Year: 1876




had been let alone; but was awaken
ed by something touching my hand.
My first impulse was to snatch away
my hand, but a second thought de-
cided me to remain motionless. |
must have stirred little, for l no
longer felt the touch against my fin
gers and the room was so dark |
could see nothing. began to breathe
regularly, as if l were asleep, and
after what seemed long time, |
again felt a warm finger on mine. 1t
flashed across me at once that the
hand was after my ring. But l kept
still.


The fingers moved around very
cautiously. and finally seemed to have
the ring. There was a speck of light
on the wall, and | knew the fellow
had dark lantern and was eXamin-
ing the diamond. Then, by the mo-
ton that he was filing on the little
arms that held the diamond to the
ring.


| was in doubt 4 moment rs to
what was best to do; jump up and
call for help, or let him file it off and
catch him in the morning with it in
his possession. | determined for the
latter course, and so lay still.


In an incredible short time he had
filed enough of the setting to remove
the diamond, and I hardly knew when
he went away, his motions were so
cat-like.


Still keeping up my regular breath
ing, raised my head SO as to follow
the speck of light, and saw him take
off one of his stockings, place the
diamond between his toes, draw the
stocking on again, and then put the
lantern into his valise.


l still continued the regular breath
ing, but there was no more sleep for
me that night. How should I go to
work in the morning? I asked my
self that question several times, but
every time l found a different answer
to it. AS streaks of light came
through the blinds I settled upon my
plan of action, and then | turned
around to make sure that the fellow
should not move without my knowl-
edge, no matter how lightly his mo-
tlons were made.


He was snoring as vulgarly sound
as if he were an honest coal-heaver,
and he did not wake until the gong
sounded tor breakfast. He saw |
was watching him, and he attempted
to talk unconcernedly, but l saw
through his uneasiness and answered
in monosylables.


When he got ont of bed / did. |
dressed about as fast as he did, but
Just before either of us was ready to
leave the room l gave the bell-cord
a pull. TO the man who answered it
| gave my card to be handed to the
clerk, on the back of which | had
written: Bring policeman with
you, A. V. c."


They were longer finding police
man than supposed they would be,
and before they appeared, the thief
was dressed and preparing to leave
the room. | put myself between him
and the door, saying:


You will have to wait moment;
| wish to see you in the presence of
the clerk"


Certainly" he answered readily
enough, but l could see he was very
uneasy.


In second or two after that there
came tap at the door, and the clerk
came IN, followed by a policeman.


"In Heavens name, Mr.. Cornell!"
broke out the clerk, "what's the mat
ter?"


"The matter is simply this" l an
swercd, "when that fellow thought |
was asleep last night, he filed the set
ting off my ring and removed the
diamond. He has the diamond con-
cealed between the toes of his right
foot.


He turned white, and looked around
him so, that | cautioned the police
man to watch him. The caution was
unnecessary, however, for the police
man already had him by the arm.


"This is dreadful mistake, gen
tlemen," he began, but the policeman
said:


"Ycs; of course it is; but pull off
your boot, or I'll do it for you"


81 will take off my boot" said he,
and with more dignity than he had
yet shown; but turning to the clerk,
he remarked:


81 hardly expected to submit to
this in your house, sir.''


He drew off his boot, then his
stocking and drew his toes apart so
that 1t was evident there was nothing
between them. The policeman ex-
amined the boot, and there was no
diamond there. Then he ordered
him to take off the other boot and
stocking, but the examination proved
alike fruitless.


/ began to feel as if l had done 4
foolish thing to let him remove the
diamond so easily; but he must have
his file or saws somewhere among
his effects. | mentioned this to the
policeman.


"Let me see your ring" he said,
"and can tell now it was DONE"


l gave him my hand.


"Why, d--n it, man! your dia-
mond is here in your ring!"


looked at it. So it was. would
have given every dollar I had IN the
world or ever hoped to have if | could
have sunk into hole.


Have you been drunk" asked
the policeman. with grin.


81 guess l am drunk" l replied.


Better go to bed and get SOBER"
said the clerk, with sneer.


81 don't know how to apologize to
you, sir" said, turning to Mr.. Gay,
"but if there is anything you would
like to have me do, I will gladly do
1t. l had my mind full of billiard
players and the men saw IN the hall
last night"


"And did you take me for one Of
them?" he asked, laughing.