The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-07-03

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A man with but one arm stood lean
ing against the shove 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 4 smooth shaved face. He was
examining some high priced stones.
With his other hand, the left one, he
finally picked out small diamond,
probably the least expensive of the lot,
and asked the clerk to wrap II up. At
the samc time he pulled from his trou-
sers pocket roll Of bills at least three
inches thick and with the left hand
dcftly counted out enough to pay for
his purchase.
| The clerk took the money and the
purchased gem and then seized the
tray to replace II in the case.
As he did so he rapidly counted with
his eye the remaining stones, rs was
his custom. There were two missing,
In addition to the one lie himself had
taken from the tray. He glanced sus-
| piciOusly Mt the one armed man.
Il beg your pardon, SIR" he said 20
ntely, but reaching rs he did 80 for his
revolver underneath the counter, but
there are two stones missing. I-have
you taken them?" 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 I did not take the stones. How
many were there bcforeT
The clerk told him. Come" return
ed the man; Eve will count them to-
gethCr, then"
They did so. They found the tally
right. There was none missing. The
man was right and the clerk was
wrong. He npologized profusely, but
the one armed man took no ofYe1se
whatever at the. incident. He received
his diamond and his change md 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. II came near
telling that swell that he was n thief;
thought that he took couple Of bril-
liants. counted 'em wrong and told
him that he must have 'em. He said
he hadn't. Then I counted 'em over
again and found 'em nll right. And he
wasn't mad about II either"
"Are you sure they're right now7"
returned the other, an older man. "I1et
me see the tray"
The tray was produced. Before 1t
reached the counter the old man seized
the two largest diamonds It contained
and held them to the light.
"Done, by .Georger he exclaimed.
"Thesc are made Of glass; that's ALL"
Sneakers" Kelly, the crack plain
-ce.-enc -cuse nj Oficc.
"I've heard of this fellow" he an
nounccd to the jeweiry firm. Hes a
new proposition and slick one MT that,
I understand, and there have been q
good many complaints about him. We
haven't been able to make touch as
yet. III sec 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 won't
get the stones. I'll do my best, though,
gentlemen"
That happened In Chicago. In Janu-
ary 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 a gray beard
and his hair was tinged with white.
BY his appearance he was an aristo-
crat-probabl the president Of q bank.
In his left hand he held a fur mitten-
only one. Ills right WAS clothed In q
light colored suede glove. He was
buying diamonds.
more closely than did the clerk. Final
iy the clerk handed out q few small
bills and small white packet and he
left. As he did 30 Kelly followed him.
When they reached the sidewalk Kelly
touched him OH the arm. The man
glanced Mt him but once, and then
swinging around suddenly struck KEEL
ly In the head with his right hand. It
wns 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 at the curb. The
carriage started Of, but before the
door was shut Kelly had succeeded In
seizlng that right false arm with q
tight and unrelenting grip. The man
beat him about the face with the other
hand and the coach went faster and
faster, but Kelly clung desperately to
the hand, his feet dragging upon the
street below.
Suddenly, as they swung around