Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-02
CHAPTER Nv.

Put long before the expiration of the
larm fixed for the completion of the
.ott;ng of the diamonds, the American
ras hack in HattOn Garden. And the
c;sits became more frequent as the in
t;macy between the two Vanderstrooms
crew stronger. The Colonel-he was
Snot a general, as the Dutch Cornelius
fonnd out from inquiries he caused to
no made at the Americans hotel-the
Colonel developed habit of dashing
IN with those magnificent bays of his
tn the merchants Office two or three
DAYS a week, lust to see how he was
Getting on, and to invite him out for
bottle of "'74" and an oyster patty at
the adjacent railway restaurant. On
these occasions the American would
allow the voluble little Dutchman to do
the major portion Of the talking.
Somehow or other the conversation in
yariably took the direction, under the
Colonel's dexterous steering, of Lon
don thieves and the various great rob-
berries and swindles that had recently
taken place in the metropolis. This
was a subject on which the diamond
merchant was quite at home, and,
there being no wife in the way, he pro-
ceeded to pose with great impressive
ness as an authority on the intricacies
Of 'put-up yobs;" the great bank haul
Of ell 900; and how all these affairs
were worked on the conjurer's princi-
pie of de quickness of de hand dat de-
ceives de eye.'
Once, after the opening of second
bottle, when Cornelius the lesser had
grown extra communicative, he i'm
parted to his kinsman the episode of
the lost pocketbook, and the tenacity
with which his wife had stuck to the
E3,5OO she had found in the hall, refus-
ing to give it up, except on his urgent
demand, for the application Of the sum
strictly to business purposes.
The American, who had been lolling
at the bar with characteristic languor,
grew suddenly interested. He stiffened
himself up, listened attentively, be-
came distracted for minute or two,
then hastily, for such an unusually de-
iberate gentleman, tossed off his glass,
pleaded forgotten engagement, got
into his phaeton, and was driven off by
the discreet-looking groom, with whom
he might afterwards have been noticed
in earnest conversation, in the direc-
ton of his hotel.
The following morning the Yankee
Vanderstroom was again in Hatton
Garden, and almost as soon as the other
Cornelius had arrived at business.
More news; wonderful wire from
Pot-shot Gulch! "Blarmed," if he
didn't think the mine was going to
turn out a second Tombstone They
were "ladling it out" of two more reefs,
and the wife must have more diamonds
Better finish her off once for all, while
he was about it, with a necklace and
stars. Those, with what he had al
ready ordered, ought" he declared,
ito make her shine like the figurehead
OF Liberty at the entrance to New
York harbor."
This time stones to the value of
$1,000 were selected, and another
UNDERGROUND note was handed over,
just as the American put it, "by way Of
cover for the fixings."
The diamond merchant was perfectly
satisfied; and, at his. friends urgent
solicitation, promised to hurry up"
and have the entire suite complete that
day three weeks, 30 that the silver
king could catch the American mail on