The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-26
AN ENGLISH SPECIALITY MAN,
Nom the Chscnno 1Yn,e,

most as much as one of the partners. but
under bonds 80 heavy that the house need
not worry about him il he did not turn I'D
at the hour he was due. 1t happened very
often that titled people and those who had
grown rloh In trade could not make Ii con-
venient to come to town to deal with the
honse personally for rare gems, while Others
were In want OF special designs for birthday
gifts, souvenirs, and the ike. Such people
stated their desire by letter and the spec
ialty man. was sent to take their order or
make a sale.
l had served the house four years without
loss and scarcely without adventure when
was started Off for Morpeth, a town In the
north of England. The firm had received a
letter from a wealthy and well-known pub
lic man living in the suburbs Of that town
60 the effect that his wife had broken limb
and was not able to be about, but wanted
several special things in jewelry as soon as
they could be made for presents to friends.
She would also look at some gems, par
ticularly diamond necklace, bnt nothing
common was wanted. The story was cur.
rent that this gentlemans daughter was
soon be to married, aud it was anticipated
that would receive very fair order. The
value of the jewels packed up for me for
that trip was something like $1,000. From
my very first trip | had always Travelled
after certain fashion-the fashion of a
commercial traveller. Many OF the frater-
nifty honestly believed that was a gem
uIne member. In my grip l carried about
a dozen small bottles of dyes, and it was
supposed that was travelling with that
line The jewelry case was placed in the
grip, and left the affair knocking about
with such apparent carelessness that no one
could entertain suspicion of it's value.
There was only one odd thing about the
letter from Morpeth, and that was not COM
mented on until after my adventure. 1t
mentioned day and date and hour when my
arrival would be expected, and left Lon
don to hit the exact time. Had this matter
been brought up beforehand we should have
said that the gentleman was probably going
20 leave home later in the day. 1t was in
the month Of October, and was timed to
reach the town at 10 o'clock in the fore
noon. The letter said that a car
rage would be in waiting for me to
drive at once to the manor. The
train was on time to a minute and
got OFF in company with two travelling
statesmen. found the carriage after bit.
There were two men on the box, and they
at first seemed to question that wes the
right party. Their doubts probably arose
from the fact that was plainly dressed and
in the company of the statesmen. One of
them asked If l was the jewelry man SIR
Blank was expecting, and l replied that |
wanted to see that gentleman whether ex-
pected or not. They hesitated about driving
off, but as no one else appeared We finally
made q start.
/ tell you honestly that had no sooner
entered the carriage than | had queer feel
ings. The outfit was too common to be
owned and publicly used by such a man as
Sir Blank, and the two men didn't appear
at all servants. l had never been in Nor
peth before, and was, therefore, ignorant
Of dirapfiOn VA ouuhk IN FOL h.,
distance to be travelled. After getting away
from thedepth bit we turned to the west,
the horses going at sharp trot and the
men holding conversation in low tones
We passed plenty Of houses and vehicles
and pedestrians, and as we left the town
behind looked ahead for sight of Sir
Blanks great house and well-kept grounds
Perhaps the pair observed my anxiety, for
one of them turned and said:
TITS bit over five miles out to the place,
SIR"
That satisfied me only for moment The
more | looked at the men and the closer |
scanned the outfit the stronger grew my
suspicious that something was amiss.
Three miles to the west of Morpeth is a hill
from which one can survey the country for
miles around. As we reached the crest of
this hill saw only small farms and plain
farm houses before me. Ii Sir Blanks
mansion was on that road it was beyond my
vision and still a good ten miles away.
"See hsre~ called, as we began TO de-
scend the hill. 81 think there is a mistake.
think have got Sir Blank mixed up with
Sir Dash. Is it Sir Blank who is ina lcially
interested in great cotton factory at Man
chesterP'
"He may be, but l dunno" said the man
who was driving, as he pulled up his
horses.
"If he isn't it won't do me any good to see
him. You see getting out soma of the bot
tleS) 1 wanted to show him some of these
new dyes for fruits"
SIS that your line, sir?'
"Yes. Here are ten new colors Just out
am sorry ior my blunder, but Pm willing
Then you travels with dyes, does you?"
gruffly demanded the other.
''As you see.''
Then wot the bloody blazes does you get
into this turnout forp
ITO see Sir Blank of course I got into
my head that"
20, blow your 'ead ard your 'eels, too!
Jim, turn h'about hand drive the bloomin
bass back to town"
"lll be shot if does!" replied Jim. "He
can get right h'out ERE hand take ITSELF
back on 'is h'own blasted legs-blast Inn"
Sorry for the mistake, and here's some
thing to drink my health" l said, as
vehicle and walked hurriedly away.
When l reached town went to hotel.
Inside of fifteen minutes learned that Sir
Blank lived north of the town and only
mile away. Likewise that there had been
no accident to his wife. Further, that the
gentleman aud his wife had been in Scot
land for several weeks 1t did not take me
long to figure it out to my perfect setisfac-
ton. Il was put-up JOB TO rob the house
through nee, and it had been put up 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 writing
showed fair business hand aud
had not attracted remark The
country to the west of the bill where had
left the carriage afforded opportunities for
desperate men to commit robbery, even in
broad daylight, and had no doubt that
was being driven to some appointed spot
when their programme was interfer ed with.
1t was case for the police, but l was by no
means green enough to take it to them. The
house OF Laird, Williamson & Co. would
have stood to pay 81, 600 rather than have
the public informed through the press that
there had been a conspiracy to rob their
special man. While | made many In
quiries, | gave nothing away. | ascsrtained
that the two men with the vehicle were
strangers in Morpeth and the whole plot
was pretty plain TO me.
had intended to leave on my return TO
Londonat 5 O'Clock in the afternoon, but
an accident on the line detained me until