Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-07

70 have them s0led an0 ncolod.
80 you're on to that lay, arc you?
Well, you're not such q blishted idiot
- I thought you were, Ridley. 80 I
apologize. shall be sending to Tooley's
myself. But. look here. II we mean
business, what's the good Of wasting
time like that? Go and get your boots
now and take them to Tooley's. He isn't
shut, and lies got pair of mine TO
mend. I'll be there In half an hour,
and II take your parcel away with mo
instead OF my own-well, what's that
10 any body but you or me:"
Il wasn't altogether new device,
but Il worked, and In the result Mr..
Muratti's valuation Of the boots was so
far satisfactory that about two hours
later Frank Ridley went home with q
check for 60. 500 and an I . U for q
like amount in his pocket and pair
of another mans boots under his arm,
neatly wrapped up in copy Of The Dia.
mond Fields Independent. The check
was on Lloyds' bank. London, and was
payable not 10 Frank Ridley, but to
Miss Alice Ransome. The l . U was
personal, but both went TO England by
the next mail.
There occurs here the UNPLEASANT ne.
cessity Of adding that the check was
stopped by cable long before Miss Ran
some had any chance Of presenting It.
The fate Of the o q was to be deter.
mined later ON. Meanwhile Mr.. Frank
Ridley's thoughts turned homeward
and mingled with loving memories and
fond anticipations.
That same night between II and Ia
Mr.. Muratti had visit from man OF
his own people. youth Of some 81
summers, Whose life had 20 far been
mostly winter. Not many Of the seed
Of Abraham run to waste. At any rate
In the financial sense, but Joshua Mo-
senstein, known for short In camp as
Jossey Mo, had somehow managed 70
do 30.
He was distantly related to Mickey
Muratti. and again and again that rising
fnancier had. with the traditional gen.
erosity Of his people to their kindred,
metaphoricaIly taken him out Of the
gutter and set him on his feet ON the
pavement. The subject Of their inter
view that particular night was closely
akin 10 this species Of rescue work. No
one else Was present. and Mr.. Muratti
spoke plainly and to the point.
''It just comes 70 this. Jossey." he
said, toward the end Of the discussion,
"you'll never be any good to yourself
or any credit to your relations as long as
you 60 sloshine around In this good for
nothing sort Of way Of yours. Now
here's . good solid chance for you. Do
as tell you. man. Own mp and play
the greeny. You won't get more than
Eve years as q first offender, and IL you
behave yourself you'll get out with
three. I know the ropes down yonder.
don't you fear. and I'll pull 'em hard
foI you. Then when you come out
there's %. 900 for You In solid cash and
81, 900 year for five years after that
Now, Jossey. what do you say to thatF'
"Whai do you want me to be trapped
ut all for?" the tempted Joshua OBJ
jected rather sulkily. III you've got
the gonivahs. why don't you plant EN-
somewh here safe and run 'em down
when you get chance, like the others
DOR
because don't do business like the
others" replied Mickey with an air OF
conscious pride, land because I'm play
ing deeper game and for bigger
stake. It's this way, you see: Ridley
and me were shadowed while we were
talking In Stockdale street. He didn't
zee il. but did. and that's what made
me think Of this lay. We were shadow
ed again ut Tooley's. and l was follow.
cd home here by one Of the smouohes.
Snow, Lipinski's no fool, and neither
In Fox, nor Lowe. nor any of them.
What do want talking to Ridley for
Just after he's come out OF the sorting
roomy What do I want to meet him
again the same night at boot store and
bring pair Of his boots home by mis-
take for!
"I'll tell you. Jossey, these chaps
know rs well as do that / took q par
Gel Of stones from Ridley tonight. and
before long Lipinski will be here with
q search warrant to look for them.
Now, il he doesn't find any he'll reckon
that I've planted EN-, and I'm going to
run 'em as you say. That means that
IL L. x-.t,ha1 aud that
one who goes out Of camp, especially
any one belonging to me, will be stop
ped and searched, and 20 the missis'll
have about AZ much chance Of getting
thoss stones down to Cape Town and
ON ~ the steamer as would.
"Now see how my plan works out
They know I've got stones from Ridley.
but they don't know what stones. See!
They come here with their warrant,
arrest Us both and search Us, find this
other little lot ON you and jump to the
conclusion that they're the right ones
and that I've just given 'em 10 you, but
there's no proof Of that, aud they can't
get one, for you'll play the funk, own
up and swear you bought 'em from a
Kaffir, while ! do the indignant viz
tuous lay.
"You needn't be afraid OF Ridley.
They don't want him yet. They'll wait
for him and nab him when convenient.
It's me they want. De Beers would
give good bit just now to plant me
on the breakwater for few years while
they put this amalgamation business
through. That's where my game comes
IN. This parcel should pan ont at $685.
900 at the very least, and that's just
what want to fight these amalgama-
tors on their own ground.
''If I got nabbed, the whole game
would be up. but II you go for me,
Jossey, I'll make my fortune, and
yours, too. my pippin. Muratti will go
flying up sky high. and it won't be .
matter of thousands then, Joesey; it'll
be millions, my boy, millions. and you
shall have your share when you come
ont, never fear.
"You know, II you were left to
yourself. Jossey. you'd never make
e1 900 in century of blue moons, let
alone E1O. 600 In three years or 90.
Come. now, what do you say3 You'll
have 10 look sharp. for they may be
here any minute-ah, yes, thought
sol There's the official knock. Now,
don't act the goat and fy in the face Of
good fortune. Here's the gonivahs
That's 1t in your waistcoat pocket.
Now, button your coat. That'll dol"
"Well. gentlemen, good evening.