Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-01-21

pOrbunlty.
However, as nothing short of an earth.
quake would baye induced the old gun tc
go off in any circumstances-and Phineas
had made assurances doubly sure by drop
ping in the shot first and powder afterward
the ''vulture" in question was not likely
to be seriously damaged, and Mary con,
tented herself with expressing hope that
her husband would not hurt himself
On the following evening Phineas took
up his old position in the garden, with
murder in his heart. Herr Schmidt, how
ever, did not put in an appearance. After
| waiting some time, Phineas re-entered the
house and reared his duck gun up in the
hall in a conspicuous position
| He had almost decided to run ulp to town
and consult his brother John, the detect
i've, with view to having the movements
of Herr Schmidt watched, when he was
startled by the click of the letter box
A scrap Of paper lay Oh the mat. Pick
ing it up Phneas glanced at it, turned
deadly pale, then hurried into the garden
Scrubbed in lead pencil on dirty paper was
the following:
Peel has discovered everything. We
have not u moment to lose and must clear
out tonight. The front door is unsafe.
Will meet you at the back--1030 sharp"
There was no signature.
Good gracious" calculated Phineas
after reading the note for the third time.
"I'd no idea matters had gone SO far. Oh,
yes, Mr.. Schmidt, " he added grimly, "Ill
meet you at 1920 sharp"
1t was about 1915 and raining heavily.
Phineas Peel, seated on IL wall overlooking
the back of Rhyd cottage with his duck
gun laid across his knees, was beginning
to feel uncomfortable
''The note said 1890, - he muttered "It
must be after that time now What's
that?'
Phineas had caught the sound of heavy
feet moving cautiously over the gravel. He
grasped his gun and peered into the gloom,
but could distinguish nothing.
Suddenly he heard voices, evidently at
the front of the house He was about to
quit his position under the impression that
Herr Schmidt was leaving by the front
door, after all, when one of the back win
dows was cautiously raised and the 1.-the
form of the naturalist dropped lightly to
the ground.
Creeping along the side of the wall on
which Phineas lay, he presented an excel
lent mark. Mr.. Peel however, could not
bring himself to shoot II man down in cold
blood. He would give him Il chance.
Stop, you scoundreln' he shouted
The effect of the challenge was scarcely
what Phineas had anticipated Herr
Schmidt darted forward and seized the
barrel of the gun.
n IA nf bo t,vp
and Phineas was pulled from the wall in
a twinkling. Lying on the broad of his
back on the gravel in half dazed condi-
ton he saw the tall form of Schmidt
standing over him with the gun raised.
Keep your tongue still, you fool, !" he
Kissed, cor I'll brain you. Now-quick-
help me over the wall. ~
Phineas hestated but the threatening
attitude of the other induced him to rise
However, he had no intention of giving in.
Obeying his instructions he caught hold
of Schmidt's foot to give him "a leg up
Before the naturalist could grip the top of
the wall, however, Phineas saw his oppor-
tunity
Bracing himself for the effort, he exert
ed all his strength and pulled Schmidt
bodily from the wall. He fell fiat on his
face, and before he could recover himself
phineas jumped OH his back and seized
him round the throat, emitting yell that
would have done infinite credit to Sioux
Indian
The next moment Phineas was dragged
off from behind and found himself in the
clutches Of burly member of the local
police force.
-Four or five others seized Schmidt, who
struggled in vain to free himself
What am arrested for?" gasped Phin-
cas-. "There's your man!'
Phineas would no doubt have been led
off with the other prisoner but for the
timely arrival OIL the scene of the last per-
son in the world he had expected to See
his brother John!
"Here! What on earth is the meaning of
all this?" he demanded when, as the result
of John Peels interference, he found him.
self free
John staid behind minute or two to ex-
plain that Herr Schmidt the naturalist"
and Edward Harper, the notorious forger
who had detied New Scotland Yard for the
past six weeks, were one and the same.
1T was smart dodge of Harper's,"
said John Peel, 'and he might have got
clear away but for that clover wife of
yours, Phineas Mary suspected the man
from the first and supplied me from time
to timo with valuable information. 1t is
to her entirely that the credit of the cap
ture is due. Tell her I'll call round and
thank her myself tomorrow. BY the bye,
the gang of which he was the head got
wind of our intentions, and a man was dis
patched with II warning. Harper doesn't
appear to have received it, -
Then Phineas began to understand
things little more clearly.
IL suppose this will be it, - he remarked,
producing the note and handing it to his
brother. lyon see, the messenger left ii
at the wrong door and I--er-I thought
might as well see the fun.
For some little time after Phineas was
of the opinion that he had made fool of
himself. Lately however, he has taken Il
different view Of the matter and is never
tired of relating how he literally dropped
on Harper, the forger alias Schmidt, the
naturalist next door. -Cassell's Saturday !
journal
Invisible Clothes.
During the last Afghan war the follow
ing joke was current throughout the entire