Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-07-29
SHEER LUCK.


Guznee reached Europe, it created
widespread interest and took immediate
rank with the historical stones Of the
world. It was compared with the finest
gems in the royal and imperial regalia,
kavants wrote learned disquisitions upon
its beauties and its peculiarities, aud
the magazines and newspapers spoke Of
Its value in n way that made one's
mouth water.
Among others whose envy was
aroused by the descriptions Of the stone
was a Mr.. Lamorock, 4 gentleman who
had passed under many aliases in his
career and who had only recently been
released from Portland, where no had
been sequestered for installing the pro-
prietorship of a check.
As he read Of tho great diamond his
eyes sparkled at the thought of its
worth. There it was-ei00, 000-and
you could put it in your waistooat
pocket.
But how to get it?
The e%x-oonvict as no pondered over
the subject knew the task was not an
easy one. The papers impaired the con-
fidence that it was In Messrs. Bousfield
Bros. safe at Bristol. But burglary was
not in his line. There arc grades Of re-
Gnement in all professions, and he
looked upon burglary as vulgar besides
which night watchmen, strong rooms
and electric alarms made such work
hazardous and only fit for people better
supplied with physical strength than
brains.
Tho first step was TO obtain tho con-
Idencc of the Bousle!ds. To get this?
An introduction. How? To forge it.
Without moro ado he wrote q short
hote to Coneleton s. Co., the celebrated
diamond merchants of Hatton Garden,
asking them if they would care to buy
kOme old family jewels and received a
reply expressing their willingness to in
Epect tbcm. After studiously examining
the caligraphy of their letter with a
magnifying lens he set himself n prac-
ticing u number Of curves and iourishes
on n sheet Of paper. An hours work
seemed to satisfy him, and he then in
dited the following epistle:
HATToS GARDES, Jan. 4.
Mcssrs. Bousheh Eros:
DEAR BIns-As n client Of ours desires TO in
spcct your pink diamond known as "Thc Light
uf Ounce" with n view TO purchase, We
should feel Obliged II you would send IL to us
Our Mr.. Lamorock will call upon you in IA few
hours nfter you receive this letter and will
bear n note vouching for his identity. VIC shall
be happy TO undertake all risk and RESPONSE
lility for the stone from tho tiino Il IS intrust
al TO tho custody Of our representative, and
wo beg TO remain yours faithfully,
CoScLEToE 6 Co.
When this production Of his pen and
brain had been carefully scrutinized,
our cal~igraphist composed another shorI
letter, which stated that the bearer wal
Mr.. Lamorook, the representative Of
Congleton & Co. He then went out anC
bought half n dozen Havana cigars, foul
Of which no steamed open and unrolled,
Smearing the interior portion over with
n dark, treacly liquid, he rolled then
up again with expert fingers and put
them into his case.
The first letter he had written he sem
Ly registered post, going down to Bris
tol by the same train that took the mail
But on his arrival there he waited fol
three hours SO as to allow Of it being
delivered before calling. He then wen.
to their Office and presented his crcden
tiRls. the genuineness Of which were no
for y moment suspected.
The Bristol firm, who acted witt
great caution in all their business trans
actions, though it safer that the stone
should be under tho custody Of theii
own representative and determined tina
one of their partners, young Harry
n,-aAoII uklul1 ur.lv,r... .,-,-i
mp to London, taking it with him
This, however, was 4 contingency pro
vided for both by Lamorock's cigar
and by u neat little revolver that mes
tied in the pocket Of his greatcoat.
IL was a bitterly cold day, and a bit
ing east wind made them shiver In spit
Of their coats and wraps-so much 81
that they mutually regretted. that thu
operation Of securing u reserved carriage
left them no time to pay a visit to thu
Eefreshment room.
They had just seated themselves com
fortably and the train was already il
motion when an elderly gentleman
with q joyial red face and black, bushy
whiskers. opened the door and bundled
himself in.
boustield waa Rpnoyed and Lamorocl
disguised. but as the intruder was pro
fuse in his apologies and it was too lat
TO mend matters they had to accept tn
situation with the best grace they could
After the lapse Of a quarter Of al
hour be had talked their reserve ava,
and proved himself so amusing a com
panion that they all became quit
friendly, and then Lamorock, who haI
grown suddenly amiable. pressed I'd,
OtheFs into accepting a cigar apiece.
The jolly faced Intruder was not to b
eutdone in hospitality. He opened hi
handbag and with a merry wink pro
duced q flask OF curacao, which she in
tense cold made particularly acceptable
10 them all.
Iamorocb, indeed. found the liquor :
delicious hat he took two glasses. BE
fnre they got half through their ciger
DO noticed with satisfaction that ID
conversation began to elackcn aid tina