Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-08-20

Of several hours before the letter was
put IN my hands and 1 judged by the
postnnark that the delay was at this end
Of the route. Therefore l suppose that
they read it,
And they have decsmped"
They are still at work, as il they had
no suspicion Of any trouble
Then 1t is my opinion said the law.
yer, that they rely upon intercspting
the boy and getting possession Of the
com bination, so that they can destroy
the books and papers upon which Mr..
Bendlx relies for proof. Do you know
the password Of which he speaks:'
No person knows it but Mr.. BeudIx
and myself-and the boy, ofcourse.'
There would seem 10 be no danger
then, unless they can intimidate the
boy.'
L have tried to provide against that
said Jacob Messner. 'Ihave employed
a private detective. who is 10 watch
the canal boats, to see the boy as he
arrives, aud to bring him to me. If
they should make any attempt to scare
or corrupt him, they will be pounced
upon and arrested at once
There was knock at the door, and a
man entered, who hurriedly Whispered
to Mr.. Messner. That gentleman
jumped up and put on his hat.
Come, Mr. White he said. 1T
seems they have been sharper than we
were, and have got ahead Of us. Come !;
there is not a moment to lose. We
will pick up policeman or Two on the
way. This is the detective Of whom 1
just spoke to you
1t was not more than half-past Hine
at night when Nick Pepper left the
General Burnside. He had not gone
far from wharf, whistling as he went,
when he was accosted by two men, one
middle aged and the other considerably
Younger. They were we'll dressed, and
in appearance very gentlemanly.
Good evening" said the elder of the
two, May 1 ask if you came from the
canal boat General Burnside?'
That's where came FROM replied
Nick, who had slight suspicion that
they might be confidence men.
And is your name Nick Pepper:'
That's my name said lNick, won
dering how they had got hold Of it.
Then you are looking for Mr.. Jacot
!, Messner. He has been anxlously ex
, pectlng you and has sent US to NEE
you. We are two Of his confidential
clerks
, That's all right, them said Nick
, his suspicion vanishing at once. JUS
take me straight to Mr.. Messner, and
will be obliged TO you
, Perhaps that will hardly be wortl
while said the spokesman. He is al
old gentleman, and doesn't like to be
disturbed. He said that You had some
figures to tell HIM, and that you nigh
tell them 10 u.s.
'Joe.' said Nick, abruptly.
'Whatv
Joe repeated Nick.
my name is not Joe. What do 20,
mean''
Il mean that you don getno figure
from me. Mr.. Messner Is the man tha
I want to see.'
Come on, them
. The two men stopped in front Of
saloon and invited the boy to walk il
and drink with them.
No, thank you,' replied Nick;
never drink,
Went you step in. then, and SEE d
take something?
: L would rather wait out here
We'll, never mind. We don't car
to drink. We only wanted to be polit
d to you as a stranger. We will go nov
and see Mr.. Mcssner, and we will b
likely to find him in bis down tow
Office. as he has had some troublesom
settlements to make lately, and ha
o been going through his books at night
: After walking a few blocks further
o they turned into narrow street whic
s seemed to be deserted. a, there va
l. nothing in it but warehouses, in whic
i no business was dene at that hour.
: They stopped at warehouse on th'
70 corner of an alley, and the elder OF th
= two men took key from his pock'
), and opened the door, first lookin
e around to make sure that no one wa
ir watching him. He probably did M
p see q man who had followed the part
n at a short distance. and who ran of
10 another direction as they entered th
J, warehouse,
y As soon a. the three were wlthll
III the elder man inserted the key in Il
u inside OF the lock and locked the door.
III The old gentleman is afraid OF rol
"a bers,' he said, and always insists Q
x keeping the door locked
c. The place was dark as it is possib
for darkness to be, and it was not III
III til ene of the men had touched matt
~ and lighted lantern that Nick Pepp
10 was able to look about. He then sa
re that he was in a long room which vi
u, entirely empty, with the exception
" a broken counter and an old box.
~ This is a queer place. said Nick,
- he accompanied his conductors to q
n> rear end Of the room. 1t don't look
~ If any business
's- Before he could finish the senten