The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-27
THE DIAMOND
TRAVELLER.

- lGIA 1i14Vs
I was returning to Petersburg after an alb
sence of some weeks. As our train stopped
at Twiss young man got in, who, while
not particularly shy looking, had the air OF
a big school-bOy out for holiday. In TAX
ing his place in the compartment he first,
with great care, put in the netting leather
valse, which evidently contained something
precious, as he scarcely took his eyes off it
during the first hour of the journey.
You know how tediously monotonous a
railway is-one quickly tires looking through
the window of the coach at the straight line
of road flying past in the midst of plains of
a wearying sameness of aspect-and to re-
lieve the tedium of the long uneventful jour-
ney, 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 a diff
cult matter to escape from his share of in
terrogaiion. His great anxiety lest any ac-
cident should happen to his valiSe was so ap-
parent to all that one of the passengers re-
marked on il to him in q jocular way.
He redeemed little and replied:
at is true, do feel anxious, for l am n
traveller for large jewelry establishment.
and am held responsible for a large sum,
the value of some diamonds in that vallSe,
which am charged to deliver in Moscow"
This answer astonished me not little |
confess. The first principle of prudence
should have counseled him TO conceal the
nature OF these valuable articles. 1t seems
to me that he was decidedly novice in his
business thus to disclose before so many
strangers the fact of his having a fortune in
his possession. do not know why-fOr his
explanation was plauslble-but | felt dis
trust of him, and set myself to watch his
movements from that time on. There was
an affectation of too much calm in his man
ner, l thought.
During the chatter and pleasantly CON-
mon among fellow-travelers, when people
talk without considering what they say, the
conversation turned upon wonderful cases
of theft and diamond robberieS, aud little by
little instances were cited wherein the skill
and rapidity of the theft were marvellous.
The young jeweler was advised to keep
sharp lookout for his diamonds. Was not
General Somaruoff recently victim to the
cleverness of a robber, who actually alb
stracted bundle of roubles from the inside
pocket of his coat?
"Oh." said the young man, 81 am not
uneasy; l am used to this sort of thing"-a
statement did not believe. l could not help
feeling he was not accustomed to the charge
of gems Of such great value; he bad the face
of a child. with a child's soft, sweet, limo
cent expression, unfamiliar with care or
responsibility of any kind.
On reaching Kiln we all rose up to stretch
our legs by stroll on the platform, and the
young jeweer, evidently not wishing to
make himself remarkable. followed our ey-
ample, taking his valse i'll hand as though
unwilling to part with it for an instant.
As the passengers crowded toward the dour
he was pushed violently forward by some
one in the throng; at the same moment the
conductor appeared and refused to allow us
to leave the carriage. The train was behind
time, he said, and instead of the usual stop
a at X lin a halt nf mpraly n1innt.'c
limit was made. While he spoke the loco
motive whistled for the train to proceed.
AS we reganed our compartment in
somewhat struggling order, the Young
outstanding all effort at control, was one
OF agony.
Il have been robbedv' he cried.
1t was true. Some bold operator who
from an adjoining compartment had over
heard our conversation and been allured by
what he thus learned, had attempted, with
success. the robbery of the jewels. they
were gone-the thing was done
The young man still held in bis grasp the
handles of his vaiise, which had been
adroitly cut, and in the pressure of the crowd
he had not felt the loss OF weight He
gaZed around with an indescribable express
sion of terror. His despair was truly pitt
able, ami it was as much through sincere
sympathy for the unfortunate youth as the
excitement of an incident thus breaking the
rounded him with extreme interest and
curiosity. The theft had been accomplished
with surprising skill and rapidlty. aud each
had something to say on the subject.
at is Incredible"
I'VE had only time to leave our seats and
return to them again."
% 1t seems like magic"
One man declared that the conductor must
be notified at once.
"No-no," stammered the young jeweler.
Sc Whv o' uuariah ha 81
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 valse Is still In one of the carriages;
no doubt hidden beneath ore OF the seats"
mo, no; do nothing" implored the un-
happy youth.
But the other did not stop to listen; he
had already started to inform the conductor,
and in a moment returned with that func-
tionary, to whom he offered string of sug-
gesti0ns as to the best means of recovering
the lost Jewels.
The conductor hcsitated to take action In
the matter, but, upon reaching the next STA
ton, secure the assistance of two police Off
GERS, whom he put in charge.
The baggage of the passengers should be
searched" said the man who had consti-
tuted himself the leader of the affair; and so
the officers ordered.
At once vigorous search began as the
quickly from the locomotive to the baggage
wagon, and every one yielded with good
grace TO the examination. The young Jew
eer alone betrayed any uneasiness; his
face became llvld, and he swayed back and
forth as though on the verge of faiuting.
The search was unsuccessful, and the Off
GERS shook their heads in doubtful manner
Suddenly our obliging neighbor, who had
shown decided Instincts as detective, and
who entered into the work with ardor caught
a hn nod
voluminous cloak, had seemed TO sleep dur
ing the turmoil. Approaching him he threw
aside the cloak and disclosed to view the
missing valiSe.
'Ah!" said he. with triumphant air, ~
knew we'll 1t was not far off"
Tie passenger thus disturbed did not
however, appear put out by the discovery
Leave me Alone" said he; 1.-THE valise is
mine"
"Yours?" cried the man; why the ham
dies are missingl You are too COOL by far
What do you think of the impotence of
your thief, my young sir?''-turning to tile
Jeweler, proud of the role lie had so success
fully PLAYED! you recognize your valise,
do you not?
The poor Young fellow lost his head He
should have thanked the man for his zeal
taken back his property, and thus termin-
ated the affair; but he 0bstinately replied:
mo; II Is not NINE"
The thief breathed again, the perilous mo-
superb disdain.
But our amateur detective was not con-
vinced; he would not give up the battle
Il recognize it myself" he cried II am not
blind, for the matter of that, it is easily de-
termlned II this be the missing valise or no.
We know that the one we seek contains
diamonds-here will be incontestible proof
Hand me your key, sir; we shall soon arrive
ct the truth of the matter. | cannot CON-
preEend your doubts on this subject"
tarr En
heard. The young man rushed madly to
the platform Of the coach and threw him
self headlong under the wheels of the train,
which crushed him into a bleeding mass.
As you will have OWNED, the young man
who passed as a travelling jeweler was, in
reality, an agent OF the Nihilists, and the
valise lie guarded with so much care and
anxiety contained not diamonds, but models
of newly invented explosives which were to
be tested for the first time by a committee
MnsnnNN hit hnr hnx Sal- 4 hn.o