The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-01-30
CHAPTER VIII.


lot Of false bills was sent in. left Sc
rene and confident Of the future. My de-
parture was happy event in a double
sense. All my negotiations had beer
carried on at considerable expense Of
nerve, and in leaving I left everything
in such trim that success seemed Ger.
tain, with all chance Of danger elimi
mated from the venture. I felt that the
trying toll was now all over, with moth.
ing for me to do but to reap the harvest,
and that without effort or care on my
part.
So when the late November sun look
ed down on mel crossed by daylight
this Understanding on the deck Of that
same wretched channel steamer, it look
ed on a happy man. did not know
then that success in wrongdoing was ever
failure. The anxious toll of the Lon
don and continental negotiations was
a thing of the past. Was I not young:
Wealth was or soon would be mine.
Was I not in perfect health, body sound
and digestion good, and, above all, was
not the woman I loved awaiting me in
Paris, to give herself to me in all her
youth and beauty, and then somewhere
across the western waters would I not
find in some tropic seas a paradise,
which gold would make mine, where I
could bear my bride, and there, turning
over new leaf, live and die with the
respect of all good men mine?
Here was a stately structure I was 60
ing to erect, but how rotten the founda-
ton! I fancied, in my case at least, the
eternal course Of things would be staid,
and that justice would grant me clean
bill of health. She did give me that,
but it was long years after and only
when she had had from me her pound
Of flesh to the very last ounce.
I joined my Sweetheart and her fam
lily at the Hotel st. James, Rue Saint
Honore, and our wedding day being
fixed week ahead we all set out sight
seeing and having a good time general
~. I now engaged the coachman had
met before as my valet, and very good
all around handy man he proved to be-
Of course was anxious to hear that the
first coup on the bank had succeeded,
but was tolerably confident it was all
right. Had it fallen through it would
have proved awkward for me.
Late one December morning on open
ing my eyes my first thought was, it
will be hit or miss at the Bank Of Eng
land within the next 60 minutes. We
had engaged for a coaching party to Yer
sailles and were to dine there. I LETT
Tor the drive that day with a dim fear
hat before the sun set might be under
he necessity Of leaving Paris in hurry.
When starting for Versailles, I left
ny servant behind to wait for the ex-
9ected telegram and to bring it to me
~ rail. We were at dinner, and I was
ust raising a glass of champagne to my
FPS when l saw my valet, Num-, cross
ng the esplanade. He entered the room
md handed me telegram. Tearing
,pen the envelope, read: !
"All we'll Bought and shipped 40 |
,ales. -
That meant the first lot for $40, OGO |
lad gone through safely. It was GER
ainly great relief. Three days after T
eceived $25, 1000 in United States bonds /
rom George in London, my first share
f the proceeds. I sold the bouds in
Paris, receiving payment in French
totes.
On Thursday, the day before my mar
iage, I had telegram from Mac and
George to meet them in Calais, and to
yalais had to 60. I arrived there at
midnight, just before the Dover steamer
ot in, and was on the pier to meet
hem. We exchanged warm greetings.
Is we did so Mac placed small but
cry heavy bag in my hand, and they
egan laughing over my surprise. It /
obtained ga, 900 in sovereigns. We went
0 hotel near by, and there they count
d out to me the very nice sum of $780,
90 in gold, bonds and French money.
Is they were going back on the same
teamer and was to return to Paris
y the train carrying the passengers CT
he steamer just arrived, we only had
rief half hours talk. After giving me
he money we went out and sat down
n the pier, and that conversation and
Gene are forever impressed on my mem
ny. Ishall make no attempt to describe
ither, but could both be put on the |
tage with the audience in possession Of |
J full knowledge Of the enterprise we
we're embarked in there would be seen |
picture Of human life such as the nov /
list or playwright never had the imag.
nation or the daring to depict. To the
earnest student of human life it would
nave been revelation.
There we were, three earnest, ambi- |
;ious young men, enthusiastic for all
hat was good and noble, Z about to wed
) pure souled woman, who thought me
IN angel Of goodness, and about to fly
with my plumber and bride to- Mexico.
My two companions were returning to
London to continue carrying out giant
scheme Of fraud against great money
institution, but there we were with
800, 900 at our feet, sitting under the
stars listening to the dash Of the waves
and talking not at all like pirates and
robbers, but much more like crusaders
setting out on a crusade or like pill
arims going on pilQrimaoa