The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-10-03
81 am staying rather later than usual

~ Oh AAS lo4Nltsih
Yes, sir; from information which
has come into u possession. and which
must ask you in the interests of pub
lie justice not to divulge, but to afford
us what assistance you can, l have tc
inform you that a daring robbery is
contemplated upon your bank 10
night"
"Never!!" said Mr.. Marsden, staring
aghast. why, these premises r proof
against anything"
You may think so; but you don't
kEow these men. To go into the mat
ter, sir, it came about in this way: We
we're on the scent of a notorious little
gang of three expert bank robbers and
safe breakers a short time since. and
thorough smart fellows, too. But. I'M
fortunately, we only succeeded in run
nlng one to earth-the others eIuGed
US. The prisoner was convicted and
sentenced to ten years penal servi-
tude; but, like similar cases we have
known, it subsequently came to his
knowledge that his confederates had
slnce his Incarceration not acted up TO
their promise in making provision Tor
his aged mother out of their ilI-gotten
gains, so he, in a spirit of revenge.
peached upon them, and furnished Us
with full information concerning their
whereabouts and future intentions.
From this point these two other officers
can better explain than l."
Great heavens, You aStound me-"
said the aged banker, who became fur
Their agitated.
do not alarm yourself. sir: they will
fall into their own trap, rest assured"
continued n OF the detectives, taking
up the thread of the narrative. Yes.
acting on the statement made by the
prisoner, my colleague and | instituted
careful and, l might say, cunning in
quiriCs, for these willy fellows are diff
ticult 10 track. We have been unable
to come upon the two individuals them
selves: but after interchangeable efforts
from a roundabout sourcc-a oEa
as usual being at the bottom of i've
have learned that they intend forcing
Marsden d Rylotty's bank tonight. and
leaving by the boat express tomorrow
for the continent"
THE scoundrels,"
but they will just be deceived. sir.
We have hit upon 4 plan. and ask you
TO acquiesce in our CARRYING it out"
Most certainly, whatever you think
best. What do you ~sHggest?"
We'll, we want TO catch them red
handed, as it were, and ask your per
mission to secrete ourselves upon tn"
premises for the night, so as to fully
be prepared and waiting for our mem
Yes. yes. i presume you have writ
ten authority?"
Certainly, sir"
And the plain clothes gentlemen drew
from their breast pockets the author
lied official document bearing the name
of the chief of the department, which
was quite satisfactory.
after consulting with our superb
ors," continued the officer, "ve think
that the plan we have suggested. with
YOU permission. the most likely to IN
sure success. We should like you to
furnish us with your private address
Sc as 10 communicate with you during
the night, should your services be re-
CURED"
Yes, of course. The Hollies,' Is
WinstantOn crescent"
We'll known. sir. That viii be suf-
f%icient, thank you"
And the officer jottei it down quick
ly in his pocketbook.
After pointing out a ponderous iron
safe, which he hoped the villains would
not turn their attention To, Mr.. Phillip
Marsden bid them good evening, re-
questing them to let him know tLe in
slant he might be wanted.
lie departed in a feverish state of anX-
iety. wondering naturally, what tba
night would bring forth.
Now, directly the old gentleman had
left the real character of the pseudo
police officers was apparent. 1t was
true that 4 notorious little" gann
OF bank robbers contemplated an at
tack on the bank that night, and those
s~coUndrelS were actually none others
than themselves. Their warrants were
forgeries and the sergeant's uniform
the perfection OF imitation to the laS1
No time was to be lost. From
the coat tail pockets of the sergeant
some of the finest tempered steel
drills and other implements for forcing
and boring iron safes as ever graced
the person of the most experienced crib
Deity manufactured skelc-
ton keys for picking the best and mos:
complicated locks were brought forth;
in short, everything needed for 4 thor,
ough, daring and successful burglary.
We've got a long nights work.
Charlie, I'm afraid" said one. ITS now
nine o'clock, and if we get through this
safe under ten hours we're lucky. We
must set to work with a will"
Accordingly the sergeant" speedily
turned his attention to the back prem
ises with a view TO a hurried escape
should they be disturbed, while the two
directed theirs to the huge iron
safe spoken of by the banker. Drills
we're quickly applied behind the hinges
of the door. and boring commenced in
real earnest. for these gentlemen"
burglars knew pretty well everything
knowing as to the construction OF
most safes in use.
FL l--&