Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-11

right honest way Of trading about these
New England folk that put your old
world methods to the blushl So thought
the little merchant as he consigned the
note to bis waistcoat pocket and took
down the address Of the Americans 8
hotel-a first class one, by the bye-in
Northumberland avenue.
Then, with many expressions Of mu.
tual esteem, the two vanderstFooms
parted.
But long before the expiration of the
term fixed for the completion of the set.
ting of the diamonds the American was
back in Hatton Garden, and the visits
became more frequent as the intimacy
between the two Vanderstrooms grew
stronger. The colonel-he was not a
general, as the Dutch Cornelius found
out from inquiries he caused to be made
at the Americans hotel-the colonel
developed a habit of dashing up with
those magnificent bays of his to the
merchants office two or three days q
week, "just to see how he was getting
on" and to invite him out for bottle
of 1874" and an oyster patty at the
adjacent railway restaurant.
On these occasions the American
would allow the voluble little Dutch
man TO do the major portion of the talk
ing. Somehow or other the conversation
invariably took the direction. under the
colonel's dexterous steering, of London
thieves and the various great robberies
and swindles that had recently taken
place in the metropolis. This was o SUBJ
ject on which the diamond merchant
was quite at home. and there being no
wife in the way he proceeded to pose
with great impressiveness as an author
ity on the intricacies of "put up yobs,"
the great bank haul Of ell, 900 and how
all these affairs were worked OH the con.
jurer's principle of "de quiokness of de
hand dat deceives dc eye"
Once, after the opening of second
bottle, when Cornelius the lesser had
grown extra communicative, he impart-
ed to his kinsman the episode of the lost
pocketbook and the tenacity with which
his wife had stuck TO the e3, 500 she had
found in tho hall, refusing to give it
up, except on its urgent demand for the
application Of the sum strictly to bust
ness purposes.
Tho American. who had been lolling
at the bar with characteristic languor,
grew suddenly interested. He stiffened
himself up, listened attentively, became
distracted for minute or two, then
hastily, for such an unusually deliber-
ate gentleman, tossed off his glass, plead
ed forgotten engagement, got into his
phaeton and was driven eff by the dis
Greet looking groom, with whom he
might afterward have been noticed in
earnest conversation, in the direction Of
his hotel.
The following morning the Yankee
Vanderstroom was again in Hatton Gar
den and almost as soon rs the ether Cor
nelius had arrived at business.
More news-wonderful wire from
Potshot Gulch! BLAMED" if he didn't
think the mine was ''going to turn out
second Tombstone.
They were "ladling it OUT of two
more reefs and the wife must have more
diamonds. Better finish her off once Cor
all while he was about it with n neck
lace and stars. Those, with what he
had already ordered, 'ought," he de-
clared, "to make her shine like the fig
urehead of Liberty at the entrance to
New York harbor.
This time stones to the value of ea,-
900 were selected, and another Gl00
note was handed over, just, as the
American put it, "by way of cover for
the fixings.
Tho diamond merchant was perfectly
satisfied, and. at his friends urgent So
licitation, promised to hurry up" and
have the entire suit complete that day
three weeks, so that the silver king
could catch the American mail ON the
following Friday, as he was anxious to
lose no time in getting back to that
wonderful Tom Tiddlers ground of his
in Arizona. All reason for anxiety was
Furthermore relieved by the American
promising to bring the eS, 800 with
him and ''planked down, fair and
square" before the jewels were handed
over
At last the eventful day arrived when
the setting YVES finished and the mag
niticent suit CT jewels was ready in its
great velvet lined case for delivery.
The colonel was punctuality itself.
He was driven up to the office, rs usual,
by that eminently respectable groom of
his, and he came in smoking a great
green cigar, as cool and collected as
ever.
The suit was pronounced superb. 1t
surpassed the colonel's expectations.
Would Vanderstroom the lesser mind
putting the diamonds back in their case
and handing them to his man below,
while he, the colonel, counted cut the
notes?
The merchant was about to do as he
was bid when his habitual caution got
the better of him. He kept firm hold
Oh the case and didn't bulge an inch.
The colonel evidently didn't see his
hesitation. He was feeling as well as he
could with his one hand in his pockets
and seemed rather disconnected ut not
finding what he was searching for.
Would his namesake mind ''just so.
ing over him?'' He was so helpless with
his one hand.
There was no pocketbook to be found.
After moments reflection the colo
mel SLAPPED his leg, laughed and said
he had it, He remembered now his wife
took his bill case out Of his pocket at
the hotel that morning to get some
money to pay for some frocks,
''Guess she forgot to put it back. It's
way they've got, eh, Van?" laughing
ly CALCULATED the American.
The colonel's open, hearty manner
l.AAiS