Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-20

W. e -
He had my satchel."
came to me that this was my chance. I
would rob the thief Of my own proper
ty. Thus if caught could not be i'm
prisoned, while II not would not only
win my wager. but would have the
excitement and the satisfaction for
which / had wished. One thing threat.
ened to upset my plans Mr.. Barnes by
an odd chance came aboard the same
coach, was given the section next to
ours and overheard our conversation.
This of course could not have counted
upon. ~
"You did take it into your account,
though" interrupted Mr.. Barnes.
"You mean that I refused to tell Mr..
Randolph what I meant to do, saying
that might be overheard, and that l
hisht even be talking for the benefit Of
listening detective? True, but I had
no idea that this was so. It was merely
extreme precaution, and only shows that
we can never be too cautious in an en-
deavor to keep asecret Later, however,
heard You get up, and peeping through
the curtains I saw you sitting up or
rather lying in b berth opposite. with
the curtains drawn, Dit once supposed
that you must be a detective Ny COM
panion was soon asleep, but with $780,
600 worth OF jewels in the balance 1
could not sleep. was busy wondering
what I should do. I think, though, that
I must have dozed, for I know that I
was startled to discover suddenly that
we were not moving. I looked out Of
our section window-fortunately / was
next to it-and found that we had run
into the depot at New Haven. Like q
fash it came to me that the thief might
leave the train here. Twas about to get
up, when to my astonishment / noticed
a man sneaking along by the side of the
train. I was on the side opposite to that
from which the passengers would alight,
and the suspicious actions OF the man
forced me to watch. him. He passed so
close to me that could have touched
him had my window been open, and as
he did so the light Of an electric lamp
disclosed the fact that he had my
satchel. The thief had been robbed al
ready. The man approached a coal bin,
and STOPPING showed the satchel behind
it. Then he returned to the train and
came aboard. ...
II said to myself: THAT fellow is
an artist He will remain on board till
the robbery Is discovered, if necessary,
and even allow himself to be searched
Then he will quietly come back and get
the satchel and Jewels. Thus it was
my cue to act quickly. But if I left the
train I knew that the detective would see
me. I therefore gently raised the sash
and deftly let myself to the ground out
of the window. I quickly took the satch-
ell, ran to the end of the depot, and
found a place where l could shove it far
under the platform. Then I climbed
back into the berth, and after that as
sure you slept very we'll"
The company applauded this descrip-
tion of how the robbery had been COM
mitted, and Mr.. Mitchell bowed.
"Wait, my friends; ); we are not through
yet The woman who had robbed me
had the supreme audacity to report her
loss, or perhaps we should say that she
was so angry that she became desper-
ate. have reason to believe that she
had an accomplice in this man, and that
suspecting him Of robbing her she
would have been willing to give testi-
mony against him if caught and trust
to escape herself by turning states evil
dence. When we were running in to
New York, Mr.. Barnes directed that all
should be searched. I enjoyed that, l
assure you. 1t seemed so amusing to
look in New York for what I knew was
in New Haven. At the same time I was
anxious to get back to New Haven as
quickly as possible. With that end in
view invited Mr.. Barnes to breakfast
with me. tried to make it appear that
I was anxious to have him agree to be
the only detective on my track, but in
reality wished to discover whether he
would be able at once to place spy at
my heels; that is, whether be had
man at the Grand Central already. This
I found was the case. I therefore was
obliged to 90 to my hotel as though
having no desire to leave town again.
Then subsequently eluded this man
by the convenient bridges across the
elevated railroad. I went to New Ha.
ven, four" the satchel, and then depos.
tied it at hotel near by for safe keep
ing. My object in this was plain.
knew that the robbery would get into
the newspapers, and that by behaving
suspiciously at the hotel-of course, l
was disguised attention would be at
tracted there. This did happen, and the
result was that the jewels were given
nto the custody of the police authorl-
T. S, the very safest place for them, SO
far as was concerned. Gentlemen, that
is the story of the crime which l COM
mittcd. have only to show my receipt
from the Boston custom house and my
bill of sale from the Paris dealer to be
able to recover my property. Are you
satisfied, Mr.. Randolph"
Entirely. You have won fairly, and
r l..,. . .l.a.1- Co., h. ,,,,oppt 1uith ma