Connecticut western news., 1891-05-20
THE MISSING VALISE.


 who, while not particularly shy looking, had the air of big school boy out for holiday. In taking his place in the com partment he first, with great care, put in the netting a leather valise, which evidently contained something precious, as he scarcely took his eyes of it during the first hour of the journey.
 You know how tediously monotonous 8 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 8 wearying sameness of aspect-and to relieve the tedium of the long, uneventful journey the passen- gers naturally began to chat and ex- change opinions and condolences, prompted alike by ennui and curiosity, and our young man would have found it 8 difficult matter to escape from his share of interrogation. His great anx- iety lest any accident should happen to his valise was so apparent to all that one of the passengers remarked on it to him in 8 jocular way.
 He reddened little and replied: ''It is true, I do feel anxious, for I am traveller for large jewelry establish ment and am held responsible for large sum. the value of some diamonds in that valise, which am charged to deliver in Moscow" s.--.
 This answer astonished me not little, l confess. The first principles of pru- duce should have counseled him to con- ceal the nature of these valuable arti- cles. It seemed to me that he was de- cidedly novice in bis business, thus to disclose before so many strangers the fact of his having a fortune in his pos session. 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. thought.
 During the chatter and pleasantly common among fellow travellers, 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 rapidity of the theft were marvellous.
 The young jeweler was advised to keep 8 sharp lookout for his diamonds. Was not Gen. SomaronoH recently a victim to the cleverness of robber, who actually abstracted bundle of rubles from the inside pocket of his coat2
 "Oh," said the young man, "I am not uneasy; am used to this sort of thing" "a statement which did not believe could not help feeling he was not &C., customed to the charge of gems of such great value; he had the face of child, with child's soft, sweet, innocent ex- pression, unfamiliar with care or re- sponnbiity of any kind.
 On reaching Kiln we all got out to stretch our legs by stroll on the plat form, and the young jeweler, evidently not wishing to make himself remarka- ble, followed our example, taking his valise in hand as though unwilling to part with it for an instant. As the passen- gers crowded toward the door he was pushed violently forward by some one in the throng. At the same moment the conductor appeared al d refused 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 regained our compartment in somewhat struggling order the young jeweler uttered a cry of fright, which, notwithstanding all effort at control, was one of agony.
 "I have been robbedr' he cried. It was true. Some bold operator, who from an adjoing compartment had over heard our conversation and been a1lured 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 his grasI the handles of bis valise, which had beer adroitly cut, and in the pressure of tht crowd be had not felt the loss of weight He gazed around with an indescribablt expression of terror. His despair wa! truly pitiable, and it was as mucf through sincere sympathy for the unfort unate youth as the excitement of an in cident thus breaking the tiresome jour ney that the passengers surrounded hin with extreme interest and curiosity The theft had been accomplished witl surprising skill and rapidity, and eacl one had something to say on the subject
 "It is incredible"
 "We had only time to leave our seal {, and return to them again."
 "It seems like magic"
 One man declared that the conductt must be notified at once.
 ! "No-no," stammered the young jey
 eler.
 s "why notY' queried the other; ''hel syou are with valuable diamonds stole from you, and you do not wish it be knowu. No one left the train eKl1n. thneacnee 1t h imnoaGih11 fhaAt1