, 1897-04-13

about billiards, and as there was no one
| else in the room / ventured to suggest o
game.
Jaw, just as you please, he drawled.
"I'm not much of o hand at the game"
We played a 80. I didn't shine. You
can't play any billiards to speak Of with
one eye, and the other was on my man.
Meanwhile l was trying to form some
definite limo of action. 1 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 a bad fellow and was no stranger
about the world.
Suddenly q brilliant idea struck me.
It was n sort of neat little inspiration,
and unless he carried the papers on his
person 1 decided it ought to work.
1t was 8 O'Clock when I finished a
most comfortable dinner. Ny q%uOndam
friend had strolled into the cardroom,
and 1 followed. If Cholmondely had
been present he would have noticed that
I Il o longer wore my diamond ring.
l ploptsSu luitt SALlS VI CAlus. We
played for about a quarter of an hour,
| when l thought it about time to open
the plot, which 1 did by turning to my
adversary and deliberately accusing him
of cheating.
In a momei,r I've room was in al up
roar. The propr1e or appeared on the
scene, followed by tie guests from the
other rooms. To II. former l repeated
my accusation. Win ny victim vio-
lently protested ag:i st the insult Of
fered him, l quietly approached the
landlord.
Il would be much obliged if you
would send for the police. l have lost u
valuable ring, and have reason to be-
lieve that this man is not only a profess
sional card sharper-he is also a thief"
My victim was completely staggered,
and, as l imagined he would be, indig-
naDt at the accusation. Conscious of his
innocence in this matter at least, he
bore ont my request that the police
should be sent for and his character
cleared. He accompanied the inspector
to the station, and I followed.
What my victim felt when my dia.
moud ring was found in his pocket l
leave you to imagine. did not consider
it advisable to tell him that l had
placed it there during that quiet game
of cards. .
cts a lie! A foul lie!" he shouted.
Its a conspiracy! The MAJ is trying
to ruin me. l am u man of position, l
tell you! 1t is Il plot"
| ssVo, ,-;II ., -, n1- e
explaining that to the magistrate to-
morrow morning" replied the inspect
or. "In the meantime l am afraid l
must detain you"
Now came the critical part of the
plot. Calling the inspector aside, l in
formed him Of my suspicious that the
prisoner had stolen other articles of
mine which doubtless were concealed in
his baggage. A judicious tip impelled
the sloven arms of the law with such
effect that that same night a search
warrant was obtained, and accompanied
by the officer l returned to the hotel,
where We ven through the arrested
mans traps.
In a corner Of his portmanteau was q
bundle of papers stamped with an i'm
portant looking seal. 1t was that de-
soribed to mo by Cholmondely.
As the inspector vas engaged in
searching the prisoners dressing case l
dipped by hand in the bag and abstract
ed the dispatches.
That night they went under regis
tered cover to my London friend, and
the same train that brought the prison.
er's confederate to his aid in the morn
ing i'll response to his urgent kilograms
numbered Cholmondely among its pas
sengcrs.
The magistrate said it was a most
fragrant case of theft. Under the cir
cumstances. however, he didn't think q
months hard labor too much for the
prisoner.
wish you could have been in court
at the moment when the prisoner and
his friend properly appreciated the fact
that the prosecutor was a bosom friend
of Cholmondely.
I can sec their faces now as the trick
dawned upon m.-Answ ers,