Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-14

dilly daily with the business manager
of the show and keep him waiting here
for day or two till l hit on good
scheme
"If he has got the papers and there's
a chance, get 'em at any cost, old man.
It won't cost you more than $40 to
knock him down if necessary. But for
heavens sake don't make scene. Wire
me every hour, but don't take any risk
of making a mess Of it. "
I found him in the billiard room.
From my friends descrirtion I recog-
nized him at once. A tall, aristocratic
fellow, who gave me the idea Of clever
ne'er do we'll. Now, know something
about billiards, and as there was no one
else in the room ventured to suggest
game.
Jaw, just as you please, he drawled.
"I'm not much of hand at the game. F"
We played 80. didn't shine. You
can't play any billiards to speak Of with
one eye, and the other was on my man.
Meanwhile I was trying to form some
definite line of action. l determined to
get these papers single handed without
any advisory assistance from Cholmon-
dely.
At the end Of the game we had a
whisky and soda together. He was not
half bad fellow and was no stranger
about the world.
Suddenly brilliant idea struck me.
It was a sort of neat little inspiration,
and unless he carried the papers on his
person decided 1t ought to work
It was O'Clock when l finished a
most comfortable dinner. My quondam
friend had strolled into the cardroom,
and I followed. If Cholmondely had
been present he would have noticed that
no longer wore my diamond ring.
proposed quiet game Of cards. We
played for about quarter of an hour,
when thought it about time to open
the plot, which did by turning to my
adversary and deliberately accusing him
Of cheating.
In moment the room was in an up
roar. The proprietor appeared on the
scene, followed by the guests from the
other rooms. To the former / repeated
my accusation. While my victim vio-
lently protested against the insult Of
fered him, I quietly approached the
landlord.
II would be much obliged if you
would send for the police. / have lost Q
valuable ring, and have reason to be-
lieve that this man is not only profes
sional card sharper-he is also thief. y
My victim was completely staggered
and, as imagined he would be, indig
nant at the accusation. Conscious of hi
innocence in this matter at least, III
bore out my request that the polio
should be sent for and his characte
cleared. He accompanied the inspecto
to the station, and I followed.
What my victim felt when my dia
mond ring was found in his pocket
leave you to imagine. did not conside
it advisable to tell him that I ha'
placed it there during that quiet gam
Of cards.
"It's a lie! A foul lie!' he shouted
tits conspiracy! The man is tryinl
to ruin me. am man Of position,
tell you! It is plot
''You will have an opportunity Q
explaining that to the magistrate tc
morrow morning." replied the inspect
or. SIN the meantime l am afraid
must detain you"
Now came the critical part Of til
plot. Calling the inspector aside, I il
t formed him Of my suspicious that til
prisoner had stolen other articles c
. mine which doubtless were concealed j
t his baggage. A judicious tip impelle
8 the sloven arms of the law with sue
effect that that same night scare
8 warrant was obtained, and accompanie
9 BY the officer I returned to the hote.
3 where we went through the arreste
3 mans traps.
In corner Of his portmanteau was
bundle of papers stamped with an in
portant looking seal. 1t was that d.
scribed to me by Cholmondely.
: AS the inspector was engaged
: searching the prisoners dressing case
dipped by hand in the bag and abstrac
/ ed the dispatches.
0 That night they went under regi
9 tered cover to my London friend, al
the same train that brought the prisol
= er's confederate to his aid in the NOR
q ing in response to his urgent Telegram
numbered Cholmondely among its pa
i sengers
The magistrate said it was a mo
}. fragrant case Of theft. Under the CT
oumstances, however, he didn't think
q months hard labor too much for Il
prisoner.
u wish you could have been in cou
at the moment when the prisoner al
is his friend properly appreciated the ia
Q that the prosecutor was bosom friel
J. Of Cholmondely.
I can see their faces now as the tri
70 dawned upon them. ers.
le Skulls Of Papier Macho.
10 In making animals skins into +