Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-20

| nelpleSSly 1Or 1ew seconds, and then
with heavy sigh became unconscious.
Without moments delay 1 grabbed
the stones and placed them in the
small bag. l then told Basting to
quit the hotel and meet me outside
Charing Cross Station, as the sight
OF my supposed valet accompanying me
into the street might have created
suspicion. He obeyed with grin, and
ten minutes later we both stood upon
the platform of the big terminus await
ing the boat express to Folkestone. Ar
riving at the latter port We journeyed
to Boulogne, and next morning caught
the first train to, the Dutch capital. All
had worked thus far with the utmost
sm0otaGcss, and no scheme in which
| had rHiten part had ever occasioned
me so little trouble and so much amuse-
ment.
We brca'; casted at the railway hotel
| in Amsterdam, and then set out for
GroDy's den, situated in the east end
of the city. Groby, though possessed
Of an English name, had lived SO long
in Holland that he spoke our tongue
like q foreigner, and when we entered
his "ofIice" he greeted us with q very
amazing accent.
"Ah! CUTE morning zhentlemen," he
said, smiling. "And vat brings you
here dis fine morning?"
Business, as usual, Mr.. Groby," I
replied, as I took the greasy hand
which he extended to me; '.my friend
and have been engaged in the dia-
mond trade of late, and We have
brought you some very excellent
stones."
"Ha, ha! dat was goot-very goot,"
cried Groby, rubbing his hands. you
know me, zhentlemen. You know that
1 give de best price in Holland for
good things"
"Well, here Is your opportunity to be
generous" I returned, as 1 opened the
bag and drew forth the big collection
of annexed" jewels. "Look at these"
Groby eyed the stones for few min
utes narrowly. Then he burst into
hoarse, irritating laugh.
"Vat do you call deseT he asked,
slowly.
81 call them diamonds, rubies and
opals." 1 answered. what do you
call them?"
paste, my goot sir-paste, and not
ing more"
"Pastew I thundered, as l turned
sick with apprehension, while Basting
eyed the merchant as though he con.
templated designs upon his life.
paste! Are you joklng?"
7 IN,
bizness. All dis stuff is goot inita-
ton of the real ting, but do not deal
in limitations. Ze market price Of the
lot would be one thousand marks-dat
is fifty pounds in your Engleese
money. Not groat more"
At first would not believe this terri
bic truth. Next morning illumination
came. Basting, who had been enjoy
ing an early potation at a neighboring
cafe, returning to the hotel, clutching a
copy of Galagnanis Messenger in his
hand, whilst his eyes cleaned with
fury.
Read that paragraph, guv'nor," he
yelled, "and you'll understand ALL"
He pointed to a passage that ran
thus:
strange Sequel to Daring Jewel
Robbery.
"A very extraordinary affair IS re
ported from London. 1t would appear
that e. few days ago we'll dressed
stranger called at Messrs. Stoners, the
well-known Bond street jewelers., and
commissioned the firm to forward
consignment of stones for his wife's
approval at the Hotel Recherche. On
the clerk arriving at the hotel he was
set upon by two men and drugged, and.
needless to add, he found on recovery
that his assailants had made good their
escape. The extraordinary sequel to
the episode lies in the fact that the
rogues had their trouble for nothing,
seeing that the stones which he dis
played consisted of paste goods, worth
at most some fifty pounds. II would
seem that the assistant charged with
the errand in question was also COM
missioned to proceed afterwards to an
other hotel, where he was to show some
paste goods to another possible Gus
toner. but owing to the fact that he
was suffering from severe neuralgia
and sleeplessness be made lucky mis-
take and displayed the sham stones to
the thieves, the genuine articles being
securely placed in his breast pocket.
Thus has it come about that Messrs.
Stoner have been preserved from q loss
of some twenty thousand pounds"
Bastlng stared at me with q curious
expression in his eyes.
"Guv'nor," he muttered, 81 should
like to have that clurk all to myself
| for abaut two minits."
$50 should l." answered.
And then We let the matter drop,
| for, indeed, it was too painful for fur
| ther comment.-Tit-Bits.
L Stnnrinr, Ric- Sl,ina