The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-03-31
ON THE FOOTBOARD.
An Ex-CriminaFs Yarn.
10 UV'NOR," said jim Braggs, step

door, and depositing himself on a chair
and his greasy hat underneath it, Il can
put yer up to job ash just suit yer
down to the ground"
His usually loud and gruff voice was
softened down till it was scarcely more
than whisper, and his whole bearing
was one of mysterious Importance.
l may say at once that Braggs and l
did not always work together. He was
a good craftsman at rough job, such
as opening a safe or picking a lock, and
whenever | needed assistance in that
direction l sought him out; but of the
finer elements of the craft, the subtle
scheming, the ceaseless ingenuity re-
quired to bring great coup to a success
full conclusion, he was utterly ignorant.
Judging from his present demeanor,
he had become possessed of some infor-
nation which might lead to a good
stroke OF business if handled properly,
and mistrusted his own powers of car.
rying it through; for | knew full well
that had it been otherwise he would not
have wished to share the booty.
Without any great show of eagerness,
therefore, replied: We'll, what is it ~
Why, this ERE. To-morrer night, a
packet of papers is to be sent by special
messenger from a firm of land-sharks
to gentleman in Cheshire, the afore-
said and 'ereinafter mentioned messen-
ger travelling by the Irish mail. Now,
it's very important to anuvver genel-
man that those identical doccyments
should get-shall we say mislaid; and if
smart individual Tor couple, for the
matter of that was 10 make such ar
engagements that they did 'appen to get
-mislaid, why there'd be somcfink like
five 'undred quid for EN- at the finish.
Twig?"
This looked promising, but an
swered, cautiously:
Yes, think l follow you so far, jim,
but I'm not going into business like
that blindfolded. l must know all
about it, or else don't deal. Come, is it
a bargain?"
After little demur, he told me the
full particulars, which were briefly
these: He had been offered the sum men
toned by gentleman to whose great
interest it was the papers (they were
legal documents should not reach their
destination, if he could contrive TO alb
stract them from the messengers care.
The affair literally bristled with diff
culties, and at first sight Jim refused to
have anything to do with it as being be-
yond his powers of accomplishments.
However, his cupidity was not proof
against such tempting bride. and
after lot of persuasion he consented to
try and carry out the gentleman's wish.
AS have said, it was not a scheme to
be undertaken lightly, and 1 foresaw
considerable difficulty. 1t would be
useless to attempt to relieve the mes
senger of his burden at Euston; he
would doubtless be well guarder, and
besides, we were both too well known
in London.
At the other end, the difficulties were
obvious; it was plain, then, that the at
tempt 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
somehow learned the fact that the mes
senger was to travel along with the
guard. Apparently they judged that
some attack might be made. and it be-
hooved us, therefore, to be doubly care
full.
1T amt no easy go, is ?" murmured
Jim, sympathetically.
However, !; had faint idea of how
the thing might be managed, and grad
ually it shaped itself in my head until
l felt sure that, with a bit of luck, We
could pull it off.
My plan was this-to pull the train up
at some wayside place, where Jim was
to be in waiting with horse and trap,
secure the packet from the messenger
while the guard was absent from his
van ascertaining the cause of the stop
page, and put as many miles as possible
between us and the scene of the affair
afterwards. How this was to be ac-
complished you will hear.
"Jim," l said, you know that little
place about 20 miles beyond Tanworth
that we visited year or two back on
little expedition of our own? If l
recollect Alright, the Northwestern
main line runs very close to the road
for some distance, and at one point
there are number of large trees close
together"
Eyer couldn't ave described it better
'ad yer been a guide-book, guv'nor. l
know the spot"
Good. Could you be waiting near
those trees with a light trap at-let
me see-10:35 precisely, tomorrow
night?"
II daresay 1 could but wot's yer
game?"
Never mind yet, Jim. You be there
as I've told you, and when you hear
this"-I gave peculiar whistle-"re-
ply in the same way, and | shan't be
far off. And let your horse be ready
TO fly like the wind" added.
"All right, I'll be there" he replied,
sulkily; but there's no need to be so
bloomin' igh'anded about it all. sup
pose yer can trust me?"
"Of course, else l shouldn't be doing
what | am now. | haven't quite fixed
IL in my own mind yot. hut ,,o,, e+,r+