The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-20
A QUEER INceNDIARY SCHEME.
Using u blouse, Piece of Choose and
Some Matches to Start Fire.

~ have plan THAI will help us out. II
| is a last resort, and desperate, / know, but
| IL Is safe
| The speaker was well dressed, fine
looking man, apparently not older than
so. His cold, gray eyes, aquiline and
rather prominent nose and heavy chin
were the unmis,akable indices OF q calcu-
lating bold and resolute character lie
| spoke to Il man OF at least so years, neat
| In appearance, but whose face betrayed
| anxiety and Encouragement.
The words were spoken In down town
Broadway restaurant, near midnight, Us
| the men described took seats at table
| toward the rear Of the room, in front Of u
mirror in which a reporter saw them
The newspaper man had lunched and was
reading a novel. \ partition concealed
him from the strangers vision.
"Weli, what is it,n asked the older man,
after drinks had been set before them.
1T is, as said. desperate scheme, but
it will put us on our feet again. do not
see any other way for Us to avoid failure
from which we cannot recover"
what is the plant"
There is an insurance Of Sl4, 900 on
the stock and building"
The speaker paused, but his companion
did not speak. They eyed each other In
tently and the younger man continued in
a subdued voice;
I'VE have stood by each other in hard
times before this. You have paid for in
surance policies for many years II the
store should happen 10 burn and there
were no evidences the fire was not acci-
dental, we would not have much difficulty
in getting the Sl4, 600, and we could start
out anew in splendid shape. But acct
dental fires 90 not come when they ought,
andr----
II will not consent to any such thing as
you are driving at D."
But think Of it. You are on the verge
OF ruin You need not do a thing TO incur
risk Your part will be to keep silent,
and not to interfere. intrust the business
wholly 10 ne, On certain night small
box would be placed in tho cellar among
the oils and paint stuIs, and where 1t
would not be seen. You might be out OF
town. You would be summoned home to
lind the store in ashes or badly damaged.
We could then meet our notes and have
fair sailing
III the attempt should be detected we
would be disgraced. even Il we escaped
state prison | would rather assign than
try your scheme"
Put confidence in me, persuRsively
urged the younger man, and you will be
in TO peril and you will not regret your
trust"
What would be In tho box.
"A mouse, piece Of cheese stuck
nearly full OF matches, the heads appear
ing, and some oil soaked combustibles.
The mouse will not be able to guaw cut,
and, getting hungry, will attack the
cheese and ignite n match. Tho box will
quickly be on ire and the DANES viii
spread like flash, and before the burn
ing is discovered the box will have been
consumed. Then there VIII be no evil
dence. The fire would get such q start
the store would he very likely to 60. Ii
would undoubtedly burn the night the
box was hidden.
"a novel idea, said the older man,
evidently relenting yet looking very
grave; we Il think it over well before We
take such step"
Its perfectly safe, l tell you, rejoined
the schemer You stay In New York u
few days ard let me go back and do
the job Then you will be safe from sus-
picion | would not have mentioned it TO
you IL had not feared you might dis.
cover the box ana give the thing away"
After few minutes OF silence the men
drained their glasses and left the place.
New York Press.