The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1909-09-30
WITH A FALSE ARM.
A Story of a Clever Thief and q
Detective.
By WILLIAM Il. OSBORNE.

ray OF OluIIlOuuS. Ou tue udnu VI
that arm he wore a conventional glove
Of black. He was a well dressed man.
with u 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 the
lot. and asked the clerk to wrap it up.
At the same time he pulled from his
trousers pocket q 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 gen and her seized the
tray to replace it in the case.
AS he did so he rapidly counted with
his eye the remaining stones. as was
his custom. There were two missing
in addition to the n he himself had
taken from the tray. He glanced sus-
piciOuSly at the one armed man.
Il beg your pardon. sir" he said pc.
litely. but reaching as he cid so for his
revolver underneath the counter. but
there are two stones missing. have
you taken them?" 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 were there before?' .
The clerk told him. Come" return
ed the man; 1--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 offense
whatever at the incident. He received
his diamond and his change and spent
several minutes chatting about dia-
mond roD0cries and safeguards against
them and then went his way.
Queer thing happened them" called
the clerk to another. Il came neal
telling that swell that he was Il thief;
thought that he took a couple of bril-
liants. l counted EN- wrong and told
him that he must have 'em. He said
liz uduA T. lIch L COullcu Gill 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.
Let me see the tray"
The tray was produced. Before it
reached the counter the old man seized
the two largest diamonds it contained
and held them to the light.
Done. by George" he exclaimed.
These are made of glass; that's ALL"
Sneakers Kelly, the crack plain
clothes, mar at headquarters. was put
on the case at once.
I've heard of this fellow" he an
nounced to the jewelry firm. Hes a
new proposition and a slick one at
that. L understand. and there have
been a good many complaints about
him. We haven't been able to make
a touch as yet. I'll see what l car
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 l won't get the stones.
I'll do my best, though. gentlemen"
That happened in Chicago. In Janu-
airy Of the next year on a cold. crisp
day two prosperous looking men stood
almost side by side in a fashionable
jewelry store.
One of them was dressed in furs and
wore rich jewels. He was Il snowy
man. with a red face. This was
Sneakers" Kelly of Chicago.
The other man was a man of grave
appearance. He wore a gray beard.
and his hair was tinged with white.
By his appearance he was an aristo-
Graf. probably the president of a bank.
In his left hand he held a fur mitten
only n His right was clothed in 4
light colored suede glove. He was
buying diamonds.
Kelly watched this man closely
more closely than did the clerk. Final
Iy the clerk handed out a few small
bills and a small white packet. and he
left. AS he did so Kelly followed him.
When they reached the sidewalk Kelly
touched him OF the arm. The nan
glanced at him but once and then.
swinging around suddenly. struck Kel-
ly in the head with his right hand. 1t
was hard as iron. Kelly was stunned.
He reeled and fell. When he came to
the other man was about TO enter a
carriage which stood at the curb. The
carriage started off. but before the
door was shut Kelly had succeeded in
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
corner. there came a snap and a jerk
and Kelly fell face downward on the
pavement. 1t was late in the after
noon and dark, and NJ one had noticed
what had happened. Kelly lay for a
moment. but soon recovered and scram-
bled to his feet just in time TO avoid
being run down by a heavy truck.