The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-07
The
kleptomaniac


generally inferior presence, but never
theless with decision of character in
his manner, TO one who could see be-
meath the surface, walked swiftly up
the steps of police station 10 and ac-
cOsted the first man in uniform he met.
There has been the most unheard of
crime" he began.
Speak to the lieutenant" the Of
ficer interrupted, nodding toward the
desk behind the high network iron rail-
ing.
The ugly little man advanced to the
pigeonhole window, through which he
could see the upper part of the night
desk man
Il have just been robbed in the most
monstrous way" he said, speaking rap
idly but with no sign OF excitement,
land / wish no publicity
III take care of that. We don't need
any advice from you" began the lieu
tenant. But he stopped there to glance
at the visiting card which the little
man placed before him, and when he
raised his eyes again to his callers face
he also raised his body from his chair
and bowed. touching his round silk Of
flee cap.
Excuse me. Mr.. Emmons," he said
81 didn't know it was you. We have to
be pretty short here with strangers, or
they'd ride over US. But with the rich
est man i'm the district Step in this
way. sir. pleased"
He swung wide the gate in the rail-
ing The richest man in the district
walked i'm and seated himself I'm the
chair that the officer drew up for him
in retired corner
Now, sir, no publicity, you say?
Very we'll! Well do all we can"
He waited with respectful attention
for the story
It's a queer matter" began Mr.. EN-
mons at once, in the incisive voice,
which. coming from such an insignifi-
cant appearing personality, always ex-
cited surprise in a listener and drew
his attention. In the first place.
must tell you that a few days ago our
firm became possessed in the way of
business, of one of the most valuable
diamonds in the world. II has a name
famous in history-but no matter about
that. The chief thing is that il is
worth-well, say-er-2' He paused with
the shrewd CLINT in his eye that was
known among his business acquaint-
ances as the sure sign that he was not
going to commit himself, and then add
ed. thousands" as evenly as if the
word were 'huLdreds. The lieuten-
ant could not restrain an exclamation.
All" he breathed, his face flushing
with the thought of fat rewards.
This diamond went on the great
Jewelef. with no hint either in voice OF
manner. of the terrific surprise he was
about TO give his listeners, was swal-
lowed this evening by my wife's pet
monkey, and in less than two minutes
afterward the monkey was stolen"
The officers full, round face became
almost appOplectic."
"A mo-mOnkeyI" he stammered
L will give YOU the main points of
the case so that you may know how TO
start the investigation intelligently,"
continued the jeweler in a clear, rapid,
matter of fact tone. They were odd
traits. this clarity of head and speech,
this iciness and poise, which nothing
could melt or disturb, in a man Of such
an inferior aspect, never failing to
evoke in a stranger. and often in
everyday acquaintance as well, the
same stare of wonderment with which
the policeman was now regarding him
as he went on.
For reasons of a strictly private ma
ture, l took this valuable diamond home
this evening. Two other men. well
known diamond cutters. were the only
living persons who knew 1 had it in the
house. I was to show it to them, and
consult with them about 1t, that
brought il there. We three had been ex-
/ was holding it I'D to the light be-
tween my thumb and finger, when the
monkey leaDed in at the door like q
flash of lightning, snatched the stone,
and swallowed tie. 1t nearly chOked
him, and, iabbering and twisting in
pain, he ran to his mistress four doors
away. I followed him Immediately and
found him whimpeTing in my Wife's
arms. l thought al first of giving him
~ IL TO Ia IA lint
Mrs. Emmons suggested that it would
be safer 10 call a physician, and then
decided on doing that. We might have
to cut the animal open. So CautiOning
her to hold on TO him and not let him
escape, I hastened to the telephone
closet, but before l could get the ply
sician's number / heard my wife
scream, and, hurrying back to her
room, 1 found her collapsed on the
floor, crying out that a woman had
suddenly rushed in, grabbed Bruno and
fed out of the door with him in her
arms.
That is practically the case. Of
course, we searched the premises inside
and out at once, but to no purpose. The
stone, the monkey and the thief had
vanished as if by spontaneous ccmbus-
ton. Now ask your questions. for 1
suppose you have some TO ask"
was almost too much astOnished to
speak. II the narrator Of this queer
story had not been the richest man in
the district, he would have thought him
either practical joker or a lunatic.
Finally he found his voice.
There was no chance for either Of
those men you We're showing il to"
Not the slightest / was always be
tween them and my wifes room, even
when ] was a the telephone In fact,
in the telephone closet I stood facing
them, and could see them all the time
through the doorway. Until Mrs. En-
mons screamed they never moved from
their seats, though then they ran with
me to her room. Besides, the thief was
seen, and was a woman"
rs the telephone fixture near Mrs.
Emmons' rOOm?"
Yes; but the walls are circular in
shape. rounding outward into the hall,
so that a person coming from the rear
of the house, keeping close to the north
partition, might enter her door without
being seen by one in the telephone
closet"
''Hm-m," The lieutenant cleared his
throat. why do you wish to keep the
matter quiet, Mr.. EmmOns2 1t seems to
me the more publicity that is given"
ITO the loss of a monkey, doubtless