Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-09
SHEER LUCK.

When the great pink diamond Of
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,
savants wrote learned disquisitions upon
its beauties and its peculiarities, and
the magazines and newspapers spoke of
its value in a way that made ones
mouth water.
Among others whose envy was
aroused by the descriptions Of the stone
vas a Mr.. Lamorock, a gentleman who
had passed under many aliases in his
career and who had only recently been
released from Portland, where he had
been sequestered for installing the pro-
prietorship of a check.
AS he read Of the great diamond his
eyes sparkled at the thought of its
worth. There it was-g100, 000-and
you could put it in your waistooat
pocket.
But how to get it?
The ex-convict as he pondered over
the subject knew the task was not an
easy one. The papers impaired the con-
fdence that it was in Messrs. Bousfield
Bros. safe at Bristol. But burglary was
not in his line. There are grades of re-
fnement 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.
The first step was to obtain the con
fidence of the Bousields. To get this!
An introduction. How? To forge it.
Without more ado he wrote a short
note to Congleton & Co., the celebrated
diamond merchants of Hatton Garden,
asking them if they would care to buy
some old family jewels and received a
reply expressing their willingness to in
speot them. After %studiously examining
the c%aligraphy Of their letter with a
magnifying lens he set himself to prac-
ticing a number Of curves and f1ourishes
on a sheet of paper. An hours work
seemed to satisfy him, and he then in
dited the following epistle:
HATToN GARDEN, Jan. 4.
Messrs. Bousfleld Bros:
DEAR SIRs-As a client Of ours desires to in
spect your pink diamond known as "The Light
of Guznee," with a view to purchase, we
should feel obliged If you would send it to us.
Our Mr.. Lamorock will call upon you in a few
hours after you receive this letter and will
bear a note vouching for his identity. We shall
be happy to undertake all risk and RESPONSE
bility for the stone from the time it is %intrust-
ed to the custody Of our representative, and
we beg to remain yours faithfully,
CoNGI4EToN g. Co.
When. this production of his pen and
brain had been carefully sorutinized,
our caligraphist composed another short
letter, which stated that the bearer was
Mr.. Lamorock, the representative Of
Congleton & Co. He then went out and
bought half a dozen Havana cigars, four
of which he steamed open and unrolled.
Smearing the interior portion over with
a dark, treacly liquid. he rolled them
up again with expert fingers and put
them into his case.
The first letter he had written he sent
by registered post, going down to Bris.
tol by the same train that took the mail.
But Oh his arrival there he waited for
three hours SO as to allow Of it being
delivered before calling. He then went
to their Office and presented his creden-
tials, the g%enuineness of which were not
for a moment suspected.
The Bristol firm, who acted with
great caution in all their business trans
actions, though it safer that the stone
should be under the custody of their
own representative and determined that
m Of their partners, young Harry
B%ousfield, should accompany Lamorock
up to London, taking it with him.
This, however, was a contingency pro-
vided for both by Lamorock's cigars
and by a neat little revolver that mes
tied in the pocket Of his greatcoat.
1t was a bitterly cold day, and a bit.
ing east wind made them shiver in spite
Of their coats and wraps-so much SO
that they mutually regretted that the
operation of securing a reserved carriage
left them no time to pay q visit to the
refreshment room.
They had just seated themselves COM
fortably and the train was already in
motion when an elderly gentleman,
with q jovial red face and black, bushy
whiskers, opened the door and bundled
himself In.
Bousfield was annoyed and Lamorock
disguised, but Of the intruder was pro-
fuse in his apologies and it was too late
to mend matters they had to accept the
situation with the best grace they could.
After the lapse Of a quarter Of an
hour he had talked their reserve away
and proved himself 80 amusing a com.
panion that they all became quite
friendly. and then Lamorock, who had
grown suddenly amiable, pressed the
others into accepting a cigar apiece.
The jolly faced Intruder was not to be
outdone in hospitality. He opened his
handbag and with . merry wink pro-
duced a flask Of curacao, which the in
tense cold made particularly acceptable
to them all.
Lamorock, indeed, found the liquor SO
delicious that he took two glasses. Be-
fore they got half through their cigars
be noticed with satisfaction that the
conversation began 10 slacken aud that