Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-04-08
CHAPTER v.

DuItu luz y kuIiOub OutubCuN VI TUkCs b1c
stood silent, staring stupidity straight be-
his dull brain had stunned It. She took
his arm and led him out to the cab that
was waiting at the door.
The driver, helping him to get In, no.
ticed piece Of paper lying on the front
seat. He was about to throw It away
when Mrs. Bellbridge took II out OF his
hand. 1T isn't print" she said. "it's
writing" A closer examination showed
that the writing was addressed to herself.
This was what she read: Don't trouble
yourself, madam, about the diamonds.
You have made q mistake--y0u have en-.
ployed the wrong man."
Those wOrds-and no more. Enough,
surely, to justify the conclusion that he
had stolen the diamonds. Was It worth
while to drive to his lodgings? They
tried the experiment. The expert had
where.
morning. To Mrs. Bellbridge's amaze.
rest. Oh the highest authority. An article
appeared In a conspicuous position. thus
expressed:
Another Of the many proofs that truth
il stranger than fiction has just occurred
at Liverpool. A highly respected firm OF
ship owners In that city received q
strange letter at the beginning Of the
present week. Promising that he had
some remarkable circumstances to com
municate, the writer Of the letter entered
abruptly on the narrative which follows
A friend Of his connected with literature
had, It appeared, noticed q lady's visiting
card left on his desk, and had been re-
minded by 1t Of criminal case which had
excited considerable public interest at the
time-the trial Of Captain Westertield fol
willfully casting away ship under his
command. Never having heard Of the
trial, the writer. at his friends suggestion
consulted q file Of newspapers-discOve
the repOrt-and became aware for the first
time that collection OF Brazilian dia
mOnds, consigned to the Liverpool firm
was missing from the wrecked vessel
when she had been boarded by the salvage
party, and had not been found since
Events which It was impossible for him
to mention had revealed to his knowledge
a hiding place In which these same dia'
m0nds-in all prObability-were concealed
This circumstance had left him no alter
native, as an honest man, but to be be-
forehand with the persons. who contem
plated stealing the precious stones. HI
had accordingly taken them under hi,
protection until they were identified and
claimed by the rightful owners. In now
appealing to these gentlemen, he stipu
lated that the claim should be set forth
In writing, addressed to him under initials
at postOfiice In London. II the lost prop
erty was identified to his satisfaction he
would meet-at u specified place, and on q
certain day and hOur--a person accredited
by the firm, and would personally restore
the diamonds. without claiming reward
The conditions being compiled with, this
remarkable interview took place; the writ
er Of the letter, described as an infirm old
man very poorly dressed, fulfilled his en-
gagement, took his receipt, and walked
away without even waiting to be thanked
It 10 only an act Of justice to add that the
diamonds were afterward counted, and
not one Of them was missing"
Miserable, deservedly miserable, mar
ried pairl The stolen fortune, ON which
they had counted, had slipped through
their fingers. The berths In the steamer
for New York had been taken and paid
for. James had married . woman, with