The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-30

takes n very clever man 10 be a sue
cessful theft" suddenly exclaimed NJ
Lazareete one night, about week after
my discovery, as we were seated on the
quarterback.
Without waiting for an answer he
proceeded to recount tales of diamond
robberles, more or less connected with
his collection. He had tracked thieves
in the sandy wastes of the Sahara, IN
the tangled underbrush OF Australia.
through the dangerous passes Of the
Rockies. in the crowded cities of the
world, and he had thus become well as-
quainted with their methods and has
its
Had desired to follow this branch gf
art on reaching my native land / should
have started with valuable l,nowledt o.
This I laughngly told him, adding: I
wonder you don't turn thief yourselfr
Thse was n strange; far-away look IL
his fase. MY dear fellow, the more /
think Of dishonesty the more wish to
be honest"
Then-as II he feared he was becoIh-
ing too solemp-he took me back to the
days Of his boyhood upon his fathers
farm on the Ohio river. During Lis
first visit to South Africa both his par
ents had died. and he had been adopted
by 4 wealthy mlne-owner In that coua-
try. He had Inherited the old mans
fortune. and since then had followed
the profession of n travelling diamond
collector.
Mr.. Lazareete continued to be an In
terestlng companion. but after that
evening there was a certain sad under,
tone in his manner when talking to me.
One night the captain told US tins
story of shlpwreck off Cape Horn. the
survivors of which had been rescued by
the missionaries Of Ushuwia, on Beagle
Channel sevarty-fve miles northward
This tale made deep impression upon
Mr. LazaIeate, who was loud in his
praises of those Isolated lIfe-spvers.
Our progress northwaFd OF the eaua-
tor was rendered slow by calm and by
head-wInds; but at last the Golden
Gate" appeared to the east.
We were by this time more than
ready to exchange our sea-diet of salt
beef. plum dun" and the like for the
everyday luxurles of shore lifs That
night the ancient mariner and his two
passengers celebrated their return 10
civilization by a supper that betrayed
a reckless disregard for their pocket
books and their digestive organs.
The Klsmet was to be unloaded as
rapidly as possible, and would then
proceed in ballast to Valparaiso for
orders. Mr.. Lazareete and 1 fingered
in the vicinity of San Francisco. l did
not mention the subject OF Brazil.
MY dear fellow, have great favor
to ask Of you" said Mr. Lazareete one
morning. Il am going to troubla you
to carry this little box Of stones to New.
York-they won't take up much room"
"Then you are not going to take them
to Rio?"
a am not going to BraSIl-at any
rate. not yet; I am going to Chill on
the Kismet."
This change of plans not only sur
prised me. but placed a responsibility
upon me l by no means relIshed
But, Of course, could not refuse, ana
he gave me letter of introduction to a
large firm of diamond dealers in New
York, with WHOM, l was to deposit his
collection.
I'm a fit Of Observation-Disclosures sealed
It." lie made a motion as If to break
the envelope. l assured him that this
was unnecessary.
III
When 1 reached New York, l went at
once to the diamond merchants, hand
ed the package and the letter to one of
the clerks, and was shown Into an Office
at the rear of the store. Two men sat
ut a desk inspecting the boz OF dia-
monds, which lay open upon it. One OF
them looked up with a questioning
glance. felt I was suspected OF h9v-
ing tempered with Mr. Lazarelte's col
lection. But my conscience was clear.
l met his eyes without ninchlng
Presently he arose and, coming for
ward, held out his hand, excgaiming,
MIR. Roberts, 1 am very much obliged
TO you."
Surprised at this sudden show Of
courtesy, replied I was glad to have
been Of service to my friend.
..NJ,, d.or sIr you boye baan fooled