Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-06-23
Diamond Cut
Diamond
A Story Of the Police Yer
sus Crime.
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

l was travelling on train between
New York and Albany when, ut Pough-
keepsie. man carrying satchel
entered the car IN which l was and
took the vacant seat beside me. He
soon opened conversation with me, and
found him quite agreeable. though
afterward | remembered that the way
he obtained my admiration was by
drawing out my conversational pow
ers.
During the ride to Albany my trav-
cling companion handed me his card.
saying that he resided in that city and
would be happy 10 have me drop In at
bis office during my stay there. for 1
had told him that I would be there
several days. Naturally I gave him
one OF my own cards. on which wrote
my Office address In New York In pen
ell.
Shortly before reaching Albany the
man said be would go to the smoking
car to enjoy a cigar and. leaving his
satchel beside me. asked me II would
obiige him by keeping an eye on II for
him during his absence. I assented.
and he left the car. On crossing the
bridge at Albany l began to fear we
might reach the station before his re-
turn. When the train stopped In Al
bany he had rot appeared. waited
TIL every one except myself had left
the car. expecting each moment to see
him huuying toward me. Finally
when the train began to all up with a
new load left Il myself. carrying the
strangers bag with me.
Stepping out on to the plgtform.
looked about for my travelling COM
panion. A man stepped up to me and
asked II | were looking for any
one. ! told him my story as | have
told II here. aud. snatching the satchel
from me, he orened II and. thrusting In
his hand. drew from among its con
tents a pearl necklace which. 1t struck
me Immediately. must be worth for
tune.
I've got en-" he remarked. but
haven't got him."
l pulled out the strangers card and
was looking at it when he took II from
me and. after n hasty glance. put 1t In
his pocket. rernarking that there was
no such street and number In Albany.
He then told me that a wealthy lady
OF New York had lost the necklace and
a detective agency with which he was
connected had been employed TO run
down the thief and rccapture the goods.
The agency had obtained n cIew and
learned that the man proposed to
take the train by which ! had come
from New York. Ny informant had
been depu,ed TO follow him. but had
been misled. doubtless by a confederate
OF the thief who carried the property.
The confederate had acted suspicious
ly. carrying n satchel that he kept I'M
der his own eye constantly. every now
and again CHANGING uneasiiy at the de
tective. On reaching Albany the detec-
tive had arrested the decoy and turned
him over to an associate. but hasty
examination Of his satchel had reveal
ed no booty. II was evident that the
man carrying the necklace knew he
WAS In danger and. after taking my
address. had left his satchel In my
hands that he might not be caught
with the stolen property In his posses
sion.
accompanied the detective TO a po-
lice station. where l turned over the
satchel with it's contents to the Depart
menf.
Having transacted In Albany the busi-
ness for which had come. | returned
To New York IN company with the de-
tective. and after a conference among
the parties concerned II was agreed
that should wait reasonable length
OF time for some communication from
the man who had left the satchel In
my keeping. and II did not hear from
him I would put an advertisement In
the newspapers.
had no confidence In the plan. and
to tell the truth. considered that the
detective had bungled the case In being
called OF on a false scent and that my
advertisement would not help matters.
They argued that l had doubtless i'm
pressed the thief as being a gentleman.
and no refined person would be likely
to examine the contents OF bag LETT
In his keeping by stranger. They
also suggested that many different ex-
plantations might be made for the mans
failure to return for his property.
considered these arguments very thin
and did not believe am thief fool
enough to walk into such trap as they
were laying for him. The man had my
hame and address and would choose
his own way Of recovering the neck
lace. II. indeed. he intended to try to
recover II. which very much doubt
nd. for I saw no way by which he
fould do 90.
However. the detectives had faint
hope that their theory was correct,
Ind was quite willing to do anything
they asked me to do. They waited
week for some communication from the
N,ieS Then since none had come, they