The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-11-04
you opened that safe," I said, very

so that he winked his eyes quickly an
opened and shut his mouth like fish OF
of water. / think it rather surprised hiI
to find how light and small he was.
you opened that safei" I repeated
"and you picked my pocket of the keys.
charged him with this because the key
being in my trOwsers pocket could nc
drop out unless was held up by the heel!
and also because the inner safe key-th
one belonging to the strong box-wa
taken from the ring where it was alway
carriedand used alone in the lock. wa
too careful, too precise in my vigilanc
over such important matters as this of tn
jewelry, to leave my keys anywhere bu
in my pockets.
appearances are against me, d-n 'em,
calculated Murtagh after my second accuse
ton.
"They are indeed" conceded. "Don'
let them ride you to the penitentiary!
For minute he regarded me with mos
villainous look in his eyes.
"Ah if my wife were only here! Sh,
is about your size, and could shake yor
nto rags in jjiffy. Then would laugh
Now, am only strong enough to be The
worst enemy you have mind that!" Will
one mighty sweep of his broom he ther
sent me sprawling upon the floor and
darted out into the dusky labyrinths of tht
great building.
The next day we had a new janitor
The firm was also in trouble. In order tC
ascertain the whereabouts of Miss Hattie
Starks, many letters and advertisements
had vainly summoned her to our presence
At last, when our stock of patience and
| hope was almost exhausted, a letter from
her had reached us; in fact it had come
two days before my interview with little
Murtagh. 1t said, in substance, that she
lived in Middletown, Iowa, sixty miles
from any railroad, and with Cnly semi
weekly coaches; that there was no ex-
press line of any kind, and that the only
way for her to obtain her little fortune in
our hands was either to send it by the
hands of trusty person or wait until she
could come for it. If practicable she would
like the former course to be taken. The
letter was now missing. We had had it
out while discussing what action should
be taken-the decision being that | should
have a play-spell and carry the jewels
there myself 1t was an important, though
not serious lOss-this letter Our Opin-
ion about it was that it had fallen into the
ste-paper basket and been burned. No
ance entered my head.
In view of my journey / was as jovial
and frolicsome as school boy on the day
of my departure. The valuable little box
was snugly slowed away in my valise,
which was never to be without my reach
"Take care of yourself Mills!" said
Scott, twisting my hand.
Don't marry her, and come back with
the fortune" cried Crounse, as l crept
carefully down the stairs.
"Not unless I'm tortured into it," |
laughed back.
Hurrying along the street to the depot,
l encountered Mrs. Murtagh.
"Goin' to leave u.s." she inquired,
planting her burly form in my way.
"Yes'm."
"Air yer goin' fur away"
"Iowa," / jcrked out.
"Ycr must 90 through Chicago, then?"
"Yes'm," l answered, wondering why
she asked.
"Well! Good -byew holding out her
dumpy hand. Goodbye, Mr.. Mills Hus-
band and me air goin' to BOstin' tO-mOr-
ry and shan't come back again. BY the
way, here's a letter your firm lost, l
guess" handing me Miss Stark's commu
nication. Then continuing, 81 want ter
say that / bear We no i'll will for shakin' up
ROddrick the other night. He orter have
it Oftener for his good; but I'm getting too
weak in the jints to do it up handsomely,
and the doctors -"
"Never mind, Mrs Murtagh, I'll forgive
you but you must excuse me if | leave you
in order to catch the cars" She seemed
exceedingly disappointed at not being al
lowed t. relieve her mind of what the
doctor said. In fact felt q little ashamed
of treating the woman with such brusque
ness, and half turned in my walk to look
back. Doing so | saw that her husband
had joined her, that he carried a bundle in
his arms. that she was pointing toward me,
and that, finally, they suddenly separated,
going in opposite directions and at right
angles to my course.
The only marked events of my ride to
Chicago might be summed up as being
two: One, the apparitiOn, on the platform
of a miserable way station, of Mr.. Murtagh,
in the guise of very fat man with red
moustache; second, an accident which hap
pened little while before reaching Chi
cago. In the first case / no sooner saw
the figure than | rose from my seat, and
with my carpet bag-which travelled be-
tween my feet-in my hand, went out
only to realize that the phantom, if it were
such, had disappeared, unless by magic he
had been transformed into the decrepit
old apple man stealing out of the darkness
of the night to vend his stock in trade
upon the train. Heartily disgusted withmy
suspicion, went back to my seat only to
encounter, a little later, an accident
which threw car from thebtra This
delayed our arrival in Chicago until after
midnight A few 'busses and one hack
were in waiting. AS | stepped out into
the glare of the gas lights the hackman
came up to me and said:
"Tm No. To-"
"Well, what of it ?"
"Pm the man you want, and you're the
man | want"
Indeed
"Yes, sir Old man Scott telegraphed
me to meet and take good care of a man
of your descriptions young man with
side whiskers, small valise in hand, and
named Mills saying it with an air of
confirmed honesty.
Pm the man, then," said, warmed at
my heart by the kindness of the partners,
so delicately exhibited. "YOu know the
old gentleman ?"
"Guess do +! was his coachman for a
llttlc Wnlie, once upon tlme
"Yesl Y-e-s?" clutchlng my precious
travelling bag closely to my side. He was
a long time-at least five minutes-in get
ting me to his vehicle. Once entered, the
door was slammed to, the driver stuck his
head through the window and inquired
where to?" i'm an off hand business way,
and receiving his answer, raised the win
dows, muttering something about the
night air being very damp. Before start
ing asked how far it was to the depot
whence my train was to leave, and was an
swercd that it was mile.
With whistling whirl to his whip
and sharp git" the driver put his
horses to quick trot, and l began what
proved to be one of the most terrible rides
ever taken in carriage. We ratified
nOisily over stone pavements; then rolled
upon the wooden NicolsOn that lulled the
traveller into drOwsiness The lamps were