Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-08-28
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WITH A FALSE !
~ ARM ~ /
BY william n. Osborne
Copyright, 1907 by T. @. Mcclure I
BY william II. Osborne

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A man with but one arm stood lean
ing against the show case. The other
arm, the false one, rested partly on the
tray of diamonds. On the hand Of that
arm he wore conventional glove of
black. He was well dressed man.
with a smooth shaved face. He was
examining some high priced stones.
With his other hand, the left one he
finally picked out a. small diamond,
probably the least expensive OF the lot,
and asked the clerk to wrap 1t up. At
the same time he pulled from his trou-
sers pocket roll OF bills at least three
inches thick and with the left hand
deftly counted out enough to pay for
his purchase.
The clerk took the money and the
purchased gem and then seized the
tray to replace 1t In the case.
AS he did so he rapidly counted with
his eye the remaining stones, as was
his custom. There We're two missing,
In addition to the one he himself had
taken from the tray. He glanced sus-
piciously nj the one armed man.
81 beg your pardon. sir" he said po-
litely, but reaching as he did so for his
revolver underneath the counter. but
there are two stones missing, I-have
you taken themT He made this in
quiry with hesitation.
The one armed man looked the clerk
squarely In the eye. "You are quite
right to be careful" he said pleasantly,
but | did not take the stones. How
many were there beforeT
The clerk told him. Come" return
ed the man; eve will count them to-
gether, then"
right. There was none missing The
man was right and the clerk was
wrong. He apolOgized profusely, but
the one armed man took no Ofehse
whatever at the incident. He received
his diamond and his change and spent
several minutes chatting about dia-
mond robberies and safeguards against
them and then went his way
Queer thing happened then" called
the clerk to another. 81 came near
telling that swell that he was a thief;
thought that he took a couple Of bril-
liants. counted 'em wrong and told
him that he must have 'em. He said
he hadn't. Then | counted 'em over
again and found 'em all right And he
wasn't mad about 1t either"
"Are you sure they're right nowT'
returned the other an older man. LET
me see the tray"
The tray was produced. Before 1t
reached the counter the old man seized
the two largest diamonds 1t contained
and held them to the light.
"Done, by GeorgeW he exclaimed.
"Thcse are made of glass; that's all"
Sneakers" Kelly. the crack plain
clothes man at headquarters, was put
on the case at once.
"I've heard OF this fellow" he an
nounced TO the jewelry firm. Hes a
new proposition and slick one at that.
I understand, and there have been a
good many complaints about him. We
haven't been able to make touch al
yet I'll zee what can do. but guess
It's best for you to charge the thing up
to profit and loss right now. Even II
overhaul the man it's ten to one l won't
get the stones I'll do my best, though,
gentlemen"
That happened In Chicago. In Janu-
airy of the next year, on a cold, crisp
day, two prosperous looking men stood
almost side by side In fashionable
Jewelry store.
One Of them was dressed In furs and
wore rich jewels. He was a snowy
man, with red face. This was
Sneakers" Kelly Of Chicago.
The other man was a man OF grave
appearance. He wore gray beard
and his hair was tinged with white
BY his appearance he WAS an aristO
crat probably the president OF bank
Ia his left hand he held fur mitten-
only one. His right was clothed In q
light colored suede glove. He was
buying diamonds.
Kelly watched this man closely
more closely than did the clerk. Final
ly the clerk handed out few small
bills and small white packet and he
left. AS he did NO Kelly followed him
When they reached the sidewalk Kelly
touched him on the arm. The man
glanced at him but once, and then
swinging around suddenly struck Kel
| ly In the head with his right hand. II
was hard as iron. Kelly was stunned
He reeled and fell. When he came to
the other man was about to enter Q
carriage which stood Mt the curb. Thu
carriage started of, but before th'
door was shut Kelly had succeeded II
selling that right false arm with Q
tight and unrelenting grip. The maj
beat him about the face with the othel
hand and the coach went faster ant
faster but Kelly chung desperately e
the hand, his feet dragging upon thu
street below.
Suddenly, ms they swung around
corner. there were snap and Jerh
and Kelly fell, face downward on thu
| pavement II was late IN the after
noon and dark and no one had noticed
what had happened. Kelly lay for
moment, but soon recovered and scram
bled to his feet. Just In time to ay0h
being run down by a heavy truck.
And as he rose he grasped something
tightly In his arms. This object ht
bore to brilliantly lighted window
and examined II.
"By George, that's clever" unused
Kelly to himself. "and now he'll have
to get new one! First blood for me-
Limping, he wended his way back
to the store from which he had started
Look here" he exclaimed to the clerk
after he had made known his identity
hold out your hand"
The clerk did 80. The detective held
forth long false arm and pulled
wire that protruded from its uppel
end Az he did 80 from a recess In thu
artificial palm there were released
i three gems. among the largest In thu