Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-27

knew about precious stones, felt were
valuable jewels.
But certainly travellers in jewelry did
not usually pack, or rather omit to pack.
their samples in such an utterly care
less fashion? Rings, brooches. bracelets,
loose stones, at least one necklace, a
gold watch and chain, some bank notes
and a considerable sum Of sovereigns
were all mixed up together i'll chaotic
confusion which seemed at least incon.
sistent with business habits.
began to doubt whether it was even
consistent with honest possession of, at
all events, the contents of the bag Oh
the part of my late fellow passenger
the man who was booked for London,
and who had been asleep when | left
the train at Thurley.
No doubt be was awake and also
aware of his loss by this time. What
state of mind he must be in tool But
Just as I was trying to realize his state
of mind murmur of gruff voices and
shuf1ing of heavy feet in the yard out
side reminded me that it was time to
pay the men.
What had 1 better do? I wondered.
Borrow what I needed from the notes
and gold in the bag that was not mine
or put the men off with fair words till
Monday? They were rough lot, though,
and if l adopted the latter alternative
there would probably be something very
like riot. It would be wiser. thought,
to pay them if I could get enough
change to do 1t.
Hurriedly summoning the foreman
and telling him that a mistake had been
made in supplying me with money, l
went down into the village and after
somo trouble succeeded in collecting
enough silver and copper to serve my
purpose.
Then, with that precious bag out of
sight between my feet, paid the men,
who were already grumbling at the de-
lay, at the same time doing my best to
rally them into better humor, for felt
absurdly nervous and was ready to
credit the honest fellows with a capa
city for crimes which were no doubt
quite beyond the compass even of their
imaginations.
AS soon as l had finished my task
returned, per mineral train, to Thur
ley, and there l broke my journey. On
calmly reviewing all the circumstances
of the case in the seclusion of the brake
van, I had decided that the police, ra-
ther than the railway authorities, ought
to be the first informed of my mistake,
and the inspector to whom l told my
story agreed with me.
81 am very glad you came straight to
me-" said he, turning the contents Of
the bag out ON the desk "If you can
hold your tongue for week or two, it's
just possible we may catch the gentle
man who put this nice little lot to-
gether.
"You think they have been stolen,
them" I asked
''Think!" he repeated, smiling at my
simplicity. ''I know, my boy. And
when and where, too, though unfortu-
nately not by whom. Run your eye
over this. :"
"This" was list of jewels and other
valuables missing from Erlingthorpe,
Lord Yerbury's place, near Drislingden,
where the inspector said, well plan
ned robbery had been carried out on the
Thursday evening.
"You seemed to have nailed lot. "
he went on, "but we may as we'll go
through the articles seriatim.
We did so and found there was moth
ing missing except the money had
taken to pay the men.
"Our 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 on, eying me keenly, "I'm not in
charge of this case-yet-but if you'll
do as tell you / hope may be i'll the
course of few days. There's a tidy re-
ward offered for the recovery of the
property, as you see. That, take 1t,
you've earned already, but are you game
to help me to catch the man? There's a
further reward for nabbing him, which,
of course, | can't touch-officially-
and don't particularly want My aim
is promotion. Do you understand"
81 think so" said l, land am will
ing to help you all can.
Good said the inspector, resum-
ing his jocular manner. Gould you
identify your fellow sleeper, do you
think?'
"I'm afraid not, " replied. Gle had
beard, know
(Which was very likely false" in
terrupted 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 be 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?"
I asked
Nothing, he replied, ''just 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 gi"o
you a receipt for them, but don t be sur
prised if you see them still advertised
as missing"
A few days later the inspector set his
trap. 1t took the shape of an advertise
ment which appeared in the--but no,
perhaps had better not give the name
Of the paper; according to Inspector
Bland, it is the favorite journal of the
criminal classes the gentle
man with whom sc. CO. inadvertently
exchanged bags to communicate with
G. G. at the address he would find in g..
C's pocketbook.
Personally I didn't think our fish
would be foolish enough to rise to thia
bait, but my friend, the inspector, was
more hopeful.
Luckily for u.s. Mr.. Corner, +" said
he, when l took advantage of my next
visit to the quarries to call upon him,
"there's always sort of warp or twist
in the mind of the habitual criminal
which prevents him from believing IL
the honesty of other folks Now, not 0
soul but you and I and the chief consta
| BILE knows those jewels are as good as
back ON Lady Yerbury's dressing table,
or wherever else she's in the habit oi