The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-06-30

Here my two friends held whispered
conference Then he of the revolver
turned sharply towards me.
"Will you marry Louise? Will you
give up the plates, and marry my sister 2"
"She lofe you like old boots" added the
German and from which Opine that be
prided himself on knowledge of En-
glish idiom.
In spite of my serious position I was
getting thoroughly amused. The dark
| doorway held unknown terrOrs to my eX-
cited imagir alton; but two commonplace
| fellows who had made mistake only
caused feeling of merriment, even in
spite of the revolver.
/ am sorry / cannot oblige you" 1 re-
piled. 81 am flattered by the lady's pref.
erence; but having one wife already, I
fear must decline taking second; and
as for the plates, please explain what you
mean"
The answer to this f1ippant speech was
| a blow on the face, which sent the blood
| streaming on the floor.
| You'll remember insulting the sister
of Louis Orloffl Here, Baron, let us gag
| him, and search; he will be raising an
| alarm presently"
They thrust a piece of rope between
my teeth, COMPRISING my windpipe to
make me open my mouth anf there
sat, helpless, whilst they turned out the
contents of my desk and drawers, not for
getting my cash-bOx, which was opened
| with key taken from my waistcoat
pocket, and the contents appropriated.
Knowing that the two scraps of paper |
had found in the waste paper basket, and
placed in my drawer, must have reference
to their visit, watched very anxiOusly
when they opened it. But they escaped
notice, and 1 felt that had got some clew
to the mystery, even if these men es-
capped; and had quite determined that
they should not escape, for 1 was inse-
curely bound, and had been working hard
to get my right hand free, and, thanks to
having very narrow one, [ now found
myself able to slip it through the loop
which encircled my wrist; but [ "bided
my time," for l saw that false move
might bring bullet through my head
Ode plates is in re oder room, Carl
Brunton, mon ami," said the Baron, smil-
Ing, and patting my shoulder. "Vy not
say? Wy shoot we you? You do dem so
use dem yourself, and den, Ach Gott you
upset de cart of de apple"
eyes," thought; and it's odd to me
if don't upset your cart of de apple be-
fore long"
In dare; in back room?" asked the
Baron, with another amiable smile.
/ said Yes" with my eyes.
"See now, my Louis, you were too
rough You into him pitch like DAM So
see him amiable" Then to me
"And you will marry Louise, who lofe
You like old bootss"
My other hand was free now. 1 tried
to speak, and implored with my eyes for
the gag to be removed.
The Baron removed it and while doing
so | resolved on plan # operations.
" You will marry Louise and give us
the plates?"
az will give you every satisfaction"
"That is business" said Louis Orloff,
coming forward. "First the plates. Then
you return with US to New York, and
keep your promise to Louise. Why give
us this trouble? tell you frankly that
the expense will be deducted from your
charo, ond that ynn will be strictly watch
throat but for my promise to Louise.
Now, where are the plates?'
"Look in the closet in the next room /;
rake out the Goals, and take what you
find"
OOOu. Ooiity ooioh.
And they left me to operate on the
Goals. Springing up, l seized the revolv-
er, darted to the door and in moment
had locked them in. But my triumph
was of short duration; for Orloff was on
the other side like lightning, the rotten
woodwork tore out under his vigorous
wrench, and his hand was on my throat
before l could grope my way to the
stairs
Then | knew that life depended on The
struggle, and l fought like one possessed
for the revolver. The Baron came to his
friends help; but found time and op-
portunity to send him reeling to the
ground. Orloff was the weaker man, but
he outdid me in skill and dexterous
fciut threw me off my guard, leaving the
revolver in his hands.
Purple with passion, he fired instantly,
and felt sharp sting in my left shoul
der; and then all earthly things seemed
to be fading away, and a world beyond
opening to view.
When l recovered, found myself laid
on a mattress on the office table, and my
wife tearfully bending over me. There
was a calm faced surgeon, too, who show
ed me the ball he had extracted, and told
me to cheer up, for l should be better in
few days, tor no damage was done. Mr..
Moss was there too, and came to my bed
i mean my table -side-and whispered
how he had been called up by the police,
who, hearing a pistol shot, had come up
stairs and arrested OriOff and the Baron,
and, finding me on the ground bleeding,
had sent for a surgeon and my wife, hav
ing found my private address from let
ter in my pocket.
fol from, lose Of blood tho
bullet did little damage, and preferred
getting up, and then gave an account of
the evenings adventure, not noticing at
the time that tall inspector of police was
in the room
"Wil you kindly show me those pieces
of paper?" he said, advancing. 81 have
the men in Mr.. Moss's office; but beyond
the assault on you l have no evidence
against them; but | know them well.
produced them, and the inspector fas-
tened on the cne which seemed to be a
plan, then looking around, said:
"This is plan of your Office"
"Call me Jew if it ain'tr' exclaimed
Mr. Moss, taking it.
eyes, it is certainly plan of your of
fee. See, here is the doorway, and there
comes the other room. Then there is
cross against the fireplace in this room,
on what Judge from the lines to mean
the fourth board from the hearthstone,
and another cross against the sixth from
the hearthstone in the other room Get
crOwbar, Mr.. Moss"
"Theres one down stairs"
do believe that &c you'd asked for a
crocodile he would have got one "down
stairs"
Crowbar and policeman to WELD it
were soon produced, and then the mystery
was unravelled.
Close to where / sat were unearthed
several copper plates for the forging ol
Russian rouble notes of various amounts;
and in the back room, under the flooring,
were found several hundred of wellcxe.
cuted forgeries carefully soldered up in a