Smyrna times., 1891-08-12
The Missing Valise.


great care, put in the netting a leather
valise, which evidently contained
something precious, as he scarcely took
his eyes off it during the first hour oil
the journey.
You know how tediously mOnoto-
nous a railway is-One quickly tires
looking through the windows of the
coach at u straight line of road flying
past in the midst of plains of u weary
ing sameness of aspect-and to relieve
the tedium of the long, uneventful
Journey the passengers naturally began
to chat and exchange opinions and
condolences, prompted alike by ennui
and curiosity, and our young man
would have found it difficult matter
TO escape from his share of interroga-
ton. His great anxiety lest any acct
dent should happen to his valise was
so apparent to all that one of the pas
sengers remarked on it to him in Joe
ular way.
He REDEEMED little and replied: at
is true, l do feel anxious, for l am a
traveller for large jewelry establish
ment. and l am held responsible for a
large sum, the value of some diamonds
in that valise, which am charged to
deliver in Moscow"
This answer astOnished me not a lit
tie, | confess. The first principles of
prudence should have counseled him
to conceal the nature of these valuable
articles. 1t seemed to me that he was
decidedly u novice in his business, thus
to disclose before so many strangers
the fact of his having fortune in his
possession. l do not know why-for
his explanation was plausible-but
felt 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, l
thought.
During the chatter and pleasantly
common among fellOw-travelers, when
people talk without considering what
they say, the conversation turned upon
wonderful cases of theft and diamond
rObberies, and, little by little, instances
were cited wherein the skill and rapid
lty OF the theft were marvellous.
The young jeweller was advised to
keep a sharp lookout for his diamonds.
Was not General SOmaronoff recently
victim to the cleverness of a robber.
who actually distracted bundle of
rubies from the inside pocket of his
coat?
Oh" said the young man, 81 am
not uneasy am used to this sort of
thing"-a statement which did not
believe. l could not help feeling he
was not accustomed to the charge of
gems of such great value; he had the
face of a child, with a child's soft
sweet, innocent expression, unfamiliar
with care or responsibility of any
kind.
On reaching Kiln we all got out to
stretch our legs by a stroll on the plat.
form, and the young jeweller, evidently
not wishing to make himself remarka-
BILE, followed our example, taking his
Valise in hand as though unwilling to
part with it for an instant. AS the
passengers crowded toward the door he
was pushed violently forward by some
one in the thrOng. At the same mo-
ment the conductor appeared and re-
fused to allow us to leave the carriage.
The train was behind time, he said,
and instead of the usual stoppage at
Kiln halt of merely a minutes limit
was made. While he spoke the
locomotive whistled for the train to
proceed.
AS we regaiOed our compartments in
somewhat struggling order the young
jeweler uttered a cry of fright, which
Notwithstanding an effort at control,
was one of agony.
II have been robbed !" he cried.
1t was true. Some bold operator
who from an adjoining compartment
had overheard our conversation and
been allured by what he thus learned,
had attempted, with much success, the
robbery of the jewels. They were
gOne-the thing was done.
The young man still held in his
grasp the handles of his valise, which
had been adrOitly cut, and in the pres
sure of the crowd he had not felt the
loss of weight. He gazed around with
an indescribable expression of terror.
His despair was truly ptiable, and it
was as much through sincere sympathy
for the unfortunate youth as the ex-
element of an incident thus breaking
the tiresOme journey that the passen-
gerssurrOunded himwith extreme inter.
est and curiosity. The theft had been
accomplished with surprising skill and
rapidity, and each one had something
to say on the subject.
ut is incredible"
1--WE had only time to leave our
seats and return to them again."
ut seems like magic"
One man declared that the conductor
must be notified at once.
'NO-no," stammered the young
jeweler.
"Why notf" queried another; "here
you are with valuable diamonds stolen
from you, and you do not wish it to be
known. No one left the train at Kiln
therefore it is impossible that the thief
has disappeared. Your Yalice is still
in one of the carriaEea no doubt hid
den beneath ono 81 khe Seats"
Mono; do nokAlnk, implored the
unhappy youth Bat the other did
not stop to lis ten he had already
started to inform lhe nohductor, and 10
a moment return SO that function.
airy, TO whom b string OF
suggestions as "a SD means of re-.