The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-08-18
A MILLIONAIRE'S CHECK
BY p. BEAUfOY.

0NE of the most extraordinary ad-
~ ventures in the whole of my career,
which has been conspicuous for eNcit-
ing episodes, was the kidnapping Of Silas
Brayne, the great millionaire, and our
attempt to possess ourselves OF the sum
of G 10000 by means of check which
we compelled him under fear of death
to sign.
It fell out in this manner. Things
had been exceedingly brisk with us for
some time, but our transactions had
been small. The motto of "small prof
it's and quick returns" may be we'll
enough IN ordinary trades, where one
has not to be continually dodging the
policeman, but in our profession it Is
otherwise and the dream OF every
member Of our fraternity is to achieve
one great coup" and then retire In to
well-deserved ease.
Tim Harris, Jack Paterson and my
self sat one evening in our den in st.
Giles talking over business and dis
cussing the prospects of the coming
winter.
Things is lookin' gloomy" said Har-
ris, knocking the ashes from his clay;
"beastly gloomy indeed. Wot with the
tees lookin' at yer from the back O. the
'ouse when yer wants ter crack crib
and the coppers @ comm down on yer
from the 'front.' blow me up gaspipe
II don't feel like chuckin' the whole
business
Same ere" said Paterson, frown-
ing; II hendorses all that"
''Tbe fact OF the matter Is" said.
quietly, that we must devise some
thing new. Cracking cribs is getting
played out, and, besides, it's very dan
gerous."
"Somethin' new, ehT' growled Har-
ris- There amt nothin' new under the
SUM-"
Quite So" returned, laughing.
"but, while most things are old, there
is always a new way of treating them.
Now, I have an idea which came to me
recently after reading a story in Q
paper
Both men looked up eagerly and
pulled at their pipes.
-Ah, that's wot like to ear, gov
ernor!" cried Peterson. THAT sounds
like bizness. Fire away"
"YOu have both heard, suppose" I
said, slowly, "of Silas Brayne, the big
millionaire who has just bought Lori
Wybrow's house in Park lane?"
II don't get much time for the fash
ionable in,elligencer' in the noosepa-
pers,' put in Harris, 'but ave heard
that"
VERY good" / made answer, "in that
case no further description of the gen.
tleman will be necessary. Now, the
idea which has been floating through
my brain during to-day, suggested by
the story / have referred to, is that we
should lidnap Mr.. Brayne at the frs.
convenient opportunity, bring him TO
this house and compel him TO write and
sign check for the sum of 10000"
/ paused, waiting to see the effect OF
my proposal. Both men gasped at first,
startled by the magnitude of the
scheme, but after moment their faces
fell.
Paterson was the first TO break the
silence.
''The ideas oil right" he said, sulk-
ily-"but it licks me 'ow you're going
to work it,"
"The working will not be over easy,
admit said ], 'but all the same,
think it is to be done. Mr.. Brayne, for
tunately for us, is man of ather Gu
rious habits. For instance, when he
goes down to his house at Wimbledon,
from Saturday to Monday each week
end, he Is in the habit of taking SOL
itary walk, just before going to bed.
1t will be while that walk is in progress
that our kidnapping must be accom-
plished."
No one spoke, ind / continues:
by hanging about his place at VIM
bledon and getting friendly with one Of
the servants, I discovered what I have
told you about Mr.. Brayne's habits. !.
therefore, propose that we wait until
Saturday next, and then, without the
slightest loss of time, put my scheme
Into execution. We can borrow a cab
from Jack Monroe, who will readily
oblige us II We give him share Of the
swag; and Paterson, being a good whip,
shall be our cabman for the occasion.
You, Harris, and I will be more than
sufficient for the millionaire, and, pro-
viding the night is dark, the tradi-
tional policeman far away, and my
German chloroform in goodcondition, I
have no doubt that we shall have the
whole busineas settled nd Rra vre coyu.