The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-12-27
A.GAMF q DIAMONDS
lcopyright. las. by 9. B. Lewts.l

ing VI II uOS sc. NuOSp uaIuG
was Taylor.
Their acqUaintanc~ship was oaly
about two weeks old when Mr.. Taylor
started out over his western route, car
rying $4,000 worth If diamonds with
him. lie reached (h:cago to find the
EnGlishman there . lay ahead of him
Mr.. Saunders was looking for a long
lost cousin. and while he looked for the
cousin With n hand he dispensed hos
pitality very literally with the other.
He wined and dined the traveller SO
often that they became chummy. He
took Mr.. Taylor into his tentidnnce and
unbosomed himself and asked him to be
a brother To him.
When the pair had been in Chicago a
week and the traveller was about ready
to move to Milwaukee, Mr., Saunders
announced in Il laughing way that he
had turne drummer for Il day to help
his friend out. A man who ran d Ger
tain factory wanted to get his wife
something unique in the way of a birth
day present. Mr.. Saunders had hap
pened to meet him and to suggest his
friend, and if Mr.. Taylor would accom-
| pany him to the house that evening lie
would be sur" Of Il sale amounting to
at least $1,000. The ira veier would be
only too glad to do so. Of course, He
couldn't expect ii rich man and Il busy
man to come to his hotel to look at
samples.
1t was about 8 O'Clock Of an autumn
evening WI ~ Tie pair Set forth from
%ha E0tn1 ia .t,, IS~lt ~
was falling. and this WAS an excuse
for putting up tie windows, Taylor
was fairly well acquainted with Chi
cago. but in that drive. Which lasted
an hour. he was all turned around.
When the vehicle finally stopped he
only saw that he house, which stood
alone, had IL respectable exterior. and
be followed Saunders up the steps and
was admitted. They were greeted by
the wealthy manufactures himself.
who was Introduced rs Il Mr., Harmon,
and they at once proceeded to the Ii
brary to talk business. No servant or
any member of the family was TO be
seen. There Was some general talk as
they lighted cigars, and then Mr.. Har-
mon said:
Mr., Taylor. | am sorry to nave
troubled you to make this long ride.
nut | could not very we'll go to you
and carry Out my plans. The idea
is to rob you of your gems. That was
the plan from the day Saunders en-
tered the store in New York. and it is
needless to say we have spent consid
cradle time and money up to date"
You seem inclined to joke" replied
Taylor as he looked from one to the
other in Il puzzled way.
But you will find this no joke" said
the man as he pulled a pistol from his
pocket and rested it on his knee. You
have a belt containing Fl lot OF valu
able gems strapped around your waist.
Will you quietly hand it over or shall
we take possession of it after your
death"
"Look here. man." exclaimed the
salesman as he started up. what SORT |
of "A game is this? Is it a joke TO ties:
nerve or do you really mean rob
berry,"
ITS just this, my dear brother
answered Saunders as he also produced
a revolver. II brought you here tc
be robbed. You'are Il good fellow, and
| don't want to see you hurt, but We
must have those gems. You are not
armed and have no chance against us.
THIS house was hired on purpose to
receive you and carry through this job.
You see, we are two to one and have
all the advantage. and ! do hope yon
will look ut 1t in a sensible way"
Taylor had lots of nerve and pluck
and for a few moments he detied the
fellows. He was, however, soon made
to realize that they were desperate
r~ascals, and as they were on the point
of assaulting him he announced that
he would surrender the gems.
THAT is good common sense" SAID
Saunders as he received them. "Tht
loss does not fall upon o. but upon
the house. which is well able to stand it
Now, please be as sensible about the
next move. We have got your gems
but we need at least tw~eney-four hours
start. We shall lock you up in a close.
and provide you with food. water and
and by this time tomorrow
evening a man will come and set you
Saunders protested and threatened
but in the end he entered the closet OF
the back parlor and was locked in
Ten minutes later he was alone in the
house. They left him q pitcher Of wa
ter. a good luncheon and a dozen eli
CARS.
AS soon as he was satisfied that they
had departed he began work on n OF
the panels of the door with his pocket
knife 1t WAS a solid hardwood af-
fair. and ii WAS hours before he suffi
weakened tie panel so that he
kick II out and squeeze through.
It was just growing daylight when he {
eft the hous ly Il wininw. and he \
himself a good. four miles from 9
lis hotel. Before leaving the place he |