The Washington times., 1901-10-20

Of all kinds
He had finished the light refreshment
ordered-the moment for action had ar
rived.The waiter had left the apartment
Tor a minute or two. The other two or
three occupants Of the room had their
backs turned toward him. So far every
thing was favorable. Now or never.
Slowly he rose to his feet bent down to
reach the bag and place it on the chair.
then turned around TO take down his over
coat and broad-brimmed hat.
He managed it beautifully. Apparently
through the blundering Of his aged fingers
he dislodged the long ulster that hung on
the next hook. and down it went
Balderton was engaged in dcspatching a
glass of very fine claret when he suddenly
found his head and shoulders enveloped
in heavy ulster. which had knocked the
glass out of his hand as it fell and for
time efrectUaliy blinded him
That was the precise moment FOR which
Rev Rubens was waiting. Quick as a
flash he seized the coveted bag and ex-
changed it for his own. Next instant lie
was helping to disengage the luckless dia-
mond traveller from the clinging folds of
his overcoat
That individual was quite bewildered
for a second or two, the shock had been
so sudden. Then he thought of his pre-
cious bag. An thank heaven, 1t was
there safe and sound; there could be no
mistake about that He breathed freely
again, and his right hand, which had in
stinctively gone to his pocket, loosened
its hold on the ever-ready revolver.
Meanwhile. the cause of all his excite
ment was standing close by, making the
most abject apologies.
"Ohi how clumsy of me, I am sorryi
Really, my dear sir, 1 crave your pardon
for disturbing you so. 1 assure you it
was purely an accident. Seel 1 have
broken a tumbler. How careless 1 was
to be surel Pardon me, sirI I assure you
1T was due to the uncertainty and awk-
wardness of age" he added, half HIourn-
fully.
20, there's no great damage DONE said
the disturbed traveller curtly. H. was
very much disturbed and began to feel he
ought to be indignant.
But the clergyman continued his apollo
giles:
Accidents will happen, you know. I'm
sure you will allow for age, sir. How
unfortunate of me, to be surei I must
pay for that tumbler, though; it's all 1
can do to show my regret at the incident.
Now, l insist, sir" he said. as he saw
that Balderton was about to interrupt
him, 81 insist on paying"
Whereupon he called the waiter and
paid for the broken glass there and then,
settling his own bill at the same time.
Then he turned to Balderton again.
Good morning, SIR returned the 9TH
er, somewhat enthusiastically calmly
1t was fully two hours after this Incl
dent before Balderton discovered his loss
two hours that proved invaluable to the
clever thief. All in ignorance as to what
had really transpired, he had leisurely
finished his repast. sat for half an hour
reading the copy of the Church Times"
which his clerical acquaintance had con-
siderately left behind, and then driven to
Hatton Garden to see the head of the
firm, in an important order.
Here he found that the diamonds had
gone, closer examination showing that his
bag had, in some mysterious way, been
changed for one full of bogus packages. 1t
dawned upon him that he had been out
rageously fooled.
No time was lost. Very soon the smart
est men at Scotland Yard were engaged
on the case. Descriptions of the daring
criminal or rather descriptions of his dis
guise, were telegraphed all over the coun-
try Some of the papers issued special
editions giving detailed account of the
affair. That same night the one subject
of conversation in London was the dia-
mond robbery. Balderton came In for
general commiseration. For once, he
was not quite so confident and self-as-
sured In fact. he had q very detected
appearance when he called at the club
that night
Here everybody was full of sympathy;
all of them, including the polite Captain
Forbes, expressing the hope that the i'm
pudent thief would soon be brought to
Justice He never was. The police could
find no clue. They had nothing to proceed
upon. All trace of man or diamonds had
disappeared as completely as if they had
ceased to exist.
A week later the White Star Liner Oce-
anic was due to leave the Mersey for
New York Among the motley crowd that
surged up onto the vessels deck was Cap
tain Forbes, clad in tourists garb, and
carrying a small portmanteau in each
hand.
With the instinct OF an old traveller he
proceeded at once to his cabin, for the
purpose of slowing away his baggage and
seeing that everything was snug and
shipshape. Having satisfied himself on
this head. he locked the cabin door and
returned to the dock.
Here. leaning negligently against the
promenade deck rail. just aft the bridge.
he watched with interest the animated
scene around him.
What joy would have filed the heart of
Detective Inspector Humle, of Scotland
Yard had he OWNED the fact that within
two yards of where he stood was his
quarry. the perpetrator of the most dar-
ing robbery in the annals of crime.
The steamers siren blew loud and
shrill, warning all who had no desire for
a voyage to clear off the decks. Among
them was the disappointed detective.
Slowly the great liner moved down the
river, past ships Of all nations. Soon the
long, rolling wares told that they had
reached the open sea.
Captain Forbes was pacing up ana down
the deck occasionally glancinS over his
shoulder toward the receding shores of
old England.
After all. fortune favors the bold "
he observed, as he went below to dress
for dinner.-Pearson's Weekly.