The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-02-22
A NEAT JOB.
BY W. PETIT RIDGE.

The barred and padlocked van came
out of the courtyard of the bank into
st. Swithin's Lane and was driven
slowly and with great circumstance
down To Cannon-st. station. Mr..
Large, in his long frieze overcoat, sat
on the box near the driver, for Mr..
Large was one of the bank couriers,
red faced and whiskered and sufficient
ly rOtund Of figure, with a seGfaring
manner that not even large silk hat
could hide. Mr.. Large told the driver
that, this being the last day Of the old
year, he was making his final trip on
behalf of the bank; on his return the
bank proposed to superannuate him,
with handsome allowance, and be
did not know that he should not take
a nice little hotel down at Hythe, on
which he had had his eye for some
considerable time This" added
Mr.. Large to the driver. with bis
usual caution, "this is confidence,
mind.D The driver answered that il
should not go any further, and that be
knew when to keep his mouth shut
and when to open it.
ain our business" agreed Mr.. Large,
"gOu have to.
At the station the padlocks were
taken Off the back Of the van, and
three large wooden eases, red taped
and sealed with scarlet wax, were
taken out by the railway porters care
fully aud placed in first-class COM
plrtment. It was all done with fine
air of mystery, because TO mention the
name of Large's bank was to fill rail-
way men, and even custom officials,
with awe aud reverence. Especially
at about the end Of the year.
might those cases contsin bonds,
inspector ." asked an inquisitlve pas
senger.
well" /" said the inspector, shifting
his lamp from one hand to the other,
'they might contain anything"
"But what do they contain ?''
"Ah - replied the inspector, evasive-
Iy. Now you're asking me some
thing.n
There were not many passengers by
the night mail from Cannon-st., but
among them there was a party oi
three, two well dressed, matronly wo-
men aud a muffied-up man; the two
women, when they had seen the mufii-
ed-up man into a first-class compart-
ment and had warned him TO keep his
scarf over his chin. came back and
watched the proceedings with studied
carelessness.
"Wish your poor husband was alive,
Catherine" said one in an undertone-
This would have been job after his
own heart"
"He was always planning something
of the kind,n said Catherine, feelingly'
"but he was never spared TO carry il
out. Seemed as though be wasn't tc
be. Poor George % The lady shook
her head sadly. 81 don't believe, Mar
garet, there was ever anybody like
him."
Fortunately" said Margaret, there
is somebody like this man Large"
"Hush." remarked the other re
provingIy.
"And it's some consolation TO think
that your poor 'usband is looking dowr
now and seeing US three helping tn,
foreign gentleman TO manage scheme
that
Certainly" conceded Catherine
with emotion, sit is a mark of respect
And there's no doubt it was Providence
sent me here this morning and let ns
listen to them making the arrange
ments. You sent the telegram to Del
afon all rIght?"
"If Edward can only leeTs off-y IS
dear, sent the telegram-leave off be
ing silly fool for little while il
ought to pan out all right"
"He's the only man for the job, and
there's been a rare job 10 get the like
ness right"
The other lady was not optimistic
81 haven't been his lawful married
wife, she said, "these two and twenty
years without finding out that Edward
has his faults. How'd it be TO take our
se4ts before the train starts ?''
At Dover the usual commotioa OF
passengers alighting at the low, narrow
platform and, draped with rugs and
decorated with p9rtmsnte4us. descend
ing the wooden steps to the Calais
steamer wss stayed for few moments