The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-08-18

II was Harris turn nov. and / could
tell that he had something weighty 70
communicate from his expression
That's all very well. guv'nor." he
said, Deliberately. "but assoomin' we
gets Mr.. Brayne comfortably settled In
our crib and contrives to make i'm sign
the blessed check, 'ow. in the name Of
goodness, are we TO know that e won't
put some private mark on the DOGGY
ment whichu cause the bank people to
smell a rat? I card once Of a gent
who made a point Of alters putting .
queer twist to The last " Of is signa-
ture, and without that ere twist no
check was geniwin. 'Ow about that,
eh?"
Il have provided for that contin-
gency," I answered. triumphantly.
Look here"
From my pocketbook / drew out q
check for e 20, payable to myself and
signed "Silas Brayne." I displayed it
70 the men, who stared.
II obtained this check easily enough"
I went on, amused at their amazement.
Il knew that the worthy millionaire
was o great collector Of the antique,
and so. instead Of disposing OF that
ormolu clock which we appropriated
from Lady Wenlock's place at Chertsey
in the usual way, through lsaacs, I
simply went down to Park lane, saw Mr..
Brayne's secretary and negotiated the
sale. asked eco, and then and there q
check was given me for the amount.
l haven't cashed It, though, because I
only obtained it so that when we cap
ture the millionaire and force him TO
sign the check for us, we can compare
the same with this document and see
that the other check contains no sign
or mark which this check does not con-
tain. *s~ Now. do you understand
my idea?"
Harris drew long breath. SWELL,
of all the long-'eaded blokes ever come
acrost," he growled-'you're the long
'eadest. Blow me II I should ave
thought O. sich dodge"
The dodge is all right" said, mod
estly, "but it remains to be seen how the
plan will work. We have decided to
make our own move on Saturday even
ing next and to-day being Wednesday
we have three clear days In which to
mature our plans"
Before we went to bed that night, the
preliminaries had been arranged, and I
went to my couch to dream of Mr..
Brayne and his check for 10000.
Saturday evening came in due course.
1t was dark night, and rejoiced that
there was no fog. for had such pre-
vailed, doubtless Mr.. Drayne would
have forgone his customary evening
walk. As 1t was, everything went splen-
didly. The cab, with the faithful Peter
SOD on the box, was prowhng about the
road, while Harris and !, dressed in
fashionable clothing so as to evsde any
suspicion on the part Of aggressive po-
ncemen who might chance on the scene,
hung about the millionaire's house,
anxiously waiting for the moment when
he would issue forth for his accustomed
stroll.
The obliging housemaid had confded
TO me that he usually left the house q,
IL and returned 20 minutes past, and
sure enough, us the clocks In the neigh
borhood pealed II strokes, tho gate
opened slowly, and q short, thin, old
gentleman, muflied up In a cloak and
wearing a low felt hat, came out.
We waited until he was in the dark
est part Of the road, and then sprang
upon him, Harris gagging him with his
handkerchief, while l held chlo-
reformed bandage to his mouth and
nostrils. He breathed heavily, strug.
gled little, and then fell backwards.
l whisthed as q signal to Paterson to
bring along his cab, ard the two Of us
lifted the unconscious form OF the mil
lionaire into the vehicle. Not soul be-
yond ourselves had witnessed the scene,
and must confess that l lay back with
a sigh of relief as the cab ratified away
in the direction of London, for If any
person had happened 20 come down the
road at the critical moment our little
game might have died even at It's birth
We said very little as the cab sped
on toward town. Harris smoked gloom
lily, every now and again casting a
glance of satisfaction at the recumbent
form Of the man of millions. No drive
had ever seemed so long to me as did
that Journey, and I was indeed glad
when We came in sight of St. Giles,
and knew that at last the journey had
reached its end.
We go: Brayne out of the cab and up
stairs with very little difficulty, the
people in the house being well used
TO adventures of this kind.
When he recovered from his uncon-
scious condition and had taken in the
situation, which l explained to him In
u few words, he seemed wonderful calm
and composed. Doubtless it was this
coolness which had enabled him to
make the masterful strokes on the
stock exchange which had been the
wonder of the world, and was exceed
ingly glad that his demeanor was thus