The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-07-21

''glNOllfE'e0 l lnsns''g or p she
criminal investigation Department. to
Mr. Stein, the well-known diamond
merchant, IF you are nervous about
the safety Of yonr valuables, the best
thing yon can do is to act upon the
following advice: As to the strong
room at your office, keep on your watch
chain bunch Of dummy keys for orna-
ment $50 to speak), and deposit the
true keys at your bankers every after
noon; put good safe in your study at
home, but any diamonds you may take
to that house may be kept in q dummy
champagne bottle insyour cellar there;
get secret electric alarm-push de-
signed. and Fixed, in your private resi-
dence, andsnnother at your office-both
OF them Communicating with the near
est police station; and lastly, never, on
any account, talse n revolver about
with you--or you're n dead man before
YOU get it out further than the flap of
your pocket"
Mr.. Stein thanked the detective, and
promised to act upon his advice in every
particular.
The circumstances which gave rise
to this conversation, were these: Mr.
Stein, n diamond merchant of high
standing, was expecting the arrival of
large parcel of valuable cut gems
from Amsterdam. He had been warned
several times by friends, and even by
the authorities at Scotland Yard, that
his precautions against being robbed
were absurdly inadequate. No man in
his'scnses would allow it to become no
torions that he often carried parcels of
valuable gems on his person, and some
times merely locked them up in n
trumpery little old-fashioncd safe in
the study of his villa at Norwood
house standing alone in Its own
grounds, and at considerable distance
from the nearest police station-a home
shared with him by no one but an old
housekccper.
Mr.. Stein concluded, after awhile,
that these remonstrances were not al
together idle, and he therefore con-
suited the best authority upon the sub
ject : namely, Inspector Bnrleigh,
whose advice opens this story.
IF you make sound III shoot"
Such was the pleasant int,mation
tudb lCll upon WI AptNih taio no
invoke one night from his beauty sleep.
1t was stormy winter night, and the
rain beat spitcfully upon the window
panes. Mr.. Stein might have shouted
himself hoarsc and no one could pos
sibly have heard him. His housekeePer
was absent, having been called to the
sick-bed of relative.
Mr.. Stein tried to realize the situa-
ton, as quickly as his sleepy senses
would permit lie could see very little
around him, but he was soon aware
that the voice was that Of a masked
man, leaning over him, revolver in
hand. second man was examining
the room rapidly, by the aid of bulls
eye lantern.
"We've got you fairly at last ch, old
Stein?n
'What do you want?" inquired the
diamond merchant, nervously.
what do we want? That's good.
Now, look here, Stein: when you left
your Office this afternoon you went to
the post office at Holbcrn, and you asked
for registered packet and they handed
you fat parcel o diamonds. You put
'em in yonr breast. pocket and come
straight home. You've not been out
since; SO the diamonds aren't far off.
So much for your little business"
''IIow on earth" gaspcd Mr.. Stein
do you know all this?'
That's our little business. And now
IL you please, where's the diamonds?"
Gentlemen. replied Mr.. Stein, '.yor
have caught me very cleverly You in.
80 l. Il Ito
j have no particular wish to die yet
and resistance on my part | can see
would be perfectly useless. will agree
to help You; that is to say, l will en-
gage to put yon in Possession of this
packet you are in search Of, which i,
carefully hidden, and of anything else
Of value which you-nay require in my
house-upon one condition"
''Wcll. what i, it?"
"My condition is that You promise tt
give to Smc, and not to take away, ;
miniature which is hanging in my safe
1t Is the portrait of my dear grand
mother"
ooh! is that all? You can keep the
old lady. She'd only be in our way
THANK you. Then ere is the key o.
the safe in my stndy; but you wont
find anything there. Believe me, there
Is nothing in the safe, except the por
trait Of my grandmother"
Now, you just come along, Stein,
raid the burglar in chief. wen soor
see what's in the safe. And, mind--firs
sign of any nonsense and I'lieshoot-
sure as my name isr-"
Mr.. Stein huddled on some clothes
and all three descended to the study
The safe was in front of them Tbs
key was soon applied to the lock, ant
the safe was opened. AS Mr.. Stein hat
said, there was absolutely nothing
whatever inside, except the miniature
II told you soi'' said Mr.. Stein, re
proachfully.