Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-01-07

us what assistance you can, have ii
inform you that daring robbery is
contemplated upon your bank To-
night"
"NeveI!" said Mr.. Marsden, staring
aghast. why, these premises are proof
against anything"
You may think SO; but you dom
know 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 short time since, and
thorough smart fellows, too. But, I'M
fortunately, we only s., cceeded in run
ming one to earh-the others eludcd
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
since his incarceration not acted up to
their promise in making provision for
his aged mother out of their ill-gotter
gains, so he, in a spirit OF revenge,
pcoched 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 mel
said the aged banker, who became fur
ther agitated.
DO not alarm yourself, sir; they viii
fall into their own trap, rest assured
continued one of the detectives, tak;ne
up the thread of the narrative. "Yes
acting on the statement made by tine
prisoner, my colleague and instituted
careful and, l might say, cunning in
quiries, for these willy fellows are diff
iicult to track. We have been unabl,
to come upon the two individuals them
selves: but after indefatigable efforts
from a roundabout source-a woman
as usual being at 5hs bottom Of tive
have learned that they intend forcing
Marsden & Rylotty's bank tonight, ant
leaving by the boat express tomorrow
for the continent"
''The scoundrels!"
"But they will just be deceived, sir
We have hit upon plan, and ask you
to acquiesce in our carrying it out"
"Most certainly, whatever you thinI
best. What do you suggest"
well, 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 men
"Yes, yes. l 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 nam,
OF the chief of the department, which
was quite satisfactory.
After consulting with our superi
crs," continued the officer, "we thinb
that the plan we have suggested, with
your permission, the most likely to in.
sure success. We should like you to
furnish us with your private address
so as TO communicate with you during
the night, should your services be re.
quircd."
"Ies, of course. The Hsllies,' 1;
Ninstanton crescent"
"Well known, sir. That will be suf
ticient, thank you"
And the officer jotted it down quick
ly in his pocketbook.
After pointing out 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 the in
stant he might be wanted.
He departed in feverish state of anx-
iety, wondering naturally, what the
night would bring forth.
Now, directly the old gentleman hnd
left the real character of the pseudo
police officers was apparent. 1t was
quite true that a notorious ''little' gang
of bank robbers contemplated an at,
tack on the bank that night, and those
sooundrels were actually none others
than themselves! Their warrants were
forgeries and the sergeant's uniform
\" perfection of imitation to the last
DItton. No time was to be lost. From,
the coat tail pockets Of the sergeant
came 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
cracker. Deity manufactured skele-
ton keys for picking the best and most
complicated locks were brought forth (,
in short, everything needed for thor
ough, daring and successful burglary.
We've got a long nights worl;.
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 will"
Accordingly the sergeant" speedily
turned his attention to the back prem
ises with a view to hurried escape
should they be disturbed. while the two
others directed theirs to the huge iror
safe spoken of by the banker. Drills
were quickly applied behind the hinges
of the door, and boring commenced in
real earnest, for these gentlemen
burglars knew pretty well everything
worth knowing as to the construction OF
most safes in use.
Progress was very slow at first. bu.
the men never ceased. Drill, drill, drill,
on went the work almost In silence