The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-06-24
WITH A FALSE
~ ARM ~
By william II. Osborne
Copyr right, lH0a, by n. c. Mcclure


ing against the showcase. The other
tray OF diamonds. On the hand OF that
arm he We're n conventional glove of
black. He was a we'll dressed man.
with a smooth shaved face. He was
examining some high priced stones.
With his other hand, the left one. he
finally picked cut small diamond,
probably the least expensive of the lot.
and asked the clerk to wrap II up. AT
the same time he pulled from his trou.
GERS pocket Il roll of bills Mt 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, rs was
his custom, There were two missing.
In addition to the one he himself had
taken from the tray. He glanced sus-
pielously Mt the one armed man.
Il beg your pardon. sir" he said po-
lltely, but reaching as he did SO for his
revolver underneath the counter, but
there are two stones missing. have
you taken them2" 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 We're there beforeT
The clerk told him. Come" return
ef the man; 1--WE will count them to-
gether, then"
They did SO. They found the tally
man was right and the clerk was
wrong He apologized profusely. but
the one armed man took no offense
whatever ut the incident. He received
his diamond and his change and spent
several minutes chatting about dia-
mond robbcrics and safeguards against
them and then went his why.
"Queer thing happened then" called
the clerk TO another. Il came near
telling that swell TINT he was 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 ! 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. nm older man. Let
me see the tray"
The tray was produced Before II
reached the counter the old man seizet
:he ,wo largest diamonds 1t contained
and held them 10 the light.
Done, by George" he exclaimed
"rhcsc are made of glass; that's al"
Sneakers" Kelly. the crack plain
clothes man ut headquarters, was put
on the case at once.
"I'ye heard of this fellow" he an
nounced to the jewelry firm. Hes a
new proposition and slick one at that.
good many complaints about him. We
haven't been able to make touch as
yet. III see what / can do, but guess
it's best for you to charge the thing up
TO profit and loss right now. Even If l
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-
airy of the next year, on 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. lie was snowy
man, with n red face. This was
Sneakers" Kelly of Chicago.
The other man was n man of grave
appearance lie wore II gray beard
and his hair was tingcd with white.
by his appearance he was an arlsto-
crat probably the president of bank.
In his left hand he held II fur mltten-
only one Ills right was clothed In a
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 pncket and he
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 at the curb. The
carriage started off, but before the
door was shut Kelly had succeeded II
seizing that right false arm with u
tight and unrelentlng grip. The mar
beat him about the face with the other
hand and the coach went faster and
faster, but Kelly chung desperately tC
the hand, his feet dragging upon the
street below.
Suddenly, as they swung around o
corner, there were snap and Jerl
and Kelly fell face downward on thu
pavement. 1t 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 ayoit
being run down by heavy truck.
And as he rose he grasped something
tightly In his arms This object h'
bore to brilliantly lighted window
and examined II.
''By Gee rye that's clever" muset
Kelly to h mself. land now hen have
to get new one! First blood for me.
Limping. he wcnded his way bach
to the store from which he had started
'Took here" he exclaimed to the clerk
after he had made known his Identity
hold out your hand"
The clerk did so. The detective held
forth n long false arm and pulled q
wire that protruded from It's upper
end. As he did so from a recess In the
artificial palm there were released
three gems, among the largest In the
house. They We're genuine. The CLERK
on examination of the tray found thai
three spurious stones had been substi
tuted In their place.
Kelly and the clerk examined TN,