The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-21


ping gently into my roor one night
after q premcnitory tar on the door
and deposittng himself on chair and
his greasy hat underneath It, u can
put Ser w, to "A joh ASH just suit yer
down to the ground"
His usually loud and gruf voice was
softeneG down TIL It was scarcely more
than a vhiSper. and his whole bearing
was one OF mysterious Importance
| may say at orCA that BraggS and
I did no. always work together. He
was a goc6 cracksman at a rough job
euch as opening a safe or picking a lock
and whenever ] needed assistance in
that direction sought him out; but OF
the finer elements OF the craft, the
subtle scheming, the ceaseless ingen-
uity required to bring a great coup to
q successful conclusion, he was utterly
ignorant.
Judging from his present demeanor,
he had become possessed of some in
formation which might lead to a good
stroke of business IL handled properly,
and mustered his own powers of
carrying 1t through; for I knew full
well that had it been otherwise he
would not have wished to share the
booty.
without any great show Of eagerness.
therefore, 1 replied, well, what is it?"
why, this ERE. Tomorrow night a
packet of papers is to be sent by spec
ial messenger from a firm of land
sharks to a gentleman in Cheshire, the
aforesaid aud 'ereinafter mentioned
messenger travelling by the Irish mail.
Now. it's very important to anuvver
genelmar that those identical DOGGY
ments should get--shall we say mis-
laid; and If smart individual Cor a
couple, for the matter of that was to
make such arrangements that they did
'appen to get--mislaid. why there'd be
sometink like five 'undred quid for 'em
at the finish. TwigW
This looked promising but I answer
ed. cautiously:
"Yes. 1 think I follow you so far, Jim,
but I'm not going into a business like
that blindfold. l must know all about
It, or else ! don't deal. Come, is it a
bargain?"
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 documents) should not reach
abstract them from the messengers
care. The affair literally bristled with
difficulties, and at first sight Jim re-
fused to have anything to do with II
as being beyond his powers of accom-
plishment. However, his cupidity was
not proof against such tempting bribe
and after Il lot of persuasion he con-
sented to try and carry out the gentle
mans wish.
II suppose it's half and half, Jim?"
/ asked.
He clustered something to the effect
that he ought to have the larger share
as he had got wind of the affair first,
but very soon convinced him that !
should not work on those terms, and
ultimately he grumblingly acceded.
That's all right, then. And now,
having satisfactorily settled the divi-
sion of the spoil, how are we TO set
about earning it?"
Now, look ere, guv'nor, / arsk yer,
is that a fair question? 'Ere's you 'ad
somefink like nine or ten years hex
perience on a railway afore you took
up wiv yer present ighly respectable
profession, and then you 'av the face to
arsk 'ow job like this is to be worked.
I didn't fink it of yer guv'nor, didn't"
Jim's tone was one of easy banter.
He was gratiiied evidently at my CO.
operation. and already, ] fancy, har-
hored pleasing anticipations as to the
monkey" which was to be our reward
IL successful. AS I have said, it was
E not scheme to be undertaken light
. ly.and I foresaw considerable difficulty.
IT would be useless to attempt to re-
lieve the messenger of his burden at
Euston: he would doubtless be well
auarded, and besides we We're both too
we'll known in London.
At the other end the difficulties were
obvious: it was plain, then, that the at
. tempt must be made during the jour-