Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-04-13

given was that of my chambers, the
three days were required to raise the
money, and further for the purpose
of giving me time to complete some
preparations | had to make myself.
The address they gave was one in
Westminster, in case any further COM
munication should be necessary, which
was not at all likely.
1t was the afternoon of a November
day when [ sat expecting the two
blackmailers. 1t had been dark all
day, for a heavy fog hung over the
city. 1t was 5 o'clock when they were
to come, and already the occupants of
the adjoining chambers had left for
their respective homes, and / had sent
away my clerk. But for two men who
were in the room next mine the whole
suite seemed deserted.
They were punctual, as was to be
expected, for they were about to reap
the fruits of the complete success of
their nefarious scheme. The letters
were produced, Mayer holding them in
his hand while l satisfied myself that
they were such as had beeen described
to me, and that they were originals,
not copies, for had no faith to put in
either of the men before me.
Five hundred pounds is the amount
agreed on, suggested Mayer.
''Much less than Mr.. Graydon really
owes me-" whined the other, whose
dusky face was blue and his teeth chat
tering with the unaccustomed cold.
''Yes, here is the money; hand over
the letters,' l said.
''You will be kind enough to indorse
each of the notes?" Mayer asked, as he
he held up one between him and the
gaslight. He was suspicious of some
thing, l could see by his manner. His
house was of glass of the most brittle
kind. 1 indorsed them for him. He
inquired after Charles Graydon. 1
told him curtly that had never seen
him since / had learned of this affair,
and that l was acting in the interests
solely of his mother and sister. Moth
ing further was added. / begged to be
excused for moment, as they pro-
ceeded to stow away the notes in an
old pocket-book Mayer produced from
his breast pocket
''NIy clerk has gone,'' said, with an
air of annoyance, on my return to the
room, ''and my letters unposted."
1 heard the two men in the next
room leave, and made haste to dismiss
my unwelcome visitors, for their pres
ence was almost too much for my
equanimity. I followed them down
stairs, and turned up Middle Temple
1s6 @60 70
leading on to the embankment, course
l was pretty sure they would take. 1
saw that two silent figures were fol
lowing them, but otherwise the Tenn
pie was as void of signs of life as Sal
iSbury plain. Then 1 retraced my steps,
and, standing at the gate l have .len-
toned, listened anXiously. l heard
loud and angry words, as of men in
dispute, a sound as of scuffiing, fol
lowed by blow, and then some foot
steps in retreat.
Are you hurt?" asked a voice, which
l recognized as Taylor's.
''He has broken my collar bone, be-
lieve. Who were they? HallOa, my
pocket-bOok's gone. Police! Murderr'
had heard enough and returned to
my room. Five minutes later 1 held
the rescued notes brought to me by the
men who had been in the next room.
The scheme had come off without a
hitch, but it was a risky one, as 1
have said. However, nothing succeeds
like success. 1t was fortunate that
Mayer had not had time to take the
numbers of the notes. IndorSed as
they We're, they required careful Dego-
tiation, for there was police hue and
cry over the matter, and l had ulti-
nately the satisfaction of restoring
their full value to their rightful owner.
-Tit-BitS.