The San Francisco call., 1895-11-24

time that policemen ana SnopkeepeIS dio
alert, for thieves and pickpockets may
easily lose themselves in the throng.
Thus it happened that when mlld-man-
nered stranger entered the ROYAL Jewelry
Ennorium few minutes after II o'clock
the polite salesman on duty at the front
end of the establishment eyed him mar
rowlv, and was all the more watchful when
the stranger asked to be shown some un-
mounted diamonds. The clerk was on the
point of summoning an assistant from the
rear of the store when the stranger pro-
duced handsome unmounted diamond
and explained that he wished to ascertain
its value, adding that he might not be
ayerse to buying a mate for it if one could
be found. Surely man with so valuable
a stone in his possession could not be
snatch thief! This impression was
strengthened by the calm and polished
self-possession of the stranger. Not once
did he look uneasily about, not once ex-
hibit the slightest nervousness or haste.
For all that, and for all the clerks watch
fulness, he discovered as soon as the stran-
ger had secured the desired informa-
ton, and had decided not to make pur-
chase, that fine gem of a value running
into the thousands had been taken from
the trav and a paste stone left in its stead; /;
but bv this time the stranger had mingled
with the crowd on the street. A chase and
an uproar ensued. The street was instantly
thrown into violent ebullition. Presently,
from the center of compact crowd OF
men emerged the bare-headed clerk, po-
Iiceman and prisoner. These three, fol-
lowed by a train of boys, proceeded to the
police station.
The demeanor of the stranger was singu-
larly composed. At first he had been in
dignant, and had rebelled under an ap-
parent sense OF outrage, but seeing that
this served only to make his position more
uncomfortable he had yielded with all pos
sible grace. He even assisted in the minute
search of his person at the prison, and
when he saw the disappointment and
chagrin which followed a failure to find
the stolen gem he even tried to ease. the
situation for those who had treated him
with so great indignity. He denied that
he had ever been in the Royal Jewelry
Emporium, and gave a straightforward
account of himself. He said that he was
gentleman of means, which, though small,
were sufficient for his needs; that he lived
at San Mateo. and being a devoted student
of botany gave his time to an investiga-
iion of the fora of that region.
While the police were hesitating between
the dread of doing possible wrong to an
innocent man and doubt raised by the
clerks positive identification, a bright,
sharp young man pushed his way into the
office and WHISPERED to the captain in
charge. This functionary nodded, as
though the whispered suggestion con-
veyed no new idea, and after a moments
thought turned to the stranger and said:
you have the appearance of an inno-
cent man. Still, this young man who so
positively Identifies you is known to me to
be honest and intelligent. As you are a
stranger, this Identification makes the
case very embarrassing for me. There are
numerous ways in which thief may dis.
pose of an unset diamond. One is to pass
it to confederate, another is to throw it
away and another is'-here the officer
fixed a steady gaze on the stranger, paused
a long time, and then added-"to swal-
low 1t.
The man started, paled and held his
breath.
"If you are innocent" pursued the Off
Ger, whose sharp sight nothing had es
capped, "you will be the first to aid US in
every way; you will volunteer to remain
under our espionage for twenty-four
hours"
The stranger was dumb. While strug-
Cling for speech the cross-purposes within
him kept his tongue in bond. The cap
tain, observing the singular contrast be-
tween this bewildered demeanor and the
mans recent cool assurance, promptly
ordered him into special custody, and
again bent his ear to the whisperings of
the intrusive young man who had pushed
his way into the Office. Evidently the
young man was not a stranger thereabout.
In short, he was a recently graduated
young physician, and, fired by desire to
emulate the achievements of Lombroso,
had made himself something of nuisance
to the police through his acute interest in
the study of criminals. AS he could be of
some use in this case he was permitted to
serve as special assistant TO the officer
charged with an unceasing watch upon
the prisoner. The young physicians name
was Hooper. The prisoner gave Monroe
as his name.
At the end of two days Monroe was dis
charged with apologies from the police,
for the missing diamond had not been
found.
A few days afterward the station agent
at San Mateo was astonished to see man
leap from the fast south bound express,
which passed daily through the town
without stopping. 1t was a perilous feat,
but the man accomplished it neatly and
did not fall. The agent recognized him as
a recluse named Monroe, who lived alone
in cabin in the outskirts of town and
spent his days hunting wild flowers. He
had lived there only few weeks, was shy
and reserved and had no acquaintance.
The agents astonishment at seeing the
man swing unhurt from the flying train
had hardly subsided, and he had found
time only to warn Monroe of the risk
which he had run and advised him to take
thereafter one of the numerous trains
which stopped at the town, when he was
startled by strange and unexpected
thing. Seeing that Monroe was paying no
attention to his warning and advice, but
was gazing after the train with a curious
look of pain and anxiety, he ventured to
ask: