The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-04
THE ROSE DIAMOND.


made away. OF course we gave the alarm
as quickly as we could regain our scat
tered ideas; but though half the male
population Of the town turned out, it was
to no purpose. The robber and his plum
der had disappeared.
So, being, in local parlance. "down on
our luck, Ned and myself, Disguised and
discourag ed, had sold our claim to a con
PIE Of newcomers for about 81, 500, and,
with those composing our present stage
coach party, had taken passage for Vel
lington, intending to return home.
Besides small, specialized man, who rep
resented himself as a sort of colporteur for
a religious society at Cape Town, our fellow
passengers composed two diamond bro
kers, together with young and very boast
ful fellow who called himself Macarthur.
The latter had been very successful, and
it was with feelings of envy we heard him
relate the result Of two weeks work in
deserted claim, where, as he informed US
with many profane asseveratiOns he had
struck a pocket from which he had tax
en- stones whose value he declared was at
least $50 600 These he carried in q belt
about his waist, together with a consider
able sum of money from the sale Of his
claim, he said, while girded to either
hip was a heavy revolver as safeguard
against possible attacks from road agents
They wouldn't play any of their games
on me, replied Macarthur, touching the
butt Of his revolver.
The pale blue eyes of the little man,
who bore the name of Smith, twinkled
ever so slightly behind his spectacles.
My dear sir, - be exclaimed in deprecat-
ing tones, you surely would not commit
the awful crime of murder, even to pre-
vent the loss of the filthy lucre which
you'-
But his protestation was cut short by
the sudden and abrupt stoppage of the
"a
boy who drove Almost at the same mo-
ment man sprang from either side Of the
road with Il leveled rifle.
The valiant Macarthur dropped on the
bottom of the coach with a cry of terror,
which was feebly echoed by Mr.. Smith. In
obedience to a gruf command Macarthur
handed his revOlvers to the smaller of the
two road agents. who, seeming to be as
sured that no weapons were worn by any
other of the party, caused US to aligh6
Ned and myself had about $3.50 between
us and a bill Of exchange on bank in
Cape Town, which the taller robber took
from us. Macarthur raved and stormed as
he was relieved of his belt.
The little man wrung his hands and
raised his voice in meek supplication,
while his specialized eyes were fixed, as
though in a sort of fascination, upon the
rufiian who held the presented rifle. Lit
tie Mr.. Smith piteOusly entreated that the
from his affrighted face. With a hoarse
laugh the road agent tossed his rife into
the hollow of his arm.
Then was a transformation scene indeed.
The small man strai ghtened up, and with
a quickness which seemed almost incredi-
Bile, showing his hands in the side pockets
OF his linen coat, he drew them out with
cooked revolver in each.
The shorter ruffian staggered and fell,
shot through the heart, and his astounded
companion, with a yell of mingled pain
and raes, sprang for his rife, which lay
beside him on the ground. But he was too
late Before his fingers closed upon its
shining barrel he stumbled forward to the
earth with ball through his brain.
Deadly weapons come handy some
times, after all gentlemen, be remarked.
noticed d curious change in his voice
and manner So, too, did Macarthur, who
stood for q moment looking at him with
seeming perplexity in the midst of his too
evident stupefaction
Meanwhile Ned, who was Of q practical
turn, began taking from the capaciOus
pockets of the taller of the two outlaws the
yaluables and money of which our little
company had been despoiled and return
ing them to the owners.
AT last he came to a bit of wash leather
in one Of the pockets, from which rolled
diamond Of such peculiar shape, size and
color-for it was one of those rare gems, a
perfect rose diamond-that both Ned and
myself uttered simultaneous cry of aston
ishment and delight as well we might,
for it was our stolen diamond.
You are IN luck, gentlemen quletly
remarked Mr.. Smith, who had been watch
ing the whole procedure, while Macarthur
stood looking on with covetous eyes. II
see that this Is the stone that you had
stolen from you in the camp some days
since. 1 had a glimpse of it, and I should
know it among thousand. "
Macarthur who with his recovered re-
volvers, which he had buckled on, had as
sumed his usual air of braggadociO, was
heard to express considerable dissatisfac-
ton His idea was that under the circuna-
stances the whole party had a sort OF com
mon interest in the diamond, to which the
brokers gave ready assent.
I'D like to SEQ any one try to take itl'
said Ned, with dangerous CLEAN in bis
eyes.
Little Mr. Smith nodded approvingly
and removed from the dead man s body the
money belt Of which Mr. Macarthur had
been deprived But instead of handing it
to that gentleman he buckled it about his /
own waist, with an agreeable smile
g What does this mean?' yelled Nc /
Arthur, whose face was purple with rage, /
when, no less to his own than our aston
ishment his arms were pinioned by the !
little colporteur, who seemed TO have the |
strength Of two ordinary men, and in an |
other instant his wrists were adorned with 1
pair Of shining steel handouts.
s'It's no use kicking, William, quietly |
remarked his eaptor, removing a faded |
fiaxen wig from his own head and expos /
ing to view "a short crop of stubby black /
hair. 81 didn't mean to pull you until /
we got to Wellington, but this little affair /
has preci pitated matters. -
Mr.. Smith informed US that the scowl- /
ing prisoner was one William Hardy, with |
a dozen aliases, whom he, Dennison Hunt, /
the then best known detective in England, /
had followed from Liverpool to the very /
heart Of South Africa, a reward of IS, 600 /