Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-20

lice, but / was by no means green enough
to take 1t to them. The house of Laird.
Williamson G. Co. would have stood to
pay thousand pounds rather than have
the public informed through the press that
there had been conspiracy to rob their
special nan" While | made many in
quiries, | gave nothing away. | ascer-
tanned 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
London at in the afternoon, but an acct
dent on the line detained me till {. 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 compartment. There were two
plain women ticketed to Durham, and the
third was man about forty years old. of
pleasing address and genteel appearance.
As soon as we fell into conversation he gave
me to understand that he lived at Beverly.
town above hundred miles down the
line, and from certain words let fall gath
cred that he was prominent public official
of the place. didn't exactly reply that |
was in the dye line, but he probably in
ferred as much from what ! said | was
glad of his company He was fair talker
well posted and ! enjoyed his society.
The women got out at Durham and left
us alone. We passed Darlington and were
still the sole occupants of the compart-
ment. Mr. Arnold, as he had given his
name, had been sitting opposite me for an
hour. AS the train cleared Darlington he
yawned and rose up and said:
Il am sleepy, and yet can never get a
wink of sleep on the train. By the way, l
found a curious coin on the street at Nor
peth today. Can you place it?"
He had a coin in his fingers as he stepped
over to me | reached out my hand to re-
ceive it when he seized me by the throat
with both hands and had me on my back
in SECOND, vas no match for him in
strength. He gripped my throat so fierce
ly that had no power of resistance Bend
ing over me, with his knee on my chest, he
finally let up on his clutch and said:
Don't be foolish, now! l know you, and
Pm after those diamondsl If | can get
them without killing you, all right; if /
can't I'll slit your weasand good and deep!"
"Gou-you mean to rob me!" gasped.
Certainly, and you'll show good sense
by keeping quiet. Excuse me, but I've got
to do this job shipshape and Bristol fash
ion"
He drew a wicked looking knife and held
me with some stout cords taken from his
parcel. He turned me over, took the pis-
tol from my hip pocket and tied nv arms
behind me. Then he tied my ankles and
rolled me on my side. Why didn't resist
Simply because his clutch on my throat
had almost paralyzed me.
Now for the sparklers!" he said. as he
took down my bag, searched me for the
key and opened it,
He laughed as he brought out the bottles
of dye and tossed them aside, and he
laughed again as he held up the Jewel
case.
"A deuced fine lay out, 'pon honorI' he
chuckled, as he inspected the contents.
The house of Laird, Williamson & Co.
carries only the best. What's the cash
value, may | ask"
But you are Il cool one!' I said in reply.
Only fairly so-only fairly | should
say 10000 wouldn't be far out of the way
n very pretty haul and no risk attending
it"
He placed the jewel case in his parcel,
lighted cigar and pleasantly remarked:
Take it easy, my boy. The next stop is
North Allerton In about ten minutes I'll
be under the necessity of gagging YOU.
Five minutes after that hope to leave the
train. You'll he discovered at Leeds. and
perhaps sooner The house really ought to
stand the loss, as it is no fault of yours.
You rather tumbled to the game ut Nor
peth, eh?"
was so mad and my throat hurt me so
that made no reply, and he was about to
continue his remarks when the train sud
denly slackened speed and Il minute later
came to a standstill We had been ordered
to make a special stop at a small station
to let an up train pass
What in tophets name does this mean?"
grOwled the robber as he looked from the
window. Special stop, is its My friend
I'm about to gag you. Utter one shout
and III do for you with the knifel'
He'd taken a gag from his parcel when
he got the cords. He was bending over
me with it in his hand when the guard I'M
locked the door to admit two passengers
changing from an overcrowded one
Hes Il robber! He's robbed mel Don't
let him escape!' | shouted the instant the
door opened.
"Out of the way-Fm armed-Tu do
murder! yelled the robber. as he made
break.
He would have gotten off Temporarily
but for an accident. AS he went through
the door he caught his foot and fell heavily
on the platform, and the three men had
pluck enough to seize and disarm him.
And who do you suppose he proved to be
No other than that prince of criminals
known to Scotland Yard as Duke Golf"
and man then wanted" in half a
dozen different cities He put up the
Job. The letter paper, as was proved,
was procured for him by a female
servant in the house of Sir Blank. The
two men with the carriage were ruffians
from Liverpool, who had hired the rig at
Gateshead and driven it to Morpeth. Both
We're nabbed, and both peached on the
Duke" and all three got heavy sentences
to prison.