Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-17

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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 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, 600 and how
all these affairs were worked on the con-
jurer's principle of "de quickness of de
hand dat deceives de 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 the hall, refusing to give it
up, except on it's urgent demand for the
application Of the sum strictly to busi-
ness purposes
The American, who had been lolling
at the bar with characteristic languor,
grew suddenly interested. He stiffened
himself up, listened attentively, became
distracted for a 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 off 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 as the other 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 for
all while he was about it with neck
lace and stars. Those, with what he
had already ordered, fought, he de-
clared, "to make her shine like the fig
urehead of Liberty at the entrance to
New York harbor.' ~
This time stones to tie value of e2,-
900 were selected, and another e100
note was handed over, just, as the
American put it, "by way of cover for
the fixings."
The diamond merchant was perfectly
satisfied, and, at his friends urgent 60
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 Tiddler's ground of his
in Arizona. All reason for anxiety was
Furthermore relieved by the American
promising to bring the eS, 300 with
him and "planked down, fair and
square" before the jewels were handed
over.
At last the eventual day arrived when
the setting was finished and the mag
nificent suit of jewels was ready IN its
great velvet lined case for delivery.
The colonel was punctuality itself.
He was driven up to the Office, as usual,
by that eminently respectable groom of
his, and he came in smoking 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 out 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
on the case and didn't bulge an inch.
The colonel evidently didn't see his
hesitation. He was feeling as we'll as he
could with his one hand in his pockets
and seemed rather Disconnected at not
finding what he was searching for.
Would his namesake mind "just 60.
ing over him?' He was 30 helpless with
bis one hand.
There was no pocketbook to be found.
After a 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, Fan?' laughing.
" calculated the American.
The colonel's open, hearty manner
reassured the little diamond merchant,
who was growing just little-the
mercst shade of a trife-suspicious.
The sharp eyes of the colonel noticed
it at once.
"We'll soon fix that up" he said,
with his usual calm drawl. "I'll stop
right here and get the money all the
same-every cent Of it But l must ask
you to act as my secretary My left fist
amt no good nohow with pen. Here,
any paper will do. Take this memo.
form of yours and scribble q few lines