The Opelousas courier., 1892-12-03
uIs that vo,1r line. STRIP

"Then wot the blazes does you get
Into this turnout for?"
"To see Sir Blank, of course, / got il
into my head that"
"Oh, blow your 'ead and your 'esls,
tool Jim, turn habout hand drive the
bloomin' bass back to town."
s'lll be shot if I doesl" replied Jim.
.'He can get right hout ere hand take
'isself back on is hown blasted legs,
blast 'im!"
"Sorry for the mistake, and here's
something to drink my health" I said,
as I tossed him a coin and descended
from the vehicle and walked hurriedly
away.
When I reached town l went to a no.
tel. Inside of fifteen minutes I had
learned that Sir Blank lived north of the
town, and only a mile away. Likewise
that there had been no accident to his
wife. Further, that the gentleman and
his wife had been in Scotland for sew eral
weeks. 1t did not take ne long to
figure it out to my perfect satisfaction.
1t was a put-up job to rob the house
through me, mi it had been put with
the aid of some one at Sir Blanks house.
The letter had his monogram stamped
on the corner, and the paper must have
been taken from his library. The writ
ing showed a fair business hand, and had
not attracted remark. The country to
the west of the hill where | had left the
carriage afforded opportunities for DIES.
perate men to commit robbery, even i
broad daylight, and l had no doubt that
| was being driven to some appointed
spot when their programme was inter.
fered with. 1t was a case for the police,
but | WIS by no means green enough to
take it to them. The house of Laird.
Williamson & Co. would have stood to
pay a thousand pounds rather than have
the public informed through the press
tha5 there had been a conspiracy to rob
their especial men," While I made many
inquiries, l gave nothing away. l ascer.
tanned that the two men with the vehicle
were strangers in Morpeth, and the
whole plot was pain to me.
I had intended to leave on my return
to London at 5 in the afternoon, but an
accident on the line detained me till z.
The night came on dark and stormy,
and there were but few passengers from
Morpeth. Four of us who got On were
ushered into the same compliment.
There were two PLAIN women tickesed to
Durham, and the third was a mar about
forty years old, of pleasing address and
appearance. As soon as re fell
into conversation he gave me to under
stand that he lived at Beverly, a town
about 100 siles down the line, and from
certain words let fall l gathered that he
a prominent public official of the
place, l didn't exactly reply that l was
n the dye line, but he probably inferred
ss much from what I said, was glad
Of his company. He was a fair talker,
we'll posted, and l enjoyed his society.
The women got out at Durham and
eft US alone. We passed Darlington
and we're still the sole occupants of the
compartment. Mfr. Arnold, as he had
given his name, had been sitting OPP
oosite me for an hour. As the train
cleared Darlington he yawnsd and said:
II am sleepy, and yet / can never get a
wink of sleep OF the train. By the way,
found a curious coin on the street at
Morpeth to-day. Can you place ito"
He had a coin in his fingers as he
over to me. I reached out my
land to receive it, when he seized me
" the throat with both hands and had
ne on my back in a second. | was no
for him in strength. He gripped
ny throat 80 6ercely that had no power
# resistance. Bending over me, with
lis knee on my chest, he finally let up
his clutch and said:
"Don't be foolish, now! I know you,
nd I'm after those diamondsi If lean
,et them without killing you all right,
f I can't I'll slit your weasand good and
"You-you mean to rob me" I
Certainly, and you'll show good
ense by keeping quiet. Excuse me, but
We got to do this job shipshape and
sristol fashion"
lie drew a wicked looking knife and
Isld it in his teeth as he used his hands
o tie me with some stout cords taken
rom his parcel. He turned me over,
ook the pistol from my hip pocket and
led my hands behind me. Then he tied
ny ankles and rolled me on my side.
Why didn't l resist9 Simply because his
Itch on my throat had almost paralized
ne.
"Now for the sparklers," he said, as
te took down my bag, searched me for
he key and opened it.
He laughed as he brought out the bot
les of die and tossed them aside, and he
again as he held up the Jewel
ase.
"a deuced fine lay out, pom henorfn
Q chuckled as he inspected the con-
The house of Laird, Williamson
; Co., carries only the best. What's
cash value, may | askan
.sBut you are a cool one!" | said in
eply.
''Only fairly so-only fairly. l should
~ $4,000 wouldn't be far out of the
'ay. A very pretty haul and no risk
tending it,"
He placed the jewel case in his parcel,
GIFTED a cigar, and pleasantly remarked
"Take it easy, my boy. The next
OPP is North Allerton. In about ten
linntes I'll be under the necessity Of
aging you. Five minutes after that
hope to leave the train. You'll be
lscovered at Leeds, and perhaps 0
house really ought to stand the loss,
It is no fault Of yours. Yon rather
lmbled to the game at Morpeth. ehan