The Delta independent., 1906-01-26
A Diamond Transaction
(Original.1

Russia. Count Macmillan de Bian-
court expressed the wish that the
movement would not end till every
bureaucrat in the empire had been
swept away.
"Why, count" said one of the party.
do you wish our allies such misfor-
tune? 1t is not many years ago that
you were hand in glove with one OF
the cars suit"
The count smiled a peculiar smile.
"You don't know the incidents Of that
intimacy" he said, nor does any one
else. have kept them locked UP. fear
high standing Of the parties concerned.
Since they are not SO powerful as they
were. don't mind II I let you into
the secret"
Every man drew closer, eager with
curiosity.
Just before the cars visit to Paris
when the treaty was signed" the count
continued, Il had chance to buy .
large diamond from South Africa for
much less than it was worth. Whether
the man who offered it to me came BY
It honestly l don't know to this day.
He claimed that he was in great straits
for ready money. ! mortgaged my es-
tntes that had been in the family for
centuries to buy 1t and made the deal
"Soon after 1 bought the stone along
came the car. 1t occurred to me that
l might sell my diamond to his majes-
ty. In this club l met, among others
Of his suit, Prince Dalgourki. He was
a bloated aristocrat who had lived like
the rest OF the Russian royalties, BY
plunder. 1t did not take me long to
interest him in my diamond matter
indeed. he grasped It ut once with
great avidity. took the gem to his
rooms for his inspection. He told me
that he would speak to the car about
II and the next day sent me a note to
bring the diamond to his rooms again.
when lapidary appointed by his maj
esty would inspect It.
The lapidary was there when Ar
rived and. taking out his glasses, coma
menced to examine the stone. Instead
Of being one OF the principal diamond
merchants Of Paris he was rather q
disreputablc person. kept my eye on
the stone. not losing sight Of II for
moment, till I heard crash directly
behind me. when instinctively turn
ed. A cabinet containing bric-a-brac
had fallen forward. turned again to
the diamond. did not see II. but did
zee the lapidnry standing. revolver In
each hand. with his back to the dor.
"'Excellencies.' he said. follow me
at your peril He covered us with his
weapons. backing into the hall where
he was out Of sight. I made a motion
to follow, but the prince held me. say
ing: Your life. m'sieu! II il worth
more to you than a mine Of diamonds,
Almost from the arst I detected in
the robbery a plan to transfer the dia-
mond from my possession TO that OF
Prince Dalgourki. Had 1t not been
necessary for him to overturn the
cabinet to attract my attention from
the diamond I might have been de-
ccived. Az II WINS. was confident
that the prince either had or would
have my diamond.
II kept track Of diamonds offered for
sale In Ppris till after the cars de-
parturc. The stolen gem did not ap-
pear. resolved to recover II or die in
I'M attempt. Instead Of putting the
police OF Paris to work on the case
went myself TO St. Petersburg. Dis
guising myself rs a diamond merchant.
I went about the gem stores OF the
capital looking for an extra large dia.
mond suitable for royalty. II was
not long before got on the track OF
a stone which answered the description
Of the one Ind lost.
$50 unblushing was Dalgourki, 20 sure
Of Ills position, that he was attending
to the sale Of the gem himself. A dia-
mond broker told me that the owner
would not let II out Of his sight. and
II I cared to see II must 60 TO his
house. went to palace aud found
Dalgourkl My disguise was complete,
and he did not recognise me. told him
that I was but an agent and II he
would give me price I would tclc.
graph my royal master and get an i'm.
mediate reply. He gave me figures
90 per cent above what the article was
worth. and retired.
" made several visits to his home
and took note Of the room In which he
always received me. including access
and cgrcss. At last l accepted his
terma aud made an appointment to
take the stone aud pay In accepted
drafts ON my sovereign. The sovcr.
eigu desiring that he should not bc
known In the transaction. we were to
bc alone,
"Ihe diamond was On table before
us, ! took out my wallet and. picking
out black substance the slxe Of =
pea. threw II Into an open CRATE. II
explodeti. Nihilists were everywhere
n the capital. and the prlncc turned
white a. q sheet. He found voice
enough to ask what was doing.
throw In nnnfhnp vehlrh n0en n~clc,,sxV