Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-28
ON THE FOOTBOARD.

"Guv'nor,' said Jim Braggs, steppin
gently into my room one night after
premonitory tap on the door and deposit
ing himself on a chair and his greasy ha
underneath 1t, 81 can put yer up to a 10
ASH just suit yer down to the ground"
I may say at once that Braggs and l Ill
not always work together. He was a goo
cracksman at rough job, such as openin
a safe or picking a lock, and whenever
needed assistance In that direction / sough
him out, but of the finer elements of th
craft, the subtle scheming, the ~ceaseles
ingenuity required to bring a great cou
to a successful conclusion, he was utterl
ignorant.
Judging from his present demeanor, h
had become possessed of some informatio,
which might lead to a good stroke Of bust
ness If handled properly and mistruste,
his own powers of carrying it through, 70,
l knew full well that had it been other
wise he would not have wished to shart
the booty.
Without any great show of eagerness
therefore replied, ''Well, what is it,"
"Why, this ere: Tomorrer night a pack
ct Of papers is to be sent by special mes
senger from a firm of land sharks to
gentleman in Cheshire, the aforesaid ant
~'ereinafter mentioned messenger travelling
by the Irish mail. Now, it's VERY i'm,
portant to anuvver genelman that those
Identical doccyments should %get-shall We
aQv ic1oi6S-a tf N c,nopk tyJtrr;lroI
or a couple, for the matter of that, was te
make such arrangements that they die
'appen to get--mislaid, why, there'd be
somefink like five 'undred quid for 'em al
the finish. Twiga"
This looked promising, but 1 answered
cautiously:
eyes, I think l follow you 40 far, Jim,
but I'm not going into a business like that
blindfold. I must know all about it, or else
] don't deal. Come, is it a bargainp"
After a little demur, he told me the full
particulars, which were briefly these. He
had been offered the sum mentioned by a
gentleman to whose great interest it was
the papers (they were legal doculments)
should not reach their destination, If he
could contrive to abstract them from the
messengers care. The affair literally bris-
tied with difficulties, and at first sight
Jim refused to have anything to do with 1t
as being beyond his powers of accomplish
ment. However, his cupidity was not
proof against such a tempting bride, and
after q lot of persuasion he consented to
try and carry out the gentleman's wish.
VI suppose it's half and halt, Jimp" I
asked.
He clustered something to the effect
that he ought to have the larger share az
he had got wind of the affair first, but I
very soon convinced him that I should not
work on those terms and ultimately he
grumblingly acceded.
"That's all right, then. And now, hav.
ing satisfactorily settled the division of the
spoil, how are we to set about earning itp"
Nov, look ere, guv'nor, I arsk yer, Is
that q fair question: 'Ere's yer lad some
fink like nine or ten years hexperienoe on
q railway afore yer took up wiz yer present
tightly respectable perfession, and then yer
as the face to arsk me 'ow a job like this
Is to be worked. I didn't fink 1t of yer,
guv'nor; I didn't"
Jim's tone was n Of easy banter. He
was gratif1ed evidently at my cooperation
and already, I fancy. harbored pleasing
as to the monkey" which
was to be u reward II successful. As I
have said, 1t was not a scheme to be under.
taken lightly, and I foresaw considerable
difficulty. 1t would be useless to attempt
to relieve the messenger Of his burden at |
Euston; he would doubtless be well guard.
ID and besides, we were both too we'll
known In London.
At the other end, the difficulties were
obvious; 1t was plain, then, that the at
must be made during the journey.
Here, again, difficulty stared us in the
face. We could hardly hope to tackle two
men with success, and Braggs had some
bow learned the fact that the messenger
to travel along with the guard. Ap.
parently they judged that some attack
might be made, and 1t behooved US, there.
Iore, to be doubly careful.
ut amt no easy 60, Is it," murmured
Jim alphabetically.
However, / had q faint idea of how the
hing might be managed and gradually 1t
lhaped Itself In my head until I felt sure
hat with a bit OF luck we could pull IL off.
MY plan was this-to pull the train up
It some wayside place, where Jim was to
V In waiting with a horse and tran, 40.
'ure the packet from the messenger while
be guard was ahsert from his van scer.
the cause Of The stoppage and put
many miles as possible between us and
he scene Of the affair afterward. How
bis wal TO be accomplished you will hear.
"Jim,"I said, lyon know that little
lace about 20 miles beyond Tamworth
hat we visited a year or two back on a lit
le expedition Of our owns II I ~recolleot
the Northwestern main line runs
cry close b the road for rome distance,
nd at one point there are . number Of
arge trees close together"
eyer couldn't AYE described 1t better
yer been q guldebook, guv'nor. /
nov the spot"
"Good. Could you be waiting near
hose trees with q light trap at-let me !
se-10: 86 precisely tomorrow nightf" I
II dare say I could. But wot's yer |
amer" 4
Never mind yet, Jim. You be there (
. I've told you, and when you hear this"
I gavo 4 peculiar wbistls--''reply In tho !
Ims way, and ! shan't' be far %. And
. your horse b ready to ~ like the =
ind, / added.