The record-union., 1897-02-28

If Mr.. Gaston Slater collld have over
netard the conversation of Colonel
Henry Walton as he summed himself in
Durnstable Park a couple of days after
he had given his promise, his opinion
of the open -mindednes7S of that fndivid
uaa would have undergone a complete
and beneficial change.
The Colonel was resting upon one of
the rustic seats that adorned the park,
and a couple of gentlemen Respondent
in silk hats and stylish frock coats,
were engaged in earnest conv erSation
with him.
We'll, Colonel" exclaimed one-"oh,
by the way, 1t is Colonel, eh?"
Yes. Colonel this Time
$50 it goes badly, eh?"
Yes; couldn't be worse. Who ever
would think that a last-created neigh
borhood like thies would be right up to
the knocker in all modern improve
ments?'
Modern improvements be cursed!"
the man exclaimed. Just let me get
a peep at the strong rooms, and if l
don't"
MY dear boy" interjected the Colo
mel, we all know your skill, but you
can't overcome modern science"
How about the new drill? Why,
layers of hard and soft seamless steel
are like cheese to it. Just put me out
side that strong room door. that's all
1 ask, and 1T won't be my fault if l
don't see the inside"
You are more likely TO see the inside
of prison. the Colonel replied. If
you so much as look at that door a
lic.I, -+,xixT ,~i,, hall
in the county police station
"Oh!' The man whistled, and then,
after a few moments Thought, contin-
! usd, what's it on-the strong-room or
the safes?'
Strong room"
Hum; then if we could pass that
door it would all be serene?"
Precisely
do you know any more about it
how is it worked?''
THE alarm is never detached; it's
built into the door, as it were, and
whenever it's opened the bell sounds
at the station. During banking hours
it counts for nothing; it rings when the
door is opened but ceases when it is
pushed right back. It's opened at 9,
pushed right back and remains so un-
til it's shut at night; and after closing
time the manager himself could not en-
ter the strong room without having
the police down upon him.
''Ah. see,' chuckIed the other. 1T is
wonderful contrivance; it guarantees
the honesty of even the manager him.
SELF
During the night, yes. He holds the
key, and no doubt we could get it; but,
as you see, it would be useless
"Ah, that doors hard nut to crack.
What do you think, Sidney"
The third man raised his eyes and
for a moment looked reflectively across
the park.
What do you think?" he repliedsat
length. well, it strikes me very forci
bly, that after the smart things we've
done across the water we are not go
ing to be licked by an Internal tink-
ling bell. What's your idea, Colonel?"
well, boys, it's a pretty thick job;
there's only one way to do it, and that
will be to get an official letter writ
ten to the police station-a letter
signed by one Of the directors of the
bank and the manager, telling them
that the bell will sound at given hour
notice of it, although it will be after
banking hours, as the books are to be
gone into for some special reason-any
lie will do .5-
What a man you are for your joke,
Colonel"
ct was never more serious in all my
life
You mean the whole game is i'm
possible?"
Not a bit of it. I mean that that
is the only wayft can be done. Send that
letter by one of the bank messengers,
and it's open sesame as they say in
the Arabian Nights and help your
selves"
ooh, yes" sarcastically calculated
Sidney; land perhaps the director and
manager would Like to join in the spoil.
Let's talk like men, and not like fools"
"a fool" mildly corrected the Colonel,
'is a man who forms a hasty opinion
Upon matter he does not fully under
stand. / viii undertake to supply that
letter; the rest I shall leave to you"
It's no use tackling forgery, Colonel;
it's too risky. We shall have to find
some other way"
I'm the first place, there is no other
way; and in the second, it will not be
forgery. The gentlemen will be oblig
ing enough to sign their names them
selves"
Nonsense, Colonel; you can't go up
to two men and say, Here, just write
your names on this sheet, one under
the other, and leave me to fill in what
l like above"
'Of course you cannot" the Colonel
murmuyed; 'it would be want of tact,
and, worse than want of manners"
Then, how the"
"Ah, you are curious. I thought you
would be- And it's so simple-so
beautifully simple. Look here
The Colonel put his hand into his
breast pocket and extracted a thin black
tube; he UNFINISHED a small cap cover
ing one end, and held it up before them
You don't need telling what this is.'
II guess not Reservoir pens are COM
mon even on this side. This is the
latest. What onw?'
What now? Why, my dear boys"
the Colonel responded. in quite a pa
rental manner, what bad students of
human nature you are. DON'T you
know that when you lend a man
new tangled pen to see what he thinks
of 1T, he invariably tests it by writing
his own name? It's always his own
narne-never "a quotation from his ia
vorite poet, or an impromptu epigra1n,
but just the one thing that comes cas-
lest to his mind-lnis own name written
i'm his usual style, with that charac-
teristic flourish of which he is SO
proud Now, then, this is the way the
thing will be done. Tomorrow at noon