Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-05-09
MONG0LlAN GENIUS.
CLEVER ACT OF A cHinAMAN WHO
STOLE a COX OF JEWELL.


story Of burglary In China-A Creased
scamp Covered with a Sheet Make.
Away with tho strong BOX OF an Amer.
lean Embassador--The Thief Escapes
My husband was, as You know. in
the Austrian diplomatic service said
an American woman whose experience
OF divers lands had been most extensive
and OF course the number of incidents
IN our varying life has been legion. But
there was one adventure which occurred
Wnlle we were attached to the embassy
IN China that SO combined the ludicrous
with really serious that shall never for
get it.
After we had been there about year
tnere occurred some grand jubilee or
other at the court to celebrate the en-
peror's birthday OF some other festive
occasion, and Baron H. had been sent
from Vienna as special convoy to tender
congratulations, etc. He, Of course.
stopped at the legation. The night be-
fore he was to leave he returned very
late for dinner. could see during the
evening that he was distract and wor-
rled, and after our guests had gone he
confided to the count and myself Ills
trouble
He was nervous, fussy little man,
and was evidently greatly disturbed. i
have had some important jewels con-
flded to my care, he told us, to be given
10 our emperor as memento Of this oc-
cas1on. Tomorrow SAIL as you know.
IN the government steamer for home,
and as soon as am aboard ship shall
not feel any anxiety; but must confess
that tonight | am nervous-why, do
not know; but have the feeling, and |
thought would con6de it to you, ard
perhaps you would share my response
biHty.
My husband, who has inherited from
his Irish mother a bold carelessness
which has often stood him in good stead,
although disastrous in this instance, said
good naturally: Give them to me, ii
You like. have an iron box by my bed
where lock up any important papers
that have in my room at night, and
will keep them for you The baron,
greatly relieved, gladly handed over the
little case that held the costly trinkets
and shortly afterward we all retired 70,
the night.
STORY OF THE BURGLARY.
THE counts room adioined mine. ant
the last thing remember was seeing the
glimmer of his light under the door a.
he sat writing at his desk, finishing vi
his dispatches for the morrow. | was
awakened from deep sleep by the noise
of a scuffie, and Immediately afterwart
the shout of my husband and in a few
minutes the whole house was aroused
Catch the thievesr shouted the count
and for short time all was in confu
sion, no one understanding the why ant
the wherefore of the uproar, the count
in the lightest of attire, having tori
down the stairs and into the courtyard
After useless pursuit he returned
breathless, to tell his story.
"The box was gone; that | had seer
at once, and had already communicates
my fears to Baron H., who had also APP
peared upon the scene, and who wa
nearly frantic. Between gasps foi
breath--for what with the excitement
and the chase and his embonpoint MI
poor husband was completely exhausted
we finally elected the following facts
After he had put the jewels in the strong
box, which stood on table at the heaC
of his bed, he sat down at his desk, ant
finding that he had more to do than b,
expected, wrote until the small hours o
the morning.
Notwithstanding the lateness of tn,
hour he was restless after he finally go
to bed, and did not fall into sounC
sleep; so that the light noise of the open
ing door aroused him at once, and by TIN
dim light from the hall he saw muffle,
figure approaching his bed, while an
other form, also shrouded in drapeTy
stood by the door. Count A. is a brave
man and a strong man, and has Away
been famous athelete; so rather enjoy
ing the idea of the denouement he la,
quietly in wait, knowing by a flash o
intuition that the jewels were the objec
of the midnight marauders.
II.
1.-THE robber came steadily and noise
lessly toward the box as if he We're per
fectly familiar with the location. Will
the count feigned sleep and allowed hin
to come near enough to lay his han,
upon it. Then with a sudden movemen
/ he threw his powerful arms around tn
thief and shouted for help. but by an in
describable wrigsle the creature slippe,
with the dexterity of a serpent from III
der the heavy sheetlike drapery, leavin
it in my husbands clutch.
with bound the latter was out G
I bed, and for the second time he had tn
miscreant in his grasp; but again he wa
foiled, this time by new device. which
( will venture to say has never been hear
of in the police reports of any civilize
country The man was completely mud
and creased from head to foot with
soft, buttery substance that made hin
slippery as an eel. Notwithstanding tina
the count caught him several times h
made good his escape, never relinquish
ing the box.
! Eyes; the jewels are gone" continues
the countess, IN answer to an inquiry
"And what is more we could never trac
them; there is no detective service i
China that amounts to anything, an
the wretches were completely successful
Baron H., although terribly afraid {
the consequences of his having relreate
his trust to another. behaved most hand
somely, and completely exonerated m
husband from all blame
Both gentlemen wished to give tn
money value for the loss, but this hi