Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-02-17

Started over the route looking for soii:'
point where l might lie In walt ana
catch the convoy mapping. ! came H.
a stream where the carriers must In
ferried over. 1t occurred to me t.Ei'
something might be done here. bu'
after racking my brain l could III
upon no plan that seemed feasible.
went on, but us ] proceeded formed
a scheme part Of which pertainei t"
this ferry. Reaching the coast III
once went to the postofice to look over
the ground there.
7 had nearly all of Jim Benton's
$500 in my pocket and was well dress
ed. / represented myself as post
office Official, whose duties were to
travel about and make reports on oil
ferent postoffices. But made no pre-
tense at supervising the postmaster at
this point. Instead, l invited him to
dinner and treated him sumptuously.
This gave me access to his office. ]
learned where diamonds were locked
when delayed in transportation.
One evening after the clerks had
gone home 1 sat with the postmaster
In his Office. Suddenly fell over In a
pretended faint and On reviving begged
him to go for doctor. He did SO. ana
while he was gone with some wax
had provided for the purpose ] took
an impression Of the lock on the safe
where diamonds waiting trnnsporta
ton were kept. When he returned
with the doctor was 80 far recovered
that did not need the latter's serv-
Ices.
The next day returned to Kimberley
and charged Benton to keep sharp
lookout for the shipment OF my dia-
mond. It may be wondered that, since
I was intending to steal my own prop
erty. was punctillous as to taking
this particular stone. 1t was. firstly
because ! should have had to take q
good many other stones to make up Its
value, and. secondly, Jim Bentons
conscience was 30 stiff that If he had
believed that intended to tnke any
but the stone had found he might
have swung the other way and peach
ed on me again.
Jim did good work for me III looking
out for the shipment Of my stone. He
was so thoroughly trusted by all those
In authority that he could ask ques'
lions about It without exciting suspi,
con.
One day he came to me and said
that a shipment Of diamonds was to be
made the next morning, and my stone
was among the number. 1t was con-
sidered 80 valuable that double con-
voy would be sent out Within al
hour started for the coast
Coming to the stream the party
would be obliged to cross, I unclaimed
the boat. pulled myself over and Oh
reaching the opposite shore sent the
boat adrift. As l saw 1t disappear on
the current ! felt sure the diamond
convoy would be delayed. Then
went on to the coast.
had the happiness to see the de,
layed dinmond carriers coming IN
when the mail steamer was well out
Mt sea. They took the gems to the
postmaster. who. | felt sure. would
lock them In his safe. aud | had key
in my pocket that had been made from
the impression had taken. The party
went back to Kimberley. and soon
after their departure l reappeared at
the postofflce, where l was heartily
greeted by the postmaster. whom
told that l had inspected the pOstof1ce
al Kimberley and would await the next
steamer for home.
The rest Of my work was dead easy.
| complained of not feeling well and
was invited to lodge with the post
master, whose rooms were in the same
building with his Office. In the mid
die of the night went down in my
stocking feet to the safe, opened It.
felt among the stones till recognized
my diamond. relocked the safe and
went back to bed.
There was no hurry for my depar-
ture. for the diamonds would not be
taken out Of the safe dll put on the
steamer. sailed on the same ship
with them and. on reaching Europe,
went to Amsterdam. where l bad my
stone cut and sold It for fortune.
! concluded to forgive Benton. In
consideration OF his valuable assist
ance. for peaching on me and offered
to give him part Of the proceeds
But he would take nothing and. FOL
uught ! know. IL still handling O pich
In thp Kimberley mines.