Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-02-14
A lIAwIRBREADTH ESCAPE.

Friar Brothers * Bowman-we are
now MesSrs. Friar, Bowman * Knox
dam KnoXl-when one Of those unex-
pected and most p%erpleying crises oc-
Cured in the financial world which
try even cautious and steady going
firms. such rs ours was and is, most
severely, and bring less well balanced
houses down with a sudden and awful
crash.
| may say now, without fear of be-
ing thought boastful, that | was some
what a favorite of Friar Brothers: the
fact that William. the senior partner,
used Ia ask me dowa TO Henley from
Saturday to Monday, and allowed me
to lake his pretty daughter out ON the
river, speaks for itself.
At the time of which | speak not a
day passed without some failure or
threatened stoppage. and | knew that
Fr.ar Brothers * Bowman were un-
easy about the Liverpool branch of
their house. They were; therefore, not
wholly unprepared when one after
noon news came that if left without
immediate help its doors must close.
The help needed was not more than
Friar Brothers could give with perfect
ease; but the question was how could
the sum Of $4,000 in hard cash be
conveyed from London To Liverpool
within the next four and twenty
hoursl The money was all right
double that amount, if necessary,
could be supplied; but by whom was
it to be carrgedl There lay the diii-
Guilty.
Friar Bro lers-Bowman was rarely
in the counting household "A consul.
tation witt their manager, and the re-
suN was tat | was sent for. Would
i go to Liverpool and take charge of
the money! There could be but one
answer Even if had bunked the Job,
which was not the case. | could not
refuse 10 help my employers out of
their difficulty. Accordingly, said
! was quite ready TO start at any mo-
ment, and il wa quickly decided that
] should travel by the night mail.
By one Of those fortunate coinciden-
ces which sometimes occur, a large sum
had been drawn out that very norm.
ing TO meet bills that would fall due
next day; SO that nothing remained
for us 10 do but TO dispose of the gold
in bags; the notes | was TO place in a
locked leather case suspended round
my neck by a steel chain long enough
TO allow the case TO hang at my back,
hidden under my coat. AS soon as
the money was put away Mr.. William
Friar CAV me a revolver, which he
generally kept in his own desk. This
handy weapon | placed in the pocket
OF my own coat when | was ready to
start; and for greater security, and
prompted also by an impulse ! could
neither account for nor resist, | placed
a much smaller revolver of my own in
the breast pocket of my ordinary coat.
Il hope you will have no occasion
TO defend yourself. my kind employer
said: and then he added that he
thought it would be as well TO lessen
the risk as much as possible by getting
a detective from Scotland Yard to
travel with me.
More to please him than myself, for
/ vas not nervous, | agreed To the
proposition. and drove at once TO the
Yard TO secure my "A 1t vas
o o done. was TO be accompanied
in my journey by a detective in plain
clothes, called Buckland-a slight,
wiry looking man of about live-and-
thirty. He had full dark brown whisk.
ers and beard, and gave me the i'm
preston of being disguised. Our train
left at 10 p ~, and We arranged to
meet at Euston 1--WE or six minutes be-
fore the hour ia order that we might
not attract attention.
| dined at a chop house in the city,
and went back 10 the counting house
for the money and my great coat. The
case containing the notes ! disposed Of
around my neck by the chain; and
the bags Of gold were placed in a small
valise. When ! lifted ii, il fairly drag
ged me down; and it was with the
greatest difficulty that ! was able TO
walk along as il not burdened by a
weighty OBJECT.
! reached Euston at 9:i5 tipped the
guard To give ne and my companion
a compartment TO ourselves-it wanted
but three minutes to the hour, and
auckland had not arrived. The guard
began To bang the doors; then the
whistle sounded and the train had ac-
tually begun 10 move, when | saw
him on the platform. With a dexter
Gus swing Of the door and an agile
spring lac was ia the compartment and
threw himself painting ON the seat,
saying that it was a close shave this
time" Then. rs soon as he recovered
breath a little. he asked if | had the
cash all right.
| nodded and glanced up at the net
ting. He followed the direction OF
my eyes. aud said, "Ohl up there, is
| nodded again and then looked at
him. lie was slight and niry look.
ing, but there was not a particle Of
hair on his face. lie caught my curl.
Gus and inquiring gaze fixed upon
him. and laughed AN easy, Juunty lit.
tie laugh
Lord bless YOU" he said, you
don't suppose they was real, do youi /
hardly ever wears hair when I'm on
dooty.
Indeed" / answered obviously.
Somehow, ! was not attracted by my
companions look as he now appeared.