Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-03-22

quainted and had a truly delightful chat
principally about the weather, though
Tor the fellow was mighty careful 10
avoid other topics.
when we reached New York I found
1t necessary to attend to some business,
which concerned him rather more than
he thought, SO shaking hands good
bye and expressing hope to become
better acquainted, left him watched
by my town constables while I sought
my smarter city detectives and put
them onto him.
Ills draylnan was on hand waiting
near the baggage-roQm. AS soon as
he got the trunk on his cart he drove
off a ways my smoking friend was
neatly 'collared and cuffed' and
marched In an opposite direction be-
tween two valiant policemen. Then the
detectives and myself took u cab and
started after the trunk.
Through streets becoming dirtier and
wickedcr we followed, without attract
ing suspicion from the drayman, until
he stopped before an apparently unoc-
cupicd house and prepared to unload.
Ere he could do so one detective
jumped ON his cart, and without speak
ing started his horse ahead again. The
other, aided by me, grabbed the fell
low and prevented him from making
an outcry to alarm his pal in the trunk
Immediately several policemen who I
didn't know were following behind Sud
denly appeared and burst into the
house which turned out to be a<fence'
for the thieves.
Leaving our surprised drayman In
| charge of some of the officers we re-
seated ourselves in the cab and again
followed the trunk to a police station
| house, into which it was carried and
placed in front of the captains desk
| on the floor.
"Then silently we awaited results.
1t was dusk, and as no lights were yet
burning to let our game see where
he was we rightly supposed he would
think himself safe at home and act
accordingly. Prepared to turn on the
gas full blaze when he did so, we
watched the trunk. For perhaps fifteen
anxious minutes it seemed lifeless. Then
we heard a movement inside, heard
bolt drawn and saw the lid slowly rise
and head cautiously appear. Up
went the gas and over went the trunks
lid, pulled by an armed officer. At
first the head, or it's face rather, wore
l u AIpDy, OAOdu EAAAS lACA
as things didn't look familiar its eyes
opened wider in an effort to understand
matters while the grin faded away
like the rainbow. Then, as the facts
of the case forced themselves on the
burglars startled brain the poor fell
lows hair Strengthened, his eyes bulged
out like Holsters and the astonish-
ment and terror depicted on his youth
full but evil features beat acting all
hollow.
"'Come out of that, you scamp!
shouted the police captain as soon as
he could talk for laughing, and give
an account of yourself. What's the
name Of this particular racket, any
how?"
''The burglar tried to laugh also, but
it was dismal failure. oh, that's
| all right he grinned, T took yez for
the conductor. That's why 1 was
scared. Yer see, I've been beating the
railroad, boss. faint every chap kin
git ahead Of old Vanderbilt and Chaun-
cey Dee-pue. But don't tell 'em, kors
they'll be a-opening all the trunks on
the line and the wimmin might object.
I Ha, ha, ha! Say, purity slick trick,
wasn't it?'
"The burglars bluff was good, but
it didn't work for cent
"'What yer doing with those watches
in the trunky asked policeman as
he fished them out after the fellow had
painfully managed to crawl out him
self.
"'Seein' if the road runs on time,
boss. The blamed train was ten min
utes late and I'm goiD' to report it.
Say, yer hain't got swaller of whisky
yer could lend a tired traveller, hey?
Couldn't get at the water cooler, yer
know
".Well, you'll have no trouble get
ting at the cooler" now. Lock him
UP, sergean. Well give him another
free trip tomorrow
"Off to the cell they took the wretch,
and then we examined his trunk. 1t
was padded inside, so that being tossed
about by baggage-smashers couldn't
hurt. There were ,pockets made to
button in the lining. but only couple
were filled with his plumber. Some
empty TASKS and crumbs Of food we
found. In the bottom and sides were
ventilating and peepholes. A man
might live week in that trunk, think,
if his provisions held out"
In a week or so I received a notice
to appear in a New York court to give
my testimony and identify the things
stolen at my own home, most of which
we recovered. I saw the trunk again,
and it's occupant, but guess he Knew
me better than I did him.
CRUSHED THE INSURANCE
AGENT.