The true northerner., 1899-08-23


IL appeared that the affair was going to
be a frost, as nobody seemed TO be in
ciined II purchase on any terms. After
lew weeks, however, one of them was
sold 10 firm of diamond merchants
trading as Lipinski Brothers, and out
wardly in large way of business.
The other five could not be disposed of
and remained stored. All the while the
trio had kept studiously aloof except at
stated appointments, and maintained
as respectable a department as was pos
sible at the period. They now saw
way 10 business, and prepared for it.
1t was absolutely necessary TO get some
confederates, and luckily one of them
was employed as a sort of messenger
and handy man by the Lipinsk firm.
lie was apparently confirmed topper,
exhibiting an abiding thirst, but with
i "a remarkable amount of cunning and
craft.
1t was this man, Dennis by name, who
urged the absolute necessity of 'squar-
/ ing" one of the detectives, and bringing
! in a fifth party to the exploit. This
seemed to John good opportunity, and
he advanced Dennis and Chiffon, the
"tec," 90 each with great cheerful
ness.
All was now ready for the grand
coup. Dennis had informed them that
there were 10000 carats of diamonds,
worth at that time about 40, 900, in the
safe awaiting transit by mail on the fol-
| lowing day.
Never probably was a burglary so
easily effected. Between midnight and
two o'clock the window of the office had
been taken bodily out, the iron bars,
which were merely a mockery TO an eX-
perienced cracksman, wrenched from
their sockets, and the safe opened and
four precious parcels safely transferred
TO the lodgings of the adventurers. The
night was dark, and positively no sus-
picions whatever seemed to have been
aroused.
John and his two accomplices opened
the parcels and gazed with glee and
exultation on the glittering, glistening
gems that were to make them all rich
for life. They fully expected that next
day there would be great commotion
in the town, and that on the following
day the newspapers would be full of the
! sensational account of the robbery. But
not word appeared in either of the
sheets.
The circumstance was very plausibly
explained by Dennis and Chiffon, who
declared that the detective department
had insisted upon silence on the part of
Messrs. Lipinsli as one of the very best
means of getting a clew.
These two men had played their part
well, John thought, and he willingly
paid them off with $50 each.
Good luck to you," mumbled Dennis,
as he shuffled away while the ''tec."
simply put his forefinger to his nasal
organ and CALCULATED mum" in a mys-
terious fashion and departed.
And now the rest of the business was
comparatively easy. Although the dia-
mond trade act permits an examination
of every person leaving by steamer,
only suspected persons are ever
searched. The three men carried in
their pockets each portion of the 3d.
600 carats, and after three days jour-
ney to Port Elizabeth got safely on
board the steamer for England without
even question or look from anybody
TO cause them any concern.
Table bay left behind, they were in
high spirits, and had "a very, very merry
voyage home. The remnant of the G L.
200 capital with which they had been
supplied by the syndicate enabled the
trio TO have what they considered
high old time.
Immediately on arrival at Southamp-
ton John wired a message, ambiguous
enough TO those through whose hands
il passed on the line, but most reassur-
ing TO the syndicate. All was proceeding
serenely.
Few men have ever been in such an
eXultant mood as John Wild as he en-
tered the place of meeting, house in
York road, Lambeth, with the & 10000
worth of diamonds in valise, which he
held with both hands. The repre-
sentatives of the Syndicate" - two
hoary-headed old rascals-were on the
tiptoe of pleasurable expectation.
John undid the parcels and spread out
the glittering vanities with great self
importance. Suddenly No. of the syn
dicate hoarsely CALCULATED: What dye
mean by this?" while No. 2 uttered
cry like toothless old lion as it springs
upon a field rat.
Then Johns senses completely left
him, as he gathered from the angry,
profane language how the expedition"
had been completely sold.
The diamonds" were crystals and
paste, so elaborately manipulated that
only an expert could have determined
whether they were real gems. Dennis
of course had betrayed them, while Chill
ton was as big fraud as the goods
the term applied to diamonds at Kim
berley.
Needless to say the interview in Lam
beth was exceedinly turbulent, and
ended in the full syndicate falling upon
John and beating him within an inch of
his life.
But he bore his trials with philosophy,