace
them; there is no detective service In
China that amounts to anything, and
the wrctchcs were completely success
fIl Dn,nr, L