Bisbee daily review., 1903-02-18
nN EPISODE n IN ROBBERY
IOrIgInaIl


 New York and Chicago on my way tc the latter city to take part in a very important ceremony-my wedding. In my coat pocket l carried my present tO my bride, a bracelet composed of ttrung pearls l had bought it in New York and paid $10,000 for it. A thing of beauty is joy forever, and l could not resist the temptation to take it out of my pocket, unclasp the box contain ing it and look at my treasure. l was riding in a sleeping ear, and directly opposite was a handsomely dressed lady. It occurred to me that l haG seen her before, but ponder as l would I could not tell where. She was read ing novel and did not once look up at me. When it was growing dark, she closed the book, yawned and looked hstlessly out of the window
 Of all the hours on train I dread most those between dusk and bed time. One can neither read nor look at the scenery. There Is nothing but the interior of car and nothing in the ear but people, and if one does nOt Q made up my mind to scrape an ac- auaintance with the lady opposite.
 ''I beg your pardon" l said, lifting my hat, but your face is familiar. though l cannot place you"
 She looked up at me with a smile and said, 'I would be glad to remember you if only for companiOnship, but hn e. on the seat opposite her, and I sat down. She told me that she lived in New York and mentioned number of prominent people there, speaking or some of them familiarity. calling the men Bob. Charlie, Tom, and the women Daisy, Kit and Mollie She did no, happen to know intimately any who were my especial friends, but they were all her acquaintances. She wore the most tasteful travelling attire and had a great deal of hand baggage, in- cludinG a spaniel whose coat had been crOOmed to gloss and around whose neck was a broad collar handsomely mounted. Just before the porter came round to make up our berths she pro duced a box, set with mother of pearl in which was a dainty yet abundant lunch, of which she invited me to par take. After the feast she told me tha: i1 her bag was small flask Of sherry and one of very old whisky.
 Men always prefer whisky" she said. "I carry ii in case of illness only If you can get on with the whisky ] will drink the sherry"
 Of course l assented. There was nOr enough of each liquor for us both. as the daSks were tiny gold ones, only sufficiently large to hold one drink The last thing we did in company was 10 pledge each other. Then l went to the smoking car and afterward to my berth
 During the night I dreamed that was walking along a street and found if difficult to keep my head erect, it be ing heavy and inclined to fall forward In the morning I awOke with head ache and the same heavy headed feel ing. We were near Chicago, and the lady in the berth opposite was gather ing her belongings. l staggered to the lavatOry and while there naturally ex- amined my pockets to make sure of my wedding present after a nights sleep Taking out the box, opened it. TbG bracelet was not there.
 Who had robbed mel It was some time before l began to suspect the lady with whom I had spent the evening. yet l knew I had been drugged and. suddenly remembering the drink she had given me, felt sure she was the culprit. But why had she not left the train with her booty? questioned the conductor, who told me there had been no stop for several hours. Going up tC Fer, she smiled and bade me good morning, to which coldly replied that She should return my bracelet or would turn her over to the police as soOn as we reached Chicago.
 How dare you, how can you, so iE- Suit a woman? Never again will ! travel aloner And she broke down in passionate weeping
 If occurred to me that since there were others on the train who might Nave robbed me had been nasty in ac- eusing one whose responsibility was VOuched for by her acquaintance with @ many people l knew myself.
 Suddenly she started up. You can not, you shall not, subject me to such jndignity! Seafch my baggage. l will f0 into a stateroOm with that lady over there. and she shall search my person. Come; let us settle this matter" Then. becoming angry, she added, And the moment we reach Chicago I will tele- graph my husband to come on. and we shall see if you can thus insult unpro- tected women"
 At that moment, like flash of light Bing, it came to me when and where l had seen her before. It was while l stood at the counter of the jeweler of whom had bought the bracelet. was speaking to him about marking 1t, telling him must have it to go on the morning express train to Chicago. The woman was standing by, saw the bracelet, knew it's value and had ar ranged plan to steal it.