The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-03-27

Diamonds, by Jingol" cried as
started back amazed
The bag fell over on its side, and half
a dozen loose stones rolled out upon the
table, where they lay sparkling glori-
ously in the wintry sunshine.
AS soon as | recovered my self posses
sion picked Tim up and put them back
into the bag the contents of which |
then examined as well as | could with
out exposing them to tho view of any
one who might happen to look in at the
office window, for, though had no rea-
son to suppose the quarrymen were not
honest, thought it best to keep my
discovery to myself.
The bag, guessed was probably the
property of jewelers. traveler-a trav-
eler in large way of business, too,
thought l, as l peered into it in the
least exposed corner of the office and
found it almost full of what, little as |
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 considerable sum of sovereigns
were all mixed up together in a 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 ON
the part of my late fellow passenger
the man who was booked for London,
and who had been asleep when l left
the train at Thurley.
No doubt he was awake and also
aware of his loss by this time. What a
state of mind he must be in tool But
just as | was trying to realize his state
of mind murmur of gruff voices and
shuffling of heavy feet in the yard out
side reminded me that it was time to
pay the men.
What had l better do? l wondered.
Borrow what l 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 adopted the latter alternative
there would probably be something very
like riot. 1t would be wiser, l thought,
to pay them if l could get enough
change to do it,
Hurriedly summoning the foreman
and telling him that mistake had been
made in supplying me with money, l
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 the men,
who were already grumbling at the de-
lay, at the same time doing my best to
rally them into better humpr, for felt
absurdly nervous and was ready to
credit the honest fellows with capa-
city for crimes which were no doubt
quite beyond the compass even of their
imaginatiors.
AS soon as l had finished my task l
returned, per mineral train, to Thur
ley, and there | broke my journey. On
of the case in the seclusion of the brake
van, l had decided that the police, ra-
Their 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 ain very glad you came straight to
me-, said he, turning the contents of
the bag out ON the desk. eff 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" l asked.
'Think!' he repeated smiling at my
simplicity II 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 l 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, "Tm not in
charge of this case-yet-but if you'll
do as l tell you l hope l may be in the
course Of few days. There's tidy re-
ward offered for the recovery of the
property, as you see. That, l take it,
you've earned already, but are you game
to help me to catch the man? There's
further reward for nabbing him, which,
of course, | can't touch-officially-
and don't particularly want. My aim
is promotion. Do you understand"
Il think so, /" said l. land am will
Ing to help you all can"
Good, p" said the inspector, resum-
ing his jocular manner. Gould you
identify your fellow sleeper, do you
Think"