Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-08-04

which has been conspicuous for eXclt-
ing episodes, was the kidnapping of Silas
Brayne, the great millionaire, and cur
attempt to possess ourselves of the sum
of 10000 by means of check which
we compelled him under fear of death
to sign.
1t 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
its and quick returns" may be well
enough in ordinary trades, where one
has not to be continually lodging 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 into
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 a comm down on yer
from the front, blow me up a gaspipe
if"I don't feel like chuckin' the whole
business"
Same ERE" said Paterson, frown-
ing; ~ hendorses all that"
1.-THE fact of the matter is" said,
quietly, "that we must devise some
thing now, Cracking cribs is getting
played oGt, and, besides, it's very dan
gerous."
"Somethin' new, eh?" growled Har-
ris. There amt nothin' new under the
SUM-"
quite So" I returned, laughing,
"but, while most things are old, there
is always q new way of treating them.
Now, have an idea which came to me
recently after reading a story In a
paper"
Both men looked up eagerly and
pulled at their pipes.
"Ah, that's wot I like to ear, gov
ernor!" cried Paterson. THAT sounds
like bizness. Fire avGy."
''You have both heard. suppose" |
said, slowly, "of silas Brayne, the big
millionaire who has just bought Lord
Wybrow's house in Park lane?"
81 don't get much time for the fash.
ionable intelligencer' in the Roosepa-
pers," put in Harris, "hut I ave heard
that
'''Very good" made answer, 'fn 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 1 have referred to, is that VIC
should kidnap Mr.. Brayne at the first
convenient opportunity bring him te
this house and compel him to write and
sign q check for the sum Of c 10000"
I paused, waiting to see the effect Of
my proposal. Both men gasped at first
startled by the magnitude of the
scheme, but after o moment their faces
fell.
Paterson was the first to break the
silence.
"The ideas all right" he aaid. aulk'
lly-"bpt 1t licks me 'ow you're going
to work II"
''The working will not be over easy
l admit" said 1, "but all the same,
think it is 10 be done. Mr.. Brayne, for
tunately for us, is man of rather GU
rlous habits. For instance, when hi
goes down to his house at Wimbledon
from Saturday to Monday each weel
end, he is In the habit Of taking q sol
itary walk, just before going to bed
1t viii be while that walk is in progress
that our kidnapping must be accom-
plished,"
No one spoke, and continued:
by hanging about his place at Vim
bledon and getting friendly with one o:
the servants, l discovered what have
told you about Mr.. Brayne's habits. I
therefore, propose that we wait unit
Saturday next, and then, without thu
slightest loss of time, put my scheme
into execution. We can borrow cal
from Jack Monroe who will readil!
! eblige us if we give him share of thu
swag; and Paterson, being q good whip
shall be our cabman foryt occasion
You, Harris, and / will be more thar
sufficient for the millionaire, and, pro
viding the night IS dark, the tradi
tion8l policeman far away and m.
German chloroform in good condition,
have no doubt that we shall have thu
whole business settled and Brayne com
fortably seated In the cab in less tina
than it has taken nae To speak"
It was Harris turn now, and couli
tell that he had something weighty t.
communicate from his expression.
That's all very we'll. gunner" h
said, deliberately, "but assoomin' W.
gOts Mr.. Brayne comfortably settled IL
our crib and contrives to make i'm sigr
the blessed check, low, in the name @
goodness, are we to know that e won
put some private mark on the DOGGY
ment which'll cause the bank people t.
smell a rat? / 'eard once of gen
who made point of alters putting
queer twist to the last y OF is sigma
ture, and without that ere twist M
check was gepiwin. 'ow about that
eh?"
AZ have provided for that contin
gency," I answered, triumphantly
Look here"
From my pocketbook drew out
check for ego, payable to myself AM
signed "silas Bfayne," displayed 1
to the men, who stared.
81 obtained this check easily enough,
I went on, amused at their amazemen'
st knew that the worthy millionalr
was a great collector of the antique
and SO, instead of disposing of tina
ormolu clock which we appropriate
from7Lady Wenlock's place at Chertse,
4 .Trrs