The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-09

started back amazed
The bag fell over on its side. and half
dOZen loose stones rolled out uDoE the
table, where they lay sparkling elorious.y
in the wintry sunshine
AS soon as l recovered nv self-posses-
slou picked them up and put them back
into the bag, the contents of which I then
examined as we'll as could without expos
Ing them TO the view of any one who
might happen to look il at the office win
dow. for, though had no reason to sun
pose the quarrymen were not honest. |
thought 1t best to keep my discovery to
myself.
The bag, guessed, was probably the
property OF jewelers. traveller; traveller
In large way of business, too thought l.
as peered into it in the least exposed
corner of the office. and found it almost
full of what. little as | knew about prec-
ious stones. l felt certain were valuable
Jewels.
But certainly travellers in jewelry did not
usually pack, or rather omit to pack, their
samples in such an utterly careless fash
Ion? Rings, brooches. bracelets, loose
stones. at least one necklace, gold watch
and cnain, some banknotes and consid-
cradle sum of soveregns. were all mixed
up together in a chaotic confusion which
seemed at least inconsistent with their
habits.
| began TO doubt whether it was even
consistent with honest possession of, at all
events, the contents of the bag on the part
OF my late fellow-passenger-the man VIII o
was booked for London, and who had been
| asleep when / left the train at Thurley.
| NO doubt he was awake, and also aware
OF his loss by this time. What state of
mind be must be in. t0o-but. just as l was
! trying to realize his state of mind a muir
| muir OF grntf voices and a shuff1ng of
heavy feet in the yard outside reminded
me that it was time to pay the men.
| hoA hate d.
Borrow what needed from the notes and
goio Ia the bag that was not mine, or put
the men OF with fair words till Monday ?
lhey were rough lot, though. and II l
adopted the latter alternative there would
probably be something very like riot. 1t
would be wiser. l thought, to pay them If
could get enough change to do it.
Hurredly snmmoning the foreman and
telling him that mistake had been made
! In supplying me with money, | went down
into the village, and. after some trouble,
succeeded in collecting enough silver and
copper to serve my purpose.
Then, with that precious bag out of
sight between my feet, paid he men,
VINO were already umbling at the delay,
| at the same time doing my best 10 rally
| them into better hum0r, for | felt ab-
| Surdiy nervous, and was ready to credit
the honest fellows with a capacity for
crime which was no doubt quite beyond
| VIZ " pdoo 0NOu UI LIltII IQdIlONS.
As soon as had finished my task | re-
turned, per mineral train, to Thurley, and
there broke nv journey. On calmly re-
| viewing all the circumstances Of the case
! IN the seclusion of the brake van, | had
decided that the police, rather than the
railway authorities, ought to be first in
| formed OF my mistake, and the Inspector
to whom 1 told my story agreed with me.
Il am very glad you came straight to
| me, said he. turning the contents OF the
bag out on his desk. "If you can bold
your tongue for week or two, it's just
possible We may catch the gentleman who
| ut this nice little lot together"
You think they have been stolen,
then?" asked
Think he repeated, smiling at nv
! simplicity. 81 know, my boy. And when
and where, too-though unfOrtuna tel; nos
by whom. Run your eye over this"
This" was list of jewels and other
yalnables missing from Erlingthorpe, Lord
4erbury'S place, near Drlslingden, where,
| The inspector said. weIl-planned robbery
had been carried out on the Thursday
evening.
''Y GU seem to have nailed a lot," lee
went on; ''but we may as well go through
the articles seriatim."
We did so, and found there was nothing
missing except the money l had taken 10
pay the men.
''Onr unknown friend hasn't even paid
his travelling expenses out of the loose
cash" commented the inspector. and then
he suddenly changed his tone.
Now, look here, Young man" he went
oD, cycling me keenly. ''Pm rot in charge
of this case-yey-but if you'll do as tell
you, l hope | may be 10 the course Of a
few days. There's tidy reward offered
for the recovery of the properly, as you
see. That, l take il, you've earned al
ready; but are you game to help me catch
the manq Thpra'a q fuFfhar ri fcr
nabbng him, which. of course, | can't
ch-oficially-and don't particularly
want. My aim is promotion. Do you un-
derstand ?"
II think So" said L; land am willing
to help you all / can"
Good" said the inspector, resuming his
ocular manner Gould you identify your
fello~sleeper, do you think p''
u IN afraid not" l replied. "He had a
beard. | know"
(which was very likely false" inter-
rupted he; "but never mind. What we
want to do is to get our friend to claim the
property either in person or by deputy
He's sure to be bit back ward in coming
forward, but he won't like to give up all
that for the little bit of ready money there
was in your bag. and if we have patience
we may draw him."
"Well, what do you want me to do?" |
asked.
Nothing" he replied; lust literally
nothing Go home. Keep still tongue
in your head, and a sharp eye ON the
agony columns of the London papers, and
wait till you hear from me. I'll take
charge of these articles. and give YOU a re-
ceipt for them, but don't be surprised if
You see them still advertised as missing"
few days later the inspector set his
trap. 1t took the shape of an advertise
ment which appeared in the-but no; per-
haps l had better not give the name of the
paper; according TO Inspector Bland, il is
the favorite journal of the criminal
classes-begging the gentleman with
whom sc. c." inadvertently exchanged
bags to communicates with G. c. at the ad-
dress he would find in G. C.'s pockei book.
Personally. l didn't think our fish would
be foolish enough to rise to this bait, but
my friend, the inspector, was more hope
full.
Luckily for us, Mr.. Corner" said he,
when l took advantage of my next visit TO
the quarries to call upon him, "there'
always a sort of wary or twist in the m ind
of the habitual criminal which prevents
him from believing in the honesty of other
folks. Now, not soul but you and an i
the chief constable knows those Jewels
are as good as back on Lady Yerbnry's
dres sing-table, or wherever else she's in