Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-02-13
s.WAS SHEER LUCK.

When the great pink diamond of
Guznee reached Europe it created
widespread interest and took immedi-
ate rank with the historical stones of
the world. 1t was compared with the
finest gems in the royal and imperial
regalia, savants wrote learned disqui-
sitions upon its beg nties, and the maga
zines and newsp: pers spoke of its
value In way that made ones mouth
water.
Among others whose envy was
aroused by the descriptions of the
stone was Mr.. Lamorock, gentle
man who had passed under many
aliases in his career and who had only
recently been released from Portland.
AS he read of the great diamond
his eyes sparkled at the thought of
Its worth. There 1t was-S500, ,000--
and you could put it In your waistcoat
pocket
The ex-convict, as he pondered over
the subject, knew the task was not an
easy one
Without more ado he wrote a short
note to Congleton & Co. the celebrated
diamond merchant of Hatton Garden,
asking them IL they would care to buy
some old fancy jewels, and received
reply expressing their willingness to
inspect them. After stlldiously exam
lining the caligrapiy of their letter with
a magnifying lens he set himself to
practicing number of curves and
fourishes on a sheet of paper An
hours work seemed to satisfy him,
and he then indited the following
epistle:
"Hatton Garden. Jan. 4, 1896.
"Messrs Bonsfield Brothers.
Dear Sirs: AS a client of ours de-
sires to inspect your pink diamond
known as 'rhe Light of Guznee,' with
view to purchase, we should feel
obliged If you would send it to us.
| Our Mr.. Lamorock will call upon you
a few hours after you receive this
letter, and viii bear note vouching
for his identity. We shall be happy
to undertake all risk and responsible
ity for the stone from the time it is
intrusted to the custody of our repre-
sentative, and we beg to remain jtours
faithfully, "Congleton & CO."
When this production of his pen and
brain had been carefully scrutiniZed,
he composed another short letter,
which stated that the bearer was Mr.
| Lamorock. the representative of Cong
| Teton & Co.. He then went out and
bought half dozen 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
Bristol by the same train that took
the mail. But on 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 credentials, the genuineness Of
which were not for a moment suspect
/ ed
! The Bristol firm thought it safe that
the stone should be under the custody
of their own representative, and de-
termined that one of their partners
young Harry Rorstield sho"ld &c
company Lamorock up to London, talk
/ ing it with him.
They had just seated themselves
comfortably and the train was already
in motion, when an elderly gentleman
with jovial red face and black bushy
whiskers opened the door and bundled
himself in.
After tne lapse OF quarter OF an
hour he had talked their reserve away,
and proved himself so amusing a COM
panion that ,ney all became quite
friendly, and Lamorock, who had
grown suddenly arniable, pressed the
others into accepting cigar apiece.
The jolly-faced intruder was not to
be outdone in hospitality. He opened
his handbag and with merry wink
produced a flask of curacao, which the
! intense cold made particularly accept
able to them all.
Lamorock, indeed, found the liquor
so delicious that he took two glasses.
Before they got half through their
cigars he noticed with suspicion that
the conversation began to slacken, and
that his companions showed a disposi-
tion to go to sleep.
Bonsfield was the first to succumb to
somnolence, and Lamorock even began
to feel sleepy himself.
The intruder also began to look as if
he would soon follow Bonsfield's ex-
ample. He vainly tried to look wide
awake, but his lids would droop heavi-
ly, his head would sink down upon
his chin and he would then pull him
self together by a supreme effort and
try to sit up straight.
When the train arrived at Swindon
| Jrp nd