The Press., 1903-09-03

It was the most complete contrivance
i that Kelly had ever seen for any kind
| Of thicvery.
But Kelly was sore-sore in mind
and body. He vowed an unholy vow
In most unholy language that he would
have that one armed mans scalp inside
OF a month at the outside. He was
not satisfied with the mans arm. He
wanted more. Kelly was one Of those
people who are never satisfied.
Two weeks later in a large jewelry
house in down east metropolis an old
lady In Quaker bonnet stood and adj
| justed her spectacles and examined
some diamond earrings. She was
plainly but richly dressed. Her real
name was Sneakers Kelly.
Contrasting with this aged woman
and within foot or SO Of her there
stood a tall young man with a black
mustache. There was a ruddy, healthy
color upon his face. He said with some
embarrassment that he was buying an
engagement ring. He bent over tray
containing an assortment. The old Ia
dy was SO close to him that she almost
touched him.
Suddenly she gripped him by the arm
and yelled to the clerk. "This mans a
thiefr' she cried in shrill tones. "Close
the doors!'
The clerk hastily drew back the tray
Of rings Several other men ran up.
Somebody closed the doors.
Then they inspected the tray Of dia-
monds. Sure enough, two rings were
missing. None. however, had been sub
stituted in their stead.
The young man uttered not a word.
He only looked surprised. He had made
no resistance and no outcry.
The old woman, however, was excit-
ed. She pushed back her bonnet from
her face.
"He's got 'em" she exclaimed. Hes
got 'em in his arm. It's hollow. Make
him take it off. They're in there, tell
you, and you'll find EN-"
The young man smiled, but protested
feebly.
Gentlemen" he began, "true it is
my misfortune to have but one arm,
and true that wear false one, but
did not take your stones, assure YOU"
The old woman violently shook her
head. you make him take off that
armY' she commanded. Its the great
est thing you ever saw. It's hollow.
and it's got your diamonds in it. Make
him take it off,"
The young man looked around upon
the faces; then he smiled again. Here"
he replied; there's but one way to
prove my innocence" s....
He removed his coat, rolled up his
sleeve, unbuckled strap or two and
pulled off the arm. They gathered
round and examined it, especially the
old lady.
shot. 1t was an ordinary false arm,
made of solid cork. a.. ..
When they were satisfied that it was
nothing else, the young man replaced
1t and donned his coat again.
Gentlemen" he continued, looking
hard at the old woman, Il am no mans
accuser or no woman's either, but
these stones were missed when both of
us-the old lady and myself-stood
L
bility," he continued, with a grin, ga
bare possibility that she has the stones
herself And If I am not mistaken /
saw her put something in that bag.
You might examine it If you will"
The bag in question was one which
hung at the old lady's side. They ex-
amined it, and they found-oh, nothing
much, save the two missing diamond
rings; that's all.
snow, gentlemen" added the young
man, unless am again mistaken this
old lady is not what she seems to be.
Let us investigate once more" He
reached over and deftly pulled from
her head the Quaker hat and an old
gray wig. There stood revealed the
grizzled countenance of Sneakers"
Kelly, the detective.
The clerks pounced upon him and
bore him to the station house, the near
est one. There he was kept for two
days, until a Chicago special could be
sent on to recognize and identify him
for the man he really was.
But on the way down to the station
the young man with the false arm
somehow disappeared. Before he did
30. however, he stepped up and said a
word to Kelly.
"Kelly," he explained in a low voice,
next time you must give fellow time
to get new arm made. Arms Of my
pet brand don't grow on trees, you
know"
And then he went.