The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-06-01

pfob9blnty, De lev 20 the care ot toe
usual guard. and not placed In charge
Of . special man, a. would iufallibly
have been the case had It to be conveyed
by busy train. So much might safe-
ly be assumed; and with only one man
to deal with. the problem narrowed
considerably.
decided early that to effect the cap
ture at st. Pancras was not to be
thought of, and that the only chance OF
success lay in obtaining possession Of
the jewels during the journey. But
then the difficulty arose how to escape
detection subsequently. II we re-
mained in the slip-carriage and were
deposited at Salterton with the rest OF
the passengers. 1t was inevitable-an
absolute certainty. It was q point
which bothered me for some time, but
ultimately I evolved scheme which,
II audacious to the verge Of reckless
ness. saw no reason TO consider impos-
sible of accomplishment.
This was nothing less than to oper-
ate, not from the carriage itself, but
from the main portion of the train.
How l proposed to do this you shall
learn in due course; sufficient for the
present that when Braggs called sec
ond time / had fully mapped out my
plan of campaign. He acquiesced. as
knew he would, in all that I proposed:
and when we parted all the details were
agreed. and we had drunk bumper TO
success
On the night in question. therefore.
we met at St. Pancrns, and after book
ing first-class tickets TO Manchester
walked to the train. II was absolutely
necessary that we should have an empty
compartment, and, the travellers by the
train being luckily few in number, we
were able to secure one with only an
other passenger compartment and
guards locker between us and the slip
coach. We could not possibly have been
better situated.
Before getting into the carriage I
took good look at the couplings which
united us TO the carriage which was
to be dropped of at Salterton and
watched them put into position ready
for work. In less than Ave minutes
later we were of. and Braggs and I
were eongratulating ourselves that 40
far nothing had happened to interrupt
our plans. We had observed little
parcel being placed In the rear carriage.
which seemed 10 excite slight interest
even IN the languid porters end guards
who were hanging about There was
also Q detective surveying II with O
coldly professional air, and II they had
only known that two-but that u an
other story" - . celebrated author
has said somewhat frequently.
Now came the real work. Brsggs
quickly unfastened one OF the bags and
began TO extract from Il various srti.
cles which I had instructed him to pro-
cure. There was Jenny" skele-
ton key or two. . good, stout cord OF
several yards length, With few fair
sized weights attached TO II at intervals.
another bundle Of cord and . tiny bot
tie Of chloroform.
When all was ready and I had pock-
eted what wanted, but&oned up my
coat, and, quietly opening the on-side
door, stepped out ON to the foosboard.
You do not realize, on simply reading
It In cold print, what this means, but
I con say with perfect confidence that
It requires pretty good nerve 70 travel
In that position
Fortunately the night was 90 dark as
to render observation Of my movements
. matter Of difficulty, II not impossible.
Braggs handed the weighted cord TO me
through the window. and. thus equipped,
proceeded with gingerly steps along
the narrow ledge. bending low a. l
passed the windows Of the next COM
partment. The great feat was getting
from the carriage on which / was to the
slip" vehicle in rear of II; and It was q
few seconds before could nerve my
self to take the little Jump which was
necessary. did accomplish IL at length,
and Immediately made fast the cord to
. rail on the door, 20 that could easily
obtain possession Of II again when l
needed IT,
Braggs, I. should explain, retained
the other end and paid out the cord as
I walked; and the weights served the
purpose Of keeping IL low and prevent
ed tapping against the windows, which
might have attracted attention we by
NO means coveted.
The next thing I did was to break the
bottle of chloroform over my hand
kerchief, and l was then ready for ac-
ton. took peep through the win.
dow at the guard b ~ carriage. He
was calmly SsaAing . oswspsper. and I
chpckled . I nv ~ ~ Oane was
playingintoou 0sae3 turned
tho handle and allowed ~ 6ese 70
open. He looked up as the drsught Of
cold air caught him; but I was TOO
quick for him, and had the handker-
chief TO his nostrils before he had time
to think, much less make any attempt
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