The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-13
WITH A FALSE ARM
4 Story Of a Clever Thief and a
Detective.
By WILLIAM i. osRoRnE.

nealnnA enoWeaee- lne other arm
the false one, rested partly on the
tray OF diamonds. on the hand OF
that arm be wore 4 conventional glove
Of black He was a we'll dressed man
with o smooth shaved face He was
examining some high priced stones.
With his other hand, the left one. he
finally picked out a small diamond.
probably the least expensive Of tho
lot, and asked the clerk to wrap It no.
At the same time he pulled from his
trousers pocket a roll Of bills at 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 It IN the case
Az he did so he rapidly counted with
his eye the remaining stones, as was
his custom There were two missing
IN addition 70 the one be himself had
taken from the tray. He glanced sus.
piciously at the one armed man
4 beg your pardon. SIR he said po-
ftely, but reaching as be did SO for his
revolver underneath the counter, 'but
there are two stones missing. I--have
you taken them2" He made this in
quiFy 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 were there beforeg
The clerk told him. Come" return
ed the man: "we will count them to-
gether then"
They did so. They found the tally
right. There was none missing. The
man was right and the clerk was
wrong. He apologized profusely, but
the one armed man took no offeuse
whatever at the incident He received
his diamond and his change and spent
several minutes chatting about dla-
mond robberies and safeguards against
them and then went his way.
Queer thing happened then" called
the clerk TO another Il came near
telling that swell that he was a thief:
thought that he took d couple OF bril-
liants | counted EN- wrong and told
him that be must have 'em. He said
he hadn't. Then | counted 'em over
again and found en- all right And
he wasn't mad about It either"
Are you sure they're right now"
returned the other. an older man.
lei me see the fravn
The tray was produced. Before 1t
reached the counter the old man seized
the two largest diamonds it contained
and held them to the light
"none. by Georger De exclaimed
These are made Of glass; that's all.
Sneakers Kelly. the crack plain
clothes man af headquarters. was put
On me case at once.
''T'ye heard Of This fellow" be an
nounced 70 the jewelry firm. Hes a
rev proposition and slick one at
that. understand and there have
been a coed many complaints about
him. We haven't been able to make
touch as yet Iii see what ! can
DO. bat guess it's best for you to
charge the thing up 70 profit and loss
right now Even IL I overhaul the man
It's ten to one I won't get the stones.
IN 4 my best. though gentlemen"
That happened il Chicago IN Ianu-
Try Of the next year on naid crisp
lay two prosperous looking men stood
almost side BY side in fashionable
lewelry store
One Of them was dressed in furs and
wore rich jewels. He was a SNOWY
man. with a red face This was
Sneakers Kelly of Chicago.
The other man was man Of grave
appearance. He wore a gray beard
ind his hair was tinged with white.
By his appearance be was an aristo-
rat, probably the president Of bank.
In his left hand he held a fur mitten
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
" the clerk handed out few small
bills and small white packet and be
left. AS he did so Kelly followed him
When they reached the sidewalk Kelly
touched him on the arm. The man
glanced az him but once and then
swinging around suddenly. struck Kel-
" in the head with his right hand. It
was hard as iron. Kelly was stunned
ne reeled and fell Whom he came TO
The other man was about 70 enter a
carriage which stood at the curb The
carriage started eff. but before the
door was shut Kelly had succeeded I'M
selling that right false arm with a
tight and unrelenting grip The man
beat him about the face with the other
hand. and the coach went faster and
faster, but Kelly chung desperately to
the hand, his feet dragging upon the
street below.
Suddenly. as they swung around a
eorner. there came a snap and a jerk
and Kelly fell face downward on the
pavement. It was late IN the after
noon and dark, ana no one had noticed
what had happened Kelly lay for q
moment. but soon recovered and scram-
bIed to his feet just IN time to avoid
being run down by 9 heavy truck.
And as he rose he grasped something
tightly in his arms. This object he
bore to 4 brilliantly lighted window
and examined #.
'By George. that's cleverp' mused
Kelly to himself. aAnd now he'll
have to get a new one. First blood
for mel"
Ilmnhg. be wanded bis way back 70