Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-11-04

Seuulue, ~OA eAceHeuC qualify ana
offered me $4,000 for the lot. At the
deposit company l rented a box, lock-
ed the stones in 1t, then reported the
matter to the police.
There had been several jewel rob-
berries reported, but none very lately.
l looked over the description in each
case. but none Of them tailed with
the case in hand. Mine were all unset,
but this made no difference, for they
might easily have been removed from
the setting. Mine were all diamonds,
while in the other cases the stones
consisted of various jewels.
By arrangement with the police /
had each stone weighed and described
by a diamond expert. and they were
authorized if any one described any of
the jewels correctly to put him in
communication with NE. that he might
prove property. A number Of descrip-
tons of stones or lots of stones came
to me, but none tailed with those that
had been sent to me. 1t was impos-
sible that | should be imposed upon in
a matter of weight alone.
The theory of the police was that the
jewels had been stolen, probably in,
one lot, from diamond merchant, who
had reasons for not reporting his loss.
Sometimes those losing goods, sus-
pecting or not suspecting the thief.
put a private detective on the case.
who advises keeping the whole matter
secret. l showed the gems, the box
in which they came, the paper in which
they had been wrapped, to a detective.
who studied them closely. but without
getting a clew. Had the box been a
new one he might possibly have traced
it from the maker to the person who
had bought it. but it was evidently
very old. nothing of it's kind having
been manufactured for many years.
l told no one except officials of my
find for several months. Then I in
formed Lucy Larraway of it. She gave
me no assistance in ferreting out the
sender. That l had not yet heard from
him did not argue that [ would not
hear at any time, though the longer
the delay the less likelihood. The fact
of their having been sent to me instead
of a confederate tended to indicate
that when the thief had shipped them
his object was to get rid of them with
| out even calling for them.
Lucy suggested that there was some
story in high life connected with them.
| possibly a tragedy. She fancied. for
instance, profigate son Of a wealthy
father stealing them from him, then
becoming terror stricken at exposure
and shipping them at random. A case
like this would probably never be ex-
posed.
AS time went on this theory or some
thing like it seemed to be gaining
ground with Lucy, and fell in with it
myself. I stated it to the police, who
told me that not 1.-THE of the skele-
tons in family closets ever walked out
into the open. Possibly an explanation
of this case Of mine might come in
time, but there was little likelihood of
my having been put in possession Of
the jewels temporarily or l would
have been called on for them before
| now.
At last l came to the conclusion to
use the property for my advancement.
when securities were much depressed
I made a loan on the diamonds and
bought productive property. A quick
rise followed. and l sold out at a con-
siderable profit.
When l told Lucy Of what had done
I expected that she would blame me
for jeopardizing property that / might
at any time be called upon to return.
She did not seem to take this view of
1t, however, reminding me that l had
done all 1 could to discover the owner
whereupon l told her that 1 now saw
no reason why we should not be mar
ried, and she consented
For years the diamonds remained in
the safety deposit company's vault
Children grew up about Lucy and me-
But prospered, and there was enough
for all. When sons and daughters
were going to college and our expenses
were considerable my wife suggested
that 1 sell the jewelry and put the
money into interest bearing property
But declined to do so, intending then
for my children after my death.
For thirty years l lived happy lift
with my dear wife; then she left me
Some time after her death l devoted
myself to the melancholy duty of weed
Ing out those numberless effects, con
sfsting Of old letters and trinkets, tina
accumulate during a lifetime. Coin,
over some private papers of hers,
found list of diamonds, giving thef
standing as to purity and their al
curate weight. recognized that !
comprised the gems which had bee
> sent to me years agone. l could no
remember my wife having had cop
of this inventory.
Passing on to other papers in tn
same receptacle. l came upon a wi
executed more than thirty years befor
by one Jane Larraway. beaueathing
her niece. Lucille Larraway. all lie
property. I opened my eyes at this an
i pushed on through the bundle of ..
4 pers among which had found it al