The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-04-27

On the night in question, therefore,
we met at st. pancras, and after book
ing frst-class, tickets to Manchester
walked TO the train. 1t 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 a
Guards locker between US and the slip
coach We could not possibly have been
better situated.
Before getting into the carriage
took good look at the couplings which
united us to the carriage which was
to be dropped off at Salterton and
watched them put into position ready
for work. In less than five minutes
later we were off, and kraggs and I
were congratulating ourselves that so
far nothiAg had happened to interrupt
our plans. We had observed little
parcel being placed in the rear carriage,
which seemed to excite slight interest
even in the languid porters and guards
who were hanging about. There was
also detective surveying it with
coldly professional air; and If they had
other story" as celebrated author
has said somewhat frequently.
Now came the real work. Braggs
quickly unfastened one Of the bags and
began to extract from it various arti-
cles which l had instructed him to pro-
cure. There was Jenny" a skele
ton key or two, good, stout cord of
several yards length, with few fair
sized weights attached to it at intervals,
another bundle of cord and tiny bot
tie of chloroform.
When all was ready and / had pock
eted what | wanted, l buttoned up my
coat, and quietly opening the off-side
door, stepped out on to the footboard.
You do not realize, on simply reading
it in cold print, what this means, but
| can say with perfect confidence that
it requires pretty good nerve to travel
in that position.
Fortunately the night was so dark as
to render observation of my movements
a matter of difficulty, if 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 as |
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 it; and it was a
few seconds before / could nerve my
self to take the little jump which was
necessary. did accomplish it al length,
and Immediately made fast the cord to
a rail on the door, so that / could easily
obtain possession of it again when |
needed it.
Braggs, l should explain, retained
the other end and paid out the cord as
l walked; and the weights served the
purpose of keeping it low and prevent
ed tapping against the windows, which
might have attracted attention we by
no means coveted.
The next thing | did was to break the |
bottle of chloroform over my hand |
kerchief, and | was then ready for Sc
ton. | took a peep through the win
dow at the guard in the carriage. He |
was calmly reading newspaper, and ]
chuckIed as / saw how the game was
playing into our hands. Gently / turned |
the handle and allowed the door to |
open. He looked up as the draught of
cold air caught him; but / was too
quick for him, and had the handker
chief to his nostrils before he had time |
TO think. much less make any atternnf