The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-10
you, please, in the most natural man.

llghted my cigarette, put out the paper
and threw it on the floor so that it went
we'll under my chair l then resumed
my seat and awaited developments.
A few minutes later the man left,
and with my heart in my mouth pick
ed up the paper and spread it out Part
rf the writing was burned, but what
remained almost made me yell with tri
umph. 1t ran thus:
Attempt will be made tonight
Colonel Lewis house in
approach from back garden in Carbon st.
Black Jake and Ned Sawyer.
That was sufficient for me. 1t was
plain that Colonel Lewis house was to
be the scene of a desperate outrage.
Probably the colonel would murdered
and his residence blown up by dyna-
mite. l shook with excitement 1t was
plain as daylight.
When the curtain of night dropped
like stormcloud over the palpitating
city "a rather fine phrase). it found me
concealed in the shrubbery of Colonel
Lewis garden in Carbon street.
Determined not to be anticipated, l
had reached the rendezvous much earlier
than was necessary, SO l had plenty of
time to work out my schemes.
"They will climb that wall, solilo-
quized. "They will walk along this
flower bed, so as not to make noise on
the gravel and no doubt the first start
will be made on that French window. I
will let them 60 on. The great thing is
to catch them in the act. Their object
is not plunder. They will burst open the
window and go straight up stairs, with
Nemesis on their track.
"Then," continued, "comes the re-
ward of valor-the wreath of laurels,
| the columns in the newspapers, the
universal admiration of my country
men. shall be the idol of England, the
lion of the age shall'-
Something or somebody gripped me
suddenly by the back of the neck
Somebody else put his hand over my
mouth, and the two together threw me
on my back with unnecessary violence
For moment was stunned. When
my senses returned and l opened my
eyes, I could just discern the sinister
features of my friend the villain, who
was kneeling spitefully on my chest.
The other man was there too. He was
holding me by the hair.
''Do you know him, Simpson" ?" said
one.
"No; I've never seen him before that
I can recollect.
"Seems sleepy sort for one of Jake'E
gang"
A light broke upon me. "Gentle
men," l said, "are you"-
am sorry to say those few words
caused me still more humiliation. They
literally jumped on me and finished
up by ramming two handkerchiefs int
my mouth.
What surprised me most and partly
confirmed my suspicious was that on,
Of them procured pair of handouts
with which he decorated my wrists
Having completed this little pro
gramme, they both sat on me and will
the coolest cheek you can imagine.
After listening to their conversation
for a quarter of an hour withou
being able to join in, came to tn
conclusion that had committed al
egregious error. From their remarks
gathered that the two persons whom
had the honor Of supporting were no
Black Jake and Ned Sawyer, but tw
detectives from Scotland Yard.
tried to make them understand tina
wished to explain things, but the
smiled in most provoking manner an
were not at all kind to me- tried t
think, but my brain was in whirl. Be
fore had succeeded in quieting it tn
excitement Of the evening commenced
A stealthy tread was heard, eligh
rustling of the grass, which I shoul
hardly have noticed myself. Two dar
forms crept along in the shadow Of th
wall. They made for the French wiz
dows and silently set to work. Tw
minutes later pane of glass had bee
cut out and deposited on the ground.
One minute after that Black JaA
and Ned Sawyer were surprised to fin
themselves looking stupidity down th
muzzles of two revolvers of murderou
appearance.
"No nonsense, Jake, said my frien
Of the morning. "You are fairly bowie
out this time, my lad. The house
; surrounded and ] have a dozen me
within call.
managed to get out Of it, althoug
circumstances looked SO black again
me. Detective McFadden and his assist
ant had noticed me following then
b They informed the magistrate that
was more of fool than rogue. whic
opinion my employer, who was calle
to give evidence as to my charactel
heartily confirmed.
i After this incident 1 tried many di
ferent trades and professions in order
find the one for which was most sui
ed, but without success. s.-Tit-B