The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-08
you don't part with what you've not
been fully mid for -

~'S" chBltuu lux tuuI put your Ola
world methods to the blush! SO thought
the little merchant as ho consigned tho
note to his waistcoat pocket and took
down tho address of the Amoricun's g
hotel-a first class one by tho byo-in
northumberland avenue
Ihon, with many expressions Of mu Z.
tual cstoem, tho two Vanderstrooms
parted.
But long before the expiration Of tho
term fixed for tho completion Of the set.
ting Of tho diamonds tho American was
back in Hatton Garden, and the visits
became more frequent as tho intimacy
between tho two Vanderstrooms grow
stronger. Tho colonel--he was not u
general, rs tho Dutch Cornelius found
out from inquiries ho caused to be made
at the Americans hotcl--the colonel
developed habit Of dushing up with
those magnificent bays of his to tho
merchants Otfico two or throe days q
week, Just to SEQ how no was getting
on' and to invite him out for q bottlo
of "1STp' and an oyster patty ut the
adjacent railway restaurant.
On thcso occasions tho American
would allow tho voluble littlo Dutch
ing Somehow or other tho conversation
invariably took the direction, under tho
coloncls doXtcrous steering, of London
thieves and tho various great robborics
and swindlcs that had recently taken
place in the metropolis. This was q sub
joct on which the diamond merchant
was quite ut home. and thcro being no
wife in tho way he proceeded to pose
with great imprCSsiveness as an author
ity on the intricaccs of put up yobs,"
the great bank haul Of Gil 900 and how
all these affairs were worked on the con-
Jurors principle Of edo quicknoss Of do
hand dat dccuivcS dc eye.
Once, after the opening of u second
bottle. when Cornelius tho lesser had
grown extra communicative, he impart-
ed to his kinSman the episode Of the lost
pockctbook and the tcnacity with which
his wife had stuck to the .G3 800 she had
found in tho hall, refusing to give it
up, except on its urgent demand for tho
application of tho sum strictly to busi-
ness purposes.
The American, who had been lolling
at tho bar with characteristic languor,
grew suddenly interested. lie stitfencd
himself up, listened uttcntivcly, became
ahstractcd for a minute or two, then
hastily, for such All unusually dclibcr-
ato gentleman, tossed off his glass, plead.
cd IL forgotten engagement, got into his
phactOn and was driven Off by the dis
erect looking groom, with whom no
might aftcrward havo been noticed in
earnest conversation, in tho direction Of
his hotel.
The following morning tho Yankee
Nandrrstroom was again in Hntton Car
den and almost as soon as tho other Cor
nclius had arrived Mt business.
More ncwS-wondcrfu wire from
Potshot Gulch! "Blnmch' if no didn't
think the mino WAS "going to turn ont
II second Tombstone. "
They were ''ladling it out' of two
more reefs and the wife must have more
diamonds. Better finish her off OncU for
all while he was about it with Il neck
lace and stars. Those, with what he
bad already ordered, "ought," he do
clarcd, 'to make her shine like tho fig
urchcad of Liberty at tho entrance to
New York hnrbor'
This time stones to the value of C2,-
0O0 wcro selected, and another Gl0O
note was handed over, Just, as the
American put it, ''by way Of cover for
the fXiEgs"
The diamond merchant was perfectly
satisfied and, at his friends urgent So
NcltutiOn, promised To "hurry up" and
havo the entire suit complete that dav
three weeks, so that the silver king
could catch the American mail on the
following Friday, rs he was anxious to
lose no timo i'll getting back to that
wonderful Tom Tiddler's ground Of his
IN Arizona. All reason for anxiety was
furthermore relieved by tho American
promising to bring tho G3, 800 with
him and 'plankcd down, fair and
square, before the jewels wero handed
| over.
At last the evcntful day arrived when
tho setting WAS finished and tho mag
niiicont suit of jewels was ready in its
great vclvct lined case for delivery.
The colonel was punctunlity itself.
lfo was driven up to the Office us usual =,
by that cmincntly respectable groom Of
his, and he came in smoking Il great
green Cigar, as cool and collected as
ever.
The suit was pronounced superb. 1t
surpassed tho coloncl's expectations
Would Vandcrstroom tho lesser mind
putting tho diamonds back in their case
and handing them to his man below,
while he, tho colonel, counted out the
notes?
Tho merchant was about to do as he
was bid when his habitual caution got
the better Of him. Ho kept IL firm hold
on tho case and didn't budgo an inch.
Tho colonel evidently didn't SEQ his
hesitation. Ho was feeling rs well as he
could with his ""o hand in his pockets
and seemed Il. 6iS"GmrCrtCd at not
finding what ! Was searching for.
Would his l:amcsako mind 'iust 20
ing ovor him?' Ho was so helpless with
his one hand.
Thore WINS 10 pocltotbook to be found.
After moments reflection tho colo.
mol slapped his Leg laughed and said
hc had it. Flo remembered now his wife
took his bill case out Of his pocket at
| the hotel that morning to yet some