Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-07-15
M'STElN'S BURGLARS.


ment) to Mr.. Stein, the well-known
diamond merchant, IF you are ner-
vous about the safety OF you valua-
bles, the best thing you can do is to
act upon the following advice: As
to the strong room at your office, keep
on your watch chain bunch Of dunn
my keys for ornament $50 to speak,
and deposit the true keys at your
bankers every afternoon put a good
safe in your study at home, but any
diamonds you may take to that house
may be kept in dummy champagne
bottle in your cellar there get Sc
oret electric alarn-push designed and
fixed in your office-both ofthem COM
municating with the nearest police
station and lastly, never, on any ac-
count, take a revolver about with
you-or you're dead man before you
get it out further than the flap ofyour
pocket"
Mr.. Stein thanked the detective and
promised to act upon his advice in ev-
cry particular.
The circumstances which gave rise
to this conversation were these Mr..
Stein, a 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 made
quate. No man in his senses would
allow it to become notorious that he
often carried parcels OF valuable gems
on his person, and sometimes merely
locked them up in a trumpery little
old-fashioned safe in the study OF his
villa at Norwood-a house standing
alone in it's own grounds, and at
considerable distance from the near
est station-a home shared with him
by no one but an old house-keeper.
Mr.. Stein concluded, after awhile,
that these remonstrances were not al
together idle, and he therefore coli
suited the best authority upon the
ubject-namely, Inspector Burleigh,
whose advice opens this story.
IF you make a sound, I'll shoot
Such was the pleasant intimation
that fell upon Mr.. Stems ears as he
awoke one night from his beauty
sleep.
1t was a stormy winter night, and
the rain beat spitefully upon the win
dow panes. Mr.. Stein might have
shouted himself hoarse and no one
could possibly 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 admit He 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. A second man was examining
the room rapidly, by the aid OF bulls
eye lantern.
We've got you fairly at last, eh,
old Stein p
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 postoflice at Holbern, and you
asked for a registered packet and they
handed you parcel O diamonds.
You put 'em in your breast-pockst
and come straight home. You've not
been out since so the diamonds are
not far of. So much for your little
business.
How on earth," gasped Mr. Stein,
"do you know all this ?"
That's our little business! And
now, if you please, where's the dia-
monds ~
Gentlemen" replied Mr.. Stein,
"you have caught me very cleverly.
You insist on having my diamonds or
my life. / 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,
/ will engage to put you in possession
Of the packet you are in search OF,
which is carefully hidden, and OF any
thing else of value which you may re-
quire in my house-upon one condi-
ton
"Well, what is ~
"My condition is that you promise
to give to me, and not to take away
a miniature which is hanging in my
safe. 1t is the portrait OF my dear
grandmother"
"Oh is that all! You can keepthe
old lady. She'd only be in our way"
Thank you. Then here is the key
OF the safe in my study; but you will
not find anything there. Believe ME,
there is nothing in the safe except the
portrait of my grandmother. >"
Now, you just come along, Stein"
said the burglar-in-chief. "We'llsoon
see what's in the safe. And, mind
first sign OF any nonsense and will
shoot-sure as my name is"
Mr.. Stein huddled on some clothes,
and all three descended to the study.
The safe was in front of them. The
key was soon applied to the lock, aud
the safe was opened. As Mr.. Stein
had said, there was absolutely moth
ing inside, except the miniature.
Il told you so r said Mr.. Stein, re-
proachfully.
Tha txxo rohhers cursed and syore