Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-12


ed no more jobs, but weakly put it on,
and by so doing, Of course, made it more
difficult. He told me Stanley and White
We're waiting at Tavlor's hotel on Mont
gCmery street, few doors up from the
wharf.
We soon were there, and they gave
me q warm and even enthusiastic recep-
ton, and, opening box, l produced
the 16 bills Of exchange for So, 900 each,
informing them they should have their
cash in 80 minutes. 1t was curious to
see these men handle the bills OF ex-
change, passing them from one to an
other, examining them with anxious
care. But where were my good resolu-
tons and what had become of them:
Why, they, under the effect of the Wine
and the magnetic influence of these
three minds, had gone flying down the
bay, and under Il favoring gale We're fast
speeding scaward beyond the ken of
mortal eye, not to be found by me again
until years after, when, with the tolls
about me, found myself in Newgate.
Then the fugitives all came back, this
time to stay.
My three graces who adorned the po-
lice department Of New York were full
Of matter of Il new enterprise which by
my cooperation was to make the for
tunes of us all But they were too evil
IDENTIFY anxious, too eagerly DESTROYS to
handle the greenbacks my bills of eX-
change represented to fix their minds
upon anything else, SO by a unanimous
vote We adjourned to the other side of
the river, appointing a wineroom on
Broadway, Il few doors below Exchange
place, for our place of meeting at
O'Clock. Stanley and White went away
together, but first each once more told
me privately that he depended upon me
to put in his own hands his share, show
ing how, these rOgues suspected each
other and indeed were full of suspi-
cions of every one and everything. Irv-
ing crossed the ferry with me, but on
the New York side he dropped behind
and, although 1 paid no more attention
to him, no doubt he followed me. The
| excitement of success and of being at
home again banished any possible re-
grets or fears over the course had en-
tered, and with Il light heart and buoy
ant step l quickly made my way to a
friend of mine, well known broker in
New street, shook hands with him, and,
telling him, very much to his surprise,
that had just returned from Europe,
asked him to step around the corner to
the office of the bankers and identify
me.
In minute we were there Indorsing
the drafts, told them to make it in
five hundreds. They sent out to the
bank for them, and I was speedily on
my way to our rendezvous with 100
| $500 greenbacks in a roll, and meeting
the three at the winerUom made their
| eyes grow big when I flashed the roll
| on their delighted orbs. The division
was speedily made, l retaining $4,000
for my share, but was dissatisfied with
my share and told them so, when each
promptly threw out $1,000, and we
shook hands all around.
Here were four conspirators of us,
and it was comical to see how anxious
we all We're to get away so that each
could stow his plumber III safe place.
For my part l went home, but shall
say nothing of the meeting with the
members Of my family. l told them
had made lot of money in a spccula-
ton, and not knowing the inside his
tory or suspecting anything they re-
joiced with me and We're proud and
happy for their boy. Ispent about 81 ZOO
making things comfortable for them.
but to their grief told them that cir
cumstancos required me to take up my
former quarters at the st. Nicholas
II would be interesting to tell Of nv
reception among my acquaintance on
Wall street and other parts of the city.
Rumor magnified my resources. and ii
was reported had cleared 500, 900 in
some fortunate deal. 1t was strange to
sec the new found Difference all around,
from my former employers down TO my
old waiter II down town Delmonico's.
where dined, but will pass over all
these matters and proceed with my his
tory Of the Primrose Way.
In 1864 there lived i'll London IA
nous queens counsel. Edwin James.
Fame and fortune We're his A born ora
tor. talented scholar, he rapidly pushed
his way from the very bottom of the le-
gal profession to all bat its topmost
height. At 40 he found himself facile
princeps Of the English bar, and public
opinion, that potent factor in popular
government, had already singled him
out for the high position Of attorney
general That secured. only one step re-
manned to place him i'll the seat Of the
lord chancellor-truly an imperial po-
alton, one that satisfied the proud am
bition of Wolsey and fitted the genius
of Thomas Beckett. 1t carries with
it the position of Keeper of the conscience
of her majesty, giving the possessor
precedence in all official functions over
the English aristocracy, next 70 royalty
itself.
But about this time dark whispers
began to fly about through the clubs OF
London. Soon it became known that
Edwin James. the lord chancellor to be,
was in the tolls. and it shortly tran
spired that, il spite OF the fact that his
|, income from his profession was nearer
] geo, coo than 81 900 per annum. 1t had
proved insufficient, and he was heavily