The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-01-02
HIS CLEVER RUSE.

Augustine Lafont was the confidential
agent Of a large banking house in Paris.
Early in the spring Of 1892 he st out
from Paris with bills. notes, drafts. etc,
10 the amount Il 1000, 600 francs. for
house ia Cna1.1cat Much secrecy
bad been Observed Ia the Ircpatations
| Of bis iCarEey, es the Kingdom wns as
that time infested D. . secret Organiza-
/ ton of Thieves. Lafont sad tine notes
concealed in various parts Of his dress,
and taking tho heavy diligence as the
best mode Of conveyance he set out ON
| his mission
Nothing worthy Of note occurred b
arrest Lafont's attention until he had
passed nearly through the department
Of the Seine-et- MarEe, when Just &C
nightfall two we'll dressed gentlemen
| hailed the diligence and claimed pas
sage 10 Cha1mont. It was already too
dark for the agent TO distinguish the
/ features Of the newcomers, but yet from
/ what little he coald see he at once made
up his mind that their coun;enances
were not unfamiliar to him, and having
como to this conclusion ne determined
/ 10 watch their movements, for vague
suspicion that they had by some means
become possessed Of his secret business
/ took possession Of his mind.
The diligence crossed the Seine at No
| gent and there remained for the night
/ As soon as LafOnt had opportunity to
/ examine the cOuntenances Of the stran-
/ gers at the supper table he became sat
/ isficd that his first impressions were
| correct, for one Of the travellers at least
/ he had seen IN Paris On the day before
/ his departure, and he could not but no.
tice that they both eyed him with mark
/ ed interest
After supper the agent lighted his ci-
. gar and walked out on 10 the bridge,
I where he remained nearly half an hour.
at the end Of which time be started back
toward the inn, and Just as he arrived
az the door he noticed his two compan-
ions entering the stable door.
Prompted BY feeling Of curiosity, he
followed them, and as he came round
by the stable door he could Just sec the
two men crouching away in an empty
stall
With a stealthy, catlike tread he ap-
preached. and he was fortunate enough
to make out the gist Of their conversa-
ton.
When Lafont left the stable, he knew
that the two men had left Paris for the
purpose Of robbing him, and that they
intended to pat their plan in execution
as soon as the diligence should have en-
tered the department of the Upper
Marine.
He returned TO the inn, and after con-
siderable reflection he determined TO
| procure = horse and secretly continue his
/ journey. Having come 20 this concl1-
sion, be went TO the driver Of the dill
gence, and under the plea Of having 10
remain in Nogent on special business
. for a day or two be settled his fare
thus far. Then he went to the stable
and ordered horse to be in readiness
for him by O'Clock in the morning, at
the same time enjoining upon the garcon
the strictest secrecy with regard 10 his
movements.
As soon as these arrangements were
made LafOnt retired 10 his room. He OF
course knew that his secret had leaked
ont, and even in his proposed course
was not entirely free from danger. A
million francs was large sum. and IL
the two Parisian robbers had set their
hearts upon its possession he had yet
some work 70 perform ere he would be
entirely free from them. Last Of oil. a
new idea struck him, and obtaining a
number of papers be neatly folded them
in an envelope, which he strongly sealed
and bound with blue ribbon.
At 3 o'clock in the morning, while is
was get very dark and before any one
else was stirring, Lafont quietly descend
ed from his room and went 10 the stable.
The garcOE was easily aroused, and in a
few moments the agent was ON his way
20 CnaumOnt
For two hours he rode on his way, but
instead Of pursuing the highroad from
Treves he again crossed the Seine and
kept aloug by the banks Of the Aube-
Daylight was Just beginning to streak
the heavens when Lafont thought he
heard the sound Of horses behind him,
and it was not long ere he knew that he
was being pursued, and in ten minutes
he was assured that the two robbers wero
after him.
In a moment the agent leaped from
the saddle, and seizing a heavy stone.
he inflicted a severe bruise upon one Of
his horses fore legs. The animal reared
AMI plunged, but Latent managed to
hold him, again mounted and rode on,
b1t the horse limped and staggered be-
!eath the effects Of the blow he had 10
,eived, and in a short time the robbers
:ame up.
''Ah, good morning, gentlemen,
aid the agent rs he reined III his lame
steed, at the same time raising his hat
with afTable politeness. $50. 1t seems.
you, too, are tired Of the numbering dill
igencc.
Yes" replied the foremost OF the
two men: ''the diligence did not exactly
suit cur convenience, so we took horses
"And you are bound to ChaumOnt:"
asked Lafont-
Yes, on important business
THAT Is fortunate, said LafOnt,
with the utmost earnestneSs, for you
may, if you sec ft, do me a great favor.
], too, have important business at Chau-
mont, but fear that without assistance
| shall not bc able to accomplish it.
have, gentlemen, IL my possession,
vast amount of valuable papers and In
tended 10 have continued on my way IN
the diligence. but at NOgent | received
the intelligence that plan was Cn foot
&c rob lie.
DO not start, gentlemen, for what
tell YOU Is true. And for that reason [
ret of thus alone, but EIy horse has met
with sad mishap, and l fear the rob
bers, who, I think, are vet at Nogent,
may overtal.e me. Now, if you are GO
ing directly 10 ChaumOnt, perhaps yOu
would be willing TO take my package in
your charge and deliver 1t to VI. Au-
gicnt at his office Any one there viii
tell You where he is. Then, If am over
haulcd, the robbers will find nothing,
and Of coarse You will Eot be suspect
ell Ii yOu will thus accommodate me,
You shall be suitably rewarded What
say yOI, ge2tlemcn:
The two men exchanged significant
glances durilg these remarks. and after
. moments hesitation one Of them said:
'YOa seem to be ready IN trusting
strangers, sir-
"Oh, not 1t all, sir, " retortsd LafOnt,
with n frank smile, II would much
rather fruSt honest travellers than run