The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-26
CUTE B6RGLARs OF CHINA.
How One Robbed an Austrian Diplo.
mat Before Hts Face.
Frcm the Neu York Tribune.

mat Before Hts Face.
From the New York Tribune.
MY husband was, as you know, in the
Austrian diplomatic service, said an Amer
lean woman whose experience of divers
lands and o. her world had been most ex-
tensive, land of course the number of Incl
dents in our varying life has been simply
legion. But there was one adventure wien
occurred while we were attached to the en-
bassy in China that so combined the ludi-
crous with really serious annoyance that l
shall never forget it. After we had been
there about year there occurred some
grand jubilee or other at the court, to cele-
brate the emperor's birthday or some other
festive occasion, and Baron H
had been sent from Vienna as
special envoy to tender congratulu-
lions, etc. He, of course, stopped at the
legation. The night before he was to leave
he returned very late for dinner. l could
see during the evening that he was distract
and worried, and after our other guests bad
gone he cOntided to the count and myself
his trouble. He was nervous, fussy little
man, and was evidently greatly disturbed.
l haye had some important jewels confided
to my care, he told us, to be given to our
emperor as memento of this occasion. To-
morrow l sail, as you know, in the govern
aboard ship shall not feel any anxiety
but | must confess that tonight l am
nervous-why, l do not know; but l have
the feeling, and thought l would confide
1t to you, and perhaps you would share my
responsibility
My husband, who has inherited from
bis Irish mother bold carelessness which
has often Stood him in good stead, although
disastrous in this instance, said good
ia N FDIIt 90 6
L 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 held the
costly trinkets, and shortly afterward we
all retired for the night. The counts room
adJolned mine, and the last thing l remem-
bered 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 a scuffle, aud imme-
diately afterward the shouts Of my husband,
and in a few minutes the whole house was
aroused. Catch the thievesp shouted the
count, and for short time ali was in con-
fusion, no one understanding the why and
the wherefore of the uproar. the count in
the llghtest attire having torn down the
stairs and into the courtyard. After a use
his story. The box was gone; that l had
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 excite
ment, and the chase, and his embonpoint,
poor husband, was completely exhausted
we finally eicted the following facts. After
he had put the jewels in the strong box
wi ifsh %ohI
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
hall he saw a mnffied figure approaching
his bed, while another form. slso
shrouded IN drapery, stood by the
door, Count A. is brave man and q strong
man, and has always been a famous athlete;
SO rather enjoying the idea of the deuoue-
ment be lay quietly in wait, knowing by the
flash of intuition that the jewels were the
object of the midnight marauders. The
robbcr came steadily and noselesSly toward
the box as If he we're perfectly familiar with
the location, while the count feigned sleep
and allowed him TO come near enough to Law
movement he threw his powerful arms
around the thief, and shouted for help; but
by an lndescribable wriggle the creature
slipped with the dexterity of
a serpent from under the heavy Sheet
like drapery, leaving it in my husbands
clutch. With bound the latter was out
of bed. and for the second time he had the
miscreant in his grasp; but again he was
tolled, this time by a new device which
Will venture to say has never been heard of
In the police reports of any civilized coun>
try. Inc man was completely nude and
creased from head to foot with a soft, but
terry substance that made him as slippery as
an eel. Notwithstanding that the count
caught him several times he made good his
escape, never relinquishing the box.
Yes, the jewels were gone" continued
lhe countess IN answer to an inquiry. And
what is more we could never trace them
there is no detective service in China thai
amounts to anything. and the wretches
were completely successful Baron II.
although terribly afraid of the conse-
quences of his having relocated his trust to
another, behaved most handsomely and
completely exonerated my husband from
all blame. Both gentlemen wished to give
the money value for the loss, but his i'm
perlal majesty would not permit. The
story of the creased Chinaman' got about.
however, and, We were told, vexed the
Chinese officials not little, and whether it
was for 6his cause or for some other reason
we were shortly transferred to another
post. AS IL was in the path of promotion
we we're more than satisfied, and took no
pains to discover the reason"
I a 7. r To- a