The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-27

that I was TO realize on this little
trinket.
Spider came in first He was some
what like myself. not much of boozer.
but liked to feel the cards. and most
of our money went that way. ! told
him what had been reading about. and
for while we discussed ConstantinoDle
and the dead Sultans and then | led
the subject up to the Big Blue One"
| told him what the certain Indian
prince had said and gave him as much
of the history Of the big star sapphire
as | knew and then drew upon my
imagination for enough dope to charge
Spider so that could bring him around
to seeing things AZ l wished him to.
When Fuzzy came in and we put Il
up to him he was not overcnthusiastic
about 1t. But he was always the wet
blanket when we discussed entering
upon new field OF any kind. He tried
/ 10 show us that this of all jobs was not
in our line. After bit of talk he adj
mitted that So far as he knew nothing
Of tine kind had ever been pulled of
and that therefore the chances OF sue
cess would he better and that Il might
| be possible to get II.
| He admitted also that II we could get
| IT we would not have to worry our heads
over whether tho postmaster banked
1t or kept it in the box. Our road work
would be done. No more fifteen mile
hikes on a cold wintry night for us.
SO We decided that each of us would
go up the next day and lamp the place.
each to make his owE observation and
10 form his own plans; that is. If It
looked possible. Then we were to come
back to the rooms and that night We
would decide IL We would make a try
for Il.
| The next day our reports were similar
1t not only looked possible. but easy.
! entered the great pile of stone known
as the American Museum of Natural
History at the south or main entrance
| went at once 10 the Gold Room and
saw the Big Blue One" That room is
n treasure house indeed. While | i'm
mediately fell In love with the object of
my visit, there We're so many other
jewels in the room that I was bewl-
dered. ] made "A brief estimate of their
value, and after allowing for the fac,
that most OF them We're specimen
jewels ANA therefore well known
figured that by close barter they should
be worth half million dollars
I returned to the first floor and made
a very careful survey of its entire
length, going into every room, noting
every window. its exact location, how
far it was from the ground, what was in
view from the outside. its relation 70
the room, how 1t opened. how Il
fastened. | made careful note Of all the
rooms. their doors. their contents
shelves, tables, show cases So, giving
especial attention To the lights and tc
their location. and judging the best
could just where and in what part oi
the room | might lie seen from the
outside at night.
/ was very pleased TO locate a mum.
Der of possible hiding places. also q
route by which ! could travel from tn,
big stairway to what seemed to me IN,
most logical window To leave by. Thh
was the second window on the nortl
side of the east wing. Then went I,
the second floor and followed the sam.
procedure. on the second floor I foun,
an ideal place 10 hide. That was II
the bird department. They We're putin.
in number of new specimens Of bird
showing scenes Of their natural haunts
DC. | located a space AT the back o
the cases that had blind openin;
whore 10y quick work man could hid
2 and he safe from view as long as h
cared to remain there.
Therefore l had found q safe an
: sure way 10 get in; now to lind a
| sure a way TO get out. went into tin
; Gold Room again and had anotho
look at my little beauty. 7 considorc