Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-06-11
1 noticed that he wore in his coat an

i 1 noticed that he wore in his coat an
orchid.
/ made mental note that I, too.
would decorate myself in this fashion.
Then, again, he appeared somewhat
deaf, and had manner of putting his
hand on his ear when listening to you.
This. too, I carefully noted for repro
duction.
In the course Of our iaterview he
rang several times for the young man
who appeared to be his confidential
clerk. This mans name was Mostyn.
Fearing that with so many details to re-
member might forget SO slight thing
as name made note OF Mr.. Mostyn's
on my shirt cuff.
At length had got together a nice
little collection of data, and according
ly took my leave. The interview had
been a great success and had got all
that / wanted.
A week passed without my trusty
mate eliciting anything of value from
the sportive youth whose acquaintance
he had made. But at the end of that
time ne came to me and said:
/
for US to make our haul. I've learned
from young Barrett that the bank will
be sending 100000 worth of bullion to
Walkers, of Edinburgh, the day after
tomorrow"
"Then there Is not moment to be
lost" I replied. "Go at once to Edin-
burgh and take an Office there in the
commercial part Of the town. Call
yourself Morrison, Jenkins & Co., and
wire me your address. I'll have the
bullion consigned there. The moment
you get it leave the place and get across
the Atlantic by one of the vessels sail
ing from Glasgow. I'll join you in the
old crib in New York. You under
stand?"
fright you are" be said, promptly.
| We shook hands and he was off.
| On the following evening as Mr.. Ben
son was on his way home from the the
alter he was seized, drugged and bound,
and conveyed to our roost. In this man
ner the coast was left clear for me to
| play my part.
Next morning turned up ut the bank
|
the faultless frock coat wore an orchid.
and seal, the counterpart of that worn
by Mr.. Benson, dangled from my watch
chain. Artistically my dress and get-up
were beyond reproach.
| At the same time must confess that
I felt sort Of tremor as entered the
little room and sat down. Suppose
something should go wrong in the
course of the day? So many things
might occur to give me away. And then
there dawned on me the thought that
Immediately had dispatched my bust
ness I might leave the bank on u pre-
text of illness. OF course. Why had I
not thought of this before?
| I rang the bell. The office messenger
entered. "Send Mostyn here" said,
watching him closely to see if he detect
ed anything strange in his boss"
| "Yes, sir" he said, and left the room.
Mostyn entered. He gave me a re-
spectful good morning." and then
awaited my instructions. ...
"Mostyn," said, hastily, I'm feeling
rather unwell this morning, and shall
get home when I've signed anything
urgent. There's nothing special, is
there?"
mo, sir, except that consignment for
Walker & Co."
"Oh, yes, of course" I answered.
Bring me the delivery note. By the
way, Mostyn, I've had instructions that
the bullion is not to go to Walkers, but
to Morrison, Jenkins & Co."
| ~; ba oora
lessly.
| He went out to bring the delivery
note for signature. And then feeling
Of horror shivered through me, for I
remembered that I had been idiot
enough to overlook entirely the fact
that 1 had never seen Benson's sigma
ture. Here was a nice mess to be in.
But in a moment saw my way out
of the trouble. Ringing the bell told
the messenger to bring the current let
ter book. Here found scores of Ben
sons autographs, and with little prac-
tice I contrived to arrive at fairly
good imitation of it.
Mostyn brought the note and asked
ME how he should fill it in.
ITO Morrison, Jenkins & Co.. 20
Queen street, Edinburgh" replied,
without hesitation, reading from a tel
egram I held in my hand.
He rapidly entered the address given
and gave me the slip for signature. I
signed it boldly, and returned it to him.
There's nothing else of Importance,
sir" he said; "the other things can
attend to-"
Every good" I replied. 'Then I'll
be off at once" And five minutes later
I was on the way to the station, bound
for Liverpool, and thence to New York
by the first ship leaving that port,
Everything turned out splendidiy.